TEENAGE TRAUMA

Chapter 22- Oh sh*t!

       Exactly two weeks after that day, Kevin and I were back in the counsellor's office immediately after school. As we walked in, she showed us out, saying she was just preparing to go home. "I was just leaving. And so should you" Miss Ope said melancholically.

"But you know what we came to ask you" I said.

"I don't want to talk about that"

"She refused, didn't she? Is it because of the things you told us?" Kevin asked in realisation.
"Yes. So you should understand why I don't want to speak to the both of you anymore" She answered, walking away.

"Great! So Aunty refused to give her back her child because of all what she told us. Could I ever feel any more guilty?" I muttered to myself with my hand in my face.

.......

     
         Tricia was already back at school by the next day, and the second I walked into class that morning and locked eyes with her, she rushed towards me saying she had to tell me something important. "Hey! So I think I figured something out, sit", she started, pulling out my seat for me to sit on.
"I don't think Aunty really killed Miss Ope's son days after he was born. Remember how I told you about the first time I experienced her kill someone? That boy. His name was Ayomide as well. And Miss Ope said that was her son's name. The boy looked like he was about fourteen years old. Kevin told me Miss Ope said she birthed him about twenty years ago. In 2004. So he'd be fourteen by 2018, that was the year I first saw her kill someone, I documented it. What if she actually kept the boy alive and killing him was never a part of her plan?" Tricia shared her reasoning with me, her fact lighting up with pride. I took a few seconds to ponder what she had mentioned. And after I understood, I wondered; so what does that mean? If Aunty actually killed him 24 years later, what difference does it make and how exactly does that information help us? But obviously that wasn't what I said to her. I didn't want to seem like bad person, making her feel like she just said something pointless so I opened my mouth to say, "Wow! You've really got a point there. And you're sure his name was also Ayomide?". "Absolutely. She called him that. I told Kevin about this already" She answered and looking at her feel so good about herself for figuring that out was quite satisfying.

       Tricia had apparently told Kevin about her theory so when he got to school that day, we planned to go to Paragon's the next day, to search the place thoroughly and find out what exactly it was used for.

     Some time later that day, when I saw Tricia and Janet talking I remembered that I had seen the both of them together very often, it began so suddenly, about three weeks ago. So, I asked Kevin about it.                    

"Hey! Did you also notice Tricia and Janet becoming awfully closer the last few weeks? What do you think they're always talking about?"
"Oh yes..Tricia has had the biggest crush on Janet for some time now, she's finally speaking to her and surprisingly, Janet is nicer than we thought. Right now I think they're secretly dating or something..it's complicated". He answered, looking at them excitedly.
I gulped. "Wait, so Tricia's..."

"Yeah, she's gay" Kevin said, interrupting me.

"Wow. I had no idea about that" I commented.
"But she and Janet kinda have to sneak around because of Amber. She is homophobic as f*ck. She's even the reason Tricia came out. Amber found out that Tricia was gay a long time ago and spread the news. Forcing Tricia to come out long before she was ready. When she was at her lowest, I stepped up and comforted her and that's even how we became friends. So Janet is doing her best to make sure Amber doesn't find out". Kevin told me.
"That's horrible. But I assume most people at school had no problem with it though" I guessed.

"Some people did, some people didn't. In fact, most of the people that heard about it began to make jokes  about Tricia. That didn't support her. But with time, the whole situation died down"

"And those who bullied her were punished, right?"

"No, but really. Tricia's dad didn't support Tricia as well so no teacher could punish those with the same point of view as him" He explained.
    That's horrible. Tricia has really gone through a lot, I know most girls her age would have committed suicide or something. She's really my resilient.

"That's..terrible. But you know how we're going to Paragon's high tomorrow, why haven't you told your parents about this whole Aunty thing" I asked Kevin.

"Oh I have, I had to tell them why Tricia had to move in with us anyway. But after I told them about my will to get justice for Tricia, they told me to stay out of it. So right now, they don't even know I'm still on the whole case"

"Ooh, no wonder" I commented with a realising look.

..........

The next day after school, as planned, Kevin got some of his security staff to pick us up from school and take us to Paragon's high and my mum joined us in front of the school shortly after. Of course, Chloe and Cristal refused to come with us so with four, heavily built security men, each holding firearms of various types, the four of us tiptoed into a smaller compartment by the gate of the school. To our surprise, we spotted someone there, again! "Wait, is that Miss Ope? But it's not Saturday, what is she doing here?" I exclaimed as we all stared at Miss Ope through the windows of the security house in the school.

"But if she's here, that means Aunty and some other people are probably here too. Maybe we should just turn around and come back some other day" Tricia suggested.

"Wait, she looks quite confused, maybe we should get closer and listen to what she's saying" Kevin said, signalling to one of his security men who immediately crept closer to listen to what she was saying. And shortly after, Miss Ope walked into the main school building, disappearing from our sight. The man came back to us and informed us that Miss Ope was on the phone. Probably with Aunty. "The person on the phone told her that no one would be joining her here today, and she was only to pick something up" He said. "If it's only your counsellor that's here, nothing is really stopping us from going in and doing what we're here for, she should leave soon anyway since she's only picking something up" my mum added. So, we went into the main building as well.
But as soon as we walked in, we found that Miss Ope was right by the door so she sighted us immediately. "I think you all have a death wish, right? What are you doing here?" She asked us. Before we could answer her, she continued, looking at my mum. "You're actually ALLOWING these children, including you own, to come here? Do you not know what the place his for? How irresponsible! Leave now, or whatever happens to you is none of my business. Don't make me call Aunty and inform her of your presence o. Because I am not risking getting my child back for you" Miss Ope yelled at us all.

Just then, all the lights in the building just switched off at once and remained off for about half a minute, leaving us all to wander in the dark, scared. The place had only one window, which was all the way at the other end of the room and was covered with a curtain. Before anyone could find their way around, or their phones, the lights came back. I was still calming myself down because just a second ago, I thought someone could come into the room and start slashing our throats one by one in the dark or something. I was taking deep breaths with my eyes closed when I was called back to reality my the muffled screams of someone in front of us. It was Tricia. She was standing with her eyes filled with tears, all the way at the other end of the room, with her hands held down behind her back.
"Oh, don't worry, you wouldn't have to be the one to call me here" Aunty said, holding Tricia by the neck with a pistol to her stomach.

"Oh sh*t!" Kevin commented.