Chapter 25 Falling Edges
Godiva’s POV
I kept looking at Leo, hoping he would look at me for a second. I anxiously waited for him to say what he had to say.
Somehow, I knew what he would say would decide my fate.
“I’ll go first,” he said, smiling as he adjusted his blue hoodie.
“I never liked Diva.
I’m in love with her best friend and only used her as a string.
I’m a virgin.”
He said it while counting his fingers, then burst out laughing.
The atmosphere went wild even before he finished speaking. Everyone already knew what the lie was.
I kept my eyes fixed on him without blinking. I could see the mocking stares.
I could hear laughter filled with mockery echo through the air as Dina gently let go of my hands.
I wished I could disappear without being noticed.
I knew if I stood up, it would cause an even louder outburst.
Nevertheless, I stood up, my legs shaking as though I was being electrocuted.
Walking away from the dark circle, I could hear people cheering, “Go Atlantis!” Some even tried to stop me from leaving, laughing directly in my face.
Not minding everything going on, I solemnly walked out of the circle, heading for the hostel, my eyes welling up with tears.
I noticed someone following me from behind. I thought it was Dina.
I wasn’t ready to face her. I knew she hadn’t done anything wrong, but seeing her at that moment would not comfort me. It would only hurt me.
I was a stone’s throw away from the hostel when I turned to see who was following me.
It turned out to be Hakeem.
I felt a little disappointed.
Folding my arms and looking him straight in the eyes, I asked, “Why are you following me, dude?”
“I know we haven’t been the best of friends, but no one deserves what Leo did tonight,” he said, trying hard to stop himself from laughing.
Shaking my head, I hissed and walked away.
Standing in front of me, he continued, “Forgive my laughing, but are you just going to walk away like a loser? You should have put him in his place before leaving. Then you won’t be seen as that girl Leo ditched.”
I stood still for a few minutes in front of the hostel door, thinking hard about what Hakeem had said.
I realized that walking away like that only made me the loser.
I suddenly turned back and headed toward the bonfire.
I needed to shut the gossip and put Leo in his place.
I stopped abruptly the moment I caught a glimpse of Dina standing under a tree with Leo, caught in what seemed to be a very comfortable conversation.
I stood there, staring at them for minutes.
Sometimes Leo smiled.
Once, I saw Dina smile.
I felt shattered all over again.
Was this why Dina didn’t run after me as she always does? Because she was with Leo? I thought to myself.
Filled with rage, I turned to leave when Dina screamed, “Div, wait up!”
Ignoring her, I increased my pace and headed toward the hostel.
I could still hear her running after me.
“Div, stop! Let’s talk, please!”
I kept ignoring her until she finally caught up with me.
Standing in front of me, her arms spread as if to stop me from walking away, she said solemnly, “I really wasn’t flirting with Leo or anything.”
Trying to catch her breath, she continued, “I was putting him in his place and warning him to stay clear of my path.”
“Wow. Your warning was so funny that both of you had to laugh, especially Leo. Girl, I saw him laugh almost the entire time,” I said aggressively, moving away from her.
“Babes, believe me. He kept laughing even when I was being serious. I only laughed in disbelief when he said I was going to be his woman,” she said, sincerity written all over her face.
“I guess he saw you even before I did. That’s probably why he was laughing, to trick you into getting mad at me!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands loudly as if she had just made a great discovery.
“Bro, I just need time to think,” I said, giving her a sarcastic smile as I walked away, ignoring her.
To worsen the whole drama, I needed air. I needed space.
I headed for a rocky path far away from the bonfire, far away from everyone who wanted to see me fall.
There, I saw a guy playing a guitar. His face glowed under the evening sun.
“You shall love the woman, she is a sacred treasure. You shall protect the woman, she is a precious treasure…”
I joined in awkwardly, “…her womb provides nine months of refuge, and through her laps, the man is born…”
“Who taught you this song?” he stopped abruptly, staring at me in disbelief.
“Well, my mum used to play it in the morning when I was a baby. She said it reminded her of the happy times with my dad,” I replied.
“Wow. Your parents must be some happy couple,” he said.
“Tell me about it,” I yawned lazily. “Happy couple indeed. So much so that he left my mother without even saying goodbye… left me as a kid… even before I was born…”
I wanted to continue, but I burst out crying.
“Don’t cry, baby girl. You are too beautiful for the world to see your tears,” he said, reaching out and grabbing my arms, drawing me into a warm embrace.
“What did you come here to do in this lonely part?” the handsome stranger asked.
“I am just a foolish kid who fell in love with the wrong people. My heart yearns for affection, and the ones I trust the most are using my sincerity for their personal aggrandisement.”
“I… I… I can’t take it anymore…” I burst into tears again.
“It’s alright, dear. I totally understand. Sometimes the people we love are the ones who hurt us the most,” he replied as he held me in his arms.
Then his embrace lingered a little longer.
And my breathing slowed.
Here I was, craving a kiss from a stranger.
Something I couldn’t givqe to Leo, my lover.
I stared intently at him as I bit my lips.