Rude Awakening

Newfound feelings

After a few days of sulking, Ria was back outside. Being open to the idea of attending house parties and other on-campus activities like seminars, church fellowship, sports, and whatnot.

She joined a few clubs, in particular the conservation club, since she was a serious climate change enthusiast. It would also look good on her CV later on when it's time to face the real world, so she took it on. Around the same time, she got herself a little part-time job as a field data collector through an old friend to up her shaky finances. Life was going a little great.

One life science class after another from cell biology to soil science, animal anatomy, she had a lot on her plate, rid of all kinds of boy drama.

Living in a house of 5 boys and two girls, herself being one of the two, that part of her life was kinda happy. Her cousin brothers were all very protective of her, save for one. Oliver.

Ria and Oliver used to be very close cousins growing up. They were each other's confidants, as one would say. However, they had a falling out when Oliver started to sexualise Ria, creeping into her bedroom in the middle of the night to watch her sleep. Home became scary because of one person. Ria was afraid to speak up, knowing all well that even if she did, the others would try to bury the story and not have it known by the elder family people.

This wasn't her first incident of s****l abuse. In primary school, another cousin went as far as holding her down like a possessed animal seemingly with an intention of assaulting her sexually. He, however, never went that far for all the times it happened. Even then, she never spoke up. This time again, it was happening. She was terrified.

She started crushing with Celine and Irene at theirs at least three days a week. Their place became a safe haven for her. She felt protected and loved. The two girls never judged her. They always took care of her like it was their life's mission.

Ria's parents had separated years ago, so her and her siblings had been in between relatives for the longest time. These her friends became her newfound family.

After class hours, Ria would sit at the courtyard benches with her coursemates discussing a variety of topics. It was also the perfect view angle to look out for Conrad, her newfound crush. He was a senior doing the same course as her. The sight of him a cure for eye sores. He was a 6ft tall, fine young man with agreeable features, chocolate skin, a fine dresser, and a haircut like the football star he was. He was extremely dreamy and clean. The first thing one would notice when they saw him was his shoe game. He always wore the right outfits and the perfect shoes to match it. The sight of him always turned her daring instincts on.

He was one of the cabinet leaders of the conservation club too. Attending those meetings was always worth her while because she would get to see him. If only she could talk to him. If only it was not frowned upon by society for a girl to ask a boy out.

"Maria."

"Huh! What were you saying?"

She snapped back into reality.

"Gawking at conrad again, huh?!" Patrick, her friend, said.

"No. Not really. Just sightseeing."

They both burst into a loud laugh.

"You know the view is pretty." She added.

"If I were him and you were interested and made it known, we'd be end game."

"Get out of here. I feel like he's kind of intimidating, but you do know me. I think nothing of status quo and people being out of one's league till I talk to them. One day, I will master the courage."

"I am rooting for you, beautiful!"

"Pretty boys are bad news though."

"Nah. All men are good people."

"Boys supporting boys, I get it."

Conrad disappeared at the edge of the building, chuckling away with his course mates. They were planning to get sports gear for their football match later at 5 pm, and Ria was not going to miss it for the world.

"I was talking about the conservation club. The old cabinet is handing over. Are you taking up a position? You are quite articulate, and I believe you would be a perfect fit in the team."

"Yea, Pat, I will give it a thought."

************

The semester was ending, and the examination pressure was all over the place, coupled with the excitement of the students going home for holidays. Ria felt she did well and was looking forward to the next semester. Her girls Cel and Irene were packing up to go up country as well. Ria lived within the city, so Cel gave her the keys and custody to her room. She was already feeling lonesome. Her holidays were planned out with reality TV shows and her part-time job being top priority.