Inner conflict wasn’t something Persha was used to.
He didn’t understand himself anymore.
He felt like an imposter in his own body.
He wasn’t a kid, and he wasn’t going to deny it.
He liked Zabi.
He liked a woman.
He’s never liked a woman before, never even considered liking one.
He would kill these feelings before they blossomed into something he couldn’t control.
He had returned her shirt, apologized, and said thank you.
Nothing could bring them together anymore.
Maybe with distance, his feelings would disappear with her absence.
The locker room was buzzing with happy players.
They had just won a game.
“Now that’s what I’m talking about,” a player says, fist bumping another player.
“We dragged their ass through the mud,” another one says.
“61 to 43, what a way to start the semester.
Nice work out there, guys,” Persha says, feeding their ego as their captain.
They erupt in cheers and chanting, their spirits high.
Persha was glad he had something to replace Zabi with, until Christopher decided to open his big fat mouth.
“Let’s throw a party to celebrate.
All departments invited.
Let’s have fun,” he yells before looking straight at Persha.
The whole team bellows in agreement, excitement filling the room.
Persha knew Christopher was getting at something, but didn’t think too much about it.
He’s his vice captain anyway.
Hate him or love him, the bastard is actually a good player.
The news spread faster than wildfire.
Everyone was talking about the party.
Persha had people he never spoke to before congratulating him on their win.With all the department in the same building this party was sure to be packed.
“Look who the cat dragged in…
Mr.
Popular,” Baylee teased.
“Oh, shut up.
I’ve always been popular,” he says, walking up to his friends.
They were seated at the university field.
“It’s sunny as hell.”
“Waiting for you.
Did you forget we have Statistics class soon?
We need to head to the hall,” Victoria says, an umbrella shielding her from the sun.
“Shit, I forgot about that.
Don’t we have five lectures today?” he says, grabbing his phone to check the roster.
“No, that’s tomorrow,” Baylee says, slinging his hands over Persha’s shoulder.
Victoria and Dash walk in front while he and Baylee maintain a notable distance behind.
“How’s it going with Zabi?” Baylee whispers.
He feels Persha visibly tense.
“Is something supposed to go on?” he asks, feigning ignorance.
“Don’t give me that,” Baylee says.
“You both would actually look good together.
It’s about time you moved on with someone else,” he drawls, teasing Persha.
“Keep quiet and let’s head to class, nosey,” Persha says, smacking Baylee upside the head before running up to catch up with Victoria and Dash, leaving Baylee with a sore head and an unfed hunger for gossip.
The party was buzzing.
Alcohol, loud music, sweaty bodies rubbing against each other, students from every department were present.
This was the party of the year.
Persha was the guest of honor, dressed in silk pants and a matching silk corset, a pair of glasses sitting on his head, and dress shoes completing the look.
“Up, up, up, Shadows!” the basketball team cheered loudly, while other students joined in with them.
The music was loud, alcohol running through their systems.
Christopher makes eye contact with Marcel.
He grabs a cup, fills it with booze, before slipping a pill into it.
“And to our captain, Persha…
come on, man, we couldn’t have done it without you.”
The crowd agrees.
Christopher hands the cup over to Persha.
He finds it strange.
Christopher was being nice to him?, why?
There were people around, maybe he was trying to save face or have a good time without any malice between them.
“Chug!
Chug!
Chug!
Chug!” the crowd chants.
Persha accepts the challenge.
He hoots and screams, making the crowd go even crazier, unaware of the danger ahead.
He staggered down the large hallway, the music from below thumping against the walls, making his head spin.
Persha didn’t understand how one cup of alcohol could make him this drunk.
He wasn’t a lazy drinker.
He could hold his own when it came to drinking.
He turns the knob of one of the doors, oblivious to the footsteps approaching behind him.
He steps into the room, turning around to close the door, but large hands stop him, pushing the door back open.
He stumbles back, holding his head in his hands before looking at the person in the room with him.
Marcel Stonner.
Marcel stalks towards him, grabbing him and trapping him between his hands.
With what little sanity he had left, he struggles to push him off.
“What is wrong with you?
Get out,” he slurs.
Ignoring his protest, Marcel yanks him back.
“I’m surprised you still have the strength to fight me,” he whispers, kissing down his neck.
His hands pull and grope at Persha’s body.
“Don’t worry, soon you’d be the one begging me to fuck you,” he says, grabbing Persha’s face and deepening the kiss.
At that moment, Persha realizes he’d been drugged.
With what little strength he had left, he pushes Marcel off him, running for the door.
He opens it, thanking God it wasn’t locked.
Marcel grabs him by his hair, dragging him back into the room, but before Marcel can close the door again, a hand stops the door from closing.
***
Zabi had been watching Persha since the party started, dragged to the party by Tiffany, of course.
She sat at the bar, watching the ruckus the basketball team were making.
She watched Christopher pour a drink, looking around to see if anyone was watching.
Unknowingly to him, Zabi was watching, and she saw everything.
She watched him pour a liquid into the cup, watched him hand it over to Persha, and watched him down the cup empty.
She watched him dance with his teammates for a while.
He steps aside, drifting away from the team, clutching his stomach like he wanted to puke.
She watched him head upstairs.
She watched Marcel stalk behind him, contemplating if she should intervene or not.
She finally decides, standing up to follow them up the stairs.
Then she watched Persha pull the door open, trying to run out while Marcel yanked him by his hair.
Stopping the door before it could close, she didn’t know how she felt right now, but one thing was for sure, she was fucking livid.