My Toxin

Chapter 20: Secrets in the Air

The memory of Kemi's kiss haunted Alex relentlessly. He replayed the moment over and over in his mind, searching for some way to make sense of it, but the more he thought about it, the more confused and guilty he felt. He knew that Marjorie deserved to know the truth, but the thought of confessing made his stomach twist in knots. Torn between doing the right thing and his fear of losing Marjorie, Alex decided to seek advice from someone he trusted—Chanel.

Early one morning, Alex found himself driving down to Birmingham. The long drive gave him time to think, but it did little to ease his anxiety. When he finally arrived, he met Chanel at their usual café. The food in front of him remained untouched as he struggled to find the right words.

"What's going on, Alex?" Chanel asked, sipping her iced coffee. Her tone was casual, but her eyes were sharp, sensing his unease.

Alex hesitated, his hands fidgeting on the table. "Chanel... something happened with Kemi."

Chanel's brow furrowed in concern. "What do you mean 'something'?"

Taking a deep breath, Alex spilled everything. He told her about the argument with Kemi, the heated exchange, and how it had culminated in her kissing him. As he spoke, Chanel's expression shifted from confusion to disbelief, and finally to anger.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" she hissed, slamming her cup down on the table. "That bitch kissed you?"

"I know," Alex said, his voice low, avoiding the stares of other café patrons. "It happened so fast, and I didn't see it coming. I pushed her away immediately. But now I don't know what to do."

"Marjorie needs to know," Chanel insisted, her voice rising with urgency. "She deserves the truth, Alex. I'll tell her myself if you won't. Kemi is not her friend."

Alex shook his head, feeling a headache coming. "I don't want to make things worse. I just—"

Chanel cut him off, her tone fierce. "Worse? You think keeping this a secret is better? Marjorie's going to find out one way or another. It's better if she hears it from you."

The conversation weighed heavily on Alex as he left the café. On the drive back, he stopped by Ayo's place, seeking a second opinion. Ayo, buried in his dissertation work, listened attentively as Alex recounted the situation.

Ayo leaned back in his chair, considering Alex's words. "Kemi shouldn't have kissed you, man, but technically, you're single. You can kiss whoever you want."

"That's not the point," Alex replied, frustrated. "It's not just about the kiss—it's about the fact that it happened at all. I'm not interested in Kemi that way, and this just complicates everything."

Ayo nodded thoughtfully. "I get it. But if you're feeling guilty, that's your answer. You need to come clean."

After spending a few hours playing video games to distract himself, Alex returned home late that night, his mind still racing. Before heading to bed, he sent Kemi a message, letting her know that he planned to tell Marjorie about what happened. Just as he was about to drift off to sleep, his phone rang—it was Kemi.

"Please don't," Kemi's voice was strained, panic evident in every word.

Alex paused, then quickly merged the call with Chanel, who had already told him she wanted to be in the loop.

"Let me tell her," Kemi pleaded, her voice trembling. "Give me until the trip, at least. I need to do it in my own way."

Chanel didn't hide her disdain. "Why should Alex give you that courtesy after everything you've done?"

Kemi hesitated before responding. "Because I still care about Marjorie, and I don't want to lose her friendship. Please, Chanel. Please, Alex. Just give me until the trip."