Chapter 1 - Graduating

Anita Baker, a 24-year-old woman, just graduated from the university. She was the first daughter of her parents, having five younger sisters. Her father was a banker, and her mother was a trader.

Anita has a fair complexion, is tall, and resembled her mother. However, her father accused her mother of cheating on him, and he doubted that he was truly Anita's father.

Anita's mother, Mrs. Tonia, had cleared the air and told Anita not to pay attention to her father's accusations, citing that Anita was really his child and not owned by another man.

Meanwhile, Anita's father, Mr. Joshua Baker, had threatened to perform a DNA test on her, saying that he couldn't understand her complexion difference.

About four of Anita's sisters disliked her, except for her youngest sister, Glory Baker, who genuinely loved her.

They say blood is thicker than water, but in Anita's case, water holds more value than blood.

Mr. Joshua Baker sent Anita to the university to further her education, as he only accused his wife of cheating on him and forcing another man's child on him in the past, so that he could marry her in the past. Nevertheless, he supported Anita's education at the university.

Anita was thrilled as she wrote her final year exams, and the results emerged in flying colors.

Because of her father's constant accusations against her, Anita had refused to accept any relationship from men who were asking her out on a date to become their woman.

As she merely went on a date with the man, but ended up rejecting his love proposal to her.

Anita's best friend at the university, Temisa Patrick, had advised her to give love a chance. But Anita refused, saying that "My father constantly accused my mother of cheating on him. Yet he impregnated her and birthed me and my siblings. My mother says that my Dad loves her, but his insult daily doesn't show us that he genuinely loves her at all."

Anita shook her head in sadness as she spoke to her best friend, Temisa Patrick. They were in year two at the private university and inside their rented room.

Handsome men were vying for Anita's attention to become her boyfriend, but she felt they only wanted to use her. Once the man crossed the bridge and broke her virginity, he would change and accuse her of cheating on him, just like how her father constantly did to her mother, wanting to send them into depression.

Anita sat on a chair in the private room that she shared with Temisa Patrick, preparing to go home and to attend their final year ceremony.

"Anita, I am so happy. Finally, we will be leaving this school and returning home. I am going to miss you, and I cannot explain how much I have missed home already," Temisa said.

"Me too," Anita faintly replied. Well, she knew that it wasn't entirely true with her, as she hated home and knew that she would be facing her father's constant insults towards her mother and herself again.

While her three younger sisters—Flora, Esther, and Favor—would want to torment the hell out of her. They called her an "outcast," as if it was entirely her fault.

Anita shook her head in sadness, and Temisa noticed.

"What is it, girlfriend? You don't seem to look happy today, despite you are graduating as one of the best graduating students in our university," Temisa asked, standing from the chair that was facing the mirror. And she walked up to meet Anita seated on another chair and shaking her head in sadness, instead of packing her box of clothes.

"What's the problem, dear?" Temisa asked, as she approached and crouched in front of Anita. She already knew what the problem really was, because Anita had told her why she hated men in general and saw them as scum.

"Don't worry, girlfriend. When I get home, I will talk to my mother to allow you to come live with us, even though it is just for your internship, until you get a better job to cater for yourself," Temisa offered with a gentle voice.

"Thank you," Anita replied, smiling faintly at Temisa. As she knew that Temisa cared for her, but she didn't want Temisa to worry.

"You're welcome. You know that you're like a sister to me. So you don't have to worry much, as graduating with a first class is no joke here, and you should be happy, as today is your most blessed day."

"Come and sit here, let me help you to apply some makeup to your face," Temisa offered, gently pulling Anita to stand up from her chair and walk with her to the chair that was facing the mirror in the room that they shared.

"You know that I don't like makeup on my face," Anita admitted, sitting on the chair that Temisa pulled out in front of the room mirror.

"I know, but today is your lucky day. So you should look sweet when you're collecting your awards as the best graduating student in our university. So, no more excuses from you. Just do this for me, okay? As it will make you smile throughout the whole of today, and lighten your mood," Temisa emphasized, opening one of her makeup kits and starting to prepare her brush.

"Okay," Anita replied and stared at her beautiful reflection in the mirror, while Temisa started applying the beautiful makeup powder to Anita's face.

Temisa started on Anita's eyebrows first, after that, she switched to working on Anita's cheeks and nose. Applying the beautiful makeup powder to Anita's face, and once Temisa was through making Anita's face up, Anita was stunned by her new looks in the mirror, and she gasped, "Wow!"

Anita had never worn any makeup to her face before, and staring at her new reflection in the mirror, she was speechless. As she now understood why Temisa had so many boyfriends.

Temisa was a billionaire's daughter, and her father worked for the Benson Group, one of the biggest companies in their state. The Benson's family were among the richest elites in their country. Anita had read about the Benson family online, and she wished that she could get an application to work with the famous group. This reason she studied her books, reading day and night, just to graduate as one of the finest graduands in the university.

Anita had thought of asking Temisa for her father's help for an application in the Benson group. But she knew if she did that, it might seem like she was trying to gain a favor that she did not merit and make others see her as a gold digger or a lady who was selling out her body to men to gain favor from them. So she thought against it and decided to submit her own application to the company by herself.

"All done now. Don't you see how you look so lovely in the mirror? Oh my goodness! I am the best makeup artist here on campus!" Temisa squealed, fanning herself with her right fingers to blow breeze on her face.

Anita smiled and replied, "Don't overhype yourself too much because of me, girlfriend. Yes, you tried, but still I don't like makeup," Anita admitted.

"Shut up. I am hoping that a handsome man will see you today and ask you out on a date," Temisa giggled, everything to her was about a relationship.

Temisa was mean when it came to relationships, as she changed her boyfriend every month like pants. She was in multiple relationships, not caring what her fellow ladies had to say.

Temisa didn't believe in love and preferred spending her time dating different men. She never admitted to sleeping with any of the men that she had gone out on a date with, as she only claimed to snap pictures with them.

This was something difficult to believe, as Anita didn't believe her. Since Temisa was usually spotted with different men, some at the beach, restaurant, club house, taking different photos with her. Yet she still claimed she was still a virgin, after Anita also told her she was one.

Anita didn't believe Temisa, as she believed that a virgin was supposed to be calm and keep to herself, so no guy would use her. But Temisa dressed hot, wearing bum-shorts, crop tops, and all sorts of seductive and tempting wear.

Temisa was a dark-skinned beauty, with a humongous figure like Anita. But she wasn't jealous of Anita's being light-skinned, as they were in the same department and also studied the same course, making them become best friends.

However, Anita was more intelligent than Temisa, while Temisa was the party-hard type.

"Let's go outside now. I am sure the party has started, and most of our family members had arrived for the party," Temisa squealed, packing her makeup things into her box, and she zipped it.

It was their final moments to say goodbye. Anita dragged her boxes out of the hostel, going back home after the awarding ceremony ended.

They stepped out to witness the university's final event and the awarding of the best graduating student.

Anita Baker was called and awarded a first-class award and recognition for her academic excellence.

Temisa was smiling as she sat beside Anita and clapped for her best friend, who stood up and walked out to receive her awards.