Chapter 1: The Threats
Only God could tell why she had never been seen with a smile on her very attractive face. Although everyone knew her parents had separated but why she stuck to her father and not her mother was another thing both the nosy and the concerned failed to understand.
Juliet on her own had more to think. She did not know where her mother now lives, why she refused to call or visit at least for her sake. To her, she had no reason to smile or show any sign of happiness. She was looking either sad or sober from dawn to dusk.
Mr Ben, her father was not helpful. At first, he used various cunning ways to neglect her grills about her mother. He was professional at giving evasive answers to simple questions. Later, when he could no longer take her unending questions, he resulted into telling her not to dream of seeing her dear mother again.
Her father did not stop at that, he minimized her freedom. She hardly goes out whenever she is at home. Her extent of freedom was when she is in school.
She adjusted her brown satchel as she sighted her destination. She heaved a sigh in pure fatigue and kicked an empty cola can which rolled till it was stopped under a foot. She looked at the fellow’s face and after rolling both of her eyes, she muttered ‘sorry’ and made to go.
“That was a nice kick,” he said.
“Thanks,” she said and made to go again.
“Juliet, why are you in such a hurry?” He asked.
She was surprised. For a man as him to know her name, then more of his kind would do too. “Harrison, I have a class.”
“Oh, so you know me? Am I that famous?” He asked with a smile.
“Is it possible that someone here won’t know you? I doubt it,” she said and he laughed.
Juliet was very sure that there hardly could be someone in the school without the knowledge of Harrison, Handsome Harry.
Harrison got his nickname from his strong good look features. Every girl in school would have loved to be his but his strong vice could not let them.
Handsome Harry was believed to have slept with almost every girl in the school. Also, he had a gang and they used to terrorize both male and female in school. Any girl that refuses them was said to have faced the consequences. A lot of girls who were said to have been harassed were later seen with them, looking cheerful. The males and females that were yet to fall victim had to wonder if they were using charms on those girls.
“So what do you have to say?“Juliet asked.
“Juliet, I want us to be friends, I mean very close friends,” he answered and her heart skipped. “What do you think?” He asked.
“Harrison, I’m sorry to say that we cannot be friends. I’m not ready for any relationship,” she said.
He smiled. “Juliet, you can’t fool me.”
“Fool you? How?”
“Just don’t think that I can be fooled. I’ll take you by your word but if I discover that you have a guy, both of you will be in trouble.”
“Why are you threatening me?”
“Don’t worry, Juliet. You’ll soon get an answer to your question.”
“Don’t think that I am or I’ll ever be scared of you,” she said brazenly.
“You’re so combative and I hope you remain this way as events unfold between us,” he said.
Harry made to go but Juliet hurriedly grabbed his left hand and immediately let it go as he looked questionably at her.
“Harry, I’m sorry if I’m rude,” she said.
“It’s nothing.”
“I have a question.”
“I’m listening.”
“What do you want from me?”
“I want your body,” he said baldly.
She squeezed her face. “Harry, is this how you threaten every girl? How many girls have you slept with? Have you ever thought of AIDS?” He chortled. “Well, I just want you to know that I can’t be victimized.”
“Are you sure?”
She sighed, “Harry please let me be. I’m in this school to learn. I beg you Harry. Don’t frustrate me.”
He simply laughed.
“It’s not funny.”
“It is.”
Juliet looked soberly at him while he laughed.
“But tell me, what’s funny about this?”
“What’s funny is that you’re acting like a naive girl which you are not.”
“I’m not naive, Harry but I’m decent.”
“Are you insinuating that you’re innocent?”
“Innocent in what manner?”
He laughed, “I’m surprised.”
“That?”
“That you seem childish.”
She rolled her eyeballs in their sockets. “Whatever. Harry, I’m getting late.”
“Alright, go on,” he said and made way for her.
She had not walked six feet when he called her.
“Juliet, I love you.”
She hissed and he laughed heartily.
***
Juliet was surprised at how her friends reacted when she got back to her room after the day’s lecture.
“Joan said she saw you with handsome Harry,” Gladys said as she sat up on her bed.
“What happened?” Betsy asked.
“What did he tell you?” Joan too asked.
“Hope you didn’t insult him?” Betsy grilled.
Juliet sank into her divan and sighed. “Girls what’s up with you? Why are you behaving like it was God I saw? Is Harry that crazy?” She asked.
“Don’t tell me that you told him that he’s crazy,” Betsy said anxiously.
“I didn’t but I just let him know that I’m not one of those he can threaten,” Juliet answered.
“He threatened you? He said he loves you?” They asked.
“He did and I told him no way! Also, I told him that I can’t be threatened. That’s all.”
“Fine!” Betsy exclaimed, taking her aback. “I’ve known that one day this girl will victimize us,” she said.
“You’re going to implicate us this way,” Joan added.
“Girls, cut the crap you’re saying. I’m not implicating anyone and I’m not going to accept his proposal for fear.”
“Well, Juliet’s right. Let’s just see how things will turn out,” Gladys said.
The other two looked worried.
“So why didn’t you wait for me after lecture?” Juliet asked.
“You were busy with your guy and we couldn’t contain the hunger for long,” Gladys replied.
“You should have called me, the lesson would have been postponed to tomorrow. Well, where’s my food?”
“It’s in the microwave.” Gladys answered.
Juliet laughed as she walked out. “Why are you guys looking this scared?”
***
The twilight moon illuminated the quad in Sir Ben’s mansion. Juliet was back in the solitude of her home . She wore her nightie as she took the evening breeze. The novel in her hand got her carried away far from her seat to the outside world. She compared the life of the girl in the story to hers and found out that their lives are alike. The only difference was that the girl in the book had very poor separated parents.
Mr Ben cleared his throat and lowered the volume of the radio. “I’m sure that by now you would have known that it is better to stay at home than in the hostel.”
For Harry’s sake, she would have said yes but she was not ready to make her father joyous over what was happening to her at school. “Dad, I prefer staying at school.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m able to study well over there, and going for lectures is even easier over there.”
“And you want to tell me that there’s no problem?”
“No, why would there be?”
“Just asking. You just have to take care of yourself because if anything happens, you can’t count on me. I won’t help since you’re bent on staying in school.”
“There can’t be any problem over there.”
“We shall see.”
Having gathered her books together, she left the lecture room with Sam. They chatted till they got to the crossroads.
“I love you.”
Juliet thought she misheard. “You said?”
He held her hands. “I just can’t keep it any longer, I am in love with you, Julie.”
Juliet’s eyes blinked and he snickered.
He brushed her hair aside with his hand. “Don’t you love me too, Julie?”
She looked sideways and gave a hiccup. “Are you serious about this?”
“Why won’t I be? I deeply love you.”
She spluttered, “I’ll think about it Sam.”
“Hmm...Just be positive, will you?”
“I’ll think about it,” she repeated.
He smiled while she looked nervous.
They took the different paths to their hostels.
Juliet was happy that Sam finally confessed his love for her to her. Sam and her friends were the only ones who used to make her feel human. She loved Sam too.
