Suds – Season 1, Episode 14

… a mini-soap opera that bubbles with Love & Drama

[Last time on Suds, wait, let me take a deep breath first. Inhale. Exhale. Okay. Darien broke up with Shantel to spend more time with God. Shantel lost it a smidge and tried to off herself. Enter Terrance to pick up the pieces of her broken heart. Let’s not forget that Terrance and Darien were roommates their freshman year until…Darien had sex with Terrance’s girlfriend. Gasp. Let’s speed up, shall we? Leilah, Shantel’s roommate has sparked the interest of both of Shantel’s guys, and it will be interesting to see how psychotic things become when Shantel learns of Darien’s attraction to Leilah.

Now back to Leilah’s simple response after Darien fesses up to practicing abstinence for God.]

“Honor marriage, and guard the sacredness of sexual intimacy between wife and husband. God draws a firm line against casual and illicit sex.” Hebrews 13:4 MSG

“Wow,” Leilah said smoothing her hairline. She turned her attention to Darien who did not return her gaze.
He rolled his lips between clenched teeth, waiting for her reaction.
“How long?” she asked.
“A couple months.”
“Oh,” was all she said in response.

Hesitantly, he shifted his warm hazel eyes to her frozen face, tightened by a stiff smile. Leilah looked at the passage briefly and then back to Darien.

“Um…” Unable to find the right words, she adjusted her messenger bag on her shoulder, feeling the weight that would leave bruises on her butternut skin. “Good for you.” Leilah smiled awkwardly and left.
~~

“Mira,” Leilah panicked, “What am I supposed to do with that?” She tugged at the rope of rubbers around her neck. “And this thing is itching,” she complained.
“Where is your bottle?” Mira rolled her eyes.

Mira’s team of HIV/AIDS advocates lined the entire path from the bridge to the student center passing out flyers, condoms, and ushering groups of students to the nearby rally. Passing Leilah a bowl of condoms, Mira said, “Here hand these out.”
Leilah rolled her eyes, taking the bowl.

“It’s not that bad,” Mira sighed as a group of guys approached. The tallest in the group dug deep into Mira’s bowl, eying her seductively. Then he stuffed his pockets with her free goodies. Disgust seeped through Mira’s calm façade the instant he walked away. She turned to Leilah, “At least he’s not eyeballing you're like a piece of meat. Sickening.” Mira dusted her clothes as though the guy’s disrobing glare could have infected her.

“I can’t get involved with him,” Leilah whispered with evident regret.
Mira stopped advocating and stared at her friend. Leilah appeared as radiant as the day before, except traces of confusion were etched into wrinkles on her forehead. “You really like him,” Mira said compassionately.
“It doesn’t even make sense. It’s sloppy, complicated, and bound to get messy.”
“And you still like him.”
“I don’t even know him.” Leilah leaned against the flyer-littered table behind her.
“But you like him.” Mira perched beside her.

Staring at her bowl of silver, gold, and black sealed discs, Leilah said, “Even if I did like him, there’s that God boundary. Sex is not even on the table.”
“… or on the floor.”
“… or in the shower.”
They laughed, momentarily dispelling the weight of the discussion.

Mira sighed, “A fine man, who happens to be aware of God, is genuinely interested in you. I know because I saw it with my own two eyes. How often does that happen?”
“I don’t know. This might be too much for me. I don’t have time to be involved, and I’m probably reading too much into this thing anyway. It might be nothing at all.”
“Oh, it’s something alright. You’ve been wearing blinders for the past three years and all of a sudden they’re gone, completely, for this dude. It’s almost magical, like a fairytale,” Mira smiled.
“Yes, it’s very Cinderella. Shall I rejoice when he marries me and adopts all six of my kids?” Leilah smirked sarcastically.

Mira laughed. “Whatever. He’s interested, you’re interested, just try it on and see where goes.” She crossed her ankles. “I would offer you some more condoms, but I don’t want God getting mad at me for corrupting his plans for Darien... and I guess if you're feeling Darien, it's his plan for you too.”

Mira pondered the possibility, but Leilah dropped the bowl on the table, and muffled her face, groaning. “How can I become involved in a no sex relationship? We might as well just be friends.”
“Personally, I think it’s good that he’s off sex,” Mira said matter-of-factly. “That gives you more time to have him tested for HIV.”

“He’s already been tested,” a smooth bass voice noted from behind them.
Leilah’s eyes slammed shut and her heart took off at an overwhelming pace, leaving her unsteadied body behind to suffer from hyperventilation.

Mira whirled around to see Darien standing coolly with his hands in his pockets and a book bag slung over one arm.
“When exactly was he tested,” she asked, unaffected while Leilah remained stunned with her back facing him.
“Last month,” he answered.
“Good,” she said. “If you’ll excuse me, I have some awareness to spread.” She glanced at Leilah’s nerve-wrecked face, and then returned her gaze to Darien, “You should meet up with us at the Safe Sex Party tonight.”

Leilah grimaced, barely moving. She focused on breathing. Next, she would try to find her voice.

[Stay tuned: You never know who will pop up next…]