Though there wasn't any official statement yet, it didn't take long for the rumour to spread across the entire school.

She made no comments about it to her parents, not even her sis whom she still wondered the reason for her being at home when most unis were in session.

She carefully missed assembly that morning, coming only in time to drop her bag and take her writing materials for the paper they had that morning.

Her classmates acted normal until they saw her. It was as if the whole world had come to a stop when she stepped in. Ifechi didn't say anything, but hurried to her seat accidentally stepping on a classmate whose feet was out.

"Are you blind!?" The girl snapped. Ifechi knew that on normal terms, she wouldn't react like that, she muttered an apology and walked past.

"How can you ask her if she's blind, can a blind person steal?" Someone blurted making the whole class go wild.

Haba!

"Samuel don't say that na" a female voice intervened, Ifechi stared at the both of them, her eyes were drawn to the girl, who asked with an expression Ifechi didn't know whether was genuine.

"But did you steal it?"

"Ste...what...how can you even ask me that?"

"See na she's stuttering...she clearly did, the rumours are true"

"Ode, how can one person steal all those things...one person" one of her classmates asked, Ifechi was thankful for him.

"See oh, anything is possible, if she can get people to partner with her, it's possible she may have done it..." another added

"People from where...where will she find capable people to do such a planned theft...guy have sense na"

Ifechi stared bewildered while her classmates argued about the possibility of her stealing the lab equipment. It wasn't until Emmanuella intervened that they stopped.

"Can you just hear yourselves? See what all of you are saying, against your own classmate at that"

"Ehen and so?"

"Have some shame, news that haven't even been confirmed, you people are just whining your mouths like runour mongers"

"See See...Ella, forget that your headgirl o, what kind of mumu talk is that one. Mind yourself o, is it us that told her to get involved in a crime?"

Ella shook her head. "Non-logical beings" She muttered. Ifechi wished she didn't have to stand up for her, it would just make her classmates hate Ella because of her.

Dami and Anita didn't say anything to her when she sat down. She could sense Dami trying hard not to look at her, Anita remained nonchalant as usual, not even bothering to respond to her greeting.

She went by the entire day with her head low. Everywhere she went, students looked at her, even some of the teachers too. It was at this point that she realized the evil of gossiping. At every point,  she could feel hands pointing at her and whispers with her name in it being passed.

And the school hadn't made an official statement.

Only God knows what would happen when they do.

She thanked God for the gift of Ella and Rachel, the only two people that seemed to console her.

"See forget this nonsense they're doing, I'm sure they don't have any evidence against you, it's just speculation..." Rachel said with an aura of certainty that Ifechi wished she possess.

"Yes, ignore our classmates, everything will be figured out soon"

"Omoooo...the thing just be like prank"

"They...they have evidence against me" Ifechi spoke up. They were alone at the cafeteria during class hours after their second to the last paper.

Both of them looked at her quizzically.

"My...my ID" She narrated the entire ordeal to them from the summoning the previous day. Her two friends were stupefied at the revelation.

"Ifechi..." Rachel was the first to speak. "...this people want to hold you o!"

Emmanuella was slow to speak but quick to analyze.

"If you ask me, I'd say you were being set up"

"Huh?"

"Someone's setting you up, and that person knows you..."

**********************************

She came home later than usual  partly because of her 3 days punishment which was to end the next day - in addition to being 'held hostage' at the admin office after her papers. She was told to report there everyday immediately after her papers, maybe they feared she would run away, but where would she run to? That was absurd, they were all absurd.

She finally opened up to her sister what was going on.

"What do you mean they think you stole a printer...a printer, as in school printer?" Amanda asked dryly, Ifechi did not miss the eye bags that grew under her eyes, did her sister not get enough sleep?

"It's a special type of printer..." Ifechi went on to explain, leaving out the part of the police. Her sister's response was rather underwhelming,  like she was pulling up some trick and anything she said made no sense.

Well it all sounded like gibberish, even to Ifechi.

Because how would anyone in their right senses think she was capable of stealing 5 printers from a prestigious school like hers.

But the authorities seem to be convinced that she had masterminded the whole thing.

"Well, you better not let mummy hear this one, she can't bear that stress right now" her sister said dismissively.

"Aren't you going to say anything about my situation?"

"What situation..." her older sister scoffed, clearly not believing her "it seems that all the time you spend in that school, with those rich people and their fancy lifestyles has shut your brain out from reality"

Ah ah

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ifechi frowned deeply

Amanda eyed her almost scornfully  "everytime in that your school it's one wahala or another, someone can not even hear word in this house...Ifechi this, Grace this...Senator that...oh how can I forget, Damien that..." She hissed, Ifechi was taken aback.

"Ama..Amanda, why are you being so mean to me?"

"Get over yourself hanty, do you even know what's going on around you? Are you even aware of what's going on in this house...eh? Tell me"

"What do you mean?"

"Mummy lost her job!" Amanda blurted. Ifechi stood frozen.

"Ehhh?"

"You heard me...it's been almost a week, but because you're so self centered and immature, you won't notice. Haven't you noticed that she has been at home since thursday?"

Ifechi was shocked, yes she'd noticed but she didn't take it to heart, maybe it was a leave. Plus, she didn't want to offend her mum who seemed to have been on an edge this past weekend, but now given the news, Ifechi now understood why her mother's mood has been sour.

"With your retired father and your mother who has no job now, can you see we are in a mess? Soon Kingsley and Chimdi's fees for third term will be due, and we are not even talking about upkeep money, but you you're just...."

"Pls pls...ah ah nau Amanda, what's all this nau, why are you treating me as if I'm the worst person in the world, I just finished sharing with you what's happening to me at school and y...." Ifechi said sobbing.

"....and I'm trying to tell you that everything is not about you!" Her sister replied seemingly frustrated.

"I'm sick and tired of all these..." She couldn't finish her sentence. Something told Ifechi that she wasn't the sole reason for her sister's grievance, but she didn't want to interfere. Amanda picked up her purse to leave, it was then Ifechi realized she'd dressed up.

"Where are you going?"

"To look for a job."

"Wh...a job...?"

"...ah yes, I haven't told you. The reason I came back with all my stuff is because I'm taking a gap year at school, I need to look for a job and work to support mummy and daddy"

"But you're already in your finals"

"And I said I have to work! Or is it you that will give us money to eat?"

Ifechi held back from further protesting, no money or not, she didn't think it was a smart decision to defer an entire academic year when one was almost concluding.

"Ok, good luck" She said in a weak voice, her sister replied with a scoff and walked out leaving her in a mental mess.

Her heart ached at the fact that her sister whom she thought she could confide in with such a weighted matter could not only disbelief her, but turn the entire conversation against her.

What did she mean by her being selfish, was she selfish? Ifechi questioned herself, perhaps maybe she was. Ifechi realized that maybe she'd been too caught up in her own problems to notice those of her family. Sure they were not rich, but Ifechi assumed that everything was well at least. After all, they still ate three square meal and had a good home to call their own.

She bit her lips to stop the tears from flowing.

Her mum lost her job, her sister has to leave school to work for the family and to top it all, she was being accused of a heavy crime she knew nothing about.

God she hoped this was all a dream

A really terrible dream