Star paused, her fingers hovering over the phone as she debated calling Mandume. But then, doubt crept in.
"Wait a minute, Star… What are you doing? Mandume will surely leave you when he finds out about your pregnancy. People might even think it's his child if you stay together, and he'll be embarrassed. No, no, I won't let shame come to Mandume. He's my… ah, no. My foolishness won't make his life harder," Star thought, quickly returning the phone to her bag before he could see her.
Meanwhile, Tiffanie, unaware of Star's inner turmoil, spotted Mandume's hesitation and called out, "Hey, handsome, you're here… sit!"
Mandume felt an instinctual pull, the feeling that Star was near. His eyes scanned the room as if searching for her.
Tiffanie, noticing Mandume's distraction, pouted, "Sit, babe. Why are you looking around? Aren't you here for me?"
Mandume cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. "Um… Tiffanie, how are you, dear?" He sat down but kept glancing around, as if his mind were elsewhere. His instinct told him Star was close.
Star, who had overheard Tiffanie's affectionate greeting, felt a sharp pain in her chest. Mandume has a girlfriend? Why didn't he tell me?
But the bitterness didn't last long. It's fine. He won't like it when he finds out I'm pregnant. Let him be with her. At least he's relieved from some of the stress… Star tried to push her emotions aside, telling herself to stay in her own world. She quickly packed up her things and left the library, hoping to escape the turmoil inside her.
Mandume, however, couldn't let it go. He noticed her departure and swiftly followed, his pace quickening as he tried to catch up. Star, sensing him behind her, sped up, her heart pounding.
Tiffanie watched the entire scene unfold and, irritated, pulled out her phone to call Bonita.
Minutes later, Bonita arrived at the library restroom, where Tiffanie, flushed with anger, recounted what had happened. "Don't worry, Boni, she's just a sweet seller. My brother likes to buy from her, but it's nothing serious. Calm down, girl. It's no big deal," Bonita reassured.
But Tiffanie wasn't convinced. "It's a big deal, Boni. I don't want to lose my boyfriend over some poor, common girl."
Bonita placed a calming hand on her friend's shoulder. "Don't worry. He won't. You said she's poor, right? My brother only feels pity for her. Nothing more. If anything happens, we'll deal with her." The two hugged before leaving the restroom.
Meanwhile, Mandume, still searching for Star, made his way to the bookshelves, where he caught a glimpse of her. He hurried toward her, but when he reached the rack, she was gone.
Is she playing hide and seek with me? Does she even know why I'm following her? Mandume thought, frustration building.
Finally, he found her sitting on a bench outside the library, looking lost in thought. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "Star…" he began, but she stood abruptly, a sense of urgency in her movements. "It's time for my class," she said, and without another word, she walked toward the classroom, leaving him standing in confusion.
Star entered the class early, sitting down alone. She pulled out her spare notebook and began scribbling. "Pregnancy rules," she wrote in bold letters, the first rule glaring at her: IGNORE MANDUME.
For the rest of the day, Star maintained her distance. She kept to herself, refusing to acknowledge Mandume, who could only find the situation strange and frustrating.
Back home, Mandume couldn't shake the unease in his chest. Why would Star ignore him? What had he done wrong?
Bonita, carrying a plate of food, passed by Mandume's room and noticed his troubled expression. Clearing her throat, she leaned against the doorframe. "Hey, bro, something wrong? Did Tiffanie do something?"
Mandume, lost in his thoughts, muttered, "It's Star. I don't know why she ignored me today. Something is definitely off. Why is she acting this way?"
Bonita frowned, confused. "Who's Star?"
Mandume froze, realizing what he'd just revealed. "Uh, never mind." He stood quickly and headed for the kitchen.
As Mandume dished up his lunch, he muttered to himself, "I need to figure out what's going on with Star. Why is she ignoring me? Maybe she found out about Tiffanie and is angry with me. I was going to tell her… Maybe she can help me get out of this mess of a relationship."
Bonita, sensing there was more to the story, followed him into the kitchen. "Why do you care so much about why she ignored you? Maybe she doesn't want you to buy her sweets anymore?"
Mandume's eyes narrowed. "You know that's not it. If that were the case, then why would she ignore me? I can feel it. Something is wrong, and I need to find out what."
As Mandume sank into the sofa, TV remote in hand, Bonita stood at the doorway, her curiosity piqued. She couldn't quite understand why her brother was so worried about Star, but she was determined to find out.