CHAPTER 10

Finally what?", She asked.

"I tired calling you one hundred times but your number was switched off", I replied.

"Oh yeah. I had a flat battery earlier. I just powered it now. And why the fuck will you call me one hundred times?", She said.

"Kay you have to come to Melody's place as soon as possible. Gbenga is dead and omo she isn't taking it well", I let out.

"Hold up, hold up..you lost me at the Gbenga is dead part. Which Gbenga? Cause the one I know is alive and was online last night sweetheart. Or wait, yourself and Mel know of another Gbenga I do not know about? That's shitty!", she said.

"Gbenga, Melody's boyfriend. Yes the Same one that was online last time. He is dead, he committed suicide! And guess what else is new?? Mel is blaming herself for his death.", I said.

(Loud laughter from Kelechi end of the call)" Nice one. You almost got me there. You are getting better with your pranking skills T.K", Kelechi said.

"I also wished It was all a joke then I won't be here this early on a Saturday morning. We can't afford to leave her alone for a moment. She might try to go join her beloved boyfriend where ever the fuck he his right now. I have been with her since morning. I haven't eaten nor taken my bath and I need to go check on my Sister, she is a bit ill. Please Kay, I need you to come stay with Mel at least for an hour or two, so I could go take care of my sister and take a shower", I begged.

"Oh my God, oh my God. I'm on my way. And you do not have to return today. I will spend the night there today and you can return in the morning. You need rest", Kelechi said.

"Thank you so much", I said

"Thank you? Least you forgot Mel is also my friend. There is no need for thanks", She said.

" Lol,see you tomorrow love", I said and needed the call. Melody was still fast asleep she I left for my house.

As I walked home, a lot ran through my mind. I was tired of everything. And the tiredness came from within. I had no strength for the shits God was throwing my way. Was it some test or a fucking punishment? I thought the Lord said he did never give us shit we won't be able to carry but my shit is way bigger than my strength and I'm fucking tired of carrying it. In the space of three weeks, I had lost three whole persons I knew to suicide! and two persons close to me are left miserable. I can't deal with this. What was this suicide shit all about? Was it a new trend? Who was going to be next? Me? Was it worth it!?...

I was desperately trying to find the braying alarm clock so I could hit the snooze button one more time and when I did I layed still for some minutes trying to gather the strength I needed for the day.

I pressed the on switch of my table lamb by my bed side then pressed the off switch. I continued with more speed and the lamb went on and off till I was satisfied. When I had gathered enough strength for the day,I went into the bathroom. It was a Monday morning So I had to start preparing for school.

After preparing food for I and sister Susan I left for Melody's house. She had insisted on going to school today. So I had to go catch up with her in her place. It was about 7:48am when I got there. Mr Ayo her dad wasn't in now and Mrs Ago was in Melody's room.

"Good morning Mrs Ayo", I greeted as I entered the room.

"Morning sweetheart. I really do not know how to thank you and Kelechi. Your families are so lucky to have you both. I wondered how I would handled this situation without the both of you", Mrs. Ayo said.

"Don't mention Ma. Melody is a strong girl. Even with oh us she would have taken care of herself just fine", I said.

"And besides that's why we are friends", Kelechi added.

" Thank you so much. I should leave you three to prepare for school", Mrs. Ayo said and left the room.

"How are you Mel?", I asked.

"Practically surviving", she replied with a blank expression.

Mel I seriously do not see any reason why you want to go to school today" I said as I walked and sat beside her on her bed.

"I agree. Gbenga died on Saturday. Those silly Royals would be waiting for fresh news. I'm sorry for reminding you about that but you know those Royals. They will keep flooding you with questions about Gbenga like they don't know his house to ask his family. It won't be good for your mental health. Please Mel, stay at home at least for this week",Kelechi said.

"I know but I have to go. I need to see Miss Nengi. I think I need counseling", Melody said.

"Wait!! What!??",I and Kelechi asked automatically.

"You didn't mean what you just said right?", I asked.

"I'm dead serious guys", She replied.

Kelechi quickly ran to her and touched her on the neck , head and hand see if she was running temperature.

"Are you sure you are alright? Like yeah I know you just lost your boyfriend but are you sure you are alright? What the hell do you need counseling for?", Kelechi asked when she was done.

"I'm not alright. I feel like I'm going mad" Melody replied.

"And that's why I and Kelechi are here for you. You have us Mel. You don't need no counseling, you don't need no miss Nengi", I said holding her hands.

"I know you both are here for me and I really appreciate that but I really need to go for counseling. It will make things more easier for us", Melody said

"No!! You Can't and you won't go for counseling and that's is final. What the fuck happened to "Never dry your dirty underwear in public?" I said in anger.

"I totally agree withTokoni on this one", Kelechi said.

"Hey listen. I'm not asking for permission. I'm telling you both what I have decided and that is final", Melody said.

"I can see Gbenga's death has finally driven you mad. Believe me Mel, going for counseling is very unnecessary. All you need to do is go shopping, go to the movie, go swimming. Omo just go out there and have fun. You can even go for a vacation and before you know it. You did be fine. You don't need no counseling, you need fun", I said squeezing her hands.

I didn't see any reason why she wanted to go for counseling. How pathetic this rich people could be. If I were in her shoes. I would have gone for a vacation in either Paris or Dubai. Spend lots of money having fun and in no time, I would have forgotten about Gbenga as a whole but here she is wanting to go for counseling when she had enough money to send her sadness away.

"T.k there is more to life than money , there is more to happiness than money. It's greatly amuse me how you don't understand this", Melody said

"Oh please keep your motivational speeches to yourself. You are the one in need of counseling not me. You have the key to happiness yet you are still searching for it. Sooo P.A.T.H.E.T.I.C of you rich folks", I said leaving her hands and caring my bag from the bed.

"When you are ready for school. Meet me at the garden. I'm so tired of hearing you talk silly", I said.

""Mel, you know I and Tokoni don't always agree on things but this time around I agree with her cause she is right. Quit talking silly and catch up with us in the garden. We are waiting", Kelechi said petting Melody on the back before joining me in the garden.

On our way to school that morning. Myself and Kelechi kept teasing Melody about her decision of counseling. Other than the fact I personally do not see reasons for her going for counseling. Myself and Kelechi didn't want her to go because we didn't want to be seen as the friends of the mental unstable girl.

Every eyes will be on Melody now that Gbenga is dead, so the moment she starts attending counseling the whole school will see her as someone who is mad or about running mad. They would view her as weak and unstable. I and kelechi can't afford our names to be put in the same sentence with weak and unstable. God forbid.

"Enough with this madness ", Melody shouted at I and Kelechi so we could stop talking as we were about entering the school's entrance gate. The few students around us stopped and stared at us for a while before moving into the school.

"What was that ", I shouted back at Melody the moment the students were gone .

"I just lost not just a boyfriend but also one of my best friends. I don't understand how I feel right now. I don't know if I want to continue or end everything. I'm confused and disturb. At this time I need all the support I can get. Since Gbenga is gone its just the both of you I have left but no. The both of you have chosen to increase my pain and mock at my decision like I'm a little child who doesn't know the right direction to go. If it were to be either of you in this situation my God knows I would have done everything in my power to make sure that person was alright", Melody said as tears began rushing down her face. I dragged her away from the gate to a corner so others couldn't see what was going on.

"You are done spitting out rubbish from your mouth right? We are not being supportive right? So it was counselling that stayed with you from Saturday up until this moment right? It was counselling you called early Saturday morning right Melody?", I questioned.

" Mel it was ungrateful of you to say we aren't being supportive when you know we are here for you. We just do not want you to go for counseling and it is for your own good. For you, I and Tokoni's good", Kelechi added not letting Melody answer the questions I asked.

"How would she know it's her best interest we have at heart? The moment you start attending counseling Royals will see you as mentally unstable and weak. They will laugh at you. Can't you see Mel, they will laugh at us!", I said.

"Yes I'm unstable and weak and if I do not talk to someone like Miss Nengi then I have a feeling that I won't be able to sail through this. I don't care what the others says as long as you both are here with me on this one but it is all clear now. Yourself and Kelechi don't want to be seen mingling with the unstable and weak. So please you both should leave me alone, I do not want anything or person coming between I and my healing process not even the both of you who are my best friends ", Melody said using the back of her palm to clean her tears.

"You are picking Miss Nengi over us your best friends??", Kelechi asked.

"You even have time to be asking this aspiring mad woman questions? She has said all she wanted and as per I do not want to come between any one's child and their healing process I'm going to my class", I said to Kelechi as I moved towards the gate.

" Its the both of us she asked to leave her ni, Abeg wait for me. I'm at your back", Kelechi said running after me.