It was time to go for lunch. I fed my son and bathed him, dressed neatly thinking he would ask me for another chance. I walked to the restaurant to meet him. He was in his jeans and golf-shirt. I smiled when I saw him and I sat opposite him.

“Hi,” I sat down smiling.

“How are you my dear? You look nice,” he said putting his hands on the table.

“Thanks, I am fine Mark,” I answered. I still didn’t know what he would say but I was curious.

Where is my son?” he asked.

“Ken took him to the park. You can come see your son if you want to bond, he stays with my parents while I’m working,” I answered.

“The reason I called you Sweets, is… Can we be friends – I mean, FWB?” he said.

“What’s FWB?” I asked.

“We were friend before right? I meant friends with benefits,” he answered.

This made me angry. I wanted to shout but I just felt pain. I couldn’t stand up and shout loudly because we were in a public place.

“Am I a bitch to you?” I asked angrily. He just sat there motionless. I wanted to give him a slap that would hurt with the same pain I felt. “Mark, you destroyed my friendship with you when you thought you could have sex with me and dump me. Now you want to be F – whatever so that you enjoy what about me?” I said loudly.

I wanted to go but wanted to hear what he would say.

“Do you think I would have married you?” he asked seriously. I stood up and looked at him in the eye.

“We can never be friends, you get me? Sies!” I shouted and walked away.

He just sat there, never even ran after me. I knew he was a disaster. What had happened to our friendship? Now we were like water and oil; we could never be friends. I was so hurt and needed to talk to someone. My Mom prepared dinner and I didn’t even eat, I sat there fiddling with a fork in my hands.

“Lulu, are you OK?” my Mom asked with concern.

“I am fine Ma,” I said and took the dishes to the kitchen. I started to cry. It seemed like I wanted Mark but he was married and so I impregnated myself. Ken walked in the kitchen as I wiped tears and looked to the other side.

“Sis, tell me what’s wrong,” he asked.

“It’s Mark. He wants to use me as a sex object,” I answered.

“I hope you said no. Mrs Melo…” he said and I stopped him.

“What do you think? I am not a slut. I was friends with him, he led me on now I suffer as if I’m garbage, I cried out loudly.

“I am sorry Lulu, it’s not that. I thought you can’t resist him. Friends can’t be lovers for goodness sake,” he said hugging me. I cried, hoping my parents didn’t hear me. My father was a strict and protective person and he was as concerned as my mother. If he heard me he would go to Mark’s and confront him. When Mark paid damages he told my parents he couldn’t marry me because he didn’t love me. My father threatened him to stay away from me.

“Don’t let them hear you. You will be fine, don’t be friends with him. Leave him alone. Don’t talk to him at all, he is a disaster,” Ken said in a low voice.

“I just want to forget he hurt me. I hate him,” I said and hugged Ken.

Being the only child in the family was so sad. Ken behaved like a brother from my parents but he was my cousin. My parents took him after having me. They couldn’t have another child.

***

Tell us what you think: What do you think of the story? Do you know of people in your circles who act like Mark or girls who love like Lulu?