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Koala was relieved when the phone started ringing, coming up with a call from Sabo. It had been too long since they'd spoken. Well, maybe not that long. But Sabo had been acting strange. Distant. Koala didn't want to press it, in case there was something heavy weighing on his mind, but she felt she might need to. Sabo couldn't just be shouldering things on his own, as he had a tendency to do unless she called him out on it. She shook her head, smiling at the phone fondly. She answered the call, pressing her phone tight to her ear as if it would give her closer access to Sabo.
“Sabo-kun?” Koala tried to keep the happiness from her voice. She didn’t want him to know just how much she’d missed him.
Sabo did nothing to hide the relief from his own voice as he began with a bright “Koala—”
Oh, she’d missed his voice, but that opened the floodgates as she interrupted him with all the grace of a freight train. “I'm glad you called.” Well, she wanted to get to the bottom of this so their friendship could get back on track. “You think I haven't noticed that you've been distancing yourself from me. Did I do something wrong?”
She felt she’d done a good job of keeping the hurt from her voice, but from Sabo’s intake of breath over the line perhaps not. He hesitated. His voice seemed small. Apologetic. “N-no. It's not that. Koala, listen, I need your help.”
Oh, this man—she tried not to be frustrated that he’d only broken the silence between them to ask something of her. But, well, she was also relieved he still trusted her. That she was the person he came to for advice when he needed help. A warmth spread in her chest as she leaned back in her chair, looking out the window towards a clear blue sky. She tried to get across that warmth and clarity in her own voice. “Sure! What is it?”
Koala could hear Sabo shuffling around on the other end of the phone. Fidgeting, really. He’d get like that whenever he was really nervous. Koala wished that she could reach through the phone to give his shoulder a comforting squeeze and so that he could see her patient smile.
“There’s,” Sabo stopped. Started up again more confidently. “There’s someone I like. That I really like. I want to confess to them. Tomorrow.”
Koala was a Karate champion, but never had a punch to the gut left her as winded as she felt now. Her grip on her phone shook as she tried to calm her breathing. Hold down on her hurt. She could feel the sting of tears beginning to prick her eyes, but she took a deep breath, willing them back. She glared at the clear sky. It was clearly mocking her in being so happy when inside she was feeling like it should be raining.
Her silence must have been longer than she’d thought as Sabo’s voice cut in through her thoughts, concerned and gently prodding. “Koala? Koala, are you still there?”
He sounded so lost and scared. Shaking off her own feelings, Koala readjusted her grip on her phone. For Sabo. She had to be a good friend for Sabo. He had come to her for help, and she would give it to him. “Y-Yeah...” She stopped as her own voice cracked, taking in a deep breath, and putting on a teasing smile and tone that she figured would help put Sabo at ease. “So you like someone? Why am I hearing this just now? Who is it?”
She winced. Okay, hopefully he didn’t find this too demanding or probing. She figured she was allowed some heckling. He’d been holding onto a secret, after all, and she was his best friend!
Sabo sounded utterly relieved as he gushed over the phone. Koala could picture him as he talked. He’d be rubbing the back of his neck, looking all shy, lanky, and bashful. “I just realized recently. I can't tell you who it is yet. So can you help me? You know I don't know anything about this kind of stuff. I don't know what to say to her.”
Koala was torn but tried not to show it. He had come to her for help, even if that help felt like it was tearing her heart into bits of confetti. All she could do was try to keep her advice level, and her tone light. Still a little teasing. “Just tell her why you like her. Even all the cheesy and sentimental stuff. She’d love to hear that! Just be honest about your feelings. Maybe tell her what you would do for her.”
Koala thought she heard a pen scratching over paper across the phone. As if Sabo were taking notes, eagerly taking in every piece of advice. He let it sink in for several seconds before he asked, voice the most serious it had been in all phone calls. “Do you want to hear those things when someone confesses to you?”
Koala winced. He didn’t mean to hurt her. Didn’t know that she only wanted him to be the one confessing to her. That she had imagined him saying such sweet words to her and confessing at least a dozen times over their years of friendship. Still, she channeled her genuine frustration as she glowered over the phone. “Are you making fun of me?”
“No,” Sabo was dead serious, no trace of teasing in his voice. “I’m genuinely asking.”
And that sincerity made it so much worse. She deflated, voice a little shaky over the phone. Genuine heart to genuine heart. “Yeah … Yeah, hearing those things would probably make me accept the confession!”
Koala could practically hear Sabo’s smile. “I see,” and then, his gratitude. “Thanks a lot Koala! I owe you one!”
Oh, did he ever—wait a second. “Wait!” Koala spluttered, remembering an important detail. “Sabo-kun! Where do you plan to confess?”
Sabo seemed startled but Koala was relieved he didn’t hang up. “Huh? Anywhere is fine, right? As long as I can tell her how I feel.”
Oh, that sappy man. Whoever he was confessing to was one lucky lady. But still … he was so clueless. So utterly, completely clueless. He was lucky he’d called her! She had his back.
“Idiot!” She tried not to laugh as she gave him some sound advice. “You can't just confess anywhere! At least pick a place with a little privacy or somewhere special for her!”
“I-I see...” Sabo stuttered, sounding a bit overwhelmed.
Koala just continued, trying to keep the mood light and teasing. “Seriously, if you get rejected because of your dumbassery, I will kick your ass before comforting you!”
Sabo laughed, the sound so fond it did something to Koala’s heart, before lapsing into a warm silence. “I believe you. Thanks! For everything, really. I know I can count on you, Koala. I'll see you tomorrow then?”
He sounded so hopeful. Koala really wanted to see him, she did. She just wasn’t sure her heart could take it. Right now, she was almost relieved she couldn’t see his fond smile, his handsome face. That meant he wouldn’t see her breaking. “Nn!” she answered with a hum, non-committal, needing time to think it over. But she ended with her own fondness. “Good night and good luck for tomorrow!”
“Ah.” Sabo responded. Koala listened to the phone, in case he had more to say, but all that was there was a wetting of the lips and breath. Sabo seemed to be waiting for her to say something, too, so they just listened to each other in silence, hearing the other breathing but none of their thoughts. Eventually, Koala heard a click. The static as Sabo hung up.
Well. That was that then.
Koala put down her phone and stood up from her desk. She knew there was no chance of getting her work done now. She walked over to her bed, flopping face first into the covers. All she could do was sob into her pillow. Her chest hurt so much.
She was worried. Scared. Was this why Sabo had been acting so weird and distant? His mind was elsewhere? Was she going to lose her best friend, even after everything she had done to try and keep the friendship going?
If he started dating someone else, they’d naturally spend less time together. Sabo and Koala wouldn’t be referred to as a duo anymore. There’d be some distancing, even while they tried to keep their friendship the same as ever. Dynamic changes naturally did that. Koala didn’t want to get in the way of Sabo’s happiness or relationship. She didn’t want his girlfriend to get jealous of Koala’s friendship with him. Maybe it wouldn’t happen, but it was possible. All the worst-case scenarios were making her head spin.
She wanted, so badly and desperately, to be happy for her best friend. Clearly it had been on his mind and he was really into this girl. She should be cheering him on and being thrilled for him. Maybe when she had time to think it over and accept things … it had just side-swiped her. Taken her completely by surprise. She hadn’t expected Sabo-kun to feel that way for another person; had never seen him take an interest in another girl like that. Maybe it was her own feelings making her blind to his. She shouldn’t have been so selfish or inconsiderate.
She knew, too, that he wouldn’t get rejected. Despite being a bit of a selfish idiot who didn’t know how to ask out a girl, he was a great person and anyone would be lucky to receive his confession. She’d see past any of his bumbling and stumbling to realize Sabo-kun was a beautiful person. The best kind of partner. He would never get hurt by such rejection and Koala should have been relieved by that. She really should have just been smiling for his happiness.
Why, then, could she only cry into her pillow?
— — —
Koala woke up to the sound of her alarm. Damn…they said wishing something enough would will it into existence, then why did tomorrow come? She groaned, thinking that maybe if she just continued sleeping, she wouldn't have to acknowledge this day and everything that would happen in it. But the beeping of her phone told her that was a dumb and selfish idea. She tapped the off button of her alarm and the wallpaper of her phone came to view. Sabo’s goofy smile brought a lump in her throat and her eyes started to water again. She blinked away the forming tears and pulled the blanket over her head. Koala did not want this day to come, let alone face it. But she has responsibilities. She cannot dawdle like this, even if she just had experienced her first and probably her worst heartbreak.
Koala got out of bed and checked herself in the mirror. Crap. Her eyes were red and puffy. Anyone could tell she had been crying herself to sleep. Her first class was still in 3 hours. She got time to remedy this unsightly appearance. She hoped that attending her classes would keep her mind off the inevitable changes that were about to come.
As if the universe was trying to prove to her that this day could get even worse, her professor decided to be more interactive than usual with their class. She was zoning out, her mind totally somewhere it didn't even want to be in, when she got called to answer a question she did not hear. Her seatmate was kind enough to whisper her the answer before she got humiliated for being inattentive. Her heart sank, disappointed at her and itself. She should have stayed in bed.
When the class ended, Koala thought it might be best to skip her afternoon class. Clearly, she was not in the right mindset. This day of the week was the only one where Koala and Sabo have the same lunchtime, and they would always eat together at a spot in the university garden where they often hangout to pass time during long breaks. Sometimes Ace would come and join them, but that place was mostly just theirs. She forgot to ask Sabo what time he would confess, and to be honest, she didn't want to know. He hasn't called her so she figured Sabo hasn't asked the mystery girl out yet.
Koala pulled out her phone to send him a message—that she couldn't eat lunch with him today and that she is wishing him luck. When she was about to press send, her phone started vibrating, startling her. She had never been this jumpy. Her hands fumbled not to drop her phone to the hard concrete floor; almost rejecting the call from—Sabo. Great. She thought she could at least be spared from having this conversation, even just by a few hours, but the universe clearly had other plans. She took a deep breath before answering the call and did her best to sound as cheerful as she could.
“Hey, Sabo-kun!” she did not want to know. She did not want to know, and yet… “Have you confessed yet? How did it go?”
“No, not yet. But I’m about to,” Sabo answered and Koala felt her heart being ripped apart again. “I’m feeling…nervous though, so can you come to our usual spot?”
Koala’s mouth gaped. “Is that where you are planning to confess?”
“Yes,” Sabo answered flatly.
Koala’s grip on her phone tightened. Unbelievable. He wanted to confess to someone else at their special place?! Sure, the university garden is the perfect place for such an affair, with all the greenery and the pond that leveled up the ambiance of the whole area, but still…
Disappointment and frustration were overwhelming Koala’s chest. Sabo needed her help, but she didn’t think she could keep a straight face, let alone a happy and supportive one, when she saw him professing his love to another.
“Sabo-kun…” her voice was almost caught in her throat. “I don't think I want to be there when you confess. It's...weird if I'm there…”
“Please, Koala,” Sabo pleaded, “I don’t have anyone else to ask. I can’t reach Ace and…I could really use seeing my best friend’s face right now.”
Ah. He really just had to say that. So unfair. She couldn’t even see his face, and yet the tone of his voice alone could crack her resolve.
“...Alright. I’ll be there in 5 minutes.”
“Great! Really, thanks a lot Koala! I’ll see you in a bit then.”
The excitement in Sabo’s voice could almost make up for the emotional wringer he was putting her through. After hanging up, Koala saw the sad excuse she was about to send to Sabo earlier and sighed. She deleted the draft and put away her phone before giving her cheeks two light slaps each. Time to face reality. For Sabo-kun. She would be fine.
Koala had taken many deep breaths to calm herself down in the time it took her to walk to ‘their’ spot.
Well, she wondered, looking across the pond, taking in the sound of songbirds from the trees above her, it might not be Sabo and Koala’s spot anymore. It would be Sabo and someone else’s.
She told herself this was okay.
Then, she made eye-contact with the blond across the pond and her heart skipped a beat. All her carefully built-up walls and calm came crumbling down.
Sabo was sitting at their bench, crumbling up his lunch roll to share with the ducks and moorhens. There was a steady line of crumbs lined across the algae-greened water in front of him, yet the largest and loudest of the ducks was at his side, staring up longingly at the half Sabo was still eating. Sabo seemed to be relishing in eating his lunch, taking long and slow bites, much to the duck’s chagrin. It waggled its feathery tail and waddled closer, eyes looming large, before it launched itself at the bread in his hand.
“Karoo, no!” Sabo screeched, laughing after the shock wore off. “You greedy duck.”
Koala couldn’t help the fond smile that wore its way onto her face. With Sabo in front of her, it was impossible not to be happy, even in the face of a broken heart. He was wearing his finest top hat and cravat, the one she’d picked out for him several months ago which she had said made him look dapper. Even his shirt looked like it had been freshly pressed for the occasion. Koala hadn’t told him to dress up, and she was proud of him for taking the initiative.
Still, she didn’t like how his shoulders slumped. How he was fidgeting nervously with his sleeve button. This wasn’t her confident Sabo. Sighing, she realized she’d have to really give him a confidence boost. She wanted him to see him happy and in love, even if it wasn’t with her.
She stepped around a trio of ducklings waddling across the path, their fluffy yellow butts reminding her of Sabo’s hair when he didn’t brush it, all sticking up ends yet plush. The pathway around the pond, and accompanying bench seats, were the nicest spots around campus to walk and sit. Water was soothing to the soul. The trees around the path were often flowering in the spring and summer, and a heady floral smell held through the air. It was perfect for clearing the head between classes, and for creating an intimate hangout space for students away from the main hubs of activity.
She raised her arm in greeting, trying to gain his attention as she walked over. “Sabo-kun!”
Sabo practically jolted out of his seat in shock, his attention so focused on whatever was going on in his head that he had no sense of his surroundings. His top hat almost fell off, but luckily stayed on his head. She was glad neither of them would have to fish it from the pond.
“Gee, sorry Sabo-kun! Didn’t mean to almost give you a heart attack. Are you still nervous? You shouldn’t be! You’ll do fine! And you’re looking very handsome.” She plonked down with a dramatic sigh beside him, hands holding the seat either side of her. “Where is she? Is she coming soon? I swear if she’s stood you up Sabo, she better have a good excu—”
Sabo was just staring at her with a look of wonder as she rambled. His fond smile made her heart do backflips and she tried to remind herself to calm down. She almost missed his contented “She’s here.”
This time it was Koala’s turn to be startled as she nearly jumped off the seat to try and look around for this mystery woman who made Sabo smile like that. “Where?” She looked everywhere, shoulders slumping. It must have been a quiet day as there was no one else walking around the pond. Was he teasing her? That was too cruel and un-Sabo-like. “I don’t see anyone. Who is it?”
“Koala.”
She looked back to Sabo and tilted her head. “Yeah? Sabo-kun, am I blind or is she invisible? I can’t see anyone. Unless superpowers exist—which, by the way, it wouldn’t surprise me if you found a girl who could turn invisible, you’re that kind of troublemaker—I’m confused.”
Sabo tilted his eyebrow. “You’re confused? You just started talking about invisibility and me seeing—or, well, not seeing—somebody else when I’ve been gearing up all afternoon to confess.” He shook his head, smiling fondly. “Man, Koala, you always find ways to amaze me and keep me on my toes. It’s one of the things I lo—like about you.”
Koala’s brain malfunctioned. She couldn’t have heard him right. All she could do was stare at him, gaping jaw trying to find words looking like an adorable fish blubbering over breaths. Finally, she managed to find words. “W … What was that?”
Sabo gazed into her eyes and spoke directly to her. His hand closest to her, which had also been hovering at his side, now inched towards hers on the bench. He interlinked their pinkies. “I like you.”
Koala could only blink, repeating a startled. “What.”
Sabo blushed, embarrassed but emboldened. “It’s you. It’s always been you. You’re the one I like.”
Koala almost couldn’t hear the rest of his words, blood rushing through her head and to her cheeks, but she did her best to hang onto his every word, etching them into her memory.
“I know we have been best friends for many years. I didn't expect my feelings for you to develop like this. And I’m sorry, but I couldn’t help but fall for you.” He looked between their joined pinkies, up to her eyes. “And I’m not ashamed. I'm happy they did. I like how you are always so kind and cheerful. I like how you smile and laugh. I even like you when you're angry—even when that anger’s directed my way in the form of a passionate rant. Usually I’ve done something dumb and you’re just trying to get me to see sense—and I’m sorry but I love your pout. How huffy and ramble-y you get. Having you around always brightens my day. And you know how much I owe you, right? That's why I want to be there for you too. As a friend and, if you will accept, even more."
Koala’s vocabulary, previously confined to only ‘what’, completely deserted her. She was speechless.
She was so happy.
Sabo looked at her, eyebrows pinched in concern, raising their joined hands to grasp hers between both of his. “Koala. Please go out with me! I will take care of you and cherish you. Always!”
Tears pricked beneath her eyes, and all she could do was smile, speechless, as one trickled down her cheek.
Sabo squeezed her hand gently in concern, saddened by her tears and horrified that he might have been the cause. His palms were sweaty around her hand. “K-Koala? Please say something.”
Koala kept smiling, but pulled her hand out from his in order to cover her face with both of hers to muffle her excited squeal.
Sabo jolted in alarm, fighting the urge to reach out towards her to comfort her. “Koala! What’s wrong!? Have I done something to upset you? Please don’t feel pressured to accept my confession! Just having you in my life is enough, truly. You’re my best frie—”
Koala peeked out from behind her hands, glaring and blushing furiously. He wasn’t going to see her pout this time, no matter how much he’d complimented it. Instead, she spoke muffled into her hands. “Sabo-kun, you are so mean...”
“A-ah.” Sabo folded up his hands and put them in his lap to avoid the urge to hold her hand, shoulders slumping. His gaze wavered between her and his lap, before he sincerely said “I’m sorry, Koala.”
“Sorry?” She laughed. “Do you even know what you’re apologizing for?”
“For … making our friendship awkward?”
She shook her head helplessly, lowering her hands so he could see her affectionate smile. She couldn’t stay mad at him, even when angry. “You asked me for advice on how to confess and you were going to confess to me? That's so embarrassing on my part...” She hid her face in her hands again, feeling brave for having lowered them in the first place.
Sabo raised his index finger, pouting, getting ready to defend himself. “I had no one else to ask! And I’d trust no one else!” He deflated, embarrassed, scratching the back of his neck as he mumbled. “And also, I thought it would be best to ask the person herself on how she wants to be confessed to.”
Koala couldn’t help hiding her face. It was easier when he couldn’t see her and she couldn’t see him to get the words out. “Still...it's so embarrassing. Do you know how sad I was when you told me you like someone?
“E-eh?” He jerked back. “I didn’t … think you’d think it was anyone else.”
“Yeah, well. You put me through the emotional wringer,” She lowered her hands to glare at him, letting out some of the hurt she had been feeling earlier, before settling into a smile. “I guess you’ll have to make it up to me on our first date, huh?”
Now it was Sabo’s turn to go red and gape like a fish. “R-really? Does that mean—”
Koala couldn’t hide just how goofily happy she was feeling on the inside, sending him her widest smile. “Sabo-kun! I want to go out with you!”
Sabo sprang up from the bench, grabbing Koala’s hands as he pulled her for a hug. Koala’s toes could barely touch the ground as he was practically lifting her—squeezing her petite body while his face nestled in the crook of her neck. They’ve shared hugs like this before but none of them could come close to how warm and relieving this one felt.
“Thank you Koala!” Sabo said, lightly rubbing his face on her shoulder. “I’m so happy!”
Koala giggled as she tapped his back, her eyes watering again from the rollercoaster of emotions she had been in less than a day. “Thank you for telling me your feelings, Sabo-kun.”
Sabo put Koala down and placed both his hands on her shoulders. He looked her straight into the eyes, his face full of determination. “I don't know how to be a boyfriend, but I'll learn. I might do idiotic things but don't give up on me, ok?”
Seriously, this man. Koala laughed as she wiped the tears brimming in her eye. “But you always do idiotic and SELFISH things and I never gave up on you.”
Her words seemingly hit him like a rock dropped on his head. He retreated his hands and sheepishly rubbed his nape, looking away. Rare times of seeing him feel really bad about the troubles he had caused her.
Koala grabbed his free hand and squeezed them. Sabo’s eyes were back on hers. “Us going out won't be different. I trust you!” A smile brightening up her face. “I'm in your care now. I will take care of you too! Well, I guess even more than I already do.” She giggled.
Sabo smiled at her fondly, promising her the same thing. She wondered how she could have missed such an affectionate look directed at her before. Was she too dense, caught up with her own feelings? Or was he just that good in keeping his expressions in check? Well, it didn’t matter now. Their apparent mutual pining ends here.
Sabo broke up the comfortable silence. “So have you eaten yet? I think I gave too much of my lunch to the ducks.” He laughed as his stomach growled.
“I actually haven’t! Let’s go grab lunch together then,” Koala said, tugging Sabo’s arm as they walked away from their—and still only theirs—special spot. “We need to hurry though. I have a class in 45 minutes.”
“What? Can’t you just skip it? I haven’t spent a lot of time with you lately,” Sabo complained.
“And whose fault do you think that was? Besides, you’ve already caused me too much trouble in one of my classes.”
Sabo gave her a confused “huh?” and Koala just giggled, refusing to give him any more context. “It’s fine. This will be my last class for the day. We can hangout more after.”
“Alright. I’ll walk you to your class and pick you up later then.”
“Nn! Thank you!”
What Koala had considered to be her worst day ever became her best. What she thought was a mischance was actually a blessing. She was lucky she had fallen in love with her best friend.