Maya and Lola

Maya had never believed in heartbreak until she saw it with her own eyes. It was 6:13 pm. The university library was supposed to be empty. Rain was hitting the windows hard, and the whole building smelled like old books and cold air. And there she was. Lola. Her Lola. In the small corner behind the literature shelf — the same corner where Maya and Lola used to hide and read together, where Lola used to braided Maya's hair and whisper, "You are the only person who understands me." Lola was not alone. She was pinned against the wall by Chiamaka, the most beautiful girl in their department. Chiamaka's hand was on Lola's waist. Lola's head was tilted back. They were kissing. Not a soft kiss. A desperate, deep kiss that said they had been doing this for a long time. Maya's books fell. THUD. The sound echoed. Lola's eyes opened. When she saw Maya, her face went white. She pushed Chiamaka away like she had been burned. "Maya —" Lola whispered. Maya couldn't breathe. Her chest felt enervated, empty, like someone had removed all her strength at once. For three years, Lola had been her everything. Her cozy place. Her safe person. Lola was the extroverted sun who adopted Maya, the introverted girl who never talked to anyone. "You said you were studying," Maya said, her voice shaking. "You told me you were studying for exams. For three weeks you have been avoiding me. Is this what you were studying?" Chiamaka quickly fixed her dress. "Lola, I think I should go." "No, stay," Maya said, and she laughed, but tears were already running down her face. "Stay. Don't leave because of me. It's obvious you are better at this than I am." Lola stepped forward, reaching for Maya's hand. "It's not what you think. Let me explain, please." "Don't touch me!" Maya shouted, louder than she ever had in her life. The librarian shouted "Shhh!" from downstairs, but Maya didn't care. "You know what hurts the most?" Maya said, wiping her face roughly. "It's not even the kiss. It's that you let me be a fool. Every morning I saved you a seat in class. Every night I waited for your 'goodnight' text. My mother asked me who Lola was and I said 'my future.' And you... you were here. With her." Lola's eyes were now full of tears too. Her perfect makeup was ruined. "Maya, you don't understand. My family — Chiamaka's family is paying for my school fees. If I don't —" "If you don't what?" Maya cut her off. "If you don't kiss her, they will stop paying? Is that your excuse?" It was a cruel thing to say. Maya knew it immediately. Lola flinched like she had been slapped. Because everyone in school knew Lola was struggling. Her mother was sick in Kaduna. She had no father. Chiamaka's family was rich and had been helping her. For a second, Maya wanted to take it back. She wanted to run into Lola's arms and say "It's okay, I forgive you." But Lola's next words killed that hope. Lola looked down, unable to meet Maya's eyes, and whispered in a voice so small Maya almost didn't hear it over the rain. "It's complicated, Maya. I... I think I love her too." The world stopped. Maya felt her heart literally break. Not in a poetic way. In a real, physical, painful way. Her knees became weak. "You love her too?" Maya repeated. "So what am I? What was I to you for three years?" Lola was crying now, shaking. "You were my safe place. You are my cozy home. Chiamaka is... she is fire. I am confused. I didn't want to hurt you." Maya stepped back. She picked up her fallen books, hugging them to her chest like a shield. "You don't get to call me home while you sleep in another person's bed, Lola," Maya said, her voice now dangerously calm. "You made your choice. So from today, don't talk to me. Don't sit near me. Don't text me. As far as I am concerned, Lola does not exist anymore." She turned to leave. Her heart was beating so fast she thought she would faint. Then — A hand grabbed her wrist. Strong. Warm. Familiar. Lola. Lola had never held her like that before. Desperate. Possessive. "Don't you dare walk away from me, Maya Obi," Lola said, her voice suddenly low and dark, no longer crying, but commanding. She pushed Maya against the bookshelf, close, too close. Maya could smell Lola's perfume, the same one Maya had gifted her last Christmas. "You think you can just delete three years? You think I will let you?" Maya's breath caught. Lola's face was inches from hers. Her lips were still swollen from kissing Chiamaka. Her eyes were angry, jealous, broken. "You are mine," Lola whispered, looking at Maya's lips. "Do you hear me? You have always been mine. And I don't share what's mine." And before Maya could answer, before she could push her away, Lola leaned in — --- *END OF CHAPTER 1*