13/08/2026
WHAT HAPPENED TO TASHA? đ” 06
They had dinner in silence. The usual chatter that filled the air during meals was absent tonight. Tasha picked at her food, occasionally glancing at Vera, who, though quiet, kept her eyes on her plate.
Vera noticed the tension but didnât press Tasha further. She knew her friend well enough to understand when she needed space. The soft clinking of cutlery against porcelain seemed to echo in the otherwise quiet room.
Finally, after a while, Vera broke the silence.
"Tasha," she began, her voice low, "I know you're going through something, but you donât have to do it alone."
Tasha didnât look up.
"I know," she muttered. "But I donât want anyone to pity me, Vera."
Vera sighed. "No oneâs trying to pity you, Tasha. We all just want to help. Youâre pushing people away, and Iâm worried about you."
Tasha set her fork down, finally meeting Veraâs gaze. "Iâm fine, Vera. Just tired, thatâs all."
Vera wasnât convinced. "Youâve been saying that for months now since I came here but it doesnât look like youâre fine. And you know you donât have to pretend with me."
Tasha's expression softened slightly, but she didnât respond. Instead, she stood up and started clearing the table, her movements deliberate and mechanical. Vera didnât push any further. She knew Tasha wasnât ready to open up.
As Tasha washed the dishes, Vera quietly retreated to the living room, her mind still full of unanswered questions, but she knew better than to force her to talk when she wasnât ready. She could only hope that one day, Tasha would let her in again.
*******************************************
It was the weekend, and after much persuasion from Vera, Tasha finally agreed to take a break from work and go out to have some fun. Vera had convinced her that a spa day would help her unwind, and Tasha, though reluctant at first, agreed.
They arrived at the spa, the soothing scent of lavender and eucalyptus filling the air as they walked through the doors. The soft hum of calming music and the gentle murmur of conversations created a serene atmosphere that immediately began to work its magic on Tasha.
As they checked in, the receptionist smiled warmly at them, handing them towels and directing them to their respective areas. Tasha was a little uneasy at first but allowed herself to be led to the relaxation room. Vera was excited, talking about all the treatments sheâd be getting, but Tasha just nodded, her mind elsewhere.
Soon, a well-dressed man appeared at the entrance, offering a polite smile.
"Good afternoon, Ma'am," he greeted, his eyes lingering on her a moment longer than necessary. "Iâll be taking care of you today."
Tasha glanced up, her eyes cool and distant, instantly noting the manâs admiration of her. She couldnât help but notice the way his gaze lingered on her, and though she didnât like to be the center of attention, she had grown used to it. What she didnât like was the way he was looking at her now, as if she were an object for his admiration.
He seemed to notice her unease, but he remained confident. "Iâll make sure you're relaxed and comfortable."
Tashaâs voice was icy when she responded. "Iâd prefer a female attendant, please."
The manâs smile faltered for just a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. "I assure you, Ma'am, Iâm more than qualified to assist you today. You donât need to worry about a thing."
Tasha's expression hardened. "I said I want a female. Is that so hard to understand?"
His demeanor shifted slightly, but he insisted, "It really is no trouble at all, and I promise you wonât regret it. Iâve been working here for years, and I know exactly how toâ"
Tasha cut him off, her tone sharp and unyielding. "I donât care how long youâve been working here. I donât want you to touch me, and I wonât repeat myself."
Her coldness was clear, and there was a definite edge to her words. The man, clearly taken aback by her response, hesitated for a moment, clearly unsure how to proceed. He opened his mouth to argue, but Tashaâs glare was enough to silence him. Finally, with a forced smile, he nodded.
"Of course, Ma'am. Iâll make sure a female attendant is assigned to you."
Tasha gave a curt nod in return, her gaze already returning to the book she had picked up earlier. She wasnât interested in any more conversation. The man left, looking somewhat disgruntled, but Tasha didnât care. Vera, who had been watching the exchange from a distance, raised an eyebrow.
"Tasha, you didnât have to be so harsh," she said, though her tone was understanding.
Tasha didnât look up from the book. "I donât like being treated like Iâm some kind of prize to be won over, Vera. People like him need to learn boundaries."
Vera sighed but didnât argue. She knew better than to push Tasha when she was in this mood. The silence between them stretched on, but it wasnât uncomfortable.
A few minutes later, a female attendant came in and introduced herself. Tasha nodded, her demeanor softening slightly as she stood up to follow her.
Tasha followed the female attendant into her treatment room, and for a moment, the peaceful atmosphere of the spa seemed to settle over her. The attendant was gentle and professional, making small talk as she prepared the treatment. Tasha, still in her quiet, guarded mood, didnât engage much, simply nodding and offering brief responses.
Meanwhile, Vera was in another room with the same man who had initially tried to attend to Tasha. It was clear that the man was still intrigued by Tasha, though, as he couldn't help but glance over at her, even while attending to Vera. Every few moments, his eyes would flick in her direction, as if he couldnât stop admiring her beauty.
Tasha, however, wasnât oblivious to his stares. She could feel his gaze from the other side of the room, and it began to irritate her. She was there to relax, not to be ogled.
After enduring a few more lingering glances, she finally couldnât hold back any longer. She turned her head slightly toward the male attendant who was still working with Vera, and her voice rang out, cold and unbothered.
"Focus on what youâre doing and mind your business," she said, her tone sharp and commanding.
The man froze for a second, caught off guard by the coldness in her voice. His cheeks flushed slightly as he quickly looked away, finally realizing that his attention was unwanted. He tried to mask his embarrassment with a forced smile and focused back on Vera, doing his best to maintain a professional demeanor.
Vera, who had been in the middle of a conversation with him, raised an eyebrow at the interaction. She didnât say anything, but the situation was clear: Tasha wasnât the type of woman who would tolerate being objectified, even passively. She respected Tashaâs boundary and didnât comment further, though she couldnât help but smile to herself a little at how quickly the man had been put in his place.
For the rest of the session, Tasha remained quiet, her focus back on relaxing. The female attendant, sensing the shift in atmosphere, continued her work in silence, understanding that Tasha preferred peace and space. The male attendant, on the other hand, kept his attention firmly on Vera, and though he still stole the occasional glance at Tasha, he made sure to keep his distance.
By the time the treatments were over, the calmness of the spa had worked its magic on Tasha. While she was still as guarded as ever, the irritation from earlier seemed to have dissipated. She had been left alone, and that was exactly what she wanted.
Vera, however, had an amused look on her face as she walked out of her treatment room and met Tasha by the entrance.
"You really know how to handle people," Vera remarked, her smile wide.
Tasha simply gave her a small, almost imperceptible smile in response
"Let's go," Tasha said, her tone returning to its usual quiet calm as she stood up.
Vera, still chuckling, nodded and followed her out of the spa, both women heading back to their car, ready to continue their weekend of relaxation.
*********************
They arrived at the poolside, the air warm and inviting. The sparkling water gleamed under the afternoon sun, with a few people leisurely swimming and relaxing by the edge of the pool. The atmosphere was peaceful, a perfect escape from their busy lives.
Vera, ever the energetic one, quickly changed into her swimsuit and then turned to Tasha, who was still standing by the pool, surveying the water as if deep in thought.
"Come on, Tasha," Vera urged, giving her an encouraging smile. "The water's great! You should come in."
Tasha, however, wasnât moved. She adjusted her sunglasses and took a sip from the cold glass of juice in her hand. "I'll pass," she said calmly, her eyes still focused on her phone. "Iâll just watch you swim."
Vera raised an eyebrow and let out an exaggerated sigh. "What a joy killer," she muttered, though it was said in a teasing tone. She wasn't about to let Tasha ruin her fun, so without waiting for another word, she dived into the pool, sending up a small splash of water.
Tasha, still leaning against the pool's edge, casually glanced up for a moment as Vera swam a few laps. She went back to scrolling through her phone, her fingers flicking through messages and emails, occasionally sipping from her drink. Despite her reserved nature, there was a certain contentment in the moment, the calmness of the pool and the warm sun offering a brief respite from the pressures of work and life.
Vera, on the other hand, was in her element. She swam effortlessly, enjoying the freedom of being in the water, her laughter echoing as she splashed around. She would occasionally glance over at Tasha, who still hadnât joined her in the water, but she didnât push her any further.
Tasha remained perched by the edge, feeling the soothing warmth of the sun on her skin. She didnât mind watching Vera enjoy herself; she was content being the observer for once. It wasnât that she didnât like swimmingâit was just that, in that moment, she preferred the quiet of the poolside, her thoughts undisturbed as she scrolled through her phone, mentally keeping herself distant from anything that could bring unnecessary attention.
Every now and then, Vera would stop her laps to wave at Tasha, joking around as she splashed water in her direction, but Tasha only gave her a small, half-smile in return. She didnât seem interested in joining the playfulness. Instead, her mind was somewhere elseâalways somewhere else.
*************
Tasha was engrossed in her phone, her attention solely on the screen as Vera swam with joy, enjoying the pool. The water splashed around her as she moved with ease, but Tasha remained still, her glass of juice in hand. It was quiet for a few moments until suddenly, someone splashed water directly onto Tasha.
She looked up in irritation, her eyes narrowing at the person who had disrupted her peace.
A man, with a wide grin, stood by the poolside. "Hi, beautiful. Would you like to join me in the pool?" he asked, his smile eager.
Tashaâs face twisted with d!sgust. She was already ann0yed, and his suggestion did nothing to help. She didn't respond, choosing instead to stand up from her seat and move a few feet away, seeking solace in a new spot. Her phone still in hand, she went back to scrolling through it, trying to ignore him.
However, she noticed someone sit opposite her, but she didnât look up. The manâs voice reached her ears again.
"Hi, pretty."
Tasha remained silent, her gaze fixed on her phone, determined not to engage.
"What are you doing here? Not swimming?" he asked.
No response.
The man, feeling emboldened, reached out and touched her hand in an attempt to get her attention. That was a mistake. The moment their eyes met, Tashaâs cold, hard gaze froze him in place. He shivered, instinctively pulling his hand back, and for the first time, realized that he might have crossed a line.
For a brief second, he stood there, frozen, unsure of what to do next. There was no trace of warmth in Tashaâs expression, just iceâa wall that made it clear she wasnât interested. His earlier bravado melted away, replaced by an awkwardness he wasnât used to.
Tasha didnât waste another second. Without saying a word, she turned her attention back to her phone, as though the man had never existed.
The man lingered for a moment, standing there like an idi0t, before finally retreating. He glanced back once, but Tasha didnât even acknowledge his departure.
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COINED FROM OWIE OYINDAMOLA DECK.
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