HIS PRIDE, MY HEART(PART 1)-THE BEGINNING

Jahiem's POV "She is gone, bro."I stared at the message on my phone for what felt like the hundredth time. I think we should end this, Jahiem. It's not working anymore. Not working anymore? After eleven months together, that was all she had to say? I scoffed bitterly and threw my phone onto the bed.The room was silent except for the sound of the ceiling fan spinning above me. Outside my hostel window, students moved around Campus Novo, laughing and chatting as if the world hadn't just ended. Lucky them. A loud knock landed on my door."Open up before I break this thing!" Toby shouted. I ignored him.Another knock.Then another. The next thing I knew, the door swung open. Toby walked in first, followed by Drex. "You look terrible," Drex said immediately. "Thank you," I replied dryly.Toby shook his head. "You've been lying here since morning." "So?" "So you're coming out." "No." "Yes." "No." "Yes." "Drex, please tell him."Drex folded his arms. "You're coming out." Traitor. "I'm not in the mood." "Exactly why we're taking you out," Toby said. Before I could protest, my friends were already dragging me off the bed. "Guys" "No excuses." "My heart is broken." "Even more reason." "I hate both of you." "We know." Thirty minutes later, I found myself sitting in the backseat of Toby's car. The destination? A party. Apparently, their solution to heartbreak was loud music and bad decisions. Wonderful. ----------------------+------------------------- The party was already in full swing when we arrived.Colored lights flashed across the room.Music blasted from giant speakers. People danced, laughed, and shouted over one another. I hated it.At least that's what I told myself. "Drink," Toby said, handing me a cup. I took it. Then another.And another.And another. Somewhere between the fourth and fifth cup, I stopped caring.The heartbreak hurt less.The music sounded better. And suddenly everyone was my friend. "This is why we brought him here," Drex laughed. "He's finally smiling." "I am not smiling," I protested. "You literally are." I touched my face.Oh. I was.The betrayal. Across the room, I noticed Alimat watching me.She sat beside her friends, Beatrice and Peace. Alimat rolled her eyes. "He's drunk." "Very drunk," Peace agreed. "I can hear you," I shouted. "No, you can't." "You think I can't because I'm drunk." "Exactly."I pointed at her dramatically. "You are a terrible friend."The girls burst into laughter. Toby nearly fell off his chair laughing.I hated all of them. A little. Hours later, the party began to die down. People were leaving.The music became softer.My head felt heavy. I sat outside the hall, staring at the night sky. Maybe heartbreak wasn't the end of the world. Maybe it just felt like it. Alimat walked over and sat beside me. For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then she nudged my shoulder. "You'll survive." I chuckled."Will I?" "Yes." "How are you so sure?" "Because you're too stubborn not to." That earned a laugh from me. A real one.The first real laugh I'd had all day. Alimat smiled. "There he is." "Who?" "The annoying proud boy we all know." I rolled my eyes. "Please." "You know it's true." Maybe it was, maybe I was proud. Maybe I hid behind confidence because admitting I was hurt felt worse. Alimat suddenly looked thoughtful. "What?" "I know someone." I frowned. "Someone what?" "Someone you should meet." "No." "You haven't even heard me out." "I don't need another girl." "She's not like that.""They all say that." Alimat laughed."You haven't met Jemima." The name sounded unfamiliar. "Who's Jemima?" "My friend." "Should I be scared?" "Very."I smirked. "Now I'm definitely not interested." "Trust me," Alimat said. "One conversation with her and she'll humble you." I laughed."No one can humble me." "Oh, Jemima can." I didn't know it then. I didn't know that a girl I had never met was about to change my life completely. Or one simple message would be the beginning of everything. The beginning of friendship.The beginning of heartbreak. And the beginning of a love story neither of us saw coming.