ANDREW'S POV
Hearing that Nafisa was part of the cult was surprisingly easy to believe because she has been acting strange and really sus but the shocking part was Nathan.
However, while I was walking Vivian back to her hall that very day, she tried to make me see why Nathan wouldn't have told me. Funny enough, that was not my problem.
The issue is that, was that why he got affected, because he was in a cult group?
Are the cult members responsible for cutting his life short. I thought.
"Don't think it too much. Get some rest. Tomorrow, we will find out the truth." Vivian said then hugged me before going into her dorm.
I couldn't sleep well that night, I kept waking up at intervals and it was so annoying. I tried reading, but something else kept me distracted….
Jane
It was so annoying. The more I tried to fight the memories the more it replayed. From the day I hit her at the corridor to the kiss at the founders building up to the previous night where she looked so down after hearing about her friends involvement with the cult group.
At that point, I knew I had only one choice …...avoid her.
The next morning, I arrived at class earlier than usual. I settled, brought out my books then began to read. I felt a bit relieved though everywhere was unusually quiet.
At first, I couldn't understand why.
Then it hit me.
Emma.
The realization settled heavily in my chest.
What really happened to her? So many secrets.
I leaned back in my chair and stared absentmindedly at the board.
The room didn't feel the same without her.
A weird girl that tells everyone we were dating knowing so well that we weren't. She is such a drama.
A faint smile found its way onto my face.
"I hope she is fine" I said silently.
Almost immediately, Emma's loyal followers entered the classroom. The three of them walked in together and moment they spotted me, they stared as if I personally caused every problem in their lives. One of them even rolled her eyes dramatically before taking her seat.
I did them a favour of staring back.
After a while, a few more students entered. Soon the classroom slowly began filling up but there was still one person I kept glancing at every few seconds.
Jane.
I checked the door again.
Nothing.
Then again.
Still nothing.
For some reason, I found myself hoping she would walk through the door before the bell rang. Just so I could stop pretending I wasn't waiting for her.
Like the universe heard me,
Nafisa and Jane entered,
Immediately the whole class went silent, everyone was staring at them like they saw a ghost.
The thing is, Nafisat and Jane are like background characters in the class for them to have so much spot light like the one they had that day.
They both looked so shocked and surprised seeing everyone staring at them. They walked to their seat slowly, still all eyes was still on them till they sat. Once they did, it turned into murmuring.
I was so confused.
"I heard she is in a cult group." A girl whispered to her friend.
"I didn't know this school had a cult group." The guy replied.
Who leaked this? I thought. "Vivian?"
Soon the teacher came on, everything went back to normal until break.
"What do u know Jane?" The teacher said as he dropped the books he was holding on the table.
"You know are pretty dumb to be called human right?" He said again.
I was not the one he was referring to but I could feel my stomach knot. I looked at Jane and ours met but she looked down immediately.
I couldn't help but remember what she said the previous night about wanting to be brilliant but she is actually not just like the one the school wants.
This is the issue I have with this school system. They rely on retentive memory rather than intelligence. I thought while I stared at the teacher angrily.
"Whatever. Andrew, give the class their books." He added.
I did as he instructed.
Through out the class, Jane looked so down that it kept me worried. Immediately the bell for break rang, Jane and Nafisat stood up and then left.
I wanted to speak with her but she already left.
On my way to the cafeteria, I met Vivian. She looked so happy and energetic a little more than her normal self.
"Going for lunch?" She said then held my hand.
"Yepp. " I replied.
We walked to the cafeteria together. I did notice her classmates stare at us but I didn't mind at all. To me, whatever they though was their problem, well, little did I know it would become mine.
On getting to the cafeteria, I saw Nafisa run out then Jane followed.
"Is she fine?" Vivian asked.
"I don't know!" I replied then turned to follow them.
"What happened?" I asked as I finally caught up with them.
Neither Jane nor Nafisat answered.
Nafisat sat on one of the concrete benches behind the cafeteria with her head lowered as she cried into her hands.
Jane sat beside her, rubbing her back gently while trying to calm her down.
Vivian and I exchanged confused glances.
"What happened?" I repeated.
This time, Jane looked up, our eyes met and I could tell something was extremely wrong.
Then her gaze shifted to Vivian and then her expression hardened.
"You."
Vivian frowned. "What, me?" She asked pointing to herself.
"Why did you do it?" Jane continued.
Vivian looked genuinely confused.
"Why did I do what?"
Jane laughed bitterly.
"Your gossip job."
Neither of us understood.
Vivian's brows knitted together.
"What on earth are you talking about?" Vivian replied raising her voice a little bit.
"Guys calm down." I said but no one listened to me.
"The whole school knows about the cult and they know about that Nafi is in their group."
"And because of that you suspect me without doing any research?" Vivian asked.
"Who else would I have suspected? You said you saw her? Now, they think she's involved in everything happening in this school."
"I am not part of any cult group. I had no idea there was a cult group in this school." Nafisat cried.
Vivian stared at her.
I stared at her too.
Vivian immediately shook her head.
"I didn't tell anybody."
Jane scoffed.
"Oh, please."
"I'm serious."
"Sure you are."
"Jane."
The firmness in Vivian's voice made all of us pause.
"I told you and Andrew what I saw and I said nothing to any other person." She said trying to defend herself.
She pointed at both of us.
"I didn't tell anyone else." By this time, her voice was already beginning to shake.
Nafisat suddenly lifted her head.
Her eyes were red.
Her cheeks were wet.
"I'm not part of any cult."
Nobody answered.
Fresh tears rolled down her face.
"I'm not."
Her voice cracked badly.
"I don't even know what they're talking about and nobody would believe me."
Jane immediately reached for her hand.
"It's okay."
"No, it's not."
Nafisat shook her head repeatedly.
"It's not okay."
More tears escaped.
"I wasn't there."
Her breathing became uneven.
Maybe be she is saying the truth?