The Unraveling of Rose – Part Two: “Degrees, Disguises & Dear John Letters”

🌹 The Unraveling of Rose – Part Two: “Degrees, Disguises & Dear John Letters”

A continuation of heartbreak, healing, and hilarious plot twists

If there’s anything Rose had learned from her A-level success, it was this:

Success has a funny way of waking up long-lost relatives.

Especially the ones who once gave her her “own plate and cup” — not for honor, but to remind her she was “different.”

Suddenly, Aunt Royalty, the one who had barely lifted a finger to help when Rose’s life was falling apart, was smiling, hugging, and saying,

“Ahh my child, I always knew you’d shine!”

But deep down, Rose could see it now — that sparkle in her aunt’s eyes wasn’t pride. It was opportunity.

The woman didn’t want to love her.

She wanted to leverage her.

After her exams, Rose took a 6-month gap year to breathe, reset, and map out her future. She knew what she wanted: Fashion.

Textures. Fabric. Styling. Creating.

But oh no — the family council had different ideas.

“Fashion? That’s not a real career.”

“Do you want to be selling doeks at Mbare Musika?”

“Ah please, be serious.”

Sigh.

And just like that, Rose’s dreams were folded and shelved like last season’s clothes.

She applied for university under the Social Sciences faculty, majoring in Human Resources Management and Psychology — because apparently, understanding people is better than dressing them.

Her sweet aunt, the soft one with a warm heart and tough skin, encouraged her anyway.

“Just remember who you are and where you come from, mwana wamai,” she would say.

Her adoptive parents cheered too. They believed in her. Always had.

First week? Orientation was a vibe!

New faces, new environment, and no one asking,

“Where are your parents?”

For once, Rose wasn’t “the orphan.” She was just Rose.

And then, boom — Charles walked into her life.

Tall. Confident. Smooth talker.

They clicked like a WhatsApp voice note and Bluetooth speaker.

Their love blossomed fast — so fast, even the cafeteria ladies knew their order:

“One sadza, one lovebird combo.”

But of course, every fairy tale has its troll.

Charles had issues with Rose’s best friend, Zee.

“Bad influence,” he said.

“She dates sugar daddies.”

“She’s going to pimp you out.”

It was messy.

Rose was caught between her man and her girl.

People started whispering, calling Charles controlling.

And then — he ghosted.

Just like that.

No text. No call. Not even a “hey, I’m breathing.”

Rose was heartbroken. She cried through assignments and watched her grades plummet like ZESA power.

But life goes on.

And Rose? Rose was a hopeless romantic.

Love still lived in her.

Then came Jeffrey.

She met him at a club. She wasn’t even planning to go out that night, but somehow, fate (and her roommates) pushed her out the door in heels that didn’t quite fit.

Jeffrey was mysterious. Polished. Quietly intense.

And when he said, “We’re in the same class,” Rose blinked.

She had never seen this man once in a lecture hall.

But he was charming. Loving. A breath of fresh air.

He didn’t mind her friends.

He just didn’t like her going out.

“Too many men looking at you,” he said. “I prefer you home.”

At first it sounded sweet. Protective.

But then it became a little… much.

Two years in, Rose discovered a letter under the bed.

Signed by the President.

With a gun beside it.

Uhm… WHAT?

Jeffrey had no choice but to confess.

He was a CIO agent — basically, Zimbabwe’s version of the CIA.

It all started to make sense now:

How he always knew her location.

How he finished her sentences before she said them.

The man probably knew what she dreamt last night!

It was… terrifying.

“These people kill,” she whispered to herself.

But Rose stayed — carefully.

She was deep in now.

She even got an internship in Jeffrey’s city — far from home, friends, and comfort.

But instead of peace, she got drama.

Jeffrey’s mom and sisters were next level.

They would break into her apartment, take her clothes, eat her food, and call her names like “witch” and “muroyi” — just because she was Shona.

The tribalism was real.

The disrespect? Even realer.

It was like living with a K-drama villain cast.

Rose tried to endure, but when internship ended, she couldn’t wait to go back to uni and breathe.

She even introduced Jeffrey to her family — and it was a whole red flag festival.

The man showed up to the meeting in shorts.

In SHORTS, Rose.

Rose’s people were stunned.

In their tradition, it was borderline sacrilege.

Their verdict?

“We don’t trust him.”

👀 And Just When You Think It Couldn’t Get Worse...

Rose came back from school one weekend to Jeffrey’s place — only to find pictures, letters, and messages that revealed…

He had a whole daughter.

Yep. Another secret.

The puzzle pieces were falling apart.

And then came the final straw:

Her friend — the one she had trusted — told her some “truths” about Jeffrey that made Rose feel like the world was spinning.

Were they really truths?

Or was it jealousy?

She didn’t know what to believe anymore.

But what she did know was — she needed out.

Rose passed.

After everything.

She made it.

She was babysitting, doing gigs, hustling — and still finished her degree.

But then came the funny part:

Graduation Invitations.

Suddenly, the aunts who once gave her secondhand soap and called her “visitor” in her own family home…

WANTED FRONT ROW SEATS.

They were fighting.

Arguing about outfits.

Trying to book salon appointments on her name.

Rose just looked at them all and thought:

“Where were you when I was being broken?”

Now she had a decision to make…

To be continued… 🌹

Part 3 coming soon:

Will Rose confront her past?

Will she rise above the drama?

Will she find peace, purpose, or a partner who doesn’t come with classified files?

Stay tuned, loves.

This story is just getting started.