Cocoa told Anthony the whole truth about Shayla😱.

Cocoa told Anthony the whole truth about Shayla😱.

Anthony:
Cocoa, you’ve been acting weird all day. Just say it. What’s going on?

Cocoa:
(sighs deeply)
You’re right. I’ve been holding this in for too long. And you deserve the truth, even if it hurts.

Anthony:
What truth? Is it about Shayla?

Cocoa:
Yeah. It's about Shayla. And it’s not just one thing—it’s everything. She’s not who you think she is, Anthony.

Anthony:
What does that even mean?

Cocoa:
It means she’s been lying to you. To all of us. And I kept my mouth shut because I thought maybe I was wrong, or maybe it wasn’t my business. But I can’t do it anymore.

Anthony:
Cocoa, you’re freaking me out. Just tell me what happened.

Cocoa:
Okay. You remember the weekend she told you she went to Atlanta for that “women in business” retreat?

Anthony:
Yeah... she posted pictures and everything.

Cocoa:
Those pictures were old. From last year. I know because I was there when she took them the first time. She never went to Atlanta.

Anthony:
What? Then where was she?

Cocoa:
She was with Dre. In Miami.

Anthony:
(sits up straight)
Dre? As in my cousin Dre?

Cocoa:
Yeah. I didn’t want to believe it at first either. But I saw the texts. I saw the hotel reservation. I even confronted her about it, and she just said it was “complicated.”

Anthony:
Are you serious right now? She told me he was like a brother to her. That she barely talked to him anymore.

Cocoa:
She lied, Anthony. They’ve been seeing each other for months—on and off. And it wasn’t just physical. She was confiding in him. About you. About the relationship. About stuff you told her in confidence.

Anthony:
(silent, processing)
So all this time… she’s been playing me?

Cocoa:
I didn’t want to hurt you. But watching you plan a future with someone who’s living a double life—it was killing me.

Anthony:
I can’t believe this. And Dre? My own blood?

Cocoa:
He’s no better. He knew you loved her. He knew what y’all meant to each other. And he still did it.

Anthony:
(slowly, angrily)
You said “months.” How long have you known, Cocoa?

Cocoa:
(small voice)
Since February.

Anthony:
(scoffs, standing up)
FEBRUARY? That’s four months ago. And you said nothing?

Cocoa:
I was scared! Scared it would destroy you. Scared you’d hate me for being the messenger. I didn’t want to be the reason your world fell apart.

Anthony:
You not telling me made it worse. I trusted you, Cocoa.

Cocoa:
And I’ve always had your back. That’s why I’m telling you now. I couldn’t watch you go any further down this road without knowing the truth.

Anthony:
(sits back down, running his hands through his hair)
I don’t even know what’s real anymore. Was any of it real?

Cocoa:
I think she loved you once. But she got lost in her lies. She started living in a fantasy and forgot she was hurting real people.

Anthony:
(silence)
What do I do now?

Cocoa:
That’s up to you. But you’ve got to face it. Talk to her. And maybe Dre, if you have the strength. Just don’t carry this weight alone.

Anthony:
(quietly)
Thank you… for finally telling me. Even if it hurts like hell.

Cocoa:
I’m so sorry, Anthony. You didn’t deserve this.

Anthony:
No… but I’m glad I know now. It’s time I stop living in Shayla’s story—and start writing my own.