"I'm fine, Mom," Ayo replied abruptly, shrugging off Funmi's hand as she focused on her food, the spoon clinking against the bowl.
"I know you're fine. I just want you to remember that if something is wrong, you can always talk to me," Funmi continued, her voice gentle yet probing, trying to reach the heart of her daughter's tension.
"I said I'm fine, Mom! Jesus!" Ayo's voice cracked with frustration, louder than she intended.
She immediately regretted it.
Funmi winced but didn't respond, knowing Ayo wasn't really angry at her.
She could see the cracks in her daughter's brave facade, the silent war Ayo was waging within herself.
"Alright, my baby," Funmi whispered, the hurt in her chest palpable.
She knew pressing further wouldn't help, but the maternal worry gnawed at her.
Ayo's grip on her spoon tightened.
She knew she shouldn't have lashed out. Her mom was only trying to help, but the weight of the school day, Sasha's insults, and her own tangled emotions were dragging her under.
She wasn't ready to let anyone in—not even Funmi.
That night, Ayo lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind restless.
She replayed the moments with Sasha over and over again—the cruel way she smiled, as if her words were daggers meant to cut deep.
It wasn't just the bullying; it was the fact that Sasha held so much power, effortlessly controlling the space around her.
No matter how much Ayo tried to stay out of her way, it always felt like Sasha found her, like she was hunting her.
She thought about Ethan—the boy who had been nice to her. Was he part of Sasha's game too? Or was he different? Either way, she wasn't sure she wanted to find out.
The next morning, before Ayo headed to school, she found Funmi in the kitchen, preparing breakfast.
The smell of fried plantains filled the air, a familiar comfort.
"Hey, Mom," Ayo began, her voice softer.
Funmi looked up from the pan, her face a mixture of surprise and concern.
"I'm sorry about yesterday. I didn't mean to snap at you like that. I'm okay, I promise."
Funmi's expression softened.
"It's alright, Ayomide. I know you're going through a lot. Just remember, I'm here whenever you need me."
She pulled Ayo into a warm embrace, the kind that made Ayo feel, for a moment, like everything might be okay.
Ayo squeezed back, grateful but still wary.
She wasn't ready to share the weight of her world just yet.
How could she explain the sinking feeling in her chest every time she saw Sasha or the fear that rippled through her when she thought about facing her again today?
"I'll be fine, Mom," she whispered, more to convince herself than anyone else.
That day, Ayo arrived at school with a new resolve. She would avoid Sasha at all costs, along with anything—and anyone—Sasha deemed hers.
It wasn't like Ayo had any desire to be friends with Ethan either.
He was just another complication, another reminder of how tangled her life had become since the beginning of senior year.
During lunch, Ayo found her usual spot, one of the more undesirable seats at the far edge of the cafeteria.
The lunch lady was serving rice and stew today, a dish Ayo actually liked.
She heaped a portion onto her tray and made her way over to her usual spot.
There were plenty of better seats available, but the risk of running into Sasha or her posse kept her anchored to her quiet corner.
The worst seat in the cafeteria was worth the peace of mind.
Ayo began eating in silence, spooning rice into her mouth as her eyes scanned the notes in her notebook. It was a routine she found comfort in—eating alone, immersed in her studies, away from the noise and chaos of her peers.
Just as she was about to take another bite, a loud thud jolted her from her thoughts.
A lunch tray dropped onto her table.
Ayo's stomach tightened as she looked up to see Sasha standing there, arms crossed, a smug smile on her lips.
"Oh, fucking hell," Ayo muttered under her breath, her heart sinking.
The very person she had been trying so hard to avoid had sought her out.
"Hi, Ayo," Sasha greeted her with an unsettlingly bright smile.
It was the first time Sasha had ever addressed her by name instead of the usual "loser."
The sweetness in her voice dripped with malice.
Ayo's heart raced. What does she want?
Sasha sat down without asking, dragging her tray toward her.
The metallic clatter echoed through the room, catching a few people's attention.
"So, Ayo," Sasha began, her voice as sharp as ever, " I noticed you've been acting pretty confident lately. Sitting all alone, minding your own business—how brave." She gave a mock clap, her smile widening.
"I mean, it's almost like you think you're better than everyone."
Ayo froze. "I don't think that. I just—"
"You just… what? Want to be left alone?" Sasha interrupted, leaning in closer, her voice dropping to a near-whisper.
"Too bad. People like you don't get to be invisible. Not in my school."
Ayo's mouth went dry. "I'm not trying to cause any trouble."
Sasha's smile widened, the kind that made Ayo's skin crawl.
"Good. Because it would be really stupid to think you could, you know, stand out. You've always been good at being invisible, right?"
The word 'invisible' hit Ayo like a punch to the gut. She had spent years trying to blend in, to not be noticed by people like Sasha.
But now it seemed no matter what she did, Sasha had her in her sights.
Just then, Ethan walked up behind Sasha, clearly having followed her. He looked between Sasha and Ayo, an uncomfortable expression on his face.
"Sasha, maybe we should just let her be."
Sasha waved a dismissive hand. "Oh, come on, Ethan. Don't be such a buzzkill. I'm just having a little fun."
Ayo's heart raced as she looked at Ethan, searching for any sign of support.
But his expression was unreadable, caught somewhere between loyalty to Sasha and a desire not to engage in confrontation.
"Why don't you sit with us, Ethan?" Sasha continued, her voice sweet.
"We could use some company, don't you think?" She leaned closer to him, almost possessively.
Ayo felt a sharp pang of jealousy at Sasha's closeness to Ethan, but she pushed it down.
"I think I'm good here," she replied, her tone clipped.
Ethan hesitated, looking at Ayo as if he wanted to say something, but Sasha cut in.
"Seriously, Ayo. Don't you want to hang out with people who matter? I mean, what's the point of sitting here all alone like some sad little ghost?"
"I'm not a ghost, Sasha. I'm just not interested in your brand of friendship," Ayo shot back, her frustration boiling over.
"Wow, look at you! Standing up for yourself. How cute," Sasha mocked, a smirk plastered on her face.
"But you should really think twice about who you're talking to." She glanced meaningfully at Ethan, who stood awkwardly beside her, caught in the crossfire.
"What's it to you, Sasha?" Ayo demanded, meeting her gaze with defiance. "You think you can just bully me and get away with it?"
"I don't think—I know," Sasha replied, her voice dripping with confidence.
"And if you don't watch yourself, you'll find yourself in a world of trouble.
You don't want to end up like those girls who tried to take me on before. I promise you, it doesn't end well."
Ethan's expression darkened at Sasha's words. "Sasha, that's enough," he said, a note of urgency creeping into his voice.
Sasha glanced at him, momentarily surprised.
"What? You don't want me to remind Ayo of her place?" She looked back at Ayo, a triumphant smile on her lips.
"But maybe I should. You never know when she'll need it."
Ayo felt her cheeks burn with anger and embarrassment. She clenched her fists under the table, trying to keep her composure.
"You're a bully, Sasha. That's all you are. I refuse to be intimidated by you anymore."
"Is that so?" Sasha's voice dropped to a low, threatening tone.
"Let's see how long that lasts." She stood, dragging her tray behind her with a loud clatter.
"Come on, Ethan. I don't want to waste my time here."
Ethan lingered for a moment, glancing at Ayo.
"I… I'll see you around, Ayo," he said, almost as if he were apologizing, but the weight of his words felt hollow.
"Yeah, whatever," Ayo replied, fighting back the wave of emotions threatening to overwhelm her as they walked away.
Once they were gone, Ayo sat in silence, her heart racing. She pushed her food away, no longer hungry.
Sasha's taunts replayed in her mind, and Ayo clenched her fists beneath the table, trying to suppress the rising tide of frustration.
What was it about Sasha? Ayo wondered, staring at the remnants of her untouched lunch.
She was infuriatingly charismatic, effortlessly commanding attention wherever she went.
But beneath the surface charm lay a venom that Ayo could no longer ignore. It was as if Sasha thrived on the power she held over others, reveling in their discomfort.
And then there was Ethan. Ayo couldn't shake the feeling that he was different—that there was more to him than met the eye.
He seemed caught in Sasha's web, but the fleeting look he had given her when he left stirred something deep within Ayo.
Could he be someone she could confide in? Or would he just turn out to be like everyone else, another player in Sasha's game?
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Ayo went through the motions of her classes, the words of her teachers blending into a hazy background noise.
The more she thought about Sasha and Ethan, the more she felt her determination wavering.
She needed to find a way to reclaim her space, to stand up for herself without the fear of repercussions looming over her.
Finally, when the last bell rang, Ayo's heart raced with anticipation and dread.
She had promised herself she would attend the feminist club meeting, a chance to find her voice and connect with others who might understand what she was going through.
As she stepped out of the classroom, she took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders.
"Okay, Ayo," she whispered to herself, "You've got this."