Chapter 2 Annoying Anna

Elena's POV.

The message was from Mercy, my friend and voice of reason, reminding me that we had class. I couldn't believe I had forgotten! I rushed out of the room, careful not to disturb the stranger, and made my way to campus.

As I sat down in the cab, I noticed thirty missed calls from Mercy. I could almost hear her voice in my head, scolding me for my forgetfulness. I chuckled to myself, knowing I had some explaining to do.

As the cab sped towards campus, I realized I didn't have much time to spare. I wouldn't be able to stop by my room to freshen up or collect my thoughts.

I arrived on campus and made my way to the pharmacy. I approached the counter and gave the lady a confident smile.

"I need some contraceptives pills, please," I said, trying to sound assertive.

"Your card?" She asked, and I handed it over. As she looked at my ID, her eyes widened, and I knew exactly what she was thinking: "What is an 18-year-old girl doing needing contraceptives?" But I ignored her judgmental gaze, playing with my hair nonchalantly.

She handed me the pills with a disapproving expression, but I just ignored her and swallowed the pills. After that I tucked the empty packaging into my bag.

I wasn't about to get pregnant by some random stranger and ruin my life. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and steeled myself before stepping out of the pharmacy.

As I approached the hall, Mercy spotted me and rushed over, wrapping me in a warm hug.

"Where have you been? I've been worried sick about you!" she exclaimed, her eyes scanning my face for any signs of trouble.

I forced a reassuring smile and lied, "I'm fine, Mercy. Don't worry about it." Yesterday's event flooded my mind and I felt irritated.

But she knew me too well, and her piercing gaze saw right through my facade. "Are you sure you?" she asked, her voice laced with concern. "Elena you can talk to me."

"I know, Mercy. I'm fine." Mercy's eyes narrowed, but she mercifully didn't push the issue.

I wondered if she would judge me if she found out I took out yesterday's anger and betrayal by having sex with a stranger.

As we walked towards the hall, memories of last night came flooding back, and my body betrayed me, responding to the mere thought of him. My legs felt hot, my nipples hardened, and I couldn't believe I was craving him again. I quickly composed myself.

As we entered the classroom, I made a beeline for the seat beside Mercy, deliberately avoiding Anna. It was hard to believe that the people who had been my friends since childhood, who had shared so many happy memories with me, were now the source of my pain.

Anna, with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, walking towards us, she was the worst of them. I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to confront her, to scratch her face and demand an explanation.

But before she could even take her seat, Mercy stood up, her voice firm and commanding. "I'm sorry, Anna, but you can't sit here."

Anna's eyes widened in feigned surprise, "What?" She exclaimed.

"What's what? Don't you have any atom of shame?

How dare you have the audacity to show your face here after what you have done?"

"How can you say that? What did I do?" she asked, playing the victim.

I had to admire her acting skills - she deserved an award for Best Actress of the Year. If I hadn't seen her betrayal with my own eyes, I might have fallen for her act. But Mercy wasn't having it.

"You know exactly what you did, Anna. And there's no place for a betrayer like you here."

Anna's eyes locked onto mine, her voice laced with feigned innocence. "What betrayal are you both talking about? Elena, please, what did I do?"

Anna, Mercy, Adams and I are all friends, In Fact we have been friends since childhood. I didn't want our secrets aired out in class, fueling gossip and snickers.

"Nothing," I mumbled bringing out my book, trying to avoid the scene.

"I thought as much, Mercy just loves creating scenes." Her gaze darted to Mercy who was standing here tapping her foot, her eyes blazing with anger. "You love attention," and then she fixed her gaze back at me.

"Why aren't you sitting with Adams? What's up?" She asked.

I glared at her, my irritation simmering. I stood up, bag in hand.

"Elena, where are you going? Did I say something wrong?" She demanded but I ignored her. Anna yanked me back, my belongings spilling out.

Before I could react, she pounced on the contents, her eyes widening as she stared at the empty contraceptive packaging.

The classroom fell silent, all eyes on us. Mercy's stern expression and Anna's accusatory gaze clashed.

Before I could kneel down and pick the contraceptive Anna picked it and held the empty contraceptive packaging aloft, her voice ringing out across the classroom.

"Why do you need contraceptive pills, Elena?" she asked, her tone accusatory and loud. I tried to snatch it back, my face burning with shame, but Anna dodged me, her grip firm.

"Mind your business and give it back to me!" I demanded, but she just shook her head, a sly smile spreading across her face.

"Last night, Adams and I were studying with some students, and it only means one thing: Elena, you had sex with someone else last night!"

The classroom erupted into gasps and whispers, all eyes fixed on me. I felt my world crumbling, my secrets exposed for all to see. Mercy's expression turned from stern to shocked

"What?" I heard a deep voice behind me.

As I turned to face Adams, our eyes locked in a tense stare. His face was a picture of shock and disbelief, his mouth agape and I swallowed hard.