The next two days we spent indoors, romancing and having sex. It was like a dream. Then Ken texted me a message.

Where are you?

I was nervous but I had to tell him that I was safe and OK. Seems my parents noticed I was not coming home, I thought to myself.

I am fine. Went on a trip with Mark.

What are you guys doing there?

Ken, I am fine, we went for a weekend to a hotel out of town.

Are you in love now?

Mark and I are friends.

“Baby, aren’t you going to work tomorrow?” Mark asked me while fiddling with his phone.

“I am not going, we’re closed,” I said looking at my phone, thinking Ken would text again.

Ken was a cousin I stayed with him and when he did that it meant my parents would be meddling in my life.

“You know Lulu, you must go home,” he said walking towards where I sat on the bed.

“Why?” I asked.

“What would my parents say? You’ve been here for three days,” he said as if he didn’t want me anymore.

“What happened to us Mark?” I asked.

“The thing is I like you, you’re my bestie,” he said.

He was getting me angry. Having sex with him for three days was nothing! Him kissing me was a “bestie”. It was cutting my heart to pieces.

“Mark, why are you doing this to me?” I said as I stood up. Mark held my hand, his love turning to vapour, to dust; he was hurting me a lot. “I don’t understand what was happening here, we are besties who have sex?” I shouted at him.

“Don’t make noise, my parents are here. Look we can’t be in love, let’s be friends with benefits,” he said getting closer to me.

I hated what was happening. All the love he declared was fake. I was boiling with anger that he lied to me. I quickly dressed back to my clothes and pushed him aside, looking for my shoes.

“Lulu listen, we’ve been friends since childhood. I just wanted to have sex, you would help me and I will help you too. We are single.” He said.

I was suffocating with ager and I went out. I was very angry. How could he do that to me? I walked to the gate and looked back at Mark who stood by his gate. I walked as if I was going to kill someone. I met his parents and never greeted them because of what Mark had said.

I felt like I was cursed. What made me sleep with my best friend? He started it and I agreed. The night in his room, I even said that this was wrong. Mark had changed from the boy I was friends with and became an enemy.

I couldn’t eat for three days in a row. Christmas came and I spent the days sleeping, crying because I hated Mark. I saw texts from him and didn’t want to read them. They were becoming many messages. Eventually I opened them; all from Mark, so irritating.

Lulu need to see you.

I love you, miss our sex.

Please come see me now.

I never replied them. They were just making me angrier. I didn’t see him again until he left.

I began to feel nauseous and started to vomit. I wondered if I could be pregnant. Oh no, this can’t be, I thought, Mark doesn’t love me, he used me. I was so scared how I would overcome this. I had to run far away. What would my parents say if they knew it was Mark’s baby? This was a disaster.

He never called anymore so I texted him. It seemed the bond we had was burned.

Mark I think I am pregnant.

He never replied but I knew he saw the message. Three months passed and my belly was growing. I thought of what to do and knew I had to move away. I wrote a letter to my mother saying I went to stay with a friend from school, Angeline, who stayed in Welkom. I had to move away from the shame. I found a job as a cashier and assistant in a fashion shop. I had to prepare for my baby.

***

Tell us what you think: What do you think of what Mark did? Would you forgive him if you were Lulu?