CHAPTER 43 : THE RECONCILIATION
CHAPTER 43 : THE RECONCILIATION
THE RECONCILIATION
"I definitely know where to find her, this friendship must definitely work out", Janelle said with voice filled with determination.
Janelle picked up her bag and left, she tried remembering the exact place they always met when they were younger.
It was just one place she remembered, it was at the back of a Catholic cathedral church, which led to an open stream.
That was where they always stayed, whenever they needed to clear their head or wanted to spend time together.
Immediately she was out of the gate of the university, she flagged a cab down.
The driver rolled his window down, Janelle grimaced as she saw the brown and toothless teethof the old man.
She had a second thought of flagging another cab down, but she decided to go for the later, since she was so keen on getting her bestfriend back.
"Good afternoon sir, please St Patrick's cathedral", Janelle said.
The old man nodded his head and told her to come in.
She tried opening the handle of the door, but it could not open.
The old man told her to follow the other side of the door, since the other handle of the door she first wanted to open was faulty.
She ran over and opened it, she hopped into the car.
"Sir please, hurry up", she said.
"Friend or lover, ya wanna see, looks like it seems so important to ya", the driver said, looking at her from the rearview mirror.
He grinned wildly waiting for Janelle's response.
"Friend", Janelle replied.
"Actually it's a bestfriend, we had a little misunderstanding and this is just the only chance I have to correct it, you know no one is perfect, so....", Janelle added.
"I perfectly understand", the main said giving her a knowing smile as he began driving faster than before.
They reached fastly, Janelle came down from the car, opened her purse, brought out some wad of notes, gave it to the man, and thanked him.
"Remember to say all the right words, and whatever has been hurting you before both of ya quarrelled, ya definitely have to let her know", the chauffeur said, as Janelle gave him a loving smile, thanked him and left.
She ran over to the back of the cathedral, and ran through the oak of woods that led to the open stream.
It felt all quiet apart from the chirps of birds and the squeals from the little rodents.
She looked over the place to look around for Steff, but she did not see her.
She looked around and found her favorite spot, the mahogany wood that had laid on the floor near the stream even before she came into the world, still looking as new as the first time she came there.
Janelle remembered the first time she came there with Steff, she remembered how little they were, filled with no worries of life.
She remembered how they played around, how they entered the stream to play and sometimes act like they were dead.
She remembered all the lovely times they spent together, before her father was called to Florida for transfer.
Janelle recalled how Steff had been mad about her not telling Steff about their plans to travel abroad, until a week before that had to leave.
Steff had cried her heart out.
*********
It was already evening with no signs of Steff coming to their little dream world.
Janelle almost lost count of time, burrowing in the memories of her and Steff when they were both little.
She was almost lost, when she heard rustling of leaves.
It was at that moment it dawned on her that it was so late.
She stood up to pick her bags, her cheeks all dried from her tears.
"Did not know you will come here, I was thinking you would rather give up on our friendship.
Longest time, being here with you.
It gave you time to think about our cherished moments right.
Yes, I know it really did.
This is the second time coming here since this week.
A month never passes by, without me coming here, to relish on the beautiful moments spent together with you.
They were and still is the most beautiful moments ever, and I will forever leave to cherish all of it, no matter the turn our friendship takes from today", Steff said.
Janelle turned her back and was shocked seeing Steff. She never believed Steff would come there today seeing how mad she acted in class today.
At that point Janelle did not know if she should run to Steff and hug her or rather stay.
"I missed you a lot Steff, I really missed you.
Forget all the drama I displayed, I felt really hurt after doing all of that to you, if you had stayed until after school, I wanted to speak with you.
I had looked for you throughout the day at school, but Andrea told me you had gone already, I had no choice but to go home.
At a certain point, I had thought of letting you go, seriously, I had thought we would never get back together not just as bestfriends but friends.
I would be okay, like very happy with whatever you want me to be in your life as long as you don't keep away from me", Steff said, as tears started rolling down her eyes.
Janelle walked towards Steff, and hugged her tightly.
"Steff!!!, You ever thought I would let you go?, After everything you had made me pass through.
No babe, I was never going to leave you until I teach you a very big lesson, and make you pass through all you had made me pass through.
While I came here, I thought about all you had made me pass through, and really I don't feel bad, I am really happy for all the times I had spent with you.
While we were far away, only one thought had been in my mind, that you would forever be my bestfriend, no matter how far you seemed us to be.
Even through the distance and the months we haven't been talking, you were and still my number one bestfriend.
I love you so much, Steff.
I really love you, let us just forget about all we have been through and settle on the future.
The future holds more for us.
I am really sorry, for not staying by you when you needed me the most, I am really sorry.
I promise to stand and be with you all the way through", Janelle said still hugging Steff.
Her arms were around her
"I thought this would have been a more better scene, but this is actually the best", Lydia Parker, Janelle's mum said.
Janelle turned around, she was shocked seeing her mum.
"Mum?!!!!, What are you doing here?", Janelle asked, with shock written all over her face.
"I called your mum, I thought you both are having issues and this is a better and perfect time to reconcile you both", Steff said giving Mrs Lydia a wink.
"My baby girl, I have missed you so much, I am really sorry about everything that happened, I was just so terrified about you having to meet the outer world.
I thought you would be so out of my reach, I was afraid I was going to loose you to some street boys or whatever.
I just wanted my little baby girl all to myself, I am really sorry, baby girl can you forgive me, I could go down for you", Mrs Lydia said trying to go down on her knees.
Janelle rushed to her and helped her up her feet.
She helped her up, and kissed her on her forehead.
"Mum, no matter what I am still your little baby girl, and I perfectly love you so much, because you ain't perfect and no one is prone to mistakes", Janelle said as the both hugged themselves.
*******
"So I guess this is better than I thought", Janelle turned around to see Mrs Douglas and crew, including Mr Parker, Janelle's father, her brother Diaz Parker, and Mr Douglas.
They all hugged each other.
******
"So... You were saying something about Mr Rashid... What about him?", Steff asked, raising her eyebrows in a knowing manner.
"Nothing, there is nothing", Janelle said, drawing circles with her toe.
"Gyalie is falling in.... Love?", Steff asked.
"Whatever", Janelle said blushing to the roots of her hair.