Chapter Twenty-Nine – Jealous Best Friends and Daring Choices

Their conversation was in pidgin English. I would have used it but some of you would be completely lost. For the sake of those who don’t understand I shall convert it into regular English. Sadly, it’ll lose some of its…how do I say this? Ah! Yes. It’ll lose some of its meaning and power.

Can I also just say that I am that girl. Lori Harvey ain’t got nothing on me. Two very fine men are about to get into it for me. Put some respect on my name.

“I wanted to talk to you about Araba. She and I are together now and I would really appreciate it if you don’t repeat that little stunt you pulled.”

“What stunt?”

“Asking her to go with you to a resort. I’m not okay with that sort of behavior. I don’t want to call this a warning because that makes me sound like an insecure man. This is more of a petition. Araba cares about you very much but I feel you’re not respectful of her feelings. I’m asking you humbly to please respect her feelings and her relationship with me.”

“Dude, Araba and I have been friends longer than you two have known each other. I don’t think you can tell me I don’t respect her feelings. You don’t know anything about us.”

“Be that as it may, just draw the appropriate boundaries. Also, I think it’s funny you should say that because I was there when she cried after you said you liked her and then changed your mind. I was also there when you went and crushed your car so that she was worried sick about you. Again, I was there when you inadvertently roped her into your issues with your ex. I’ve been there seeing how she struggles because of you. As her man, I can’t help but worry. That’s why I’m here.”

“I see. So, you’re not here to warn me to stay away from your girlfriend? That’s interesting. I could have sworn that you’re intimidated by me and our friendship.”

“Not in the least. I trust my girlfriend. I’m only giving you a warning to respect her feelings.”

Sly was very intentional with his words, making sure to remind Boateng that he was my man and I was his girlfriend and we were in a relationship. Boateng was livid.

Not that we’re checking, but Sly definitely won that one.

Boateng banged his door when he got in. He texted Carl and when he came over, would not stop ranting. “What kind of name is Sylvester, anyway. Are we in 1980?”

*

In the midst of Valentine’s Day, Mara’s issues were escalating. I don’t know if this was fortunate or not, but Mr. Mintah pulled a similar stunt in his office to what he did previously. On Valentine’s Day, he deemed it appropriate to send Mara a picture of himself as a gift. The picture is the kind where viewer discretion is advised.

Tonight, Mr. Mintah was tired of the back and forth. “Come and let’s go out. There’s a nice hotel not too far away” he said. Mara first lied that she had no money for transportation. Her phone buzzed to an alert of 500 Ghana cedis. The reference on the transaction was “there’s more where that came from.”

Desperate for an excuse, she lied that she was on her period. Mr. Mintah was furious and said unless Mara was suffering from the same disease as the woman who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, she was perfectly fine and should make her way to meet him now.

Lara came over and was in the room when Mr. Mintah called. The two pressed the record button as he spoke.

“Are you mad? When I gave you the grade, I asked you for a favor, what is the meaning of this behavior?”

“I didn’t understand what you meant at the time” Mara pleaded.

“Well, you understand now so what are you doing? Me, I don’t have time for these childish games. If you won’t do it, tell me now let me give you back your F and go my way.”

There was silence.

“Eheh! So?”

“Sorry sir, I can't.”

Mara was shaking uncontrollably as she cut the call. They were in the next phase of their plan and this conversation could not have gone more perfectly.

“So, what happens now?” she asked Lara with eager searching eyes.

“There’re two options. Both of them aren’t great. The first is blackmail.”

“Blackmail?”

“Yes. We send him all the evidence we have so far and tell him that if he doesn’t maintain the A and leave you be, we’re taking him straight to the authorities. It’s risky but it’ll work. You’d have to be really strong to do it though and just know you’ll be getting your hands dirty.”

“What’s the other option?”

“The other option is to go straight to the authorities and expose this man but that means everything we’ve been afraid of will happen. You’ll get an F, people will call you a liar, lecturers will blacklist you and there’s a chance no one will believe you.”

Mara weighed the options. Blackmail was a bit too far. She wasn’t that type of person. How would she sleep at night? However, it did make sense. Two dark things kept in the dark by blackmail. Dark and black things all around. No one would ever know what she had done but that also meant no one would know what Mr. Mintah had done and was doing. The girl she met came to mind.

She couldn’t believe the choice she was about to make.

*

At this point, I’m convinced Carl is a gossip because he texted me to tell me that Sly and Boateng had met. I was angry with both of them but the first person I wanted to confront was Sly since I expressly told him not to go and talk to Boateng.

When I got there and vented, Sly apologized. It immediately shut me up. I was just in the process of raising solid points when he said he was sorry and that he wouldn’t do it again. He didn’t mean to hurt me but was only worried about me.

Reader, it’s not because I’m in love o. How can you be angry at this? My anger vanished quicker than the characters in Avengers Infinity War after Thanos snapped his fingers.

Another reason I was no longer angry with Sly is that I was angrier with Boateng.

“Boateng, what the hell? When Marilyn came to me and asked me to stay out of your relationship, I didn’t talk back to her and try to intimidate her. I listened. Consistently, I have respected your relationships; all 30 of them. I have this one. This one! You of all people know how long it took me to get here. Yet when it’s your turn you’re asking him if he’s intimidated and talking back?”

“Wait, why are you angry with me? You should be angry with him. He’s the one…”

“Shut up, Boateng! Gosh! Do you know why none of your relationships work? It’s because you’re selfish. You could have just said “sure, it won’t happen again” but then you were consciously doing things that could have easily undermined my relationship and you know what? I want you to actually stay away from my relationship and from me.”

I left Boateng standing there. Of course, I was asking him to stay away from me in the short term. I didn’t actually mean forever but I needed to say that to show that I was serious.

Reader, it hurt me deeply. It hurt me that Boateng was acting this way concerning something I was excited about. Picture this: you’ve always wanted a cat but you’ve been afraid to get one, but then you finally get it and you tell your best friend. First, he’s not happy that you got it and then next, he tries to step on its tail. Meanwhile your best friend has had 15 cats, all of which you helped him care for. It hurts.

*

The next morning, Mara and Lara stood in front of the Administration building, walking in to see the Head of Student Affairs.

Mara wanted to turn around and run but Lara’s hand held her steadily as they walked into the office and presented their case as well as all the supporting evidence to the gentleman. As he analyzed the information, Lara squeezed Mara’s hand and gave her a reassuring eye.

There was no going back now.

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