"Are you like serious? You are saying that you actually had sex with him?" Anu asked surprisingly. 

I rolled my eyes and took a sip of my coffee. "Stop exaggerating Anu. Moreover, it was just not the sex. We made love with each other"

"Yeah, you made love to the guy who barely loves you" Tina replied with sarcasm while scrolling her phone.

"He does love me... he's just... Sometimes he's just..."

"Asshole?" Tina tried completing my word.

"'Confused' I'd rather say" I deadpan at her.

"Whatever... She muttered while getting back to scrolling her phone.

"Don't say like that. He actually likes you among my all friends."

"that's because he's such a cunning person. He only likes them who he thinks is good for a show-off"

"That's not true at all"

"That is and you, yourself knows that very well." She stood up walking away from us. 

"Where are you going now?" Anu asked her.

"I would like to go to the washroom rather than having my brainwashed over here"

Sassy. As She has always been. 

If I had to choose one of the best things I like about her is her honesty. No matter what she'd always tell the truth to face. No matter who's standing in front of her. She was bold. Independent. beautiful and strong.

Sometimes I wish I could be like her. 

Tina was the first of all of my friends that Shubbu liked a little bit. He's always like "They don't deserve to be friends with" " Oh they are so poor" "Okay stay away from them, they don't worth your time"

For him, friends were investments. He'd only invest his time in those who could have been in one of his profits on any outcome. 

But for me, Friends were like a second family. Someone I am very close to. Someone I can rely on. Someone we can open up to. After my mom and dad, there were my friends with whom I am very close. No matter for being in a smaller circle, they are still worth it. 

I have never seen them despite their wealth, beauty or status. They were just like me. Humans to be loved for. Someone whom I could call friends. 

The sight of a 'friend' is completely different for both of us. I know I can never change one's opinion but I would still try to. 

Tina had apparently noticed that and despite Shubbu's attention, she don't like him that much. 

But I asked her to give him one chance and I would show her that he can change too. I will love him to the extent that he will see things differently. Love can change people. It will to Shubbu too. I was sure. 

"Anu I believe you know that Shubbu is not like that right? He's just too broken to see things like this. I can fix this. I can fix him"

She sighed looking at my pleading eyes and replied-" Well I do believe in you Wendy, but know that his feeling is not an object that can be replaced. It is his personality. This is how he is. Broken and damaged. You are taking a big risk on him"

"I will take any risk for him Anu. I love him that much"

She just smiled before nodding her head. 

Love can change many things. It will do to him too. 

Not that everything has settled between us but still there is hope. To be honest I don't want to lose him. Rather I'd say I have become conscious of him. So no matter how much he tries to push me away I always end up getting attached back to him like a magnet. 

Possessive and protective have a very thin line. Which I almost lost on the track. 

I have his all accounts logged on my phone for references. Like a crazy person, I would check his history over 20 times a day. 

What has he done to me? I was never this toxic before. I was never being so jealous-possessive-creepy girl, but for him, I've become one. I know sometimes that bugged him a lot. Like a creepy person, I always use to check on him. Where is he, with whom, why, what time and many more? We had major fights due to this too. 

It was not that I don't trust him. A part of me didn't, but the actual reason was that I want to know. I want to know to what extent can he go. 

Thus, I can make myself stronger for that. 

TRING TRING...

Shubbu's name flashed on my screen and I smiled without my knowledge. 

"Hello?"

"Hey babe, are you gonna come to my fest tomorrow," he asked in a happy voice. 

I loved when he invites me into his life. It assured me that he still love me. I wanted him to show me off to the world as I do to him. 

"Of course, I'd love to"

"Okay... you can bring Tina too"

"And Anu too. She's here with us."

He let a sigh and replied in a low whisper-" Okay I don't wanna say you no, but baby, just look at her. She's so black. People gawk at her skin tone. It's better that you bring only Tina, she is fair and beautiful and she kinda looks rich., It would be a good impression"

Sometimes, I don't really understand why is he like that? What could be the actual reason for him being such a racist? Did he have a back story or Tina and Anu is right? He's like that.

"Um..."

"It's okay... I don't wanna sound like a mean boyfriend right now, You can bring whoever you want"

I smiled and replied-" Thanks"

Thank god Anu couldn't hear whatever he said. I wonder how she felt when she would hear such horrible comments about her. She is my first friend in my school. 

FLASHBACK 12 YEARS AGO

I still remember when I transferred to my second school. I was in class five. It was far from my home. I was always an introvert. I cried not going to school, that day because all of my friends were at my previous school. I don't even know if I could make a few again or not. 

I was standing in the middle of the playground of my new school, entering from the gate as the students were running, giggling, and playing with their buddies. I was all alone. Awkward and scared. I didn't know anyone there and I don't know how to initiate any conversation. 

I walked slowly between the crowd and reached the end of the playground. There was another group of students who were playing something. I kept staring at them as I began to miss my old friends. 

There was a girl who stopped in between the game and looked at me with a sweet smile before asking-" Wanna play with us?"

I nodded and she squealed in joy. She pulled me in and we started playing like we know each other for a very long time. That was her. The great Anu.

The group of three became famous, as Anu, Sandy and I become the three legendary friends. They were my friends throughout school. We had our differences, we fought sometimes, but nothing can break our friendship. 

Only after school when I moved out, did we lose our contacts. Now that I have gained them back I really don't wanna lose them again. 

"Okay, we have an invitation for tomorrow. To a fest in his school called inferno. It's gonna be fun". I grinned and she replied with a smile. 

I began to think about what could we do for tomorrow? It's a big day for me. It was the first time he invited me to his party. I have to be the best.