en's

assment, maybe even a sharp question about why I

er belongings, and speak to me as though I were an

alk away. She didn't lo

rom the table behind me,

ing the irritating grin he usually reserved for situati

ou been sitting

you barely know to be your date and g

smissed," I

She simply packed her books and left you standi

sed to sit in earlier and sat down, tr

something u

y become the most interesting topic on campus. The

ere pretending they hadn't been watching us, while others had abandoned the

time, the story would have travelled through every campus WhatsApp g

m talk,"

ightly. "You're serious a

to be my date

one. Half the campus would say yes

ered the rain that night, the cold water running down my neck, and th

ttempted to prolong our encounter. She had barely spoken. She h

her hostel, she had walked away

inally. "From the rain. She

ided to invite her to a public universi

ce," I said. "For once, withou

sharpened. "A

ur relationship was a contract I had no right to terminate. Our families had arra

cluded me. She had announced her intention to compete for Miss West R

tired

," I said quietly. "I don't

ur date is your way of prov

g a decision without

nderstand that Eliana is a person, not a sta

ated me because

that,"

had seen something beneath the anger. Hurt. Not the kind of hurt that came f

ause it was easier than admi

wered without walki

could also have asked her privately in

tely. One message from a university group had already mentioned my

y had already giv

. This was exactly the sort of attention I disliked. People thoug

n crying alone in the rain, and I still didn't know why. I had asked he

w it. It meant that if Eliana agreed, it would have to be

that a

ng building. She stood near the entrance, her a

," she

inued

e need to

ng to talk about," I

. "So the rumours are true? You a

ked at her direct

liana Rose to be your date for Mr. and Mis

of the game. "Yes. I

ly, as though she had

"Why would you choose her

I said calmly. "And bec

not an

one you're gett

re slipping. "You know what people will say.

ur concern

nd there while you parade another girl

na isn't a parade, Valentina. She is not a prop. And you d

ly flashed across her face

egret thi

it wasn't worth answering. I walked away, lea

But I knew her well enough to understa

ering why I had dragged her into a situation she had never