In anger, I slammed my fist against the door again and again until it finally creaked open. The moment I stepped inside, my eyes swept across the room and it was like walking into a different world.

Almost every corner of the SS3 class was occupied by couples, their bodies were too close, voices too low, it made my stomach twist. Then my eyes landed on Simi, comfortably sitting on Gideon’s lap, laughing softly as if nothing in the world could disturb her peace. I don’t think she knew that Gideon has bribed everyone in my class so we can help convince Hameedat to finally date him, since she and Saheed have decided not to continue their relationship.

Well, that wasn’t my problem. I turned to George and Nafisa. They had already pulled apart, standing at a careful distance from each other, but it was too late. I had seen them kissing and that image was already burned into my mind, refusing to fade.

For a second, I felt the urge to slap them both. My anger rose so quickly, so sharply, that it scared even me. But somehow, I held myself together. I forced my hands to stay by my sides, even though they trembled.

“So…” I began, my voice colder than I expected, “you’re having an affair with George now?”

My eyes moved from Nafisa to George and back again.

“It’s not enough that he was with Amira? Or is it because Khalid is no longer in this school?”

Nafisa’s expression hardened immediately. “I’m not having any affair,” she shot back.

The denial only made me angrier. I took a step forward, ready to lunge at her, but George was faster. He grabbed my arm, pulling me back before I could act.

“Everybody abeg make una leave us alone. No vex abeg” he said quickly, pleading to the other students.

One by one, they left the class, and the door shut behind them. Suddenly, it was just the two of us. The silence that filled the room was thick and suffocating.

“Khalid was your friend,” I said slowly, my voice shaking despite my effort to stay calm. “And Nafisa was my friend.”

George ran his hand through his hair, pacing like he was trying to find the right words. “Khalid and Nafisa are over,” he replied. “They broke up. Long distance no dey work… you know that.”

The way he said it so casually, made my chest tighten. Does he ever think that what he was doing was hurting me?

“You promised me,” I said, my voice breaking now, I was really trying to control my tears. “You promised you wouldn’t cheat again.”

He stopped pacing but didn’t look guilty at all and it was what hurt the most.

“Do you even remember my birthday is in a few days?” I added quietly.

He nodded quickly, stepping closer. “I do. I even have a surprise for you. Zara, there’s nothing going on between me and Nafisa.”

I let out a hollow laugh.

“I saw you,” I said. “And I’m not blind. Everyone knows this isn’t the first time.”

He didn’t deny it. Instead, he shrugged lightly. “We’ve kissed a few times. But she’s not my girlfriend.”

His words hit me harder than any slap ever could. Maybe I wanted him to lie to me but before I could react, he leaned in and kissed my cheek softly, like that alone could fix everything.

“I love you,” he whispered. “Only you.”

I pulled back, shaking my head.

“Then what is she to you?” I asked.

He rolled his tired eyes. “A friend, just… friends with benefits.” he said

For a moment, I couldn’t even speak. The way he said it irritated me.

“I hate it,” I finally said, my voice low and strained. “I hate this. My friend and my boyfriend… I hate it. Will you stop?”

He nodded immediately, stepping closer again, his hands reaching for mine. “I will. I promise. I’m sorry.”

I searched his face, trying to find if his promise was real, or honest but I couldn’t tell.

“Is this because of what I did to Amira?” I asked quietly. “Are you trying to punish me? Or… do you just want to end this relationship?”

My voice dropped to almost a whisper. “Because I’m tired.”

He shook his head quickly. “No. I don’t want to end our relationship. I’ve never loved any girl the way I love you. I don’t even understand why I keep doing these things…”

He paused, then added with a slight scoff, “Even your friends sef… dem too cheap.”

This time, I didn’t argue. Maybe because part of me didn’t even have the strength anymore. Instead, I took a deep breath and said something that surprised even me.

“All these things you’re doing… they will cost you,” I said. “You owe me fifteen thousand.”

For a second, he blinked then laughed. “If I send it this evening, you’ll forgive me?” he asked, half amused.

I nodded slowly. “Yes.”

Maybe it sounded ridiculous. Maybe it was ridiculous. But at that moment, I just wanted peac, even if it was temporary.

“Done,” he said.

And just like that, everything that had just happened felt like it was being swept under the rug.

I stepped closer to him, closing the distance myself this time, and kissed him deeply, like I was trying to remind him, that what we had was real and no one else could take my place.

His response was immediate. The way he held me, the way he kissed me back, it was full of warmth. Then, his touch. Damn!

His fingers went beneath my skirt and began to move towards my private place as he romanced my lips with his. 

Everything he was doing to me was dangerous but in that moment, I let myself believe in him again because I won’t let anyone take him from me.

Quick question:

Do you think Zara is fighting for love… or slowly losing herself in it?

Thank you for reading this chapter 📖