4. Rude Shock

I continued mulling over the story my cousins told me. It is really strange. I guess I was expecting to hear about witches and cult groups which is like the trend around this part of the world, but a silencer, hmm. 

My cousins had insisted the story was not bogus neither were the accidents coincidences. They said that since they stopped answering questions, no one had gotten hurt except one boy who had attempted to explain to their JSS3 teacher the reason they don't answer questions.

The boy is still in the hospital.

The funny thing is that the teacher hadn't even believed the boy, especially since no one in their class supported his story. And although they have been punished constantly, they still refuse to answer questions out of fear of the so called silencer.

As I served dinner in the evening, I was still thinking about the story. If it checked out, I guess it will be quite adventurous if I figure out who this silencer is. It definitely will be fun. If the story is true.

"Somto!"

My aunty's voice snapped me out of my daydreams, or in this case, evening dreams. They have finished their dinner and I am about to have mine.

"Yes?" I answered.

She stormed out of the bathroom just as I stepped out of the kitchen. What now?

"Who dumped black soot in that toilet?" she asked.

Surprised, I frowned. Black soot? 

"I don't know," I replied.

"What does that mean? Were you not in this house? Will you answer my question now!"

My aunty is beyond anger now.

Now that I think of it, I remember seeing Kanyira breaking a battery earlier today. Could it be...?

My eyes landed on Kanyira who is standing near the sitting room door, eyes wide and as innocent as you please. She is drawing tiny circles on her black jeans, something she does only when she does something wrong. 

I think this is my chance to get back at her for all the pranks she has played on me but before I could talk, she spoke up.

"Mummy, I saw Sunday breaking battery today. He ran into the bathroom when his classmate unexpectedly came because he was shy and didn't want his classmate see him with his hands all soiled up," she finished, nodding her head like a lizard.

I know she's lying. None of our classmate came here today. What could Sunday have done to her to make her decide to accuse him today? I'm usually at the receiving end of her pranks.

Well, at least she can tell better stories than her older sister.

Aunty went straight to Sunday's room. She dragged him out by his ears.

I'm really surprised. For aunty to be showing her anger and scolding her child in front of me simply means that she's very upset.

Sunday is protesting, saying he wasn't the one who did it but aunty is yelling at him, asking him why the battery soot is also in his room.

I looked at Kanyira who is staring at her feet, innocent to the last. That girl is a perfect witch and worse, her mum believes whatever she says. 

She dragged Sunday towards the toilet and after yelling at him for few minutes, she ordered me to clean up the mess, stalking into her bedroom, the door slamming behind her.

Typical. Who else will clean it up but me?

But this is really strange. What could have happened to make her lose her cool like this? Whatever it is, I intend to find out.

Sunday stalked back to his room but not before throwing a deadly look at Kanyira who looked on, indifferent.

I now remember what happened. Kanyira drew something in Sunday's scrap book and he reported to uncle who scolded her. She has obviously gotten her revenge.

Some minutes after the drama, aunty came out of her room, went to the sitting room and sat down. She asked me to go and get her work bag in her room. I went inside. 

I looked around the tidy room and I saw the bag along with her phone on top of the bed. As I made to pick the bag, she called from outside. I momentarily looked away answering as I brought up the bag. So doing, I accidentally knocked down the phone. 

As I bent to pick it up, I heard her saying I should equally get the phone. The phone's screen switched on. It's on the message menu.

I frowned speculatively as I looked at the phone. Aunty's earlier behaviour is still fresh on my mind. I took a quick glance at the door, then back at the phone. Then, I clicked on inbox. 

It asked for a password and I typed in "princess," my aunt's password. Yep, I know the password of literally everybody's device in this house. It is nice to have something to hold against them, even if it is in secret. It keeps me sane, I guess.

The inbox page appeared. Only one message. I clicked open. 

I wonder what...

Jesus!!!

What I read shocked me completely, leaving me utterly shaken and frozen.

My aunty's voice brought me back to reality. I quickly went back to the message menu, carrying the items out of the room. I handed over everything to her, my mind completely numb.

I went through the rest of the evening like an automated machine. My brain has simply flown out.

As I lay on my bed that night, my mind could still recall vividly the message I saw.

"Am afraid we have to lay low for now. He may find out about our affair if he gets back. He was acting strange today. Let's meet on Thursday by two to discuss."

My prim and proper aunt who abhors premarital relationships is having an extra-marital one.

Christ!!

As sleep finally came into my eyes, I thought hazily that I must find out who this guy is.

*

School today is much the repetition of previous days. The only people that answer questions are some who were not in the same class with my cousins in their junior secondary and therefore don't believe in the silencer.

I guess I'm still thinking about finding out who this guy is. But for all I know, he or she could be in another class now. Despite this, the former B students aren't taking chances.

The B students in this science class are fifteen in number out of their thirty five students. Almost half of them.

During lunch break, I walked into the cafeteria which is quite different from my former school. There, you have to go to the canteen to buy your food, a privilege I did not have till I finished junior high. 

Here, you collect your well cooked lunch from the cafeteria. I guess that's why we pay the big bucks. Well, let me see how my guardians will derive me of eating in school again.

I looked around the occupied hall wondering where to sit. Sommy is with a group of girls from our class, giggling and eating away. Frankly speaking, I don't want to join them and I doubt I will even be welcomed. Sunday is nowhere in sight. 

I made to sit on an empty table by my side but my gaze landed on a lone girl sitting at the extreme end of the cafeteria.

It is the girl I saw at the chemist's shop. If I want to find out who the silencer is, I should either start from her or get her on my side.

The girl is mysterious to the core. She doesn't talk much and from all indications, she doesn't have much friends either. A loner, one might say.

I made my way to her table, settling down before asking, "I hope you don't mind if I stay here?"

She looked up at me, shrugged and continued eating.

Now what?

"Um, you are Jennifer Madu, right?" I asked lightly.

"Ozioko," she replied curtly.

"Really? But I heard our class mistress call Jennifer Madu. Are there two Jennifers' in our class?"

She looked annoyed at being disturbed but I guess she's too polite to ignore me because she explained anyway.

"There are three Jennifers'. Silas is the one at the back, Madu is the talkative that wears glasses and sits in the front."

"And you," I drawled softly, "are the Ozioko who hates company and would like to bash my head at this moment and go back to reading your novel. Secretly, by the way."

She looked surprised for a while before glancing down at the novel well hidden on her laps.

"It's okay. You can go ahead and read your book. I enjoy novels too but the school has a no reading while eating rule."

She smiled, just a faint tug of her lips, but a smile anyway.

"Stupid rule, huh?" she asked, studying the rice on her spoon.

"Tell me about it. My mum was against it too but my dad and I used too defy her anyway." 

There is a wishful note in my voice as I spoke about them. It's accompanied by a throbbing pain in my chest. I still miss them so much. 

Jennifer's sharp enough to notice my use of past tense. "Was? Is she okay with it now?"

"Well, she's late so I don't know," I replied, my face nonchalant, my heart breaking.

"Oh, I'm sorry. My mum is al..." she stopped abruptly, catching herself. I can practically see her shield going up again.

"Since you don't mind, I'll go back to my reading."

She did just that.

Alone though with company, I continued eating.

Suddenly, I felt weird, like someone is watching me or something. I looked up and my eyes collided with the intense look of male eyes.

I looked down immediately, unable to hold the probing gaze.

Why is Prince Liam starring at me?