Chapter 5: The Rejection Plan
994 Words
The Sunday sunlight beamed through the chapel's stained-glass windows, casting red, gold, and violet patches across the room. Bhola sat in the back, arms crossed, unmoved by the beauty around her.
She didn't come for inspiration today.
She came to make a decision.
Joshua was too good to be true.
No man quoted scripture that way, listened that patiently, walked away that gently—and didn't eventually reveal an agenda. She didn't believe in fairy tales. Not anymore.
She could feel her defences thinning, and it terrified her.
She'd seen what happened when she softened.
So she was done entertaining the idea that Joshua might be different.
He had to go.
Back in her dorm room, Bhola threw her Bible on the bed, sighing as Janelle walked in with a smoothie and suspicious eyes.
"You've got the face again."
"What face?"
"The one where you're about to make a relationship mistake. Or avoid one."
Bhola rubbed her temple. "I'm not making a mistake. I'm making a decision."
"Oh, Lord. What are you deciding?"
Bhola straightened. "Joshua. I need to shut it down. He's too kind, too polite, too perfect. It has to be a mask."
Janelle raised a brow. "Or maybe he's just... godly."
"No. He's too clean. Guys like him don't exist in real life. There's always a catch."
"You're being paranoid."
"No, I'm being wise."
"Bhola, you're being scared. Again."
Bhola stood and grabbed her journal. "I'd rather be scared than shattered."
~~~
Bhola had a plan with a few steps, and she was going to put it into action.
On Monday morning, Bhola saw Joshua at the library. He waved. She looked away. Walked right past.
Joshua paused, his hand still mid-air, then let it fall.
Andre, standing beside him, blinked. "Oof. That was... ice cold."
Joshua shrugged. "Maybe she didn't see me."
"She looked at you."
"Then maybe she's busy."
Andre narrowed his eyes. "Man, you're either in denial or walking in divine patience."
"Maybe both," Joshua said, cracking a half-smile.
That evening, during something called the Christian Student Association meeting, students gathered in small groups for a new semester mixer. Everyone chatted freely—except Bhola, who spotted Joshua and immediately shifted her posture to rigid disinterest.
He walked over with his usual calm smile. "Hey, Bhola. How's your week going?"
"Fine," she said flatly.
"Glad to hear it."
Pause.
"I'll see you around then."
She gave a tight nod and turned her back.
Janelle, watching nearby, pinched the bridge of her nose in silent embarrassment. "She's actually doing it. She's trying to sabotage a good man."
Tuesday afternoon brought heat to the drama.
Literally.
In the cafeteria, Bhola sat with Janelle and their friend Cherise, quietly eating her salad and venting—again.
"I don't care how spiritual a man looks. I've seen crosses around liars' necks before."
Cherise, who was never one to hold back, added, "Yeah, honestly? Joshua probably has a secret girlfriend back home. They always do."
What they didn't know was that Devonte, who happened to be Joshua's hallmate, was sitting just two tables over.
He heard everything.
That evening, Devonte found Joshua in Bethel Hall.
"Bro. You got enemies and don't even know it."
Joshua looked up from his desk. "What happened?"
"I heard Bhola talking trash about you in the caf. Loudly. Her and that tall girl. Saying you probably have some secret girlfriend and fake purity."
Joshua blinked slowly. "She said that?"
"Word for word, man."
Joshua leaned back in his chair. A strange heaviness settled in his chest. Not anger. Not pride.
Just sadness.
He closed his eyes.
"She's protecting herself," he murmured. "Probably thinks if she hurts me first, she wins."
Devonte raised a brow. "That's twisted."
"No. That's trauma."
Back in the dorms, Janelle closed the door behind her and glared at Bhola.
"I heard what you said about Joshua in the cafeteria."
Bhola looked up. "So?"
"So, you crossed a line."
Bhola scoffed. "I was just being real."
"No, you were being reckless. That man has done nothing but honour you, respect you, and pray for you. And you're out here accusing him like he's your ex-boyfriend."
"Because I know how this ends, Janelle! I fall. He changes. I get left."
"No, you assume. And you let fear boss you around like it's the Holy Spirit."
Bhola bit her lip.
Janelle softened. "You say you want God's will. But you're running from the very thing He might be trying to bless you with."
"I didn't ask for him," Bhola snapped.
"Maybe not. But maybe you need someone who shows you what healthy looks like."
Silence.
Bhola finally whispered, "What if I messed it up?"
Janelle walked over and hugged her tight.
"Then let God help you fix it. Just stop burning bridges before they're even built."
That night~~~
Bhola sat by herself in the prayer garden behind the chapel.
It was late. Quiet. Cool breeze brushed her cheeks.
She opened her Bible to Proverbs 3.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding..."
She closed her eyes.
"God, I'm tired of being afraid. I don't want to sabotage something good just because it reminds me of something bad."
Tears slipped silently down her face.
"I don't know if Joshua is from you. But if he is... help me not to ruin it."
~~~~
In his room, Joshua sat on his bed, phone face down beside him. He hadn't texted Bhola. Hadn't tried to change her mind.
But he had prayed.
And now, he opened his journal:
" I think she's trying to push me away. I won't chase. But I won't hate. I'll stay kind. Even if she never sees it. Because love, even friendship, is still an assignment—not a transaction."
He closed his eyes and whispered, "Lord, if it's not her, close the door. But if it is... give her the courage to open it."
- Writer
