Rats, Roses And Paper Bones

chapter 41: 'Tell him'

“Moyo!”

“Moyo!”

I yelled as I ran out of the classroom after her.

She sprinted through the classroom block and towards the field.

“Moyo, please, wait!”

I was already out of breath. It felt like I was running a hundred-metre race, and this girl was ridiculously fast.

And she wasn't even looking back.

Thankfully, she finally stopped in the middle of the field and sank onto the fresh grass.

I caught up with her a few seconds later, breathing heavily.

She looked up at me.

Her eyes were terribly red, and her face was soaked with tears.

“You know,” I said, sitting beside her, “for someone who has always acted so tough, you sure do cry a lot.”

“Leave me alone, Doyin.”

She wiped her face with the back of her hands.

“You know I can't do that.”

I looked at her.

She sighed.

“I'm sure you're here to convince me that you didn't rat me out.”

She shook her head.

“But you don't have to. I know exactly who did this.”

I stayed quiet.

“She was there with me at the vice principal's office,” Moyo continued. “I guess she was always going to find out eventually.”

“I'm sorry.”

“It's not your fault, Doyin.”

She sniffed.

“I shouldn't have dragged you into this in the first place. What if you'd gotten into trouble because of me?”

“Well, I didn't.”

“And that's a relief. But I'm not taking any more risks.”

She looked down at the grass.

“I already have enough guilt.”

My heart sank.

“Our deal ends here, Doyin. You don't have any reason to see me again. I'll face the disciplinary committee, leave the school, and never come back.”

“What do you mean, our deal ends here?”

I stared at her.

I hadn't even had the chance to accomplish what I'd set out to do.

I hadn't brought her back to Christ yet.

Everything had happened so quickly, and now she was sending me away.

“I'm leaving anyway, Doyin.”

“But—”

“What do you want from me?”

She sounded exhausted.

“I know I don't need anything from you anymore. My secret is already out.”

I took a breath.

“Fine. If you're really determined to leave, then I'll go.”

She looked up.

“But I have one condition.”

Moyo frowned.

“Again? What do you want?”