chapter Ten : Tempted and Tried.

By Friday morning, the air on campus already felt heavier than usual.

Not because of tests or strikes — but because everyone knew what came Friday night:

The Anonymous Wall.

UNIBEN's unholy playground.

It wasn't a real wall, of course — just an anonymous WhatsApp page run by someone bored and brutal. Every Friday night, students sent in gossip, confessions, call-outs, and unfiltered shade. No name was safe. No secret stayed hidden.

Angela usually ignored it.

But that night, she didn't have the strength.

Her phone started buzzing around 8:47pm.

Tamara screamed from her bunk. "Babe… have you seen it?!"

Angela looked up slowly. "Seen what?"

"The Wall. Oh my God."

Angela unlocked her phone.

Opened the app.

And there it was.

Post 197:

"Why is Peter from Mass Comm pretending he's holy when he's smashing Angela behind closed doors? That girl has passed through more laps than a hostel fan 😭"

Post 198:

> "Angela with the prayer voice? The same one that was moaning behind Block C? 😂😂 Girl, your 'well' is a borehole. Stay there deceiving God."

Post 199:

"How many more will she seduce before she confesses she's infected?"

Angela dropped the phone like it had burned her palm.

Her throat closed. Her eyes burned. Her chest? Heavy.

But the worst part? The comments.

"Lmao we knew she wasn't innocent."

"Final year boys no dey ever learn."

"Peter na goat, but I love him."

"Let's be honest, that girl too fine to be innocent 😭"

Tamara touched her arm. "Angela—"

"I'm fine."

"You're not."

"I said I'm fine."

But she wasn't. She was breaking.

---

Peter didn't see it until the next morning.

He walked into their 10am lecture and felt the stares. The whispers. Even his guys avoided eye contact.

Then he saw Angela — sitting at the far end. Hoodie on. Head down. Not even pretending to be okay.

That was it.

He stood.

Cleared his throat.

In front of the whole class.

"I need to say something," Peter said.

The lecturer paused. "Is it important?"

"Yes sir. Very."

Silence.

Peter turned to the class.

"I've seen the posts. I've read the comments. And I know some of you have laughed. Some of you sent it in yourselves. But let me say this clearly: Angela is one of the most disciplined, focused, and real people I've ever met. Whatever story you people have cooked up is pure filth, and if your conscience isn't too damaged, you'll feel ashamed."

Whispers broke out.

He continued: "You gossip because you're bored. You hate because she glows. And you lie because it makes you feel better about your own useless lives."

The class fell silent.

The lecturer didn't say a word. He just adjusted his glasses and nodded. "Well said. Let's continue."

Peter walked back to his seat, but not before glancing at Angela.

She didn't look up.

But her tears hit the page of her notebook like holy water.

---

That night, she finally texted him.

"Thank you. For today. I didn't know I needed that."

Peter replied:

"I would burn this whole school down before I let them touch you with lies again."

And just like that… the shame cracked.

Not because it disappeared — but because love stood taller.