The Masked Identity

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The air was damp and unpleasant, Sylvia who had gone to the library alone to complete her project was rushing home. She went to the library alone because her friend, Belinda was under the weather. Soon it began to rain heavily and there was no place for her to hide, she then decided to go to Joe's apartment as it wasn't far from where she was at that moment.

Sylvia was shivering with cold when she got to Joe's apartment. She knocked for a while, but there was no response. So, she guessed that he was seeing a movie and was oblivious of the fact that someone was at the door as she could hear sounds coming from his room. She brought her phone out from her pocket to call him but on a second thought, she decided to push the door to see if it was locked so as not to disrupt his movie by her call, only to discover that the door was not locked. Luckily, the door opened as soon as she pushed it but when she entered the room her face turned pale. It was like the blood in her body had drained out. She stared open-mouthed for sometime then shouted in agony, "Belinda! Joe!"

Belinda and Joe who were deeply carried away by their act of love making jerked away from each other as soon as they heard Sylvia's voice, but it apparently was too late as Sylvia had seen it all.

"Sylvia, I am very sorry, I know I shouldn't have done this but..."

Pa!

Before Belinda could complete her statement, Sylvia already landed a hard slap on her face. Belinda held her cheek in shock and in anguish, she wasn't expecting such from Sylvia. Sylvia raised her hand to slap Linda again, Joe instantly intervened, holding her hand quickly from behind.

"Sylvia, have you gone nuts? What right do you have to slap her? You think too highly of yourself and you are so bossy and egoistic. What are you even doing here?" Joe asked, his face dark with rage.

Sylvia stared at him speechless as she couldn't believe Joe was the one asking her such questions.

"Why are you mute? Has the cat got your tongue?" Joe asked yelling at her.

"Joe, have you lost your mind? I caught you on bed with my best friend and you stand there asking me stupid questions, instead of tendering your apologies. Is it that you never loved me or what?" Sylvia asked confused.

"Hahahaha! I once loved you but your terms and your behavior made me to stop loving you," Joe answered. "Do you still remember how you sent me out of your house last month when you were raped? You have been behaving strangely since the day you claimed you were raped. I know the doctor said it will take time for you to heal, but I am not a patient person so I can't tolerate your nonsensical behavior."

"Why didn't you tell me this before now? Of all the girls on earth, you chose to cheat on me with my own best friend. Joe, why?" Sylvia asked fighting back tears.

"I have been thinking of a way to tell you but I haven't been able to come up with any idea. I'm happy that you found out yourself. It's my life, I don't have to give you any reason for choosing to be with your best friend." Joe said without showing any sign of repentance. "Please leave my house, don't ever come to this place again. We are not friends or lovers..."

"Please don't send her out. It's still raining, allow her to stay here till the rain subsides." Belinda pleaded tugging at his singlet.

"Can't you see that your friend is better than you. She wants you to stay despite the fact that you pommeled her." Joe said. "I will allow you to stay because of her."

"It's ok, I will leave. So this is goodbye." Sylvia said ruefully, then left his apartment.

**********
Sylvia had a hot bath when she got to her apartment but she was still cold, so she wore a sweater and baggy trousers then she sat on her bed thinking deeply about the event of the day. She looked towards the direction of the door when she heard the sound of it being opened.

Belinda walked into the room smiling broadly "Best friend, why are your eyes red and puffy?" She enquired.

"How could you do this to me, Belinda? Why did you betray me? In what way have I offended you? The Belinda I know would never do such, what came over you? What came over you? Were you forced to do it?" Sylvia asked bitting her lower lip trying to fight back her tears.

"The Belinda you know would never do such? That sounds funny, you are a joker." Belinda said laughing. "It shows that you don't know me. Sylvia, you are my biggest competition and i hate you for  that. I hate the fact that you are more intelligent than me, I hate the fact that you have a loving and caring mother and I hate the fact that you are always the best. Back then in secondary school I begged you to allow me to replace you in the national competition and I even had to lie that the winner would be given a recommendation letter and that my mom was in need of it, yet you refused. I fell in love with Joe at first sight and I can still remember I told you that at Cheryl's party but you went ahead to date him. Are you not a bad friend? Huh?"

"Ahhh! That competition was the only opportunity I had to get a scholarship to further my education. I have always wondered why I was not given the recommendation letter you told me the winner would be given. And I thought you were joking when you said you had a crush on Joe, I mean you have a crush on virtually every guy you come across." Sylvia answered. "I can't believe you betrayed me because of that competition. I am not your biggest competition, you are your biggest competition. Learn not to be jealous. It's not my fault that..."

"Oh! Then whose fault is it?" Belinda asked cutting Sylvia short. "My dear friend, this is just the beginning. I will take everything that you love away from you since you still think you were right to have refused to allow me to take your place in that competition. By the way, hope you have recovered from the rape?"

"Get out of here! Sylvia thundered obviously pained.

A faint sneer of satisfaction crossed Belinda's face. "Did I hit you were it hurts?" She asked. "I am sorry if I did. I had better get going now so that you won't jab at me again since I don't have the power to fight you. See you!" Belinda said as she exited.