The Ru Effect

chapter twenty

The next day was slow, and honestly, I needed that. No classes, no real obligations-just me and the comfort of mindlessly watching some show that barely held my attention.

I curled up on the couch, remote in hand, flipping through episodes without really watching. My thoughts kept drifting back to last night, to River, to everything Rachel had said.

It was too much.

I pulled the blanket closer around me, trying to drown out the confusion with the sounds of laughter from the show. But even that wasn't helping. Every joke fell flat, like a constant reminder that I was avoiding everything. The world felt heavy, and I didn't know what to do with myself.

I hadn't seen Tejiri all day, which was fine by me. I wasn't exactly in the mood for her lawyer-in-the-making, no-nonsense attitude. She had enough of her own pressures to deal with, and I didn't want to add to that by dumping my problems on her. So I kept to myself, hoping she wouldn't ask too many questions.

But, of course, that didn't last long.

Just as I was getting comfortable, I heard the door click open, and in walked Tejiri, dressed head to toe in her usual law-student black and white outfit. Corporate, stiff, and yet she always made it look effortless.

She walked over, her heels clicking softly on the floor, and I pretended to be absorbed in whatever random scene was playing on the TV. But I could feel her eyes on me.

"How are you?" she asked, sitting down beside me.

I didn't look at her. "I'm alright."

There was a pause, a long one, and I could feel her sizing me up, trying to figure out what was really going on.

"So," she started again, her tone casual but pointed. "What's going on with you and River?"

My heart skipped a beat. Of course, she went straight to that. Tejiri didn't beat around the bush, ever. I tried to shrug it off, focusing on the TV. "Nothing. It's nothing."

"Really?" She gave me one of those looks, the ones that said she wasn't buying a word of it. "Because it seems like something."

I shifted uncomfortably, but her stare was relentless. She wasn't going to let it go. I sighed, feeling the weight of it all press down on me. "Fine. I like him, okay?"

There. It was out. The words felt strange on my tongue, like admitting them made everything more real. I felt exposed, vulnerable, but Tejiri didn't flinch.

She raised an eyebrow, her voice even. "And why do you like him?"

I hesitated. How could I explain it? "I don't know... There's just something about him. He's so... reserved, but there's this intensity underneath it. I don't know how to explain it, but it drew me in."

I braced myself for the lecture, for her to tell me I was making a mistake, to stay away from someone as complicated as River. But instead, Tejiri surprised me.

"It's okay to love someone, Kobiruo."

I blinked. "I'm not in love with him."

She gave me a small, knowing smile, like I'd just confirmed something I didn't even realize about myself. "Sure. But you should've talked to me about it. I could've helped you figure it out. You don't have to keep everything to yourself."

Her words caught me off guard, and I didn't know how to respond. Help me? When had Tejiri ever been someone I could lean on? The words tumbled out before I could stop them.

"We weren't close back in Nigeria," I blurted, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "You were distant, Tejiri. You were never really a big sister to me."

Her eyes widened in surprise, and for a second, she looked almost hurt. "I didn't mean to be," she said quietly. "I just... I didn't know how to express myself like Tom did. He was always better at that."

I swallowed the lump in my throat, guilt creeping in. "I didn't mean to yell at you yesterday... about not knowing River's brother." My voice softened. "I was just upset."

Tejiri reached out, placing a hand on my shoulder. "It's fine. You were right, anyway."

I didn't know what to say after that. We just sat there in the quiet, the weight of unspoken things hanging between us.

I turned my gaze back to the TV, but my mind was elsewhere. After a few moments, I mustered the courage to ask Tejiri about her situation with Alex. "So, what's going on with you and Alex?"

Tejiri sighed, leaning back against the couch as she ran a hand through her braids. "Honestly? I don't know if he wants something serious. I'm actually planning to end it."

"Why didn't you tell any of your friends?" I probed, genuinely curious. "You've been with him for a bit now."

"Because deep down, I know he'll get tired of me," she said, her voice laced with resignation. "I can't help but feel that way. It's just easier to keep it casual.so when we end it no one gets to know, no awkward situations"

I frowned, unable to hide my disbelief. "But Alex really seems to like you. You guys have something special, don't you? I mean, he's always laughing with you and-"

Tejiri held up a hand, cutting me off gently. "I appreciate that, but it's not my place to assume. I don't want to get my hopes up just to have them crushed later."

We fell into a comfortable silence as we continued to watch the screen, the familiar banter of the reality show providing a lighthearted backdrop to our serious conversation. I admired my sister's strength but couldn't shake the feeling that she was selling herself short. Just then, Tejiri broke the silence again.

"You know," she said, her tone shifting slightly, "Alex, Jamie, and I have decided that we'll make sure to be better friends for River. He needs us, especially with everything he's going through."

A wave of gratitude washed over me. I was really glad I had chosen to come to Crawford University; being closer to Tejiri was one of the best parts. "That's good to hear," I said softly. "He could really use the support."

Tejiri smiled before announcing that she needs a shower and leaves me in the living room.

I put my attention back to the show before my phone buzzes, interrupting the moment. I glance down to see a message from an unknown number.my Curiosity piques and I open it.

Unknown Number: Ru
Unknown Number: I want to talk to you.
Unknown Number: Rooftop, please.

I couldn't help but chuckle at how polite and hesitant his message was. It made me smile, lightening my mood. Just as I was about to respond, another message popped up.

Unknown Number: Ah, sorry, it's River.

My heart raced at the sight of his name, excitement bubbling up inside me. The rooftop? It felt significant, like he wanted to share something important.

I quickly typed a response, eager to see where this conversation would lead.

My heart raced with excitement at River's message. I could feel my cheeks heat up as I quickly typed back, my fingers moving faster than my thoughts.

Kobiruo: I'll be there!

I hit send and felt a thrill of anticipation. I couldn't help but wonder what he wanted to talk about, but one thing was clear: I was ready to see him, ready to step into whatever moment he had in store for us.