Maybe she is saying the truth. I thought.
I wanted to believe her.
I really did, but every time I remembered the meeting, the incident with Jane, it just stopped everything that could make me believe her.
"You don't believe her." Jane's voice snapped me back to reality.
I hesitated.
The worst thing I could have done because my silence answered the question for me.
Jane stared at me in disbelief.
"Seriously?" She said, her voice drowned with disbelieve.
Her voice rose a bit higher than the previous one.
"She's literally crying in front of us."
"And Vivian is being accused of something she didn't do."
The words left my mouth before I could stop them.
Immediately, the atmosphere changed.
Jane's eyes narrowed while Vivian looked away.
And there I realized exactly how that sounded like I had chosen a side.
"Wow." Jane laughed softly the ones girls do when they are extremely angry.
"Is it because she's your girlfriend?" She asked tilting her head like she wanted to get a side view of my expression.
For a moment, I thought I had heard wrong but from the expression I remembered on the faces of Vivian classmate, it clarified it.
"My what?"
Vivian almost choked.
"My what?" she repeated mockingly.
Jane rolled her eyes.
"You've been defending her this entire time."
"Because she hasn't done anything."
"And you know that for sure?"
I opened my mouth.
Then closed it again.
Because honestly?
No.
I didn't know that for sure but I also didn't believe Vivian would deliberately spread something like this.
The silence stretched and it was uncomfortable.
Then Nafisat started crying harder.
The sound instantly killed whatever argument was about to happen.
For several seconds, all we could hear were her sobs while we all kept quiet and watched her have her moment.
I rubbed my forehead slowly cause I could feel a headache was beginning to form.
"This isn't helping."
Still silence, nobody responded to what I said.
I sighed.
"I think, everyone go clear their heads."
Nobody seemed happy about the idea but nobody argued either because deep down, all of us knew the truth
…. we were beginning to lose trust in each other.
And once trust starts breaking...
Putting it back together is never easy.
"I will be on my way." Vivian said then left.
I exhaled slowly before speaking to Nafisa.
"Nafisa..."
She looked up.
"If this is true.."
"It isn't." The response came immediately.
Sharp.
"You didn't even let me finish." I said this time frowning.
"Because I know what you're about to say." She said then a new set of fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.
"I am not part of any cult." She added.
"Nobody is accusing..."
"Everybody is accusing me!" She said cutting in.
Her voice cracked.
The students passing nearby turned to look.
"I wake up this morning and people are staring at me."
Another tear escaped.
"They whisper whenever I walk past."
She said pointing toward the school buildings.
"They think I am responsible for everything happening here."
"Well, I have a competition very soon, so I will see u all later." I said then turned to leave.
After the argument behind the cafeteria, I did exactly what I always did whenever life became too complicated.
Buried myself in books.
Unfortunately, it wasn't working this time.
I sat in the library with three textbooks spread across the table in front of me and yet I had not read a complete page in almost twenty minutes because; every time I tried, my mind drifted back to Jane.
I groaned and dropped my forehead onto the table.
This was ridiculous.
I wasn't even the one who had cried.
Why was I suffering?
"Focus," I muttered.
I straightened up and returned to my reading.
A few minutes later, my eyes landed on a question.
One I should have answered immediately.
Instead, my mind replayed the exact moment Jane accused me of choosing Vivian's side.
I stared at the page.
The answer magically disappeared from my brain again.
"What was that formula again?"
I rubbed my forehead.
This was bad.
Very bad.
To be honest, it didn't seem cute or romantic; but instead, it felt like I was about to loose it.
The competition was only a few hours away and I couldn't focus on anything.
I cant perform like this. I thought.
I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply hoping to be free but then another memory surfaced.
It was the time Jane sat beside me under the night sky.
Her face tilted upward as she stared at the stars.
A small smile stole a show on my face.
"I wish I was as smart as you."
The words returned so clearly that I could almost hear her saying them.
I opened my eyes.
For some reason, it was like a fuel…..
I looked back at the question.
This time, the answer came immediately.
A few hours later, our team was seated inside the competition hall few miles outside the school.
Students from different schools occupied rows of seats around us.
Normally, I enjoyed competitions, however, my brain had decided to become my enemy.
The first question appeared.
Easy.
Then I remembered Jane's face during the argument.
"Wrong." The coordinate said.
The second question appeared.
Again, my thoughts wandered.
Again, I struggled.
I clenched my jaw.
"What was wrong with me?" I muttered angrily folding my fist.
I could see the Principal and the science teacher- Jonathan staring at me angrily.
Then, during the third round, I closed my eyes, thought of a good memory, then,
"I want to win this for you."
The answers came easier.
My concentration returned.
The questions stopped looking like enemies but like long lost besties.
By the final round, I was fully back.
When the results were announced, our school came first.
The hall erupted in applause.
My teammates jumped to their feet.
One of them nearly dislocated my shoulder with a celebratory hug.
I smiled.
Thennn….
Everything felt like it was played slowly….because the last time something like this happen, I lost a friend.
I remember so well that I couldn't concentrate in the preparatory class nor during the science competition because Nathan and I fought.
I walked back to the bus sadly while other student kept rejoicing. Also, it felt normal to win.
The journey back to school was worse.
Much worse.
My mind could not just shut up.
What if I get back and the same happened to Jane?
Noo, GOD forbid.
But what if?
"Are you good?" Tan, one of my teammate asked.
"Yeah I am."
"You don't look it at all. We won it and I think that is all that matters." He said then tapped me on the shoulder.
After a pretty long drive with a lot of stops we got back to school.
As usual, the Principal held an assembly because of it, the same ritual of awards and all that but, no casualty was recorded and I could see Jane, alive from the podium…..
I was so happy.
After the whole ceremony, the victory chant from the cheerleaders and the long meeting held by the board of directors we were allowed to leave.
"Mr. Jonathan!"
"Yes Andrew. Also, congrats. I saw what you did there. You acted weak so the opponent could think they are smart." He said laughing.
"Thank you very much sir."
"You are welcome son."
"Sir, can I tutor Jane?" I asked then he replied with a loud laugh.
"Sir??"
"Jane can never learn." He said still laughing.
"Well, I have worked with her before and I think she is smart."
"Okay then. If you say so, but be careful. I heard she attacked her former tutor Emma." He added then walked away.
I was so confused but...too many rumour.
I tried to trace Jane but it is like she vanished.
"Looking for something" A very familiar voice called out.
"What is it again Vivian?"
"Looking for?"
"Are you always this …...everywhere?"
"Yeah, that is how I get my news and also get in trouble. Also, I saw Jane go into the lion's den." Vivian added then winked.
The wink made me more confused.
"Where?"
"The staff room." She replied disappointedly. "Go through the left so when she comes out then goes towards her dorm she would meet you first."
"You are the best." I said patted her head then went my way as she gave the order.
"See you later tonight." She shouted, I waved then walked on.
But what does she mean by see later tonight?