CHAPTER 43

Wiz Khalifa ft Charlie Puth: See you again

~If everyone loves you, then a reality check is recommended ~

~Mina.

SERAPHINA'S POV

It's been a week since Sophia's demise. A week of sorrow and mourning. The campus had been engulfed in death stillness, not even the early morning Robins could be heard chirping. The brunette's death scarred everyone's heart, leaving unhealed wounds in its wake.

I smoothed out my tie-waist, midi slip dress in front of the mirror, and slipped on my black toe-out stilettos.

"Sis, we're set." Tiffany popped her head through the creak in the door.

"Okay, I'll be out in a sec." I inhaled deeply and mentally prepared myself with some daily affirmations before meeting my family outside. David already had the back door of the limousine opened for me.

"Good morning David and thank you." He acknowledged my greeting with a genuine smile and closed the door after I settled inside.

My siblings were already seated, so were my parents, who sat next to each other on the opposite seat. Severina had her head leant against the window shield, while Asher was engaged with his phone. I was about to scroll through Instagram feeds until mom spoke.

"You look weak lately."

"Huh." I lifted my head but realised she was talking to Tiffany, who rolled her eyes in annoyance. I haven't noticed any physical change in Tiffany contrary to mom's insinuations, but then again, we haven't been together for almost two weeks.

"I'm talking to you, Tiffa...

" Oh my God, can you please stop? I'm perfectly alright if you must know." She rudely snapped, redirecting dad's sharp gaze to her. He doesn't take disrespect lightly, especially when it involves mom.

"I think it's normal for a mother to question her child's wellbeing." Dad's tone left no room for argument.

"Tiffany, be quiet." I quietly warned. She pursed her lips but remained silent nonetheless.

"Have you taken your vitamins?"

Provo-fucking-cation. Tiffany bit her lips and clenched her jaw.

"Tiffany, your mother is talking to you!"

"I'm not deaf, and yes mother dearest, I've drunk my vitamins. Did I drink my protein shake? Yes. Have I done my early morning jog? Yes. Did I exfoliate today? Yes. You're welcome."

I painfully swallowed the threads of laugher threatening to spurt out and instead focused on the view outside.

We reached the cathedral of Saint John's the divine in no time, and needless to say, we were attacked by paparazzi.

"Seraphina over here, Seraphina!" Jesus. David held my back and protectively drew me closer to him as we marched inside. My siblings were facing the same thing, Asher especially. He's owned the spotlight for as long as I could remember.

One intercepted me at the entrance and shoved a microphone in my face.

"Seraphina! we heard your brother impregnated Sophia. What do you have to say on that?" Again, the lies. I don't know how dense one could get.

Thank God for David, who gently pushed her away and successfully led us inside the packed church. The funeral director led us to our seats, situated at the front row in the second sector, reserved for high profile personnel only.

"Hey." Maya's voice came from behind me.

"How are you feeling?" I asked, turning in my seat to get a better view of her pale face. Like I'm one to talk.

"I don't know. I guess her death's beginning to take a toll on me now." She sniffed and dabbed a tissue under her puffy eyes.

"It's okay. We're okay." I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, before turning back. Sophia's family could be spotted at the other sector in their white funeral garments. Her mother was weeping uncontrollably in her husband's arms. I looked away, unable to bottle the heartache. I didn't even notice I was crying until Tiffany handed me a tissue.

People gradually filled the church in large numbers, consoling the mourning family and giving their sincere condolences. The pallbearers brought in the coffin ten minutes after everyone settled in, and placed it on the catafalque before opening the lid.

There she laid, in her elegant white dress and hair combed down, clipped on either side. With her pale skin and snow-white dress, she depicted the true form of a fairy. Screaming sleeping beauty to the highest tone, except Aurora, actually woke up. If only Sophia had followed the same fate for our sake.

Her mom knelt beside the coffin, wailing and sobbing. Desperately crying for her only child to wake up from her eternal sleep.

Our friends and other schoolmates sat three rows behind the family and a row away from the school staff. It was a grand service, but then again Sophia was loved by almost everyone.

The priest eventually took his position on the podium, marking the commencement of the service. The ceremony was carried out according to the traditional order of a Catholic funeral. First, there was the musical prelude, scriptures, and prayers. These were followed by the obituary reading, musical selections, acknowledgement and finally Eulogies, the hardest part.

Everyone wanted to go up there and say something about the sweetheart but time couldn't allow it. Hence, only a limited number of people were given the chance. Of all the pieces read, Ahmed's was the most heartbreaking. Even my mom couldn't fight back her tears, something I haven't seen in over ten years.

The coffin was eventually carried out of the huge church to the graveyard, and there the pallbearers faced another trouble, for Ahmed wouldn't let the coffin be buried. It took a dozen of hefty protocols to restrain him until the funeral director lowered the coffin and covered it with sand. It was a sorrowful moment of heartbreak for everyone.

Now here we stood, at the tombstone of the sweetest girl out there, with the greatest aspirations in life.

"I want to become a life-influencing therapist. I want people to be able to look at me and see themselves through."

She mentioned one time in an interview with a carrier guide.

With tears raining down my cheeks under the pouring rain, I took in the epitaph inscribed on the tombstone.

In loving memory of  Sophia Ramzeen Buhari, a daughter, friend, student, lover and mother.

(from 1998-2020)

I placed the bouquet of roses on top of the dozens occupying the tombstone and looked back a final time before marching out of the cemetery.

Rest in eternal peace, Sophia.

That evening at the dorms, Maya and I were bonding over ice cream to kill time before the initiation of the floating lantern festival for Sophia.

"So, all this has been happening and you didn't so much as bother to tell me? Woah Phina, real smooth. " She's hurt, no lies. Having enough of the recent strange encounters in my life, and with the whole Sophia thingy, I couldn't cage any more secrets. Everything got too overwhelming.

"And have you told your parents about it, the unknown number and everything relating to it?"

"Nope." I shook my head, scooping more ice cream into my mouth. Maya sighed and placed her tub on the ground.

"Call me crazy but I believe you, and I think it's hypocritical of me to go off on you for being discreet with me."

I cocked my head to the side in confusion and placed my finished tub on the mat, giving Maya my full attention.

"I've been...I've been receiving text messages from the same anonymous source." She blurted.

I stared at Maya outrightly for two minutes, before cracking up.

"Wait, I know this isn't funny bu...wait, I'm sorry what?" I loudly exclaimed.

"I know I shouldn't tell you this," Maya grumbled.

"Bitch, your phone." She rolled her eyes but placed the device in my stretched hands.

True to her words, there was an entire folder of threatening messages from the same number that had been texting me. If not more messages than mine. The pounding of my heart sounded all the way to my ears as I handed Maya her phone.

"What do we do Maya?" Tears of terror stung my eyes and I bit my fingernails absentmindedly.

"I say we talk to someone about it, or better still, report to the police." Hell no!

"Are you nuts? no, that'll only spike more suspicion and drama on our side." I wouldn't risk my life for some petty shit we know nothing about.

"And live our lives in fear? let's face it Sera, this is beyond our control. I think it's high time we involve the authorities. " She argued.

"Nope, we're not telling anybody. End of discussion. "

"Fine, your choice. But promise me you'll tell our friends. I mean, if you don't want to include the authorities, at least we could work together as a team to solve this mystery. Maybe even free Miskha." I knew she thought I missed the last part, but how wrong was she.

"You believed she's framed, don't you?"

"Let's just hope for the best." She smiled sadly. 

The campus bell went off, signaling the commencement of the ceremony.

Everyone gathered at the pool house, where the glass ceilings were opened,  revealing the night sky, clouded with thousands of constellations. We all stood in circles, each with a lit lantern in hand, waiting for Mr Harts to initiate the ceremony. I noticed a group of students wore T-shirts with Sophia's photo printed at the front, framed by lilies. It was a picture of her smiling with eyes closed. One that I took during lunch. I could clearly remember she was laughing at something Kabia said.

"We're gathered here today to relive in the good times spent with Sophia Ramzeen Buhari, and wish her a proper farewell." Mr Harts voice announced from the microphone.

"This is how it's gonna work. You'll each step out, briefly talk about the things you know about her, pray and release your lantern. Shall we?"

Tanasha, standing closest to Mr Harts, stepped out and sucked in a sharp breath.

"I wasn't well acquainted with Sophia, but I can't deny the fact that she's the kindest heart to have ever existed. Rest in peace Sophia. You'll forever be loved and remembered." Everyone watched in distress as the lantern smoothly flew past the opened glasses into the night sky.

Next, a petite girl emerged from the crowd and stood at the centre.

"When I heard a girl named Sophia passed away, I was sad, but after seeing her picture, only God knew the heartbreak I felt. I never knew her real name, given that she's popularly known as Smiley. Wherever you are Sophia, I wish you nothing but eternal peace."

"She was the glitter of light in our lives and now that she's gone, I don't think I'll ever have a luckier shot at happiness again. Sophia forever." Mark, a football jock said, before releasing his lantern.

This continued until the sky was nothing but an ocean of floating lights. Only one person remained and who else but me. I stepped out to the centre, looked to the crowd and back at the lantern, before drawing in a deep breath.

"Manchar o céu com seu sorriso bela. Descanse em paz." I slowly detached my fingers from the lantern and watched with a heavy heart as it slowly floated towards the family.

The crowd might not understand the true meaning of my words, but wherever Sophia is, I know she did and that's enough.