Chereads / HEARTS & CROSSROADS / Chapter 16 - CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Chapter 16 - CHAPTER SIXTEEN

"What happened? Were you two fighting?" Agnetha asked once we got inside, her gaze shifting between them.

Neither Tendai nor Grayson responded. Mae stepped in to answer.

"Yes, they were," Mae said firmly.

Agnetha pressed on. "Why were you fighting?"

"Nurse, my boyfriend is bleeding," Mae snapped. "Act now, questions later."

Agnetha proceeded to tend to their injuries with a calm efficiency. Tendai had a swelling on his head and a nosebleed, while Grayson bore a deep cut near his eye, along with several bruises likely from being slammed into the classroom furniture. 

"Lie down, Tendai," Agnetha instructed, pressing a cloth gently against his nose to stop the bleeding. 

She turned to me and said, "Adessa, apply pressure like this." Her voice was steady.

I hesitated for a second before walking over. She placed my hands where they needed to be and showed me the right pressure to apply. 

As I pressed gently against Tendai's skin, my fingers trembling slightly, a surge of emotions overwhelmed me. 

Agnetha quickly turned her attention to Grayson, stitching his wound with careful precision. The tension in the air was palpable as she worked, her hands moving swiftly but with purpose. 

"Mae, let's go," Grayson said abruptly once Agnetha finished stitching him up.

 "No, I'm not done yet," Agnetha said, a bit stern. 

"Well, I am," Grayson retorted, standing up without hesitation. He walked out of the dispensary with Mae following closely behind, completely disregarding Agnetha's instructions. 

Agnetha let out a quiet sigh and turned back to Tendai. "You can stop now," she said to me gently, "the bleeding's stopped."

I released the pressure slowly, watching as she examined the swelling on Tendai's head. She carefully applied an ice pack to the area, wrapping it securely with a bandage to reduce the swelling. 

"Tell me what happened," Agnetha asked, her tone calm yet expectant.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself before explaining everything. "It started in class. Grayson poked me with something sharp. When I told Ms. Gopal, he got angry and claimed that he hadn't done anything to me. Ms. Gopal told him to follow her out, but he didn't. Instead, he called me a derogatory term, and Tendai heard… he just snapped. They ended up fighting."

Tendai listened silently as I filled Agnetha in on what had happened. He didn't interrupt, letting me recount everything. When I finished, he simply looked at me, his face filled with a mixture of pity and frustration.

"I'm sorry, Addie," Agnetha said sympathetically, "that this school hasn't protected you better."

"He deserved the beating," Tendai said, holding my hand. "Grayson's a dick." 

"Thank you for defending me," I said, hugging him. 

"I'm relieved he's finally facing consequences," I said, my voice tinged with a mix of exhaustion and satisfaction. "It feels like a small victory after everything he's put me through."

Agnetha smiled, a hint of satisfaction in her expression. "Yes, next time, an expulsion will suffice. I'm tired of the rampant bullying at Riverview. I treat so many students who suffer from depression and stress because of it. 

"The beating you received last time was the climax of the rampant bullying in this school," she said, shaking her head. "It's high time we put a stop to this."

Agnetha discharged Tendai some minutes later, and we headed back to class. Break time had already ended, and it was time for the second period of Chemistry with Ms. Gopal.

When we entered the classroom, Ms. Gopal was already teaching. Curious eyes followed us as we walked in. The room buzzed with murmurs and speculative glances.

Ms. Gopal paused mid-sentence and looked at us with a raised eyebrow.

"We're sorry for barging in like this," I quickly apologized, knowing how she disliked disruptions. 

"We were at the dispensary," Tendai added, his voice steady but respectful.

"I know," she said, her tone clipped. "Take your seats." 

Tendai went to his seat while I walked over to where I had been sitting before the fight—next to Eloise.

As I took my seat, Mae fake-coughed and muttered, "Bitch."

Eloise and I exchanged a quick, knowing look but chose to remain silent. Ms. Gopal resumed her lesson and turned to the board to continue writing. My vision was usually good but something strange happened—my eyesight was blurry, and I couldn't see what Ms. Gopal was writing.

What's wrong with my sight? I wondered, touching my eyes in frustration.

I started copying from Eloise's notes what Ms. Gopal had written. Ms. Gopal noticed and said, "Adessa, why are you copying Eloise's work? Are you short-sighted?"

"No, Madam. I might have an eye infection that's disturbing my sight," I replied.

"Come sit in front with Siobhan," Ms. Gopal ordered. Siobhan's seat was in the front row next to the door.

Reluctantly, I picked up my book and moved to the front. Siobhan greeted me with a warm smile as I took a seat next to her. The board was still blurry, but I could see better than from the back. Ms. Gopal resumed her lesson, and I could feel the weight of everyone's eyes on me—their curiosity and judgment palpable from the back of my head.

Grayson walked into the classroom, looking disheveled and bruised from the fight—his mere presence causing a ripple of murmurs among the students. He didn't bother acknowledging Ms. Gopal, which only heightened the tension in the room. 

Ms. Gopal was a complicated woman; she despised disruptions as much as she hated being ignored. If you failed to greet her in or out of class, she made it her mission to call you out, and today was no exception. Everyone braced themselves, knowing what was coming next.

"Learn some manners," Ms. Gopal said sharply, her frustration clear. But Grayson ignored her and walked out of the room.

Ms. Gopal gave us a stern lecture on manners and behavior after Grayson left. Her frustration was evident, and the discussion lasted until the end of the lesson, leaving a heavy atmosphere in the classroom.

When class finally ended, Ms. Gopal stormed out, still visibly angry. The tension lingered in the air, but Siobhan leaned over to me. "I'm really sorry, Addie," she said softly. "Grayson was completely out of line. How could he do that to you?"

"He's had it out for me for a while now. Let him stay home and reflect on what he did to me," I replied, my voice heavy with the weight of the day's events.

As I stood up to leave, Ceyair Stevens, who sat behind Siobhan, spoke in his thick Jamaican accent, "Sorry blood, Grayson's a bad dude."

Kemi smirked as I walked past her, but I ignored her. I chose not to think about her.

Tendai stood up to talk to me, concern etched in his face. The bad odor that had been haunting me returned, but I tried to focus on him instead. "Addie, what's happening to your eyesight?" he asked, his voice gentle.

"I think my eyes are sick," I sighed. That's why I can't see properly."

"Let's go to Agnetha to check you out," he suggested, his worry clear.

"No," I said, not wanting to return to the dispensary. "I'm sure my eyesight will get better."

I walked back to my seat next to Eloise and slipped my book into my bag. "Addie, what's up with your eyes?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.

"Honestly, I don't know," I admitted. "But strange things have been happening to me since yesterday."

"On top of seeing invisible people and maggots, now your eyesight is failing you?" she exclaimed, her voice rising with disbelief.

"Yeah," I muttered, looking down, feeling overwhelmed.

"Addie, I need to ask you—what punishment did they give Grayson?"

"Grayson was suspended for two weeks for bullying," I said, feeling a small sense of justice.

Eloise's face flashed with shock. "Oh no!" she muttered, more to herself. "I need to talk to Nadia," she added. "Eat lunch without me." With that, she walked out of class.

Eloise was worried for Grayson about the two week suspension he had received. Maybe she cared for him more than she was letting me on. She was going to see his sister meaning she was going to update her on what happened to her brother.

I noticed that Mae hadn't gone out for lunch yet. "This has been your plan all along to break up me and my boyfriend," Mae accused, her voice rising. "You made up a story. Grayson didn't touch you; you imagined it. I was there. Go tell Mr. Ngonzi you lied."

"Mae, I didn't imagine it. I felt the pain," I insisted, stung by her words.

"I was there, Addie," Mae shot back. "No one touched you. You screamed out of nowhere, something you've been doing a lot lately. Are you going crazy?"

She glared at me. "Do you do drugs? I heard Tendai smokes weed. Did he teach you how to use drugs? Is that why you're hallucinating?"

"I'm not on drugs, Mae," I said firmly, though her words hurt. "I know what I felt."

"Addie, come with me for lunch," Tendai said, his voice cutting through the tension. He must have overheard our conversation and swooped in to rescue me. The bad odor hit me once more. I decided to ignore it once more.

"Let's go for lunch," he said softly, gently taking my hand and leading me out of the room. His touch was comforting, but a part of me still felt uneasy.

Once we were outside, the air felt a little lighter, though my thoughts were still heavy. Tendai turned to me, his voice calm but serious. "I heard what Mae said. Don't let her get to you, okay? Hasn't Grayson been bullying you for years now?"

I nodded. Years of torment, finally catching up to him.

"He finally got what he deserved," Tendai remarked, his tone a mix of anger and satisfaction.

"She said Grayson didn't hurt me, that I imagined it," I said, frustration bubbling up inside me. Mae's words kept echoing in my mind, like a mocking reminder that no one believed me.

Tendai sighed, shaking his head. "Mae feels guilty that her boyfriend got suspended, so now she's trying to spin a story to bring him back. Don't let her get to you." 

We made our way to the cafeteria and got food. I sat with Tendai and his friends. Even though he had a bad odor, the aroma of the food was a welcome distraction. The scent was appetizing, a brief respite from what Tendai was smelling.

However, as soon as I scooped some rice onto my plate, I saw maggots wriggling in it. My stomach churned with disgust, and the sight was enough to make my appetite disappear. Without a second thought, I threw the food away, feeling a wave of nausea wash over me. Tendai did the same, and without a word, he silently walked out with me.

"Maybe I'll just avoid school food for a while," I said with a sigh. "I keep finding maggots."

Tendai nodded in agreement. Everything felt wrong since yesterday, from the bullying to the maggots and the strange things happening to me. It was as if reality was bending in ways I couldn't quite understand.

We sat in class. He stayed with me in class until the end of lunch break, his presence both comforting and suffocating. The bad smell that clung to him still lingered in the air, mixing with my already uneasy mood. It wasn't just the stress of the day—it was him, too. The odor was so strong that it made my stomach turn, and I wondered if that was part of why I felt so off.

"I don't feel like doing anything," I admitted.

"Okay, where are you going to skip from?" he asked with a slight smile.

"I'll go to the dispensary. Agnetha's my friend now. I'll just tell her I'm stressed."

"Tell her about your eyes, too," he reminded me, his concern clear.

"I will," I lied. The last thing I wanted was for Agnetha to examine me.

As Tendai made his way to the library, I hurried to the dispensary. The fresh air was a relief, and when I arrived, Agnetha didn't question my excuse. After everything that had happened today, she believed me without hesitation. I was grateful for the chance to lie down and relax.

When the final bell rang, I rushed back to class. I had wanted to meet Siobhan. I waited a little until she entered the class. "Can you help me tend to my crops? I'm feeling really stressed today?" I asked.

Siobhan gave me a reassuring smile. "I'll help you, Addie. Don't worry.

"Did Tendai and Grayson fight because of you?" Soren asked. We were seated in the living room at home doing our homework. 

"No, that's not true," I corrected him. "Tendai was defending me. Grayson was the one who hurt me."

"I'm glad Tendai stood up for you and beat up Grayson," Soren added. "Grayson deserved it. Sometimes he bullies me too."

"I didn't know," I said, shocked. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I don't like talking about it," he said quietly.

"I'm sorry, Soren," I said, my heart aching for him.

"It's okay," he shrugged.

Thursday wasn't any better and was worse than Wednesday. My vision was still blurry, and everything—even my phone—was hard to make out now. I didn't dare eat the food in the cafeteria for fear of finding maggots.

I heard loud noises and felt sharp pains, but whenever I looked around, no one was there. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was deeply wrong.

Could it be true that Grayson hadn't actually touched me?

That unsettling thought lingered as the day wore on. The smell around Tendai was worse now that I couldn't even be near him anymore.

The only positive thing was that the swelling on Tendai's head had reduced considerably.

Friday morning, Mom dropped Soren and me off at school. Soren joined his friends while I headed to my classroom.

"What's that smell?" someone suddenly asked, causing a stir among the students.

I didn't notice anything strange at first, but then Kemi scrunched up her nose in disgust. "Adessa, you stink. Did you forget to shower?"

Kemi, Liz, and Raven were all holding their noses, and the other students were starting to murmur.

Was I the one emitting the odor? Everyone around me seemed to think so.

Tendai found me standing alone, and the look on his face told me everything—the smell was coming from me. He was being polite, trying not to show it, but the concern in his eyes was undeniable.

"Good morning, Addie," he said, his voice hesitant. "Come with me, I need to tell you something."

I could feel my face flush with embarrassment. "Tendai," I whispered, barely able to meet his gaze, "I know it's about the smell. I smell bad—that's why everyone's looking at me like that!"

He hesitated, but then nodded, his expression troubled. "Yes." His voice was soft, almost apologetic. For the past three days, he had been the one carrying that awful odor, and now it was me.

"What's causing the smell?" he asked, as if searching for answers that neither of us had.

Tears stung my eyes as I glanced around. People were holding their noses, whispering, and moving away from the corridor because of me. Shame washed over me like a wave.

"What is it that I'm smelling?" I asked, dread settling in my stomach.

Tendai grimaced, his voice barely above a whisper. "You smell like a dead animal."

Exactly how he had smelled for days—like something decaying, something unbearable. The embarrassment I was feeling was suffocating.

"I'll go freshen up in the toilet," I said quickly, walking away, desperately hoping for a solution.

As I left him and made my way down the hallway, the whispers and stares followed me like a dark cloud. Every step I took seemed to intensify the murmurs. What's wrong with her? That smell… I could hear fragments of conversations—students covering their noses, glaring at me like I was something to be avoided.

I have to get away from this, I thought, my heart pounding in humiliation.

By the time I reached the toilet, I was already feeling suffocated. But even there, the complaints persisted. A group of girls by the sink exchanged looks of disgust as I walked in. "That smell... it's so strong," one of them muttered under her breath.

I could feel the weight of their judgment.

I washed my armpits and applied a roll-on from my bag, hoping it would help. Then I went to class and sat next to Eloise. Almost everyone in class was holding their noses, and those seated next to the windows opened them for fresh air.

The teacher entered and immediately noticed the smell. "Guys, what is that smell?" she asked, visibly disturbed.

"Madam, it's Adessa. She's smelling bad," Kemi exclaimed. "I've tried to tell her to do something about it, but here we are."

The tension in the room thickened as Kemi, Raven, and Liz exchanged incredulous glances. Their smugness faltered for the first time, replaced by unease.

"The smell is unbearable," the teacher said, her voice echoing in my head as she walked out. 

"Adessa, get out of class," Kemi's voice dripped with authority. "You smell bad."

"You don't need to be rude and cruel to her," Eloise's voice rang out, steady and unwavering. For a moment, I felt a surge of gratitude. But it wasn't enough to stop the onslaught.

"You smell so horrible that the teacher walked out," she said with a sneer, her voice dripping with disdain. "We won't miss any more lessons because of you. Get out!"

I felt my cheeks burn with humiliation, and then, Tendai's voice cut through, steady and firm. "Kemi, leave Adessa alone, you have no power to chase anyone away." 

"We need to teach her how to bathe properly," Kemi continued, her words laced with a cruelty that made me flinch.

Then Jensen spoke, his voice unexpectedly fierce. "Don't talk to her like that, Kemi."

"Nobody likes you, Jensen, not even Adessa!" Kemi spat, her voice rising in anger. "She could never like a loser like you!"

Jensen didn't flinch. His voice grew colder, sharper. "At least I don't have to resort to witchcraft to make someone like me."

A gasp rippled through the class. Kemi's face flushed, her confidence clearly shaken.

"And Liz," Jensen continued, turning his attention to her, "everyone knows you walk around with knock-off designer bags and shoes. You're fooling no one."

Liz's face paled, her smug expression wiped clean.

Jensen wasn't done yet. "Raven, your secret crush on Mr. Callum Thomas? You really thought no one would figure out who that love poem was for?"

Raven's face turned a shade of crimson, her composure completely shattered.

Kemi, Liz, and Raven hadn't expected the argument to take such a turn, and now their dirty laundry was out for everyone to see.

"What are you looking at?" Kemi snapped, her gaze fiery as everyone quickly turned away—everyone except me.

I stood up, feeling overwhelmed. "Don't go, Addie," Tendai said, his voice tinged with concern.

"Kemi, you have no right to send anyone out of this class," Eloise chimed in, her tone sharp.

"It's okay. I'll be back on Monday," I reassured them, trying to maintain some semblance of composure as I turned to leave.

As I walked out of the classroom, I could feel the eyes on me, hear the whispers behind my back. Bruce, always quick to mock, covered his nose dramatically as I passed by. My skin burned with embarrassment, and all I wanted was to disappear. But despite everything, Jensen's defense of me lingered in my mind, reminding me that at least he still cared for me.

I called my mom and asked her to pick me up once I got outside. I waited in the parking lot, away from everyone. Thinking about all that had happened to me made me cry. I cried so hard. 

When Mom arrived, I cried even more. "Ade, is that smell coming from you?" she asked, her tone tinged with disbelief.

"Yes, Mom," I choked out, my voice trembling. "Some of my classmates kicked me out of class because I smell bad. Even the teacher refused to teach because of the smell."

"Oh, sweetheart, I'm so sorry," she said, her voice filled with compassion. "But I don't understand—why do you smell like a dead animal?" Her confusion was palpable.

"Mom, strange things have been happening to me this week," I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper. I told her about everything—the strange man, the voices, blurry vision, the invisible touches, and now the unbearable smell which was previously on Tendai.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" she asked, her concern growing deeper with each word.

"I didn't think it was serious," I admitted.

Without hesitation, Mom picked up the phone and called someone. "Come home immediately—it's urgent," she said, her voice tight with urgency.

As she drove us home, I couldn't help but ask, "What's going on, Mom? Who did you call?"

"I'll explain when we get home," she promised, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter.

When we got home, Pastor Stuart from our Church arrived a few minutes later. He and Mom talked quietly for a bit before both picked up their Bibles and began singing worship songs. Pastor Stuart started to pray after a while.

"Ade, pray with us," Mom urged.

I joined in, praying harder than I ever had. Pastor Stuart touched my head, and I felt something shift, something powerful.

"In the name of Jesus Christ, I cast these demons out of Adessa's life!" Pastor Stuart declared with authority.

Suddenly, I collapsed to the floor, my body trembling uncontrollably. Mom and Pastor Stuart continued praying, their voices louder, more forceful. Each time I tried to stand, an unseen force knocked me down again.

As they prayed, I saw him—the man who had been haunting me. He was standing right there, in our home. My heart pounded in my chest.

"Mom, can you see him?" I asked, my voice shaking.

"Yes," she replied, her eyes wide with shock. I wasn't going crazy. He was real.

Mom and Pastor Stuart prayed even harder, their words forming a protective barrier. Then, the man transformed before my eyes—into Kemi. She glared at me with a malevolent expression, and then she vanished.

"It's over," Pastor Stuart said, his voice calm and reassuring.

"Ade, was that Kemi the man turned into?" Mom asked, her voice serious but gentle.

"Yes, it was her," I confirmed, the truth settling heavily on my heart.

"She bewitched you," Mom concluded, her face hardening with the realization.

"Ade, you are free," Pastor Stuart said with conviction. "Don't be afraid anymore."

Mom walked Pastor Stuart to his car, thanking him profusely. When she returned, her face was solemn as she asked, "Ade, what did you do to Kemi for her to hate you this much?"

I couldn't bring myself to tell her the full truth—that my boyfriend had once been hers," I thought, feeling a knot tighten in my chest.

"If anything unusual happens again, promise me you'll tell me," she said, her voice filled with genuine concern.

"Mom, is the smell still there?" I asked, anxiety tinged in my voice.

"It's gone," she reassured me. "I noticed that in the car, it was no longer there. It only affected you at school."

I felt a wave of relief wash over me and tears began to fall. The realization that Kemi was behind all this—how she had attacked me, knowing full well that her witchcraft had caused these strange things to happen—was overwhelming. Her smirk when I developed blurry vision suddenly made sense; she had known exactly what she was doing and took pleasure in seeing me suffer.

"Don't cry, Addie," Mom said softly, her hand gently stroking my hair. "It's over now. You're free in Jesus's name." She gave me a comforting hug. "Go rest. I'm going to start on lunch."

I nodded, finding a small comfort in her words as I wiped away my tears and made my way to my room.

For the first time in three days, I felt lighter. The oppressive smell was gone, the voices had silenced, the unwanted touches ceased, and my vision was clear. As I settled into bed, I saw supportive messages from both Tendai and Eloise:

I finally felt like maybe, just maybe, this nightmare was coming to an end.

Tendai: Hi Addie. Are you okay? 😊

Tendai: I'm sorry that Kemi embarrassed you during class. 😡

Tendai: She's so mean. I don't know how I ever dated her. I'll be coming over to see you in the evening after class. I'll skip soccer practice. ⚽

Addie: Hi boo. Mom brought a pastor home to pray for me. We prayed until the demon fled from my life. I'll tell you about it tomorrow.

Addie: I feel so much better now. Don't skip soccer practice.

Tendai is typing…

Tendai: I'm glad that you're feeling better.

Eloise: Hi Adessa, I'm sorry about what happened to you. Kemi went silent after you left. She was embarrassed. She started feeling sick a few minutes ago. I hear she's now in the dispensary.

Eloise: Jensen dropped a bombshell. Kemi is a witch. Raven loves a teacher. Liz is broke. Damn, all this tea in just one day. I would have never guessed that the poem was meant for Mr. Thomas. I wonder how Jensen found out?

Eloise: Try to forget about this awful week. Have a nice day 😘

Addie: Thanks for looking out for me. I feel better already.

The one thing plaguing my mind was how Jensen was feeling at this moment. Kemi had embarrassed him. Jensen was the only ex-friend of mine who had stood up for me.

Addie: Hi Jensen

Addie: I'm sorry about what Kemi told you today. You should know that you're amazing.

Addie: It wasn't me who told NoirNectar about your dad. We were able to track the email used to our school computer lab. The email used was adekammra@gmail.com. My email though is adekamra@gmail.com. Clearly someone was trying to blame it on me.

Addie: Let's sit down and talk about everything that has happened. I obviously support your dad to get re-elected as Mayor because of his policies and leadership. I am not and have never been an Isla Walker supporter. She attended that party that Regererai Dube threw for his birthday.

Dad called me that afternoon, his voice tense. "Mom told me a classmate of yours bewitched you," he said gravely. "Ade, you need to stay away from Kemi. She's dangerous."

The truth was, I had always tried to avoid Kemi at school, but no matter how much distance I put between us, she always found a way to hurt me.

Mom went to pick up Soren at 3:30 p.m., and they returned around 4:40 p.m. They found me sitting in the living room.

"Addie, I heard about what happened to you from my classmates," Soren began hesitantly. "They told me the corridor smelled because of you. Mom told me in the car that she picked you up this morning and brought you home to be prayed for by Pastor Stuart."

I nodded, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over me.

"She also mentioned a man appeared in the house during the prayer... who turned into Kemi and then disappeared. Tell me, is he the same man you said you saw at the entrance of the school on Tuesday morning?" he asked, his voice tense.

"Yes," I said, my voice breaking as tears filled my eyes. "Kemi bewitched me. It was all her."

"I'm sorry, sis," he said softly.

"Even the maggots I saw in the food were because of her witchcraft."

"She's really wicked, Addie," Soren whispered, lowering his voice so Mom couldn't hear. "Please leave Tendai... She's punishing you because of him."

"I'm not leaving him, Soren. God will protect me," I said, standing firm in my decision.

Soren sighed, clearly disappointed, but he understood I wasn't backing down out of fear. I began recounting everything I had experienced since Tuesday—the strange man who I had seen at school, the horrible smells, the blurry eyes, the invisible touch and haunting sounds.

"You're really strong, sis," Soren said, shaking his head in admiration. "If it had been me, I think I would've stopped going to school on Wednesday after all the strange occurrences persisted, but you made it to Friday!"

His words brought me a sense of pride. Maybe I am stronger than I give myself credit for.

"You even stuck by Tendai, despite everything. The smell you endured... and you still sat with him. You really love him, don't you?" Soren asked gently.

I smiled, my silence speaking volumes.

That evening, I spent my time unwinding, watching an Eddie Griffin comedy special, hoping to shake off the emotional weight of the day. It had me laughing so much that, for a while, I forgot about everything. By the time I fell asleep, I felt lighter, more at peace than I had all day. Maybe, just maybe, things would be okay after all.

After finishing my chores on Saturday in the morning, I casually told Mom that I was going out with Eloise in the afternoon.

"How come you never talk about Andrew, Jensen, or Mae anymore?" she asked, her voice curious.

"We developed some misunderstandings," I replied, trying to keep it light.

"Keep it that way with Jensen. I used to like him, but not anymore," she said flatly. "I don't trust people in Secret Societies. And come May, I'm not voting for Roman Bekele because he worships Satan!"

Her abrupt segue took me by surprise, but I didn't argue.

I met up with Tendai at school. I had texted him in the morning about coming over, and he agreed. He mentioned that soccer practice would end at 1 p.m., so I arrived early at noon to cheer him on. I was the only person in the bleachers, and I could tell from his smile that he was happy to see me.

When the match ended, Tendai came over to hug me as his teammates headed to the locker room.

"You smell really nice," he said with relief, holding me close.

"I'm so sorry about what you went through yesterday. I'm glad it's over now," Tendai said gently. "It was all Kemi's doing… She did all that to humiliate you."

Hearing him say that made me emotional. Standing here, back in the same place where I had been so humiliated yesterday, brought all those feelings rushing back.

Tendai pulled me into another hug, whispering, "Don't cry." I could smell the sweat from his practice, but it didn't matter. His warmth was comforting.

"I felt so humiliated," I sobbed. "She made sure to call me out, even though she caused all the problems I was having."

He held me tighter, not saying anything more, but his presence was enough to soothe some of the pain.

I wiped my tears and realized something that had been gnawing at me.

"That means Grayson didn't actually attack me in class," I said, my voice shaky.

"Don't even think about that racist schmuck," Tendai said, his tone firm. "It doesn't matter how he ended up suspended; he deserved it. He had been warned multiple times by the teachers and never listened."

Sensing I was still upset, Tendai changed the subject. "I'm taking you to the ice rink today. I don't want you thinking about Grayson or Kemi anymore."

"I don't know how to skate, Tendai," I admitted, a mix of excitement and anxiety bubbling up inside me.

"It's okay, Addie. I'll help you. Just hold onto me, and we'll take it slow," Tendai reassured me, his voice calm and soothing.

"But what if I fall?" I asked, uncertainty creeping into my tone.

"Then I'll catch you. Just trust me," he said, flashing me a warm smile.

With a few moments of hesitation, I finally nodded, feeling slightly more at ease. The thought of gliding on ice, despite my lack of skill, brought a small flicker of excitement. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

Tendai went to the locker room to shower and change, leaving me waiting under the shade by the parking lot. After a few minutes, he returned, freshly dressed, and we started walking together. We took the tube to the Somerset House ice rink.

The journey was peaceful, and with Tendai beside me, I felt more relaxed. Maybe learning to skate wouldn't be as terrifying as I thought.

When we arrived at the rink, the cool air greeted us, and I saw other skaters moving effortlessly, their laughter echoing across the ice. Tendai took my hand, guiding me onto the rink.

We spent the next few hours stumbling, falling, and laughing as we tried our best to skate. Each time I wobbled, Tendai was there, catching me, and we couldn't stop giggling. In those moments, the fears and embarrassment of the past few days faded away, replaced by the simple joy of being in the moment.

But as the weekend came to an end, reality started to creep back in. The excitement of being with Tendai faded, and the dread of facing my classmates on Monday returned. The memory of people covering their noses because of me still made me tear up.

I could feel the stares at school on Monday morning. Some students covered their noses, expecting me to still smell bad. But once they realized I didn't, they went back to whatever they were doing.

In the corridor, I saw Kemi chatting with Mae. The sight of them together no longer shocked me. I walked up to them, determined to confront Kemi.

"Look who decided to show up today—Miss Bad Odor herself," Kemi sneered, her words dripping with venom. Mae giggled beside her.

I stood firm, my heart racing but my faith stronger than my fear.

"Kemi, I want you to know that I am protected by the power of Jesus Christ. Whatever you try to do to me will fail. God has my back. Your witchcraft, whatever you sent my way, was defeated."

Jensen, who had been nearby, overheard the conversation. When I caught him staring, he quickly turned away, pretending to talk to Brielle. My heart sank. He hadn't responded to the texts I sent him on Friday. I had hoped he'd forgiven me. I guess I was wrong. "Maybe it's for the best," I thought.