Naya and Vince

32

TEARS AND SADNESS

My body rattled with sobs as wept in one of the toilet stalls.

What hurt me badly was the fact that it hurt so much. But I should have expected this to happen, if not soon, later. Friendships were just not for me. I wasn't sure if Jessica knew about what happened but she hadn't come to me in the morning like she always did, so I assumed she wasn't going to talk to me. I was supposed to go and at least start a conversation but being the terrible human friend I was, I couldn't take my two perfectly good legs to her desk. Saturday didn't end well between us. Nothing went down but I had the dreaded gut feeling that she wasn't happy with me.

"Toilets are made for doing nature's business and not leaking tears."

Olamide.

I wiped my tears quickly, as if she could see me. "If you were smart enough you'd know that crying is also nature's business." I couldn't think of any better comeback and I agree this one was just terrible.

"Kenya?" She scoffed. "Wait, you're crying in the toilet?" I could hear the bewilderment in her voice. I kept silent while I scolded myself. I could have just shut up and sat till she left the toilet but I just stupidly wanted to have the last words.

"So you're going to keep shut now? Never knew you could do that," Olamide chuckled. I wanted to say something so bad but I held myself.

Just do your thing and get out!

After some moments of silence, I heard a toilet flush and almost immediately a tap at the basin started running.

"Do well not to flood the school with your tears," I heard her snicker as she used the hand dryer. She just wanted a reaction from me and I wasn't going to give it to her. Soon enough I heard the door click shut behind her.

I released a sigh of relief. Good riddance. I walked out of the stall straight to the ceramic basins. As I splashed water on my face, I ordered myself not to cry again because of them.

"OMG wow. It's really you crying. In the toilet. I'm totally caught off guard. For real."

I turned and watched in horror as Olamide pushed herself off the wall. I did my best to suppress a groan as she stalked towards me, a smirk on her face.

"What are you going to do now? Broadcast to the whole school that you heard sobs in the toilet and guessed I was the one?"

Olamide cackled like the witch she was. "You're not making any sense madam. You're obviously so emotional that you can't give one of those brilliant comebacks of yours."

I made sure to give a sarcastic smile despite my situation as I looked down at her 5'4 frame. "From all your babbling I only heard that I give dope comebacks. Thanks for the compliment."

She gave me a venomous scowl and pointed a polished blue nail to my nose. "I'm not going to do this with you now, you family wrecker."

I felt that one hit me. She knew? Of course she would. Apart from Chijioke and Stephen, she was closer to Vincent than anyone.

"You hurt my friend and you think coming in here to bawl your eyes out would justify you?"

I felt the guilt rise to my throat, threatening to choke me. But I never meant for any of this happen. I didn't hurt them on purpose and it wasn't my fault that it even happened. Why were they hell bent on making me the only bad person in the matter?

"If there's anything I detest more than an irritating fashion blunder, it's people who hurt those I care about," Olamide stated still pointing a finger in my face.