Chapter 6

• ***
• Life on TUOIFA campus was fascinating and interesting. A whole month had passed already. Shane had never ever returned to the campus because all our teachers were present so far.
• 'Good riddance.'
• Plus, he probably had better business as a movie producer. To me, he was someone who could make you lose your cool real fast.
• **
• One Saturday, I went into our little living room to meet Keisha.
• "Kee, guess what."
• "What?"
• "Josh is coming to spend the weekend." I said happily.
• She frowned, clearly disgusted
• "And why are you telling me this? Someone who waited a whole month before calling you, since you came here. You're happy he's coming?"
• "Keisha, please don't–"
• "Don't please me," she cut in "I bet he's just gonna come here and propose to fuck you without apologizing. He's a disgusting pig." she retorted, clearly irritated by even the thought of him.
• She always felt bad for me and hated Josh's guts.
• "Keisha, stop."
• I hated our arguments. I hated all arguments that had to do with Josh.
• "I can't believe you made that jerk your first. He's not even worth it."
• "We were betrothed and now we're engaged, Keisha. I'll marry him."
• "God Forbid. Thank gawd, you didn't get pregnant."
• "Keisha, you're hurting me." I frowned.
• "I'm sorry but it's just the fact, Shayenne. Why did you even allow him to touch you?"
• "We– we did it only once," I sat down, feeling uncomfortable.
• "Why did you accept? You promised to wait for marriage. Well at least, that's what you used to say."
• "He–"
• "He what?" Keisha urged angrily, coming over to sit by me.
• "He was drunk and–" I swallowed, "...and I couldn't tell him no."
• Keisha's eyes widened.
• "What are you trying to tell me?" she gasped, "He forced you?!"
• "No. Not like that."
• She wasn't lying.
• "No, what? He forced you Shayenne? He did!"
• I shut my eyes tight when they started to prickle. My fingers intermingled and there was a lump in my throat.
• "Please Keisha," I stammered, tears beginning to well up my eyes a little, "Don't tell anyone, please."
• "That was rape." she muttered with a frown.
• "Please." I grabbed her hand when she stood up furiously, "Keisha, please. I beg you. Keep it to yourself. Do it for me."
• Keisha was furious but I needed her to try and understand me at this point. I just needed her to. Josh had threatened me to keep it to myself. I was scared of him.
• "Please." I mumbled, sobbing. Keisha sat down and stared at me. Her eyes watered.
• "Shayenne, you don't deserve this." she murmured, tears rolling down her cheeks too.
• "Keesha, please."
• "Let's make a deal" she replied, wiping away her tears. I stared at her confused.
• "What?"
• "Try and live like a girl of your age. Allow yourself to be wooed by another guy. Just to know what it feels like to have a normal boyfriend. please just experience a bit of happiness within these three years we have. If you still love Josh by then, then you break up with the new guy."
• "What? You want me to date behind Josh's back?"
• "Yes. Just to experience something new. Then at the end of the third year, you break up and marry your Josh. He'll never know."
• I looked at her through my blurred vision.
• "It's either that." she continued, "Or I help you file a case against Josh, for rape."
• My eyes widened.
• "No, please."
• "Then?"
• I knew Keisha meant every single word. I didn't want her to speak up and I definitely didn't want Josh realising that I'd not kept the secret. I was stuck.
• "I'll try Keisha." I muttered.
• "Good. Come here." she took me into her arms and hugged me tight.