Just a bit of Courage

Title: Just a bit of Courage

Author: Haripriya

Author's Note: Hello everyone! I hope you all are having a great day! This is my last story of this entire year, so I hope you enjoy it!

I can't do it. I can't!! I just...just can't. I know it was one of my goals to achieve this year, and there is only precisely 9 hours left for this year to be over. But, I'm too scared. I am the opposite of unabashed. I'm sorry Grace, I just can't do it. You were right in saying I was just a big embarrassed person, a big scaredy-cat because, in reality, I am. No matter how much I try to refuse the truth, it will stay there forever. I cannot do this, I can't even imagine talking to you...I just can't.

"Lina!" my sister yells across the room.

The pitch of her voice suddenly shook me from my room. I almost fell down on the floor. Luckily, I held on to the bed railings as I walked down.

I groan and respond, "What?!"

"I want to talk to you Lina, just meet me in the backyard," she tells me and expects me to listen to her.

Since I am a nice sister, I quickly clean up my room and walk down the stairs, still pondering, being almost in a different world. As I walk down, a lot of thoughts rush to my brain instantly. 

What does she want to talk about? Why privately? She could have just talked to me in my room, or her room! Whatever it is, I really do hope that this "talk" is actually beneficial, and just not a waste of time. Still, what does she want to talk about? Will the information be really classified to talk outside in the backyard? I really don't know what her problem is. Just because she is the older sister doesn't mean I have to listen to her. Plus, she has never really wanted to talk to me separately before.

I continue walking down the stairs, admiring all the little engravings on the railings. I look outside in the bright blue sky, almost feeling the sun's radiation from inside. I could see her sitting on the park bench of our backyard, facing towards our neighbor's villa. I just shook my head but continued walking until she erupted like Mount Vesuvius again.

"Lina!!! Are you here?" she continued hollering as an alarmed dog would.

"Ugh! I am here! Why are you yelling from all the way from the backyard?" I scoffed at her, trying to reason with her, but she was too busy panting and pacing here and there.

"Do you not remember Gloria?" she asked me, and I was at first dazzled, then caught on.

"Of course I remember her! She's the one who bought me all the gifts we got from the arcade last week. She also is in most of your classes and has a locker right next to yours right?" I question her, trying to confirm if she is the same person as who my brain is picturing right now.

"Yeah! She's the girl. Anyways, so last week when we were talking, she mentioned about her younger sister," she continued, and I started to sit right next to her, intrigued. "and it appears to me that you two know before. Her sister's name is Grace. I don't know who she is, but when I told her your name, she looked stunned. When I asked her what happened, she told me all about you...I guess, dilemma. You two are frenemies it appears to be, yes?" 

I was embarrassed, and suddenly I felt really hot and sweaty. I could tell my face became as pink as a cherry. I didn't know what to tell her. I mean...I felt so ashamed of myself. 

"Y-yeah. I mean, she used to be my friend, we used to be best friends, but..." I tried to talk, but suddenly, nothing came out of my throat.

"What happened? Gloria didn't give me all the details, I guess she doesn't know much about your fight either." my sister responded.

"Fine," I exhaled as I made my word out, "I'll tell you. So what happened was one day, she was getting bullied. You see, it happened right in front of me. I wanted to say something...but I didn't have the guts for it. I'm sorry, I don't know why I just stood there, watching her made fun of. I'm a terrible friend. What's even worse is that before this happened, actually many times people made fun of me, and every time Grace spoke up for me, defended me. I wish I did the same, but, I don't what happened. From that day onward, she just stopped talking to me. I really wanted to make it up to her, in fact, it was one of my goals for this year, but I was too scared. Is there any way you could help me, sis?" I tell her my entire story, and she listens to me very carefully, nodding, and finally holding my hand.

"I promise you, Lina, I'll help you. I was going to Gloria's house because she invited me. Do you want to come with me too? I'm sure Grace would be there." she tells me, and I immediately get excited by her offer. 

꙳꙳꙳

 My sister I both walk up to her house, and I let her ring the doorbell. To my luck, Gloria is the one who answers the door.

"Hey, Liv! I'm so glad you made it! Who's this? Your sister Lina?" she asks, now staring at me.

"Yeah! She's Lina. Actually, she came with me to solve the issue with-" as my sister was about to finish, Grace came up the door.

"With Grace?" Gloria fills her in, but I didn't care about that. 

I was so glad to see Grace after such a long time. Yes, she did go to my school, but we were never in the same classes or even looked at each other.

"Gloria, is this-?" she wanted to say, but then ran to hug me, and I did too.

"Wow, Grace! I...I'm so sorry! I've always wanted to make it up with you, but you see I never got the chance to. Please forgive me!" I yell.

"I already did Lina. You know, my sister advised me to talk to you today. One of my goals was to talk to you before this year ended." she replied, and I was amazed.

"Me too! My sister also suggested me to talk to you. In fact, that's why she brought me here! I too wanted to make things up before this year ended! Wow, great minds do think alike!" I squeal in excitement.

"It's funny, you know? We both wanted to talk to each other, but we were too afraid to, too scared, worrying what the other will think," she said, and we finally stopped hugging.

"Yeah, you are right. But I'm just glad we're friends again. Wanna do a movie marathon and whine about it at the end while eating popcorn and drinking strawberry lemonade?" I ask her, and by the look on her face, she totally agrees.

We both ran inside and celebrated a great New Years' Eve.

~The End~