Semua Bab OUR MOON HAS STRINGS: Bab 41 - Bab 50

“I’d kill you,” Valery replied without hesitation. “There’s your answer. Now you know why she’s mad at you.” Valery fell silent. That evening, she walked to Margret’s house, but her friend refused to see her. Her texts and calls went unanswered. The next morning, she waited to be exposed to her father, staring at the ticking clock. Margret didn’t joke with time - if she said morning, it was morning. But when noon passed, Valery knew Margret wasn’t coming. Her friend could never hurt her like that. ***** News of an upcoming excursion spread excitement through the class. A two-day trip to Ghana’s Volta Region. “We’ll start by climbing Mountain Afadjato, the tallest peak in Ghana,” one teacher announced. “Then we’ll hike down to visit Wli Waterfalls, the tallest waterfall in West Africa, where you can swim at the base. After that, we’ll head to a seaside resort near Keta for dinner and movie night by the beach. In the morning, we’ll visit the Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary to see th

High SchoolThe day started humid and heavy with promise. Valery had hoped to sit beside Margret on the bus, but Sandra waved her off.“Margret said she’s sitting with me today,” Sandra declared, leaving Valery to stand awkwardly in the aisle.“Violet, come to the back!” Derrick called, patting the seat beside him. Riley was two seats ahead, his head lolled against the window, already dozing despite the early hour.After a headcount and prayer, the buses rumbled out of the school gates. The atmosphere pulsed with excitement, drums and claps rising as the boys led the jama songs, whistling and yodeling into the wind like joyous village criers.Their first stop was Mountain Afadjato, standing proud at 885 meters high. The tour guide narrated its legends- of spirits guarding the peak and farmers gathering herbs by its slopes, before the climb began.Derrick gripped Valery’s hand firmly, pulling her up each steep path as she struggled against her own fatigue. Riley trailed quietly behind

Margret didn’t look at her. “No. Go away.”Valery opened her mouth to plead but stopped herself as Sandra approached. She rose, brushing the sand from her skirt, trying to swallow the bitterness of being replaced.Derrick caught her wrist as she walked back. “Come with me,” he whispered.“Where to?”“Don’t ask,” he said with that smile that usually soften her knees. He guided her through the garden path to his room.The moment the door shut, his mouth was on hers, his hands impatient and sure. She kissed him back at first, letting him press her into the door, his warmth dizzying, but when he reached under her skirt, she pushed him away.“Not this again… Stop.”“Come on, my Violet… don’t pretend you don’t want me,” he breathed against her neck. “It’s the perfect time to know each other this way. It’ll make us stronger.”“My mum said I’d wound up pregnant if I played such games.” Valery averted her eyes, shy and ashamed to even be talking about the subject.“Your mum is just paranoid. B

Margret parked her car at home, feeling exhausted. As she climbed out, she noticed her front door was ajar.Her heartbeat quickened. ‘Thieves?’ She scanned her porch, her mind uneasy as she tiptoed into the living room.Fortunately, everything was intact. Nothing was moved or destroyed.Then she heard footsteps behind her. She spun around.“What do you want, Derrick?” Her voice was sharp with disdain.Derrick stood there, his silhouette tall and ominous in the dim entryway. The moment he took a step forward, her instincts screamed at her to run, so she did - bolting for her room. Derrick chased her down, slamming his palm against the door just as her hand reached the knob. Before she could retreat further, his body pressed hers against the hard surface. One of his hands clamped her shoulder while the other slid up, his fingers curling around her neck deliberately.Margret held her breath, staring at his face mere inches away. His grip tightened, firm enough to scare her, but not enoug

Riley was always there; getting on Valery’s nerves, poking holes in her excuses. Not a day went by where he didn’t interrogate her about Derrick. If she even breathed near her phone, he’d snatch it, scrolling through texts like a detective with a vendetta.Around Margret, they were on their best behavior. Riley kept his distance, and Valery played it cool. But the moment Margret left the room, Riley was impossible. He teased. He complained. He questioned everything. And somewhere in all that chaos, Valery started to see it. The charm hiding inside his honesty. The way he told her the truth even when it hurt. Somehow, that started to matter more than sweet lies.“Hey. You have visitors.”Valery groaned as her sister barged into the room one morning, breaking the peace of her Saturday nap. She rolled over, groggy and disoriented.“Visitors?” she asked, barely awake.“They’re downstairs,” her sister replied before leaving the door open.Valery sat up, confused. When she reached the botto