"A WEEK TO CHRISTMAS."

....Two Weeks Later....

It was the month of December, and obviously it is usually cold in the united kingdom. Manchester was very cold, and the streets of Manchester were designed with snowballs.

Christmas was on the way, and I was sad that I won't be celebrating the Christmas here with my best friend. I would be relocating to Chicago on that day with my family.

****At the apartment***

Jasmine was wrapped up on a big stuffy coat, unboxing all the equipments she had bought earlier for preparing a Christmas tree. She was so glad in her bedroom, while she was taking a look at the contents inside the big box.

I came inside her room, wrapped in my own arms. The weather wasn't friendly at all, and I was scared of catching a flu. I didn't want to spoil her excited mood at all, but I was left with no choice.

"Someone is getting ready for Christmas." I said from the door.

Jasmine looked up, glad to see me. I walked inside, peeping inside the box to see what was actually inside.

"Wow, you bought equipments for making a Christmas tree?".I asked her with a smile.

"Yeah I did. They're lovely right?". Jasmine asked me happily.

I nodded my head, still contemplating if it was the right to tell her about it. I sat next to her on the bed, grabbing her hands with sadness on my face now. Jasmine looked at me, wondering what's wrong.

"What's it best friend?". She asked me.

"Hope you find what I have to say okay with you." I replied her with a low tone.

"Go on, I will try." She said assured me.

I smiled at her lightly, before speaking up. Her ears were already itchy to hear what I had to say. Her eyeballs were fixed on mine.

"I won't be spending this year's Christmas with you." I said to her.

"Huh? Why?". She asked me surprisedly, bulging out her eyes at me.

"I have a flight to catch on that day." I said to her.

Jasmine pulled out her hands from mine, frowning her face. She was really sad by the words I said to her. Although she didn't understand me properly, but those words hurt her so much.

"Bianca just go, since I'm now a pest to you." She dramatically said to me.

"Jasmine, I have to be at Chicago before new year. My job is dear to me." I tried explaining my reason for doing so.

Jasmine turned her face towards me, flying into my arms. She was going to miss me a lot and I understood that. I was also going to miss her so much. We've been best of friends for many years now.

She also had something to say to me. I was able to detect it, because she continually looked at me with an anxious eye.

"Do you want to say something?". I asked her.

"Actually, my family has apologized to me and they want me back." She said to me.

I was very happy to hear that. I couldn't stop smiling at her words. I cupped her face happily, feeling her cheeks with the tip of my fingers.

"That's good news. You'll be celebrating your Christmas with your family." I said to her.

"But it'll be empty without you." She said sadly.

"We'll still communicate when I get there. No one will ever break our friendship apart. This is my promise to you." I assured her.

Jasmine finally let out a smile, trying so hard not to tear up. A tear fell down her eye, while I chuckled. We both laughed out loud, while she wiped off the tears with her hand. I was glad now that she was finally smiling again.

While we were still discussing, we heard a knock at the door. I left immediately to check on the person at the door. I opened the door, and it was Kiara and Mrs Caddel.

"Good morning." I greeted them in awe, because I wasn't expecting them to be here this morning.

"Is Jasmine inside?". Mrs Caddel asked.

I nodded my head, while she smiled at me. That was when I realized that everything was fine between them now. Mrs Caddel entered inside, while Kiara stayed back. She placed her hands on mine, feeling guilty.

"I'm sorry for the last time. Also, thank you for everything you've done for my sister." She apologized.

"She's also like a sister to me. I'm not angry with you at all." I said to her, opening my arms for a hug.

Kiara hugged me, while I pat her hair gently. Both of us went into Jasmine's room. Mrs Caddel was with Jasmine on her bed. Both of them were having sweet conversations between them, and they looked so happy. She was trying to cheer Jasmine up, even though she had no clue why she was sad.

"So tell me, how did it happen?". I asked Kiara from the door.

"We just realized that family is important." Kiara replied me, staring at her mum and sister.

Jasmine caught a glimpse of both of us, and quickly called us to join them. I walked inside Jasmine's bedroom with Kiara. Kiara sat next to her from her left hand side, while I pushed a chair close to the bed, seated at a corner.

"Oh I forgot, I'm sorry for everything Bianca." Mrs Caddel apologized to me.

"You've always been like a family to my daughter, even when I denied her." She added.

"Aunt, you don't need to apologize. I'm only happy that you reconciled with your child." I said to her with a smile.

She nodded her head, turning her eyes on Jasmine. She played with Jasmine's hair, and everything reminded me of my own daughter. I was missing her now. She abandoned me, immediately she learnt that Sebastian was her biological father.

I shook off my thoughts, because I was tired of being sad. I didn't want to think about the past now. My energy was only focused on things that matters.

......

On the other hand was Zoey and her friends. They went to a mall to do some spree shopping.

They were really missing Yvette. She was no longer with them.

They were still trying their best to adjust without her.

"I miss Yvette so much." Zoey said.

"I do too. It's going to be hard to cope without her." Mia added.

"Who's the next to leave us?". Hannah asked.

"Maybe I'm next. I can just feel it coming." Zoey said to them, while they looked at her confusedly.

Mia and Hannah didn't understand the reason she said that to them, but it seemed like she was trying to pass a message, even though it wasn't clear enough.

"You won't leave us like Yvette." Mia said to her.

"When it happens, I hope the both of you learn to also live without me." She said to them.

"It'll be very lonely here." Hannah complained sadly.

While they were still in their feelings, Zoey's eyes caught a pair of black shoes lying at a shoe rack. She left them, running towards the rack. They joined her immediately.

"What's that?". Hannah asked her.

"I want to get this pair for my dad as a christmas present." Zoey said to them, admiring the shoes.

"And your mum?". Mia asked her out of the blue.

Zoey stopped smiling after hearing Mia's question. She returned back the shoes to the rack. She turned towards Mia, having no idea on what to say.

"What do you mean?'. Zoey asked her.

"You can't just abandon her like that. She was there before Mr Sebastian." Mia said to her.

"But she lied to me." Zoey said sadly.

"Mia is right. Just forgive her and reconcile with her. She's your mum.' Hannah added.

Zoey pondered on their words, but her heart was still resentful. She quickly changed the topic. It wasn't deniable that she was already getting guilty again. She didn't want to act deaf to the lies she felt I told her in the past.