Mandume sat in the dimly lit hospital corridor, his head in his hands, drowning in guilt. Star was unconscious, hurt, and pregnant. The weight of it all pressed on him like an unbearable burden. He should have known. He should have seen the signs. Maybe if he had been there for her—protected her from Bonita—none of this would have happened.
The thought haunted him.
Determined, he got up and made his way to the nurse's station. Knocking lightly on the office door, he stepped in when he was beckoned.
"Ma, I wanted to ask… is it allowed for me to stay with Star until she wakes up?" he asked hesitantly.
The nurse raised an eyebrow. "You want to sleep here?"
"Yes, ma'am. Please."
She tilted her head and smirked. "Mm. You the father?" she teased.
Mandume stammered, caught off guard. "Um… mmm…"
"You don't have to answer." She chuckled knowingly. "Maybe it's love manifesting in you. I understand—I was in the same position once."
Mandume swallowed hard. "Yeah… maybe. But is it allowed?"
The nurse nodded. "Of course, it is. Take care of her, young man."
Relief flooded him. He immediately called his mother, lying that he was staying at a friend's place for movie night. She agreed without hesitation—she trusted him more than she ever trusted Bonita.
As evening fell, Mandume stopped by the supermarket, buying milk, yogurt, water, and a loaf of banana bread. He wanted to be ready when Star woke up, no matter how long it took.
Entering Star's room, his heart clenched. Seeing her like this—so still, so fragile—made him feel powerless. He placed the refreshments aside, pulled a chair next to her bed, and took her hand in his.
"Star, you're hurting me so much," he murmured. "Why are you here? I didn't even get to taste your sweets this semester. And that fat guy who always stole from you? Guess what? He lost weight. I know you wouldn't know because you don't stay there anymore. Someone else took your spot."
A bitter laugh escaped him. "And why have you been ignoring me, huh? What did I do? You act like I stole your sugar, Star."
His voice softened. "The nurse told my mom you're pregnant. Is that true? How? I think I know you well, and I know you don't have a boyfriend. So, how…?" His eyes stung with unshed tears. "I know the nurse can't be lying, but you have some explaining to do, or else…" He let out a teary chuckle. "You probably don't know this, but Mandume loves you very much."
At that moment, Star's hand twitched. The monitor beeped rapidly, her heart rate increasing.
Mandume froze.
Did she hear him? Or was she in distress?
Panic gripped him. He leaped to his feet, rushing to call for help. The nurse hurried in, checking the monitors.
"What did you do?" she asked, examining Star closely.
"N-nothing, ma'am! I was just sitting here, I swear!" Mandume stuttered, afraid he had hurt her somehow.
The nurse smiled. "Relax. Maybe you said something that excited her. Unconscious patients can still react to emotions."
Mandume exhaled deeply. "Oh, thank you, Jesus…"
After the check-up, he hesitantly asked, "Ma'am, are milk and banana bread okay for her when she wakes up?"
The nurse nodded. "You did well. Most unconscious patients wake up hungry—especially her, since she's pregnant."
Mandume gulped, still struggling to process that fact. He settled back into the chair, pulling the blanket over himself. He held Star's hand and drifted into an uneasy sleep.
At dawn, Star stirred. A fog clouded her mind as she struggled to place where she was. The bright lights, the soft beeping of machines—this wasn't school.
"What… where am I?" she thought, her gaze darting around the unfamiliar room.
Attempting to sit up, she realized someone was holding her hand.
"Aah… excuse me, sir?"
Mandume's eyes snapped open. For a moment, he thought he was dreaming.
"Star… You're awake!" Relief flooded his voice. "Let me get the doctor! Oh my God, you finally woke up. Just stay put, okay?"
Star frowned, confusion deepening. "Mandume? Why are you here? What happened?"
Mandume hesitated. "It's a long story. Just be patient. You'll know everything soon."
She didn't like the sound of that.
As soon as Mandume left to get the nurse, Star sighed, trying to piece together the last thing she remembered. She had been at school. There was… Bonita.
Bonita pushing her.
Her breath hitched. Had she fallen?
The nurse entered with Mandume in tow, a surprised look on her face. "Ms. Shining, you're up two hours earlier than expected. That's rare."
Star's voice was urgent. "Ma'am, why am I here?"
"You fell from the second-floor stairs and passed out," the nurse explained. "You were rushed to the hospital. Because there was a conflict involved, we had to file a police report."
Star's stomach twisted. "A police report?"
Mandume placed a hand on her shoulder. "Yeah, Star. The police are coming to ask you a few questions."
Star swallowed. Bonita. The fall. The pregnancy.
This was only the beginning.