Repeat and Retribution

Chapter 44

“Crys!” Brittany shouted full of joy while she was running towards her.

Sitting in front of the coffee shop Crystal was surprised to see her best friend looking more lovelier and livelier than before. Wearing a nice white sundress paired with sandals, it was a new look she never thought her friend would actually try. Her age seem to have because of her clothes

“Brittany!” She gave her a hug the moment that she was within her arms reach.

“You are looking, good girl!” Brittany noticed how she was all professional-looking with her coat and pencil skirt.

Crystal also lost weight returning to her fit shape like before, looking seemingly fresher because of her new hairstyle shoulder-length hair with curled ends.

“Thank you, you look a lot happier yourself,” she could not help but notice seeing as how much color was in her best friend's cheeks.

It was like they both suddenly switched places the woman was now more cheery, enthusiastic, and lively, while Crystal became the neat, prim, and professional working girl.

“Well, let’s say I’ve finally found out how to finally fulfill my life. How, about you, what have you been doing these past six months? I really haven’t heard from you after you got that job at the company,” Brittany gestured her to sit, it was obvious that she was excited to chat and talk after these past few months that they haven’t seen each other.

“Sorry, I’ve just been really busy lately, with some stuff,” Crystal giggled as she called for the waiter so that they could order.

Brittany’s brow shot up as she folded her hands on her chest while leaning on her chair. “And what kind of stuff would that be that you became so busy and suddenly forgot to meet up with me, huh?” her best friend was grinning like a child as she started her interrogation.

“I like your new look,” Crystal pointed out as her friend looked so different in her get-up.

That made Brittany’s brows rise even further. “Since when did you learn to avoid a topic at hand, spill it out sister, what have you been doing these past few months, that you haven’t told me,” she cackles as her smirk grew even wider sensing the change in Crystal.

Crystal's face almost twisted as she tried to hide her long wide smile. “Planning, just planning,” she waves her friend off.

Brittany ended up bending forward to place her elbow on the table so that she can place her hand on her face while looking intently at Crystal.

“Okay, what’s this all about,” It was obvious that the woman had noticed something odd and different from how she was talking.

“Nothing,” she giggled waving her hand to her friend.

Brittany’s brow rosed. “Uh-um,” Nodding with a straight face, it was obvious that she wasn’t buying it.

Crystal ended up looking down with a smile. “I just...It’s just that, there were so many things in my life that I now know that would have been better. And like miss Makiling said, it isn’t too late right? So, I’ve decided to fix everything.” she explains letting out a sigh as she remembered her wasted chance.

That made Brittany nod with a smile. “Fix, okay. And what exactly are you planning on doing?” straightening on her chair she begins to relax again.

“That’s easy, look here.” Crystal took out some paper bags from under the table and placed them in front of her best friend to check.

“Damn girl, these are some expensive things you got here. Why the sudden interest with this?” Brittany's brows frowned as she checked the contents of the paper bag.

Crystal just smiled at her best friend as she watches her take out each item that she had bought.

“A set of really nice culinary knives, pans, blender, and spatulas, what’s up with this girl, I thought you already had these, I know you love to cook, but are you planning on starting your own restaurant?” Brittany joke seeing the different kitchenware’s that she had carefully handpicked.

Yet Crystal just smiled wider, not answering as she waited for her friend to finish taking out the contents of the other paper bags.

Seeing a box, Brittany’s cheerful face suddenly ended up frowning as she began opening it. “And what’s this? This is a man’s wristwatch, what are you going to do with an expensive ass wristwatch?” her face twisted as she pouted while giving her a strange look.

“Who do you think it’s for?” she gives her a mischievous smile, wanting to see if her friend's keen sense was still the same.

“If you were the same girl as before, I’d think that this would be for Clyde, seeing as you might want to bribe him or something. But, since I can see that you ain’t like the girl I used to know, plus the fact that there are kitchen stuff in here, I’m guessing this would be for someone else,” Brittany points out, smiling widely seeing as how she let out a laugh. “All right, tell me who are these for?” her best friend finally surrenders, wanting her to spill out the beans herself.

“I was thinking, maybe it’s time that I make amends and say sorry to my parents, you know. I mean, they were right from the very start and seeing from that other timeline that Miss Makiling gave us, I’m now sure that we would all have been good if it wasn’t for my mistakes. So, I was thinking, why shouldn’t I try to fix it now? I mean, I know my parents love me very much, and I think they’ll look past my mistakes seeing as I’m now better than before,” she finally reveals what was on her mind.

Since they were back on her original timeline, she was sure that her parents still held something against her after what she did. And remembering how they were so good on her other timeline, she could not help but miss them even more.

The thought of it made Brittany’s face even more cheerful and bright. “I thought that it would never cross your mind. But now you are just making me damn proud, maybe that alternate time travel was good for you after all!” she could not help but move to Crystal's side to give her a hug.

“Oh, and I also scheduled a get-together with my old friends, you know. Elena, Kathy, and Denise, I thought that maybe it’s time that I start socializing again.” Crystal felt quite good about herself as her best friend was obviously quite happy for her, making her tell her other ideas that she had thought.

“You go, girl! I have no qualms with that and I totally support it! It’s about damn time that you get your life back,” Brittany cheered for her giving her a nice pat on the back.

“Thanks, so now that all’s that has been let out, I think it’s your turn to spill the beans,” Crystal let out a mischievous grin, as she turned and looked at her friend straight in the eye.

It was no surprise that her friend was very happy about all the changes that were happening to her. But, now she too had so many questions in mind, seeing as how cheerful Brittany had become.

That made Brittany move away a bit. “Uh-um,” her friend only gave her a funny look and a really annoying smirk.

Crystal knew that her best friend was teasing her with all the mystery that she had going on right now, she knew that it was her friends' way of punishing her for not seeing her these past few months.

She ended up raising an eyebrow at her. “C’mon Brittany, tell me cause I will not stop bugging you if you don’t let me know what caused all this change,” she jokingly threatens her, wanting to find out what has happened that she was unaware of.

Brittany cleared her throat a bit, making Crystal more anxious since it was the first time that her best friend was unable to make eye contact.

“We’ll. Remember when we returned to that other timeline, I told you that I did some stuff while I was on my own,” she smirked, waving her hand in the air.

“Okay,” Crystal just nods, not caring about her friends' mannerisms at the moment, sensing that it was something really hard for her friend to say.

“Well, it seems all those things that I found out in there were true,” Brittany explained.

“And?” She could not help but frown as she too had the same thought about it.

“So, remember that guy I kept telling you about, the one that I was avoiding but regretted it afterward since he was really nice,” Brittany bit her lower lip at the mention of it.

“The one you thought was your stalker,” Crystal could not help but tease, remembering the said person.

“Yeah, well it just so happens that he wasn’t really stalking me or anything, but he just really liked me, and I actually managed to make him confess his feelings for me in that other timeline,” Brittany pouted as her cheeks suddenly turned red.

There was an abrupt moment of silence as her best friend seemed to be a bit reluctant to continue her story.

“Okay, go on. Don’t leave me hanging,” Crystal burst out, hating the excitement that was causing the extreme pumping inside her chest, having an idea about it all.

“So, I decided to see him this time around and confirm if that other timeline and our current one was the same,” Brittany lets out after a few moments.

“And so?” She ended up frowning as her friend suddenly lost her voice again.

“Well, turns out he’s still head over heels for me, and he finally had the guts to confess this time,” Brittany rolled her eyes, though she had this really wide smile on her face.

Eyes wide in surprise and astonishment Crystal could not hold her squeal out of sheer exhilaration that she was feeling right now.

“Oh my god! And?” she could not help but grabbed her friend's arm as she seemed reluctant once more.

Brittany though still smiling, let out a deep sigh. “Well, since I already knew about him on that other timeline, I didn’t really want to waste any more chance here in our original one, so me and him are dating now,” her best friend said in a quick and rushing manner.

Yet that was enough for Crystal to scream again, suddenly feeling jitter and butterflies in her stomach.

“Oh my god, Brit! It’s a miracle, I’m so happy for you,” she ended up giving her best friend a hug.

She never really thought that this day would come when her friend was finally deciding on actually trying to settle down.

“I know, I know!” Brittany giggled giving her a tap on the shoulder so that she’d let her go.

“Well, this calls for a celebration,” Crystal cheerfully clapped her hand and signaled the waiter again since she felt they needed something special that day. “We’re going to have champagne!” she informs her friend as the person she called was finally beside them.

Brittany went back to her chair in front of her so that she can add some more orders along with it. Crystal's attention was suddenly caught by a text message that she thought she’d never actually get.

“What’s up girl? What are you grinning like that?” Her best friends notice as she wasn’t able to hide the wide line that suddenly formed on her face after reading the message.

“I feel that our day just keeps getting better and better,” Crystal smiled even wider almost making her eyes close because of the sheer feeling of joy she was experiencing right now.

“You damn right it is,” Brittany gave her an agreeing nod as she raised her hand to get a high five.

All was seemingly going well for her right now, and she was definitely not going to stop there.