LOGIN
I clearly remember falling asleep on my bed. So, how and why am I waking up outside my room, at my doorstep?! No, seriously—what in the world?
This could only be the deed of my so-called roommate.
Sebastian.
Yes, I know I'm a deep sleeper, I honestly do regret that about me.
I've complained to the dorm officer about Sebastians' reckless attitude, but nobody listens. Of course Sebastian is the golden boy child, the favourite who does no harm.
The dorm officer keeps telling me, “keep up with him this semester, then you'll be able to choose the room of your choice”. What if I don't make it out alive till the semester is over?
We don't even get to chat, not like roommates. Not even like friends. That's torture to my kind of personality.
I somehow regret coming to this institution. The gossips, cold glances. I could handle them on normal days, but some days it was heavy. Anyways, I won't let any of that weigh me down.
I told my mom I could have gone to a place where i atleast felt welcome; yes my mom knows about my sexuality, she has always been encouraging, she's the reason I haven't broken down. She always yaps about me getting a good looking man, yh.. .yh i came here for a purpose, if love finds me so be it. But guess what? a bully found me first. Sigh.
I tilted the hand of the door, tugging it. I heard laughter coming from the room. A loud bang was heard on the door, I shrank back, frightened, unsure what it was about.
“Let me in,” I said, hitting hard on the door.
More laughter erupted.
“Oh my God he sounds so girly.” I heard Maxwell say.
“Promise you wouldn't apply lip gloss ever again and we'll let you in” Tristan added giggling.
All Sebastian did was to roll in laughter.
“I'm really late for class, please let me in, applying lip gloss is never a bad thing to do, why don't you bitches go F yourselves!” I had to scream this time.
I yanked the handle so hard that when it finally swung open, I fell straight into the room. And again the trio pointed their fingers at me laughing like hyenas. I didn't find it funny.
“I can't believe you chose to stay with this shemale, Sebastian”. Maxwell sneered, picking up my make-up kit.
“Give it back to me!” I said grabbing it from him. “Don't ever mess with anything of mine. Go to your rooms!”
I saw their faces twisted with disgust. I care less of what they think about me. “If you can't stand the sight of me, you both better leave cause I'm about to shower”
“Oh, sure we’re leaving, i don't wanna gag this morning” Tristan and Maxwell chuckles as they both tried to leave, Sebastian wasn't moving a feet. “Aren't you coming with us?” Tristan asked Sebastian.
“Uhmm…I'll finish up here, I'll catch up with you guys shortly”
They both left.
I had to lock the room behind them, and pull off my shirt.
Sebastian grabbed my hair without warning and pressed my head against my bed, his words were stern.
“Don't you ever pull your shirt in front of me, I don't wanna ever see those bare breasts of yours”! He said as he let go of me. He was really strong, he had muscles I cherish. His voice was angelic yet hoarse.
He released me.
While catching my breath I muttered, “I didn't ask you to stare”
“Yh, you wish. I would never!” He said as he walked towards the door.
“Sure” the corner of my lips tugged with a smile. “I bet if you were given a chance you would pin me on the wall and kiss the hell out of me”
The door slammed.
***
I was done with lectures in the morning. I heard the bell rang, it was time for lunch. I dread coming to the school cafeteria to eat. I was the only openly gay in that school. There was commentary of course—mostly unwanted.
As I sat on my usual seat, an Ugly lady was approaching me and i could bet on her off-shade foundation there are hidden gays in this school. Not that I was ashamed of coming out in the open. I just didn't like their voices when they gossip around me. I still won't disappoint them by showing up in the cafeteria, even if it meant being turned into a clown for the entertainment of the entire school. At least I'm privileged to put a smile on their faces.
I grabbed and raised my fork to my mouth but a loud bang rocked my table, and i ended up spilling the food over my shirt.
Laughter erupted.
I swallowed down a tired sigh as I brush down the stain off my shirt but it was of no use. I tilted my head up to meet her mocking eyes. It was that ugly fat looking lady who can't differentiate the colour of her skin with the foundation she applied.
I had lost my appetite.
“That ugly color suits him…i mean her, don't you think?"
A sickening feminine voice asked in amusement, and i did not have to look to know that it was Layla. One of the many admirers and followers of Sebastian.
The ugly lady was standing right in front of my table, her arms crossed under her barely covered breasts, as she glared down at me with a wicked smirk.
"No color suits him. Not even that ugly stain on his shirt. As a matter of fact, he is a stain to this institution. A fucking freak." The ugly lady said as she spat.
“Sebastian how do you cope with a freak like that?”
More words were thrown at me like a blazing fire. The ugly lady grabbed the can of soda on the table, twisted it open and turned it upside down on my head, dunking all of the liquid all over me.
I gasped in shock, shifting on my seat as i tried to avoid the soda but humiliation and shock had me frozen. Loud laughs and hoots of encouragement rose from the crowd watching, as they found my humiliation very entertaining.
She lowered her head close to mine and whispered. “I wish you would cease to exist.”
It is a beautiful day for all the students of Lincoln Royal college, but an anxious one for the candidates. Students gathered around, their face lit with excitement. Some dashed toward their supposed winners without hesitation, while confusion lingered on others’ faces as they paused, weighing who truly deserved their vote. The candidates stood before the crowd of students, Sunlight washed over their faces while their hands stayed busy reaching out, gesturing, persuading passersby one conversation at a time. Laughter floated around, banners fluttered, voices overlapped. Today was election day on who would emerge as Miss Lincoln and other posts to be held. And tomorrow, the results will be out, and the winners will be announced.I’d been thinking about what Lucas said the other day. About me. About the influence I carried, and the gravity of the effect it would have on his voting poll. About standing up and calling people out, giving them a real reason to choose him as Miss Lincoln Ro
"Huh? Did you say something?" Layla paused, pulling back slightly, her brows knitting as she searched my face for clarity. "Am I not doing it well?" Her voice dipped, uncertain now. Her breath became slow and tight. She straightened up, still watching me like the answer might be written somewhere on my face. Her fingers lifted, brushing my cheeks gently. "Tell me how you want it, I'll give you exactly that" She leaned in to steal another kiss. I tilted my head just immediately to dodge it.It seemed as though Layla didn't hear me say 'lucas' name. My mind raced, scrambling for a lie in case she asked, or she replayed the moment out loud. I reached up, smoothing the strands of hair clinging to her face, then pressed a soft kiss to her lips. That was what I could afford for now."Babe, you're doing just fine" I said quietly, forcing steadiness into my voice. She searched me again "Then why did we stop? Her voice cracked just enough to sting. “You don't want me?”"Of course I want you m
“If you think I’d mention a name,” Philip said, his voice steady despite the blood sliding down his face, “then you’re all tripping. Do your own investigations.”He dropped the mic.The sound echoed dull through the crowd as he stepped down from the podium, pushing through the side of the platform with one hand pressed tight to his bleeding forehead. No security rushed him. No one helped. The crowd just watched him go, disappointed, like a show that ended too soon.Something inside me finally loosened. My lungs worked again. My blood stopped roaring in my ears. I sucked in air like I’d been underwater and just resurfaced. My knees felt weak, but at least they held.The crowd broke apart in pieces, students drifting off, laughing, arguing, already bored. Phones slipped back into their pockets. The moment had passed. The damage though stayed.“I can’t believe Philip of all people is gay,” Layla said beside me, her voice sharp with disgust. “God, he’s such an embarrassment to his family.
I didn’t want to go to the public announcement. I already knew what Philip was about to say. Actually, one part of me wanted to disappear and not take part in the shade that was definitely gonna be thrown at him, and another part needed to be there to make sure my name didn’t slip out by accident. “You’re gay,” Maxwell laughed, his eyes glued to his phone as he sipped his drink.“What?” The word flew out of my mouth. My chest locked instantly, like someone had pressed pause on my blood.“I said he’s gay,” he repeated himself, still scrolling. “Bet that’s what he wants to confess. If it was anything else, he’d have posted it already. This is bigger.”My ears rang. I could’ve sworn he said you’re gay. My thoughts scattered, tripping over each other. Guilt crawled under my skin, thick and hot, making it hard to breathe properly.“We better hurry and get a good spot,” Layla said, laughing too loud. “If he’s really confessing, I’ll be in the front row. I’m not missing that.”Her laugh scr
I didn’t know if what I was doing was right. I only knew I needed somewhere to hide, until whenever. Until life figured itself out for me. Or until the people who placed me on a pedestal stopped looking so closely.I can’t let them know. Not now. Not anytime soon. Maybe never. I just don't know.Being into guys would tear everything apart for me The respect, the image, the version of me they’d already memorized. I’d rather choke on the truth than hand it to them.I was walking down Maple Walk, the narrow path that cut through the academic block and the old library, when I saw him.Philip.My chest tightened before my brain caught up. He leaned against the brick wall like he’d been waiting, arms crossed, jaw tense. The same guy I was making out with at the freshers’ party. The same guy Lucas had seen me with.He didn’t look happy to see me. Neither did I.Public places were dangerous. Philip knew that. I knew that. Still, he pushed himself off the wall and stepped straight into my pat
Knowing fully well that Lucas wasn’t the type to be deceived easily, I had to move fast. Thinking wasn’t enough anymore; thinking was dangerous. Lucas saw too much, noticed pauses I didn’t even realize I made, read between breaths. If I stood still, he’d peel me open layer by layer.So I chose motion.Maybe dating Layla wouldn’t be so bad. I didn’t feel anything romantic for her—nothing that pulled at my chest or rearranged my thoughts—but affection didn’t always have to be complicated. She loved me. That part was obvious. Maybe I could borrow her feelings the way people borrowed umbrellas in a storm. Temporary. Useful. Protective.I, Tristan, and Maxwell agreed to meet in their dorm room later that evening. They were roommates. It felt safer there. No Lucas who could have barged in at any moment.When I walked in, the room was lit only by the television screen. The glow painted their faces blue and white as they battled each other on a soccer game, their fingers moving fast on the co







