Saint Patrick's College

Chapter Twenty

That night, Adaeze couldn't sleep. She kept dreaming about him doing the same thing to her. How could she have been so naïve? How could she have trusted someone so dangerous?

She rolled out of bed, careful not to wake Ayomide. But the girl was a deep sleeper, so Adaeze wasn't too worried.

She moved stealthily through the dimly lit room. She walked over to their desk and reached for her phone from where it was charging.

The time on the screen read 2:47 a.m. Adaeze knew she couldn't keep this information to herself. She needed advice, guidance, and someone to confide in.

With a trembling hand, she dialed Segun's number. After a few rings, he picked up, his voice groggy. "Hello?"

Adaeze spoke in a hushed tone. "Segun, it's Adaeze. I need to talk to you. It's important."

There was a pause on the other end before Segun replied, more alert now. "What's wrong? Is everything okay?" The concern behind his voice made Adaeze's stomach churn.

She took a deep breath. "I spoke to Khadija, and she told me what happened." She didn't know how to say it. Or if she was even allowed to say it. "It's Femi... he did something to her. Something really, really bad."

The silence on the other end of the line was deafening. Adaeze could almost hear Segun processing. Finally, he spoke in a grave tone, "I'm coming to the front of your hostel. Meet me outside in five minutes."

She nodded even though she knew Segun couldn't see her. "Hurry." She added.

He ended the call.

She sat at her desk, her heart pounding in her chest.

He was the boy with all the charm, the one that swept her off her feet without even trying. He was the reason she left school for the first time. A part of her didn't want to believe that he was capable of such a heinous act. But she had no reason not to believe Khadija Ahmed and the book that eluded to it.

Stuffing her phone in her pants pocket, Adaeze tiptoed to the room door. Carefully, she unlocked it and pulled it open. Closing it was another issue. When she eventually got it clicked shut, Adaeze made her way down the stairs.

It took Segun less than five minutes to walk up to her in an oversized hoodie she had never seen before. He had the hood all the way up.

"Tell me everything she said," Segun insisted as he took a seat on the curb.

The night was quiet.

Adaeze recounted the chilling story Khadija had shared with her. She vaguely described how Femi had lured Khadija to his hostel room, under the pretense of catching up with an old friend. As she spoke, Segun's expression grew darker and more solemn.

"What do we do now?" Adaeze asked, concern raw in her tone.

Segun leaned back propped up by his hands, deep in thought. "We have to make sure Khadija gets the support she needs." He stared at the sky. "We should report this to the school authorities and her parents." He looked like he was counting the stars. "She's been through a traumatic experience, and she shouldn't have to go through it alone."

Adaeze nodded in agreement. "I'll call her and ask if she's willing to talk to the school counselor or someone she trusts."

Segun reached out and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Good." He said. "And hey," She turned to face him. "We're doing the right thing."

As Adaeze made the call to Khadija, she couldn't help but feel grateful that Segun was by her side. This wasn't the path she had expected her friendship with Femi to take, but at least now she knew the monster she was dealing with.

. . .

The following morning, Adaeze met Khadija near the school's administrative building. She was relieved to see that Khadija had agreed to meet the school counselor, even if it was with a mix of hesitation and fear. Adaeze understood that this was a big step for Khadija, and she was determined to support her every step of the way.

As they walked through the corridors of Saint Patrick's College, Adaeze couldn't help but notice the stares and whispers from fellow students. Had word started to spread about the incident? Adaeze hoped not. She never told anyone. And she would kill Segun if he uttered a word about this to anyone. Whatever the case, it was unsettling to feel the weight of their curious eyes.

The door to the counselor's office was ajar when they got there, and they hesitated for a moment where Khadija clutched her arms to her chest. They stood there for what felt like minutes before Adaeze gently pushed the door. It creaked open.

Inside, the school counselor, Mrs. Johnson, was warm and inviting. Her office was decorated with posters and colorful artworks. There were shelves filled with books and resources on various topics related to students' well-being. Adaeze couldn't help but take in her surroundings.

"Good afternoon," Mrs. Johnson greeted them with a kind smile and bright eyes. "You must be Adaeze and Khadija. Please, come in and take a seat." She said. It wasn't hard to schedule an appointment with the woman on the fly. Adaeze did it that morning, the moment the sun had come up.

Khadija and Adaeze chose a pair of comfortable chairs placed in front of the counselor's desk.

"Now," The woman steepled her hands out in front of her. "Khadija, Adaeze said you had something you needed to talk about? Something you needed to get off your chest?"

Adaeze hoped the girl wouldn't back out, although Adaeze didn't think she would blame her if she did.

Reluctantly, the girl nodded. Clearing her throat and sitting up straighter in her seat, Khadija, began to recount her experience.

Mrs. Johnson listened attentively, her gaze fixed on Khadija, her expression a mixture of empathy and concern.

"Khadija," she began gently, "What you've experienced is deeply distressing, and it's essential to address it. I'm here to support you through this process and help you heal. We'll involve the appropriate authorities to ensure your safety and well-being."

But Khadija was shaking her head, tears welling up in her eyes. Adaeze reached out to hold her hand, she yanked it away. "You can't tell anyone!" The look in her eyes was of pure terror.

The counselor continued, "We'll inform your parents about this matter, and I encourage you to speak openly with them. They care about your welfare and will want to be there for you."

"Y-you can't tell them. You can't tell anyone."

"Why not?" Adaeze leaned forward in her seat. "He hurt you, we have to make him pay for what he did to you."

"He's not who you think he is, he can't know I've told anyone this." The words tumbled out.

"Did he threaten you, is that what happened?" Adaeze could feel her blood boiling.

Ms. Johnson reached out a hand to separate the two girls. "I want you to know that our primary concern is your well-being. We can keep your information confidential if that's what you prefer. However, we also need to ensure your safety and prevent any further harm."

So, they were just not going to do anything and let him get away with it?

The counselor assured Khadija that she wouldn't share the information without her consent, but she would offer guidance on how to protect herself and seek help if needed.

Khadija appeared to find some relief in Ms. Johnson's words.

As they left the office, Khadija wore a faint but genuine smile, and Adaeze knew they had made progress, small progress, but progress nonetheless. They agreed to meet again soon to check on Khadija's progress.

Adaeze walked Khadija back to the dorms and as she did, the two girls connected on a level deeper than Adaeze had anticipated. Sure, Femi never did anything to Adaeze but the crippling thought that he could have, bonded the two girls. Adaeze was proud to be part of this journey, standing up against injustice and supporting her new friend on her path to healing.