Later that day, Janaya called Timothy to inform him that she had been discharged from the clinic. She asked if they could both meet Maya, but Timothy insisted on going alone first. He suggested talking to her before Janaya showed up.
A few minutes later, he placed the call.
"Hey, are you good?" he asked.
"Yes, I'm fine. Let's go straight to the point—why did you call?" Maya replied.
"Yes… yes. I—I wanted to come say hi to you, so I thought I should inform you before coming," Timothy said.
"Say hi to me? I'm not sick. Janaya needs that more—she's the one in the hospital," Maya said flatly.
"Maya, come on. This isn't you. I genuinely just want to see you and talk. Are we not friends anymore?" Timothy asked.
"Emm… I don't think so. You all can be friends without me. I'm not interested. If that's all, I'll hang up."
"Wait, Maya!" Timothy raised his voice.
"I actually need your help with something… but it's not something we can talk about over the phone. That's why I wanted us to meet," he added, his tone softer now.
"Oh… are you okay?" Maya asked, her voice easing.
"I'm trying to be."
"I'll text you my new address, okay?" she said.
"New address? You left your old apartment?" Timothy asked, surprised.
"Yeah… kind of temporary. I moved in with my boyfriend."
"Your boyfriend?" Timothy blinked.
"Yeah?? Ohhh! He already asked me out and… it's a long story. Let's talk about you first," Maya said.
"Wait—so I'm the only one who didn't know Tan already asked you out? No one in this group actually sees me as a real friend. I get it now. Forget the address, I'm fine," Timothy said, clearly hurt.
"No, Timothy—no! Everything with Janaya happened so fast, I didn't even have time to tell anyone. You know I'm terrible at keeping secrets," Maya said quickly.
"I'll send you my address. Please come."
"…Okay. That's true," Timothy sighed. "See you later."
"Hey everyone, this is Maya's new address. Let's all go see her and apologize on behalf of Janaya," Timothy sent to the group.
"I'm kinda busy with my dad's project right now. You all can go without me," Daniel replied immediately.
"Janaya, Timothy and I will go," Jason replied, tagging her.
"I think you should probably come home, Jason… to, em, pick me up," Janaya typed.
"You're at my house?? My brother forgave you? That boy is actually unbelievable. All that tantrum and drama just to forgive you like that?" Jason typed, clearly annoyed.
"Okay… you don't sound like you want your brother to forgive Janaya," Timothy replied.
"Forgive Janaya? What did she do?" Daniel asked.
"Arghh, we can't start from the beginning. Hold on, I'll send a voice note," Timothy said, immediately dropping one.
A few seconds later—
"Okay this is really long. Whatever Janaya did, let her boyfriend forgive her please," Daniel replied… without listening.
"You fool. I sent all that just for you to tell me you're too lazy to listen??" Timothy fired back.
"Emm… Timothy, in your voice note you said Ethan came to Damian's house. I don't remember telling you that when you came to the hospital," Janaya typed slowly.
"Ethan came to my brother's house?? You slept with Ethan in my brother's house??" Jason typed instantly.
"Can we all focus on why we are here? We are here to bring Maya back. And Janaya, that was probably a miscommunication. So… tell me, you went to his house? 🙃 Also, was he good?" Timothy added.
"You must be very stupid. I bet my brother was better," Jason snapped.
"Okay okay! You all are disgusting. Turning my pain into cruise? I'll see you all by 4 at Maya's address," Janaya typed and went offline.
"See you too, Janaya!" Timothy replied.
"…But I still feel Ethan would be better than your brother, Jason," he added.
"The only advantage you have right now is that you're far from me. I would have beaten the hell out of you. Make sure I don't see you in Maya's house today, you goat!" Jason replied and went offline.
"Timothy, I genuinely think you should wear bulletproof," Daniel added.
Two hours later, Janaya texted:
"Is anyone on their way yet? I'm dressed already."
Five minutes later, Timothy replied:
"I'm almost at her place. I'll probably wait for you guys at the gate."
"Oh! I'm inside already. She welcomed me with a bucket of crunchy chicken breast," Jason replied.
"In your dreams, Jason. Just say you're craving chicken. Maya eats healthy—even if she gives you chicken, it won't be a bucket," Janaya replied immediately.
"Arghh, just play along. I'm on my way. I'll be at the gate in 5 minutes," Jason said.
"Okay, you guys should wait for me at the gate," Janaya typed.
She grabbed her bag, glanced at herself in the mirror, then headed downstairs.
"Are you going somewhere?" a voice called. It was Damian.
"Yes… I'm going to see Maya. I'm not going alone—Jason is already on his way," she replied, sounding slightly nervous.
"I didn't ask for all that, babe. You think I won't believe you?" Damian said, walking closer.
"No… it's just—I wanted you to be aware of everything," she said quickly.
Damian stepped closer, his hand finding her waist. He leaned in and spoke softly into her ear.
"Can we just put everything behind us? Be the Janaya I fell in love with… the one my heart used to race for. I don't like seeing you scared or unsure. Let's move past it."
"I…" she started.
"I'll tell Fred to drop you off," Damian cut in gently before heading upstairs.
Minutes later, Janaya arrived at the location.
"Where are you guys?" she texted immediately.
"Coming! We've seen you," Jason replied.
"We might have to send you back to the hospital. This dress is terrible. Did they tamper with your brain?" Jason added.
"I guess you meant to say you missed me and want to give me a hug," Janaya replied.
"Let's go in, guys. I need to see my babe by 6." Timothy said.
"Yes, I agree—wait… babe? When? Where? How??" Jason asked, shocked.
"That was a prank. Let's go in," Timothy said, knocking on the gate.
"My adrenaline couldn't process that shock. If anything happens to me, you must be buried with me," Jason muttered, staring at him.
The gate opened.
"Hey Timo… hey guys," Maya said, surprised.
"Timothy, you don't only lie—you betray?" she added as she let them in.
"Maya!" Janaya called softly.
"Good to know you're better now," Maya replied, her tone neutral.
"My boyfriend isn't home right now. I would've loved for him to meet you all. Come in," Maya said, leading them inside.
They settled into the living room.
No one spoke.
The silence was loud… uncomfortable… heavy.
Janaya stood there, fingers tightly gripping her bag.
"Maya…" she finally said, her voice low.
Maya didn't respond. She just sat, arms folded.
"I know I don't deserve your attention right now… but please, just hear me out," Janaya continued.
Still nothing.
"I messed up. Not just with Damian… but with you. With all of you," her voice cracked.
"You didn't just mess up, Janaya," Maya said calmly. "You shut us out."
Janaya swallowed hard.
"I was scared," she said. "Everything was happening so fast—my parents, the pressure, the marriage… I didn't know how to explain it without dragging you all into something dangerous."
"So you decided we weren't worth trusting?" Maya asked, finally looking at her.
"That's not it," Janaya said quickly. "You are the only reason I've survived half the things I've been through. But this time… I thought keeping you away would protect you."
Maya let out a dry laugh.
"Protect me? Or make decisions without me?"
Tears rolled down Janaya's face.
"I was wrong," she admitted. "Completely wrong. I should have trusted you. I should have told you everything."
The room stayed quiet.
"I lost you," Janaya continued softly. "And that hurts more than anything else right now."
Maya's expression softened… just a little.
"I don't need perfect friends, Janaya," she said. "I just need honest ones."
"I promise," Janaya said immediately. "No more secrets. No more shutting you out. Even if it's messy… I'll tell you everything."
Maya studied her for a few seconds.
Then—
"…You really hurt me," she said quietly.
"I know," Janaya replied.
Another pause.
Then Maya sighed.
"Sit down," she said.
Relief washed over Janaya instantly as she slowly took a seat.
"We're not okay yet," Maya added. "But… we're not over either."
Timothy exhaled loudly.
"Finally. I thought I was about to witness a burial today," he muttered.
Jason nodded.
"Same. Emotional funeral."
Maya rolled her eyes slightly.
"You two are not helping."
"Everyone of you needs to personally apologize to me." Timothy said legs crossed
"And that's because?" Jason replied rolling his eyes
"That's because I've dedicated all my time for you all. Everyone is now in a relationship and I'm still stuck" Timothy said
"Everyone?" Janaya asked looking at Jason
"Don't look at me like that. I couldn't even enjoy my kiss with her, you ruined it with the whole bleeding thing" Jason said crossing his arms together
"So you are finally over Vivian?" Elena said letting out a loud laughter
"And who is this unlucky girl?" She continued
The whole friends laughed
"I'll show you just how lucky she is, you jealous goat. Atleast I didn't keep moving into a man's house from my friends" Jason replied clearly annoyed
"Hey babe I'm home" the voice cut in from the door.
"That's my man, guys I'll be right back" Maya said leaving them to attend to her man.
"See her happy face. I really need to get a babe" Timothy said heads down like someone regretting
Janaya and Jason's eye met and they let out a loud laughter.