Scene opens in the school staffroom.
Teachers move about, laughter and small talk filling the air. Maya sits quietly at her desk, pretending to be focused on her marking, but her thoughts are elsewhere.
Doubt had crept into her heart like a shadow. She told herself Clinton was honest... that the girl on the street was truly "just a friend." But still, something wouldn't rest.
During break, Maya leans closer to another colleague, Mr. Kunle, who is known to be close to Clinton.
Maya : [softly, pretending to sound casual] You and Clinton seem tight... what's he like, really?
Mr. Kunle : [chuckling, shaking his head] Clinton? He's fun to be around, no doubt. But... when it comes to women, he's... complicated.
Maya : [heart tightening] Complicated how?
Mr. Kunle : [lowering his voice] Let's just say he doesn't stick to one girl. He doubles, sometimes even triples. It's just... Clinton.
Maya forces a smile, nodding slowly, though her heart feels like it's sinking deeper. Later, she asks another friend. And another. Each one gives the same answer: Clinton, the charmer, the player.
Each confirmation was a dagger to her heart. Yet she wanted to believe... maybe she was different. Maybe she mattered.
[ After school, outside the compound.
Maya and Clinton walk side by side. She listens to him talk, but she's quiet, her mind racing.]
Clinton : [teasing, nudging her elbow] You've been awfully quiet today, Bestie. What's wrong?
Maya : [softly, hesitant] Nothing. I'm fine.
Clinton studies her for a moment, then smirks.
Clinton : [shrugging] You know, you care too much sometimes. Always checking in, always serious.
Maya : [frowning slightly] Is that a bad thing?
Clinton sighs, his tone turning casual but sharp.
Clinton: Look, Maya... you're sweet. But sometimes you're... clingy. Cringy, even. And the truth is... I want more than just friendship.
Maya [stiffening] More?
Clinton : [leaning closer, voice lower] You know what I mean. Something real. Physical.
Maya steps back, shaking her head.
Maya :[firmly] No, Clinton. That's not me. I won't cross that line.
Clinton stares at her for a long moment, his jaw tightening. Then he forces a laugh and shakes his head.
Clinton: You know what? Forget it. Maybe this "bestie" thing isn't working after all.
Without another word, he turns and walks off, leaving Maya standing alone.
For one month, he cut her off completely. No messages. No late-night chats. No teasing in the staffroom. Just silence.
Maya sits alone at her desk in the staffroom days later, staring at her empty phone screen. Around her, life in the school goes on teachers gossip, children laugh outside but inside, she feels hollow.
She had given him her trust. Her heart. Her care. But in the end, it wasn't enough. Because Clinton didn't want love. He wanted benefits.
Curtains falls slowly.