Ella ✔️

CHAPTER 7

Everything was going according to plan. Mommy didn't shout at me or complain about something I did. Tofunmi was sweet as ever. The twins didn't bicker at all, in fact, they were giggling and whispering to each other like they were the best of friends. Daddy traveled and left me with more than the actual money he usually leave for me.

The morning was perfect and flawless. Nothing was wrong, and it creeped me out. I was scared something was going to make it all go away. I thought it was going to be Soma or something more, but on getting to Soma's house, all was well. He acted like we hadn't fought the day before that day. He did that a lot, I was used to it. It was a bad habit he had, he never wanted to talk about anything. He always pretended like it never happened, so it would simply pass. It ached me more than when I'm being talked to, or when the topic was laid out and talked about. The feeling of knowing you did something, but don't know what you did, and the victim is not willing to talk or explain to you and let you know what's up was annoying.

Cinmisola and I followed Soma to school that day, in his uncle's car. He was living with his uncle. Soma face was pale and blank, he said nothing throughout the entire journey, neither did Cinmisola. I was the only one who looked normal and excited. The only time I saw him smile, was when I greeted him in the morning, while Cinmisola didn't smile or speak. Who wants to talk to her sef.

The weather was dull and cool. No one was on the assembly ground, I suspected we were having an indoor assembly that day. I adjusted my backpack with a smile, as I jumped down from Soma's uncle vehicle. I waved Soma immediately, and matched to my class, swinging my backpack.

The entire school was quiet, except for whispers coming from different classes, mostly the junior classes. The staff rooms were empty, which was really strange.

When I got to class, they were all sitting in groups, whispering. That's when I realized something was really wrong. I went to my seat and settled down. Art has not yet arrived, so I sat patiently, waiting for the gist to reach me. And like I predicted, the gist came to me. Aisha rushed to me, squatting beside my seat. "I'm sorry dear," she whispered to me, making me frown.

"What are you apologizing for?" I asked with my hands apart, and me confused.

She looked at me surprised. "You've not heard?" she asked, "Hmm...how come? Did you check your WhatsApp message this morning? Didn't see any voice note chain?" I shook my head. She sighed. "I don't want to be the one to tell you this, but something bad had happened in our school oh."

I looked at her confused. "Talk nah, you're making me nervous. Is it concerning me? Who's it about? Did someone carry bele? Was someone raped? Have they caught a cult? Did..."

She raised her hands up, making me pause. "No, you're wrong. It's something worse. And before you panic, chill. It's not you. It's Art."

My brows tightened together more. "You say what?" I asked in disbelief. "Art is a good girl, so she'll never do anything against school rule. So the school must be mistaken."

She sighed again. "It's not like she broke a rule or something. She did something more than that."

I became pissed. "See, stop all this your slow process oh. Talk nah, tell me if you're telling me. Which kin yeye suspense is this one."

She looked away from me, looking at everything except me. "Err...she, she sorta. She err...kinda. She- she- she did." She sighed, before breathing in and out. "Okay fine, Art committed suicide," she said, looking me straight in my face.

It was as if all the blood in my body was drained. I felt cold from my head, down to the sole of my feet. I felt light-headed. "What?" I asked in daze.

As she was about to reply me, when John walked into the class as he shouted, "Mr. Jason said we should come to the lab now oh!"

Aisha left me and quickly went to start gathering her stuff. I did couldn't move or do anything, I was still in shock, but I managed. I stood up and took slow steps to my locker. I unlocked it and fetched my lab coat, grabbing all the books I needed for the class. Everything I did was slow because I still couldn't get myself.

I got to the lab pretty late, making Mr. Jason look at me with a frown. I apologize to him, quickly taking my place beside John. Mr. Jason said nothing and started teaching immediately.

My mind wasn't in class at all, I didn't even know the topic Mr. Jason was teaching. My mind was in Art. Why would she do such a thing? She didn't seem unhappy at all. Life was good for her. I mean, she has perfect grade and all. She is pretty, she has fine shape, there is nothing she don't have. She is the definition of perfect, so why would she commit suicide? There is apparently no reason for her to do so. Or was she killed? Was she murdered? Maybe she was. She can never...

I was brought out of my thought by John's tapping. "Can you pass that for me," he said, pointing to the flat bottom flask beside my hand on the white ceramic table. I sighed and grabbed it, stretching my hands to give it to him. I released it, immediately I was sure I had stretched it enough for him. For some strange reasons, the entire class turned to look at me, including Mr. Jason. I looked at them with furrowed brows, before looking at John, who had the same look on. I tried to figure out what was wrong. It was that moment I realized I had dropped the flask on the floor. Oh my gosh, I'll have to pay for this.

"You'll pay for it!" Mr. Jason shouted angrily, before realizing something was up with me. "What wrong?" he asked concerned. But, before I could answer. He rose an eyebrow, realizing I was pretty close to Art. "Do you want to go home? Don't worry, just go home instead. No objections allowed."

I stood up slowly and made my way to my class. I packed all my things, returned my books to my locker and locked it. It was only my lab coat I folded and kept in my backpack. I hung my backpack on my shoulders and began to drag my feet to Soma's class. On getting to Soma's class, Mr. Jason was already there, explaining things to him. He didn't have a class, so it was easier for him. Immediately I got close to them, Mr. Jason smiled softly at me, before patting me on my shoulder and walking out of the class.

Soma packed his things and grabbed my hands as he pulled me out of his class. "How are you?" he asked immediately we got out of his class.

I looked at him with my pleading eyes, as tears threatened to come out. He smiled warmly at me, before pulling me into a hug. "You don't have to talk about it, I was only worried."

After few seconds of us just standing there hugging, he grabbed my hands and we made our way home.