The Sweetest Fruit ( Tomboy 🏳️‍🌈Love Story )

11. Breast cancer

Sonia

"Are you going home for the break?" MJ asked as I laced up my basketball shoes.

"Yeah, my mum said she had something important to tell me," I replied, trying to sound more enthusiastic than I felt.

"Are you ?" I asked despite knowing she had a rocky relationship with her family. She shrugged, looking down to nothing in particular. " I don't know yet."

" I could have invited you over but that would just be disturbing for both of us." I tried to keep my tone light, thinking of our tiny, noisy rental on the lower side of Kiambu. MJ would hate the place — trash scattered everywhere, even the occasional discarded baby diaper.

" Yeah, plus I don't think your mother would appreciate any visitors."

" You're right," I laughed, knowing how she was. But a part of me wanted her to see my world— the shabby streets where I grew up that held my favorite spots, the places I felt most like myself.

The sound of the rain intensified echoing through the gym walls. Outside people rushed to find shelter, their chatter and footsteps disrupting our practice. MJ blew her whistle, her voice authoritative.

"Everyone huddle up." She puts her hand on her sixes before rubbing her stomach. I catch a sneak preview of her v-line and I feel myself squirm.

"So practice is canceled and if anyone wants to leave they can and the coach said he will announce the new members on Friday."

My heart sank, Friday felt so soon. I thought we had at least another week to prove ourselves.

" Chill," I heard Kora say, placing her cold hands on my shoulders.  " What if I don't make the team?" I whine, wiping the sweat off my palms on the fabric of my jersey.

" Stop overthinking, you will be fine," she murmurs, rubbing my back.

" Blue is your color." I feel myself lighten at the compliment. " You think so ?"

" Yeah nobody ever looked this hot in uniform."  I laugh, the burden of not being a member of this team feeling a little lighter.

" Roomy wanna make a run for it ?" MJ interrupts, flashing me a quick grin. Since when did she start calling me roomy?

"Seriously?" Kora asks, walking away. What did I miss?

"What was that?" I asked, noting the tension between the two.

" Nothing," MJ replies, brushing it off.

" It doesn't look like that," I pressed, making her roll her eyes and jog out of the gym. I huff leaning on the wall and stare outside the window.

" You know MJ will never want you right," Nelly's voice  cut in, blowing the gum she was chewing.

"Why not ?" I ask feeding into my curiosity.

" First you're poor, that girl is allergic to poverty second your fat she likes her women small, just like me." She turns around to show off her petite body and the lump in my throat makes me keep quiet. Maybe that's why she is always ignoring me and insulting me every chance she gets.

" Don't cry Sonia, " she says, her voice laced with fake sympathy. “It's not your fault you fell for her, everybody does.”

I take in a sharp breath pinching my skin several times to prevent the tears pooling at the edge of my eyes from falling. When did liking someone get so hard?

I stepped into the rain, its heavy drops drenching me to the bone. The chill matched how I felt as I walked back to the hostel. Cold. But one thing was for sure, like the rain my crush on MJ will end.

By the time I reached our building, I was soaked. Mrs Ndemwa gave me her usual disapproving glare as I climbed the stairs, but I ignored her. When I opened the door there was MJ, lounging on one of the chairs scrolling through her phone.

Her eyes widened when she saw me standing there. " Are you nuts ?"

Yes, you're driving me to the point of insanity.

She stood up. “Look at you, you're making the rugs wet.”  She seemed more concerned about the mess I made than me.

“Did you follow me?” She asks with that taunting gaze that made me feel so small at times. I didn't reply, just stood there too cold to move or talk.

" Lift your arms," she commanded.

" What?" I manage to choke out.

" I said, lift your arms." I did as she instructed and soon after the jersey made it out of my head, revealing my red brah. She barely looks at me confirming the suspicion that she didn't find me attractive at all.

She reached for my shorts, tugging on them when I resisted.” Let go,” she insisted, leaving no room for argument.

Finally, I lifted my legs, letting her pull them off. She handed me one of my towels and I wrapped it around myself as fast as I could, desperate for warmth.

She takes a thick, black hoodie from under her pillow and hands it to me. "Wear this, it's really warm."

Why is she being nice?

"Why are you doing this?" I asked, surprised by her uncharacteristic kindness.

"I don't want you catching a cold and infecting me," she answers, glancing away.

I dried myself and slipped into the hoodie, which smelled like her — a soft comforting scent.

"Sonia," she said as I moved towards my bed. Her voice was quieter, almost hesitant.

"Yeah?" I looked over at her, noticing how tightly she was clutching her phone.

"Uhm you look nice in my hood and…. sorry for snapping at you earlier."

I nodded. "Thanks." I was used to her sharpness but I didn't want her to think she could treat me the way she wanted.

"Are you mad?" She asked after a while.

"No." I am just conflicted and frustrated at the same time. I want to tell her how she behaves with me is wrong but I'm scared she will push me away entirely.

The room grew silent, heavy. After a long moment, I spoke up. "You could come to my bed," I suggest hoping she doesn't turn me down.

She paused and nodded. "Uh okay."

We lay side by side, staring up at the ceiling, listening to the rain patter against the roof. Moments like this — when my roommate didn't hate me, where everything felt peaceful is what I lived for.

"What does the tattoo on your back say?" I asked, remembering the small delicate script.

"It's a song."

"Can I see it?"

"Sure "

She sat up, pulling her shirt off to reveal a white sports bra. I reached over, gently brushing my fingers against the tattoo on her back.

“First let me say to you I cannot wait to see you, you're the treasure I've been waiting for ….” I read recognizing the words. “Hey, that's Duduke by Simi.”

"It was my mum's favorite song.” Her voice was thick with emotion. Something in me softened, and I wrapped my arms around her, resting my head against her back.

" MJ, can I ask what happened to your mum ?" I asked hoping she wouldn't snap at me or tell me to let go of her.

" Breast cancer." The words made my heart twist and instinctively I tightened my hold on her.

" I'm so sorry, " I whispered sincerely. I wouldn't know what to do if my mum died no matter how bad our relationship is. “Thanks, Sonia.” She sinks into my arms and I can't help but appreciate how right this moment felt.