Zero O'clock

02

Thursdays were for knitting and as terrible as she was at it,it was the only time she couldn't think of him.

"These jerseys will be donated to the Kingston orphanage, make them with love,"the instructor said,moving around to inspect their work.

"Good work, Lulu,good work,"she pat Lulu's shoulder as she complemented.

"My goodness, Shanika,what are you doing?" She exclaimed, making the whole class turn to look at her which she would've found pretty agonizing three years ago.

"You really don't see or you're just trying to be funny?" She quirked her eyebrow. Really,it had become tiring how she'd pick up on her every time.

"You might want to be on your best behavior if you wanna get out of here,"she whispered into Shanika's ear,leaving her tongue tied.

"Now,fasten the thread. It's not for toys,some kid is going to wear this,"she raised her voice,"Lulu,help her neighbor,will you?"

Lulu sighed before rolling her eyes in what Shanika thought the most dramatic way before moving closer to her.

"Can't help but think you're doing this on purpose, "Lulu said.

"It's torture not talking to you, you're still mad?"

"Mad?I am beyond mad. I'm excessively mad,I am in fact,furious. "

"Wow,I did that to you? I'm sorry,"Shanika said but Lulu showed no sign of interest in her apology.

"Come on,Lulu,say something. I know it was wrong of me to judge you for doing what you think is best for you,it's not my place to tell you what to do with your life. I'm really sorry."

Shanika wasn't a liar,she knew she meant it and just how hard it must've been for her to accept her life choices and that made her feel slightly guilty as she knew it was all coming from a good heart.

"Shanika,I know you're just looking out for me. I appreciate it but I need you to trust me when I say,Nick is nothing like Zola. He loves me and he'd ne-"

"I get,Lulu. No need to explain,"she interposed. As much as she promised to respect Lulu's decision,listening to her go on about her undying love for him made her sick,"Do you forgive me?"

"I forgive you,just don't do it again,I swear I'll break your neck,"Lulu jokingly said.

"Okay, I promise I won't do it again."

"We can still save it,"Lulu said as she examined the jersey in Shanika's hands.

"You're the seamstress here,not me,"Shanika chuckled as she handed it to her.

"My goodness, you're the worst. Onika wasn't joking,"Lulu said, making laughter ease out of the both of them.

"Shanika Odinga, you have a visitor,"the guard said. Shanika and Lulu stared at each other as they thought it rather peculiar to have visitors at this time of the day and it was mostly frowned upon by other inmates as they wondered what wrong she could've done.

Nevertheless,she got up and followed the guard. Her palms were less sweaty as she noticed they weren't headed to the visiting area but the interrogation room. Anything could happen,she had taken a vow not to let everything scare her.

The captain himself sat opposite her,his fingers annoyingly tapping the table as he examined her like a lab rat. On his other hand,he held a cigar,occassionally smoking and filling the room with the smoke but somehow not strong enough to cloud her senses. It was obviously illegal but who cared? The captain and his brothers pretty much ran this country.

"Forgive me,Miss Odinga for interrupti-"

"Just get to it,why am I here?"She interposed,she was certain five minutes in this man's presence would mean for her,another sentence.

To her surprise,he didn't laugh nor chuckle. There was also no trace of that annoying smirk.

"Shanika Odinga,you have claimed to be framed by your boyfriend for the murder of Mandla Mazibuko and it has been three years now,you stil stand by it."

"What? Do you want me to confess that I did it? Did he send you here? I've been here for three years,three fucking years for a crime I did not commit. Isn't it enough?" She asked as anger coursed through her.

Captain glanced at the guard before sighing and looking back at her.

"Miss Odinga,I believe you and I assure you I am working tirelessly to make sure he does not get away with it. Trust that I have found the evidence to prove your innocence,it is however, not enough to put him behind bars,"he stopped to read her face.

"I apologize for the time you spent here. You must feel like the system has failed you but I promise, I will do everything in my power to ensure that he doesn't go unpunished."

Shanika's scrutiny rested upon his face for a while. He was a smooth liar and the same way he had been ordered to lock her up,he had been ordered to release her. She wondered what's going on inside Zola's head-nothing. She certainly wasn't planning to play lovey dovey with him and she almost felt sorry for him because his quarantined brain would be his downfall.

"Of course you will,when do I leave?" Shanika asked as her face beamed at her thoughts.