Chapter 12

The next day, Monah woke up from her very loud noise from her alarm. She was tired and wanted to stay longer in bed. She noticed Michelle sleeping soundfully on her bed. When Monah went to the kitchen, she found empty cans of beer laying carelessly on the cabinet counter. She grabbed the cans then threw them in a bin. She hated leaving a mess especially in the kitchen. When the time hit 7am, Monah was already done with her bath since she was expecting a guest and did not want to go to school late. But seeing that Michelle was already up and moving in the room half baked, Monah decided to grab her school bag and leave. 

As she walked on the streets not too far away from the Linwood student residence, she noticed a sleek black limousine pull up beside her. The same car that had picked Derrick up, that day when Lillian said mean things to her. The window of the car rolled down, the face of her crush peered through. 

"Hey there, need a ride to school?" Derrick asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Monah was slightly hesitant. She tried to observe the inside of the car, hoping that Lillian was not in there as well. When she didn't see her, she smiled. 

"Uh, yeah, sure," she stammered.

Derrick pulled over and the young woman entered into the luxurious car. 

"I see you are carrying a bag, were you planning to leave me like that?" The young man asked. 

Monah blushed in embarrassment. 

"I had to leave that room. My roommate is just.." 

Before she could even finish her sentence. Derrick laughed. 

"Annoying. I can get you a room elsewhere if you want." He suggested. 

A frown covered Monah's face. 

"Unfortunately my scholarship won't be able to cover any other room beside the one I have. Michelle is rich I don't know why she's there. Her parents are probably stingy." 

"Monah, I'm not asking you to pay for the room. I'll do that with my own money. I own a hotel, I pay myself." Said Derrick, boldly. 

The young woman was embarrassed still. 

"I don't want to burden you with my problems beside we are not even that close. Why would you go to that depth for someone you don't even know well?" 

Derrick pulled over to the side of the road. He held Monah by the hands. The young woman's heart pounded faster than before. Her feet were shaking. And she was afraid of making eye contact for too long. 

"I know that this will probably feel stupid after the stunt my mother pulled the other day." Derrick began, his eyes were intensely staring into those of Monah. She felt like running off but remained stil, curious as to what was going to happen next. 

"Monah, I have feelings for you. Deep feelings. And I want to know how you feel about me too because I am tired of having to treat you like that girl in class when the truth is, that I want you to be mine. I want you to spend time with me.. not just in the library but also in my private space." Derrick explained. 

Monah was silent for a while, clueless as to how to react. Was she even ready to date Derrick, the crush she had been longing for since the day he sat beside her. She wondered. 

"You don't have to make your decision know. I will wait for you." Said the young man. 

He gave the chaffeur a go ahead to leave and the car began to drive off until it arrived at the school premises. Those minutes were spent in silence. Monah refused to speak. She was afraid of saying anything that would ruin her friendship with Derrick or even ruin her own dignity by looking like an easy target.

The car finally arrived at the school. Derrick was 30 minutes early before his class. 

"I guess we'll talk when you're ready." He said. 

Monah's cheeks were red from embarrassment.

"Uhm I'm sorry for not.." 

"Its fine. I understand." Derrick said, interrupting. 

 He opened the door for Monah, as they were parting ways each one going to their own class, other students began to whisper suggesting that the two were a couple since they were seen together often. She couldn't help but feel a blush rise to her cheeks at the thought of it but again she felt afraid. During lunch break, Monah and Tamara met in the cafeteria, it was large and could accommodate about 500 students in total.

"What's with that face?" Tamara asked, seeing how gloomy her friend was. .

"Its Derrick." Monah replied in a low sad voice.

"What did he do?" 

"He told me he had feelings for me." 

Tamara's face brightened. 

"Ooh! I knew it and what was your reaction?" She asked.

Monah began to bit her nails. 

"I said nothing." She replied. 

Tamara was shocked. She folded her arms and looked at her friend. 

"The most hsbdsome, wealthiest guy in your class tells you he likes you and you just keep silent and say nothing? Surely there must be something you're not telling me." 

"I'm afraid, I am telling you the truth. I just couldn't tell him how I felt." 

Tamara looked at her friend with pity, she understood what she felt like. Where her fear was coming from. She had once been there. Or at least she thought she knew. 

"Is it because you think he's going to take you to his wealthy parents and they're going to ask you a lot of uncomfortable question's about your financial status?" 

Monah blurted out laughing. 

"Its way worse than that. He's going to want what Ted wanted that made me break up with him." 

Tamara laughed. 

"You don't have to give him anything until you're ready for it." She said. 

Monah felt better after her friend showed her compassion in her situation instead of judgement. But she remembered how sad Derrick looked when they parted. She felt a yearning to meet him and apologize to him. Or better yet confess how she felt about him as well. Because the rumours of them dating were spreading like wild fire. 

As they were sitting there finishing up their meal, Monah could see Ted staring at her with unease. He seemed angry. Even though he was surrounded by his group of friends, his eyes were completely fixed on Monah. 

"Why is your brother looking at me like that?" The young woman asked.

Tamara raised her eyes but Ted looked away. 

"Hmm. Do you want me to approach him and ask?" 

Monah shook her head. 

"No. Let's just leave him like that.. I'm in no mood to argue with anyone. Especially with my ex." 

Tamara smiled. 

"I can see that you have grown. Keep at it girlfriend!" She shouted excitedly.