yellow lode

THE PARTY

Boy you know say if I give you body (body)🎶
You go soji (soji)🎶🎶
You no go fit rock the M.I.C🎶🎶
'Cause you go lose control, hey🎶🎶
No oh oh oh🎶🎶🎶🎶 "by P-Square"

I was all excited about the upcoming birthday party — not just for the loud music or the chance to hang out with friends, but because, for the first time... people wanted me there. Everyone was asking if I'd be coming. Everyone was waiting for me.

Me, Chika Onukwe.

I'd managed to squeeze some extra change from textbook and handout overcharges. My small clique — Princess and Christabel (we call her Chizzy) — were already buzzing. Chizzy, the fashion guru of our group, dragged me along to shop for my outfit.

Most of what she picked was... short. Skippy, revealing. I wasn't used to all these mini-mini clothes. I was still new to the whole campus fashion world — but I told myself, maybe this is what change looks like.

"Loosen up, jor," Chizzy said, handing me a crop top that barely covered my bra line. "You no be fresher again oo."

I laughed nervously. I wanted to feel free — wanted to look like the other girls — but my comfort and campus fashion style goes separate ways. Still, I wore it.

The party was loud. Lights flashing like it was a concert, music shaking the walls like the building would fall down. Everyone was dressed to show as much skin as legally possible. Even in my bum shorts and crop top, I still felt like a saint.

Then... Prince.

Tall, confident, always smiling — he walked straight to me.

"I'm glad you came," he said, locking eyes with me.

My heart did a lot of work pumping blood that fast in seconds. I spotted Princess with her boyfriend and Chizzy tearing up the dance floor with her legwork. I looked around for an escape... but they were clearly unavailable.

Prince stayed close. Held my hand. Poured me a drink. Touched my waist from time to time. I told myself it was harmless. Just vibes. Besides, I didn't know how to dance, and I didn't have a boyfriend. Maybe he was just being nice.

But sometime past midnight, he leaned close to my ear.

"I want to talk to you."

I was excited, hoping he would ask me to be his girlfriend, finally!, I waved at Princess, trying to signal I'd be right back. Chizzy was too far gone — dancing, drunk, laughing too loud.

He led me upstairs to one of the rooms.

"You look tired. You should rest," he said, softly. Then locked the door.

I froze.

He moved closer. I tried to make a joke, to change the energy — but his hands were already reaching where they shouldn't. I pushed him away. My heart was beating ten times faster — but not in the cute, fluttery way.

He Chuckled — not because it was funny — but because he knew I was scared.

"Why are you laughing?" I asked,

"Relax, baby girl... na play we dey play."

"Pls let me go, I don't like this type of play ( adjusting myself as I try to lift myself off the bed)

"Where do you think you are going? He asked ( his face changed completely, the look on his face was scary and domineering)

Then he forced himself on me, laying his weight on my body as he tried to pull down my shorts and cover my mouth with his fist.

I screamed. Kicked. Fought like something wild had woken up in me.

Knock knock.
Knock knock knock
Chikaaa....

"Please open the door! It's Princess!"

The sound of her voice froze him.

He got up, hissed loudly, and muttered, "Ashawo."

He opened the door and walked past her without a second glance.

"What happened?" Princess asked, eyes wide. "Why is your hair rough? Did you guys do anything? Talk na! Did he slap you? Why are you crying?"

I said nothing. Just stood there, numb, trying to figure out what had just happened and how I got caught in it.

"Sorry," she whispered, holding my hand gently. "Let's go back to our room. You need a bath and sleep."

That night, I didn't sleep. I lay in the bed, curled up, and cried like a baby. Not just from fear — but from shame. From trusting him and wanting so badly to belong.

.................................................................

The next morning, my body ached like I'd rolled down a concrete hill. My skin felt bruised by air. I didn't want to move, but I had an important class. Attendance. That's the only thing that made me dress up and go.

And then I saw them.

Prince and Pejuetti — the birthday girl. Holding hands. Laughing. Whispering like nothing happened.

I froze.

Pejuetti? The same girl who invited me?

Prince gave a small wave, smiling like nothing happened. Pejuetti just stared. Her smile was cold — the kind you give someone when you know something they don't.

That's when I knew.

He was never interested in me. I was just a game. An experiment. A trophy. Something he could brag about to his real girlfriend. And she knew. She knew. And said nothing.

I felt used. Betrayed. Dirty.

I sat at the back of the class.Lost. My heart heavier than it had ever been. The lecturer came in and started teaching — but my mind wasn't in the room. It was still replaying the night before.

I used to think university was about freedom.

But nobody tells you that freedom, without sense, can cost more than you expect. Well mymum did "wolf in sheep clothing " 

I was to carried away, but at least the worst didn't happen, thank God for Princes, he didn't succeed.

Did you enjoy the story?
Do you feel pity for chika or did she deserve it ?
What do you think will happen next ?