Maria was a woman of influence—a respected advisor at the College Parenting Association, known for her poise and discipline. Yet, beneath her polished exterior lay a complicated dynamic. Though Mandume was only her stepson, her devotion to him was unwavering, bordering on something even she couldn't quite define.
The moment she heard what Bonita had done, she stormed into the disciplinary office, her voice laced with disbelief.
"Bonita, you know better than this! How could you? Why?"
"Mom, she pushed me first! She—"
"Shut up! Did you fall? Are you hurt? Are you in the hospital?" Maria cut her off, her anger flaring. "This is my reputation you're tarnishing! People are asking, 'Who raised this girl?' I sent you to college to build a future, not to cause trouble!"
Turning to Mr. Zoey, the head of the disciplinary department, Maria demanded, "Where is the girl? I want to see her."
Mr. Zoey sighed, his face grim. "She was taken to the hospital earlier. She's unconscious. And, Mrs. Maria, a formal complaint has been filed against Bonita."
Bonita's heart pounded. If Star woke up, she wouldn't hesitate to press charges.
"What? She's that badly hurt?" Maria gasped, her fury shifting into alarm.
"She fell from the second floor," Mr. Zoey explained. "Maybe she has acrophobia—that could be why she fainted so quickly."
Maria clutched her chest. "My God… Can we visit her? Do you know where her family is?"
"We haven't been able to track down her parents. No emergency contacts, no known guardians. She's just the girl who sells sweets on campus… She doesn't even have friends."
Bonita swallowed hard. "My… my brother might know something. He buys from her a lot. They seem close."
Mandume was called in and told everything. His hands clenched into fists as he processed the news.
He didn't know where Star lived or who her family was. Every time he asked, she changed the subject. But now, it was clear—she had been hiding something. And it had to do with Tiffanie. Star was hurt because of her. His hatred for Tiffanie burned hotter than ever.
They rushed to the hospital, where Star had already received treatment, but she had yet to regain consciousness. When they entered her room, Mandume's chest tightened at the sight of her—small, fragile, motionless.
"I'm sorry, Star," he thought, his eyes stinging. "I should have been there. If I had, you wouldn't be lying here like this. Please… forgive me. I swear I'll stand by you from now on."
A nurse entered, breaking the heavy silence. "Are you her family?"
Maria stepped forward. "No… my daughter pushed her. We came to check on her. How is she?"
The nurse glanced at Star, adjusting her IV. "She's stable but still unconscious. She needs proper care… especially considering her condition."
"Her condition?" Maria frowned.
"She's six weeks pregnant," the nurse revealed. "I assume you didn't know."
A sharp silence fell over the room. Bonita's eyes widened, flicking to her brother with an accusatory look. Mandume, however, refused to believe it.
"Pregnant? No… No, this doesn't make sense. Is this why she's been avoiding me? Something's wrong—I have to find out." His thoughts swirled in turmoil.
Maria turned on Bonita, her voice sharp with reprimand. "You pushed a pregnant girl! Do you understand how dangerous that is? Carrying a child is like holding an egg—a small impact could cause a miscarriage! Do you even realize what you've done?"
"When will she wake up?" Maria asked the nurse, rubbing her temple in distress.
"Likely in twenty hours. But there's something else—apart from the fall, she's severely stressed. Her body is showing signs of malnutrition, and for a pregnant woman, that's dangerous. She needs a proper diet, emotional stability, and medical supervision."
Mandume inhaled sharply. "I knew something was wrong. Last semester, she was different… then she started hiding things."
"She might need psychological help," the nurse added. "For now, you should go home and return tomorrow. We still have to contact her next of kin, but honestly… she's a mystery."
She pulled the blanket over Star and adjusted her drip. Then, turning to Maria, she gave a final warning. "Expect the police tomorrow. There will be an investigation."
Mandume clenched his fists.
He wasn't leaving Star alone in this. Not this time.