Final answer:
c. She wants to protect Charlese. Maleeka might keep her thoughts about Charlese quiet due to fear and a desire to protect him.
Step-by-step explanation:
Maleeka might keep her thoughts about Charlese quiet for several reasons. One possible reason is that she is afraid of Charlese, as indicated by the line 'I must be or I couldn't care so about Stephen.' This implies that Maleeka fears the consequences of revealing her true thoughts and feelings about Charlese. Another reason could be that she wants to protect Charlese, as suggested by the line 'but he loves me.' Maleeka may be keeping her thoughts quiet because she believes it would be better for Charlese if she doesn't voice her opinions openly. Overall, Maleeka's decision to keep her thoughts about Charlese quiet may stem from a combination of fear and a desire to protect him.