By Habiba Wakio
Pendo put up her poster on the wall outside her class and stepped back to admire it. Her friend Rachael had helped her make it. Rachael liked art, therefore that task had been effortless for her.
“Who wouldn’t say yes to this face?” Pendo wondered. Then she read what was written aloud, “Vote for Pendo. Vote for a better future.”
“Dream on,” said Rita, passing by. She was another aspirant for the position of a congresswoman.
Pendo flashed her a smile and said, “May the best woman win.”
Rita rolled her eyes. “That’s obviously me,” she said and left.
Rachael squeezed Pendo’s shoulder. “Don’t mind her.”
The two of them left for their classes. Pendo had a literature class, while Rachael had an Information Technology lecture. At lunch break, Pendo walked to the canteen. On the campus corridors, she noticed that some students were whispering while nodding towards her direction. Their gazes probed her back all the way to the canteen. She found her friend waiting for her at their usual table.
“Why do I feel like everyone’s staring at me?” She asked. “Do I have something on my face or elsewhere?”
Rachael slid her phone towards Pendo who quickly took it. She stared at the phone’s screen, her eyes watering. There was a picture of her trending, accompanied by the story of her pregnancy termination. ‘Is someone who took a life a suitable candidate for the upcoming election?’ The post read.
It was clear that whoever was responsible for the defamation had the intention of making Pendo lose in the election. Pendo had opened up about her past to Rachael the previous night over the phone. At first, she thought Rachael had betrayed her trust, but after much pondering, she concluded that her friend did not do it. She could not attend her classes. Rachael promised to get to the bottom of it after reporting the matter to dean. No action was taken. Hence Rachael decided to apply her technology skills to find the location of the device used to post. She lost the connection after the first and second trial, but later managed to get a location. The two ladies tracked down the culprit in a house not far from their campus.
They found Rita and Pendo’s former love interest staring at the computer screen in front of them.
“I want out,” Rita was saying.
“But I thought you wanted-”
“I already got what I wanted. Pendo has been disqualified. There’s no need to hurt her anymore. You can now close the account.”
A furious Pendo badged in.
“How could you do this to me?” She demanded.
Rita and her partner in crime were shocked.
“Pendo, am sorry,” Rita apologized. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“Spare us that fake sob apology,” said Rachael.
Pendo moved closer, fuming. “I understand why Rita decided to do this, but what about you, Jack? What did I ever do to you?”
“Answer her!” Rachael ordered.
“Am sorry, Pendo,” Jack said, remorsefully. “Rita and I are a couple.”
“What? No. That cannot be true. That’s a lie.” Pendo cried.
“I could tell that you were untrustworthy the moment I met you,” Rachael told Jack. “It feels so bad to learn that I was right all along.”
Pendo went back to the hostel, feeling sick in the pit of her stomach. She cried herself to sleep. Racheal tossed and turned in bed. She needed to do something. An idea occurred to her. She powered up her laptop and recorded a video of herself explaining why Pendo made that choice. Pendo was having complications with her pregnancy. She had to choose between her life and that of the unborn child. Her parents could not lose her.
Rachael also pointed out how strong Pendo had emerged ever since the loss of her baby. She insisted that people should focus on Pendo’s good qualities and leadership skills. Rachael was proud of how far Pendo has come. When Pendo went to class that morning, most of her campus mate applauded her for her patience and perseverance. Having learned what happened, most of the students did not vote for Rita. They felt that a leader needed to be honest, trustworthy, and reliable.
Pendo put up her poster on the wall outside her class and stepped back to admire it. Her friend Rachael had helped her make it. Rachael liked art, therefore that task had been effortless for her.
“Who wouldn’t say yes to this face?” Pendo wondered. Then she read what was written aloud, “Vote for Pendo. Vote for a better future.”
“Dream on,” said Rita, passing by. She was another aspirant for the position of a congresswoman.
Pendo flashed her a smile and said, “May the best woman win.”
Rita rolled her eyes. “That’s obviously me,” she said and left.
Rachael squeezed Pendo’s shoulder. “Don’t mind her.”
The two of them left for their classes. Pendo had a literature class, while Rachael had an Information Technology lecture. At lunch break, Pendo walked to the canteen. On the campus corridors, she noticed that some students were whispering while nodding towards her direction. Their gazes probed her back all the way to the canteen. She found her friend waiting for her at their usual table.
“Why do I feel like everyone’s staring at me?” She asked. “Do I have something on my face or elsewhere?”
Rachael slid her phone towards Pendo who quickly took it. She stared at the phone’s screen, her eyes watering. There was a picture of her trending, accompanied by the story of her pregnancy termination. ‘Is someone who took a life a suitable candidate for the upcoming election?’ The post read.
It was clear that whoever was responsible for the defamation had the intention of making Pendo lose in the election. Pendo had opened up about her past to Rachael the previous night over the phone. At first, she thought Rachael had betrayed her trust, but after much pondering, she concluded that her friend did not do it. She could not attend her classes. Rachael promised to get to the bottom of it after reporting the matter to dean. No action was taken. Hence Rachael decided to apply her technology skills to find the location of the device used to post. She lost the connection after the first and second trial, but later managed to get a location. The two ladies tracked down the culprit in a house not far from their campus.
They found Rita and Pendo’s former love interest staring at the computer screen in front of them.
“I want out,” Rita was saying.
“But I thought you wanted-”
“I already got what I wanted. Pendo has been disqualified. There’s no need to hurt her anymore. You can now close the account.”
A furious Pendo badged in.
“How could you do this to me?” She demanded.
Rita and her partner in crime were shocked.
“Pendo, am sorry,” Rita apologized. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“Spare us that fake sob apology,” said Rachael.
Pendo moved closer, fuming. “I understand why Rita decided to do this, but what about you, Jack? What did I ever do to you?”
“Answer her!” Rachael ordered.
“Am sorry, Pendo,” Jack said, remorsefully. “Rita and I are a couple.”
“What? No. That cannot be true. That’s a lie.” Pendo cried.
“I could tell that you were untrustworthy the moment I met you,” Rachael told Jack. “It feels so bad to learn that I was right all along.”
Pendo went back to the hostel, feeling sick in the pit of her stomach. She cried herself to sleep. Racheal tossed and turned in bed. She needed to do something. An idea occurred to her. She powered up her laptop and recorded a video of herself explaining why Pendo made that choice. Pendo was having complications with her pregnancy. She had to choose between her life and that of the unborn child. Her parents could not lose her.
Rachael also pointed out how strong Pendo had emerged ever since the loss of her baby. She insisted that people should focus on Pendo’s good qualities and leadership skills. Rachael was proud of how far Pendo has come. When Pendo went to class that morning, most of her campus mate applauded her for her patience and perseverance. Having learned what happened, most of the students did not vote for Rita. They felt that a leader needed to be honest, trustworthy, and reliable.
