Just A Friend

People always talked, but what made the rumours worse were the pictures Byron and I took at the beach in December 2020. Everyone that saw those pictures concluded that we were in love.

With only Internship and Research left, Byron and I put together some money and went to a beach in Entebbe to celebrate. Finally, no more lectures!

The day was lovely. We played in water, sand, took pictures and videos. Not forgetting the fish and fries. Most importantly, I loved the fresh air. Jason crossed my mind several times. It pained me that I never got the chance to do such activities with him.

That night, we reached my place first. As I bid Byron goodbye, he paid the boda man and insisted on escorting me up to my door. At my door, he wanted to enter. I asked what for and he replied, “Eh, so there’s no party after party?”

This was not a good time for games and jokes. I was exhausted. All I wanted was to freshen up and sleep. Inwardly, I was still nursing the pain from my decision to walk away from Jason, whom I still loved. To the world, I was okay. Deep down, I was dying on the inside. As a result, I was irritable and preferred being alone. Looking at Byron, it’s like his day was just begining. He was enthusiastic and in a good mood.

Byron wished to enter so I let him in.
We had used his phone for the pictures and videos. While inside, I requested him to transfer them to my laptop. As he did, I sank down with fatigue on the tiled floor. We talked a bit. He asked for a hug. I refused. He begged. I said no. Not to be rude, I assured him that I would hug him another time. Each time he asked for a hug, I would decline. Our relationship was platonic and I intended to keep it that way.

From the day I told him about leaving Jason, Byron had tried taking his shot. He was overly nice, kind, attentive and generous. It was obvious he liked me. Aware that I wasn’t yet ready for another relationship, I did my best not to encourage him. Several times I had to say no for both our sakes. I couldn’t risk losing a very good friend in the name of a relationship that would even never last. That was a gamble I was not willing to take.

Byron was now standing, towering over me.
“You get up. Just one hug,” he coaxed.
I said no. Determined, he took hold of my hands and tried pulling me up to my feet. At first, he did so playfully. Realizing I was heavy, he applied force. I protested but he was stronger. I saw a look in Byron’s eyes that I knew only too well. It’s a look I had seen on Jason. A look of longing and desire.

Though I was still protesting, he pulled me in for a hug. His grip around my waist just got tighter and tighter. I felt trapped. I stood still. I knew I couldn’t escape even if I tried. “This is exactly how women get rapped,” I thought to myself. My hands were dangling from my sides, unable to hug him back.

Next thing I knew, there were drips of semen on my feet and tiles. He was dripping but he still clung to me. After some minutes, he pulled away. I just went and sat on my bed. I didn’t say anything. I got my phone and started replying to chats.

Byron grabbed tissue and cleaned himself up. Then he got some more and wiped my feet. Next, he cleaned the floor. I was still on my phone.

Byron trashed the tissue and then came and sat next to me. He was silent, looking down. “I am so sorry, ” he finally said, interrupting the silence. I knew him well enough to understand that he was terribly sorry. I told him it was okay.
“Just make sure it doesn’t happen again,” I cautioned.
“It won’t,” he promised.
After that sad incident, I didn’t have to persuade him to leave. He got his phone and other items and left as quickly as he could.

With him gone, I put water in a bucket and mopped my place. Next I freshened up and went to bed.

In the two years we had known each other, Byron had never given me a reason to doubt him. That night, my perception of him changed forever. To me, he was just like any other man, driven by lust and entitlement. If I had considered dating him before; I now didn’t see any chances of that happening. What was the use? I might as well just stick with Jason. I couldn’t go from the pan into the fire. It was already hard enough trying to fend Jason off. I couldn’t double my grief by walking into another trap of the same nature.

Bryon honored his word and never made any sexual advances on me. When I had started warming up to him again, a friend of mine made a shocking revelation. Pauline confided in me that Byron had made a move on her when she went to visit him. That was the final blow for me.

After Jason, I just purposed to stay single.

The End.

Disclaimer: The names that feature in this story are fictitious. They were made up to protect the identity and privacy of those involved.

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