Shannon was still not willing to look at me, and the back of her head was facing me. I bit my lower lip, and for a moment, I did not know how to start.
"Time will run out soon if you still won’t say anything,” she reminded me.
I parted my lips, but I only ended up blurting out two words among the thousands of others in my mind after a moment of internal struggle.
"I'm sorry.” I owed Shannon an apology.
I had already said everything I wished to tell her earlier through text and trusted that she already read the messages. I had nothing else to say other than what I mentioned in the messages. My apology was the best thing I could offer at this moment.
After apologizing, I gulped. Hearing no response from her, I inhaled and said, “That’s all I have to say. I’ll leave first, then.”
Perhaps she did not want to be in the same space with me for too long. The moment I turned around, her voice sounded behind me, “So, that’s your attitude?
“Why did you bother coming to me if that’s how you’re going to be?”
I met Shannon’s eyes as I turned around to look at her. “That’s not it. I just don't know where to start. I know I shouldn’t have said all those provoking things to make you leave. So… I’m sorry. I truly am sorry.”
I was her friend, but I hurt her.
"Do you think you can easily appease me with a simple apology? I'm not that easily appeased." Shannon's voice was choked with sobs, which made me feel even more sorry for her.
“I don't know how to get you to forgive me. I only want to let you know about my regrets on this matter. I thought I was doing this to protect you at first. Little did I know my actions have hurt you. I was really selfish, I…”
My voice started trembling as tears filled my eyes. I could not say anymore.
I only continued after wiping away my tears, “I’ve been thinking a lot these days and just realized that a friend is someone who can give you a hand when you’re in trouble. You offered me a helping hand back then, yet I was the one who refused it. I'm really sorry. If I could go back in time, I definitely would’ve taken your hand.”
There was nothing more for me to add after saying that. I held back my tears and mumbled, "Time is up. I guess I should go now. I’m sorry to bother you."
“You’re not allowed to leave.”
Shannon stood up and looked back at me with red eyes. "I’ve been waiting for you for so many days, and you only came to apologize to me now. I really should have left you hanging a few more days to spare my dignity. But since you’ve apologized to me so sincerely, I can forgive you in advance.”
I could not help but smile when I heard what she said. "Really?"
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