birthday update for Doodeelolaski
happy birthday ml <3

┏━━━━•❅•°•❈ - •°•❅•━━━━┓
Alis volat propiis-
She flies with her own wings.
┗━━━━•❅•°•❈ - •°•❅•━━━━┛

002: A Not So Rare Suicide Case

She stared straight ahead, lost in deep oblivion. The assembly had come to an end but she was unaware. Marcel noticed, in her absentminded composure. He tapped her, cocking an eyebrow at her in question. "Are you aware that the assembly just ended?"

Bukunmi turned to look at Marcel, eyeing him with a distasteful frown on her lips. Truthfully, she had spaced out during the assembly, thinking about nothing while gazing into the atmosphere. But this boy in front of her didn't need to know that.

"Why do you need to know, Marcellus?" Bukunmi sassed.

Marcel's lips contorted into a grimace, as he frowned at the girl that stood in front of him. Before he could say anything, she walked away from him, exiting the hall with others.

He wondered what sort of girl he had just encountered. She was indeed pretty, but she gave off really annoying vibes and didn't seem to have manners.

"Let's go, Marcel." Moyo stepped forward and threw an arm over Marcel's shoulder, pushing his head forward and dragged him along.

Minutes later and Bukunmi was ready to go to class. Physics was first on her timetable, a double period on every Monday for one hour and twenty minutes.

In the corner of her eye, Lisa was getting dressed, the only thing left was to knot her tie. Jina and Kiishi had left for class, leaving only both girls in the room.

"I'm done, Lisa. Should I wait for you? So I can show you the rooms," Bukunmi offered.

Instantly, Lisa turned down the offer, answering in a monotonous voice, "no, thank you. I don't need anyone to show me the way to classes."

"But you were late for assembly today... it was obvious you didn't know your way around the school. I could help you."

"What part of no, thank you, don't you understand?" Lisa snapped, whipping her head around to glare at Bukunmi. Bukunmi was too nosy for her liking, and Lisa hated nosy people.

Instead, Bukunmi took no offense but looked surprised.

Lisa didn't say anything, only studying Bukunmi with a strange expression on her face. And with a shake of her head, it seemed like she had dismissed Bukunmi from the conversation.

Jina walked in, opening the door quietly and catching the attention of Bukunmi. The latter immediately smiled, staring at Jina in an admiring way.

"Hey, girl." Jina waved at Bukunmi. Lisa noticed how she didn't bother to regard her existence. Not like she cared anyway. "Aren't you going for class?" Jina asked.

"I am coming, just waiting for Lisa so we can go together."

Lisa paused midway through knotting her tie. She looked up at Bukunmi and shot her a puzzled look. "You can go."

"I want to go with you, actually," Bukunmi calmly persisted.

"Don't be annoying. I will find my way to class, by myself."

"She just wants to help," Jina interjected in a solemn tone. Her eyes stared right into Lisa's and she almost veered back when she saw the amount of irritation and disgust that was carried in Lisa's eyes for her.

What was with the hard feelings?

"Leave her, Kunmi. Let's go for class." Jina held Bukunmi's hand in hers while she avoided Lisa's heated glare.

As they left the room, walking down the corridors of the school hallway, Jina couldn't help but ponder to herself why Lisa looked at her that way.

It made her feel naked. Like Lisa had known everything about her and she was repulsed by the sight of her.

"I didn't want her to get lost," Bukunmi was saying to Jina, who listened absentmindedly. Bukunmi still couldn't believe she was speaking to the Jina Williams of Building Stone High at the moment. She was walking with her.

Three people heading towards their direction caught their attention, and just as Bukunmi and Jina paused in their steps, the boys had also paused.

But one of them wasn't looking at any of the two girls. Rather, he seemed to stare far ahead, behind them.

Then, he raised his hand slowly in a friendly wave, lips curling up in a small smile at the quiet girl who stood a few feet away from him.

Marcel watched Bukunmi, noticing how the enthusiastic girl suddenly seemed mellow, eyes gazing softly at the person who stood right beside him.

George.

He also noticed how Jina had her eyes on him, and before he could decipher the look in her eyes, she smiled brightly at George, walked over to him and hooked her arm with his. "Well, hello, Head Boy of Building Stone High."

George chuckled. "That is a grand greeting, Jina. I like my name very much."

Even his voice caused Bukunmi to almost swoon, warm butterflies rising in her belly.

"Never," Jina refused. "I'll call you what I want, Head Boy."

"Whatever you want, my queen," George said, mocking a bow to Jina.

Lisa had walked past Ini like a whiff of air, acting like he was a non-existent presence to her. But he held her hand, pulling her back to which Lisa threw him a bewildered look.

She seemed very confused as to why this stranger was holding her hand.

"Excuse me," she said, and proceeded to pull her hand out of Ini's grasp.

"You just ignored me."

Lisa was plunged into utter confusion and suprise. Who did he think he was?

"I just waved at you," Ini continued, "but you acted like I didn't and you were just about to walk past me."

Lisa didn't reply him, still looking at him like he had grown three heads.

"That's quite rude if you'd ask me," Ini added.

"Rude?" Lisa repeated. "If there is anyone being rude here, it is you holding my hand like I am supposed to be a friend to you or something."

Everyone surrounding both had stopped whatever they were immersed in, watching and observing the scene unfold in front of them.

"Aren't you Lisa? Remember," Ini pointed behind him to nowhere in particular, "we found the Assembly Hall together."

"So?"

Lisa scoffed out, glancing down at Ini's hand like it was filth then looking up at him. "Do you think we have officially become acquaintances?"

With that, she walked away, not looking back till she disappeared down the corridor.

"Wow," Ini muttered. He had been plunged into a state of shock and disbelief. He hated to admit it, but he felt lowkey embarrassed because he just realized there were others around them who had been watching.

-

He had his hands tucked in his pockets, as he continued to walk down the hallway, mind wandering far away, lost in thoughts. He was still embarrassed from the previous incident. He had, unknowingly created a scene for others to watch while making mockery of himself.

He wondered why she told him off that way. She remembered him, definitely, but he wasn't important enough to be regarded by her.

He saw it in her eyes; that look she gave him as he held her hand, like he was unworthy.

Surprisingly, Ini had never wished to feel more worthy of someone's attention at that moment, especially hers.

And he didn't know why.

Consumed in his thoughts, and absentminded of his surroundings, Ini walked past an empty classroom.

He then took some steps backwards, eyebrows pulling together in confusion. It wasn't an empty classroom.

It was an art room.

The door had a see through, which Ini peered his eyes to see what was going on inside.

Nothing was happening.

That was strange. He was sure he had seen a bunch of students gathering and had also heard laughter.

He shook his head in dismissal and continued his journey to his destination. He was going to the Principal's office, to ask for his copy of the school's timetable, because every student in school had a copy of his or her timetable.

He heard something again. Like a faint sob.

Ini paused in his steps for a moment, wondering what was wrong with him. Ever since Lisa told him off, he'd been imagining a lot of nonsense. First the art room, now this.

He shook his head once more, and resumed walking. He had almost reached the door ahead of him, the one that led him outside of the building to the hostel building.

That was when he heard it. Several voices screaming at once in a frenzy and sending him into an instant state of alarm. Ini ran out, much curious to what was happening outside to have warranted the screaming.

He saw what he was looking for.

The body of a girl, laying on the floor, arms spread eagle, eyes wide open and staring into the clouds, with blood seeping beneath her hair.

Ini froze. Goosebumps greeted his skin at the horrific sight his eyes had just witnessed.

What was this?

-

Everyone was in a state of grief and solemnity after what had just happened. This was the first day and something as bloodcurdling and horrendous as this already took place in Building Stone High.

Ini didn't know what to say or do. He was still in the same spot on the school ground, watching in shock as many of his school mates had ran over to the girl and had been trying to wake her up.

What he wasn't aware of, though, was how common this incident was in Building Stone High.

Then someone ran past him, like a whiff of the air. He looked up, seeing a girl who was as tall as he was.

"Diana!"

Her outburst startled Ini.

"DIANA! WAKE UP! ARE YOU DEAF? ANSWER ME! DIANA, WAKE UP, PLEASE! WAKE UP!"

A teacher had also rushed to the scene. "What's going on- JESUS."

Ini took a step back. Two. Three. Four. And more steps, till he finally ran again, away to somewhere no one would find him.

The faint sound of an ambulance filled his ears as he sat in a classroom, in the midst of vacant seats. He was supposed to be in the hostel right now, but he needed a lot more time to register what had just happened.

Why was he feeling so traumatized by this?

He recalled the sound of someone sobbing he heard earlier. Suddenly, a pang of guilt gripped his heart and Ini found himself wallowing in regret.

What if he hadn't ignored the sound? What if he had been more curious? What if he hadn't just walked away?

What if he had been in time to stop her from dying?

"Hello, everyone. This is the Principal of Building Stone High speaking, and I request that all the students of this academy come to the Hall, pronto."

Bukunmi looked up at the speaker that was attached to the wall in the corner above. Her eyebrows went up in question. A meeting on the first day of resumption? Not everyone was present in school. What announcement did the Principal want to make?

She then noticed how the students that had been passing her had different concerned expressions on their faces. They'd also been gossiping more than usual.

She managed to catch a little information from two girls who were walking past her too.

"It must be about Diana. Or why else would the Principal call for us, ASAP?"

"I don't know." The second girl shrugged. "I'm just worried. This school is horrible. We lose more than a student every year."

Before they could walk further away, Bukunmi was quick to hold one of the girls by her elbow, who shot her a weird, interrogating look. "Excuse me?"

"I'm sorry, but what happened to Diana?"

Bukunmi recognized Diana. She was part of The Failures in BHS, someone alike to her in terms of academic status and grades. Although, Bukunmi was never really her friend. They had hardly spoken to each other.

"Didn't you witness what happened today?" the girl replied. "She fell off the window... from this floor... and now she's... dead."

Bukunmi lost the grip she held on her book, sending it into the floor immediately. "What...?"

That was the word that came out in a breathless whisper as Bukunmi stared wide eyed at the two girls. "What do you mean Diana is dead?"

"She fell off from the window, today, like some hours ago, and she's been rushed to the hospital. Everyone is saying she's dead, but we don't know if the hospital managed to save her."

"If God managed to save her," someone corrected.

The two girls turned at the new voice.

It was Kiishi, and by the look that showed on the girls' faces, it didn't take much brain racking to tell that she was an unwelcomed presence. They too, like every other, found her obnoxious.

"It isn't the hospital that will save her," Kiishi continued, "it is God that will save her. And you aren't supposed to be gossiping about her right now, instead of you to take your Bible and pray for her."

"Oh please." The first girl hissed, raising her hand at Kiishi. "Spare me that bullshit. This person simply asked me something and I answered her. And for your information, I am A'dab, a Muslim and not a Christian. So know your facts right before coming up to me with some read your Bible and pray."

A'dab seemed really angry, Bukunmi thought.

Kiishi stared at A'dab for a while, before a new hardness formed in her eyes through the glare she gave her. Without saying anything, she turned on her heels and walked away.

The girl next to A'dab hissed out loud after Kiishi had gone and dragged her friend along with her. "Abeg, let's be going."

"Rubbish," A'dab added. "Always yapping like she's the first one to be religious."

Bukunmi shook her head, rendered a bit confused after watching the whole exchange that had just occurred at her front. She began her walk to the Hall, but her eyes caught a presence that stood by the window.

He looked familiar. Like she had seen him recently but she couldn't remember where exactly and when. Curious as to why he was in a classroom, alone with a solemn demeanor, she walked towards the door and opened it.

With every step she took closer, she noticed his trembling hands. "Hey, are you okay?"

Ini didn't respond. Bukunmi recognized him.

"Aren't you the guy Lisa snubbed earlier? You don't look okay."

No response, still.

"Don't look at my shoulder, look at me."

Bukunmi was surprised by what happened next. Slowly and slowly, a tear dropped from Ini's eye, splattering unto his shaky hands.

"I should've stopped her."

"What do you mean?"

"I should've stopped her."

"Stopped who?"

Bukunmi was at a loss for words. So she moved closer and cautiously wrapped her arms around the tall human in front of her, gently patting him on the back. "It's okay."

-

"Keep quiet."

"But senior, he's the one who—"

"You heard her, shush."

The little girl looked away and a pout formed on her lips in annoyance.

"I wonder what the meeting is for."

Jina shrugged. "Beats me too. It must definitely be about Diana."

"You think? I still can't believe she just killed herself."

Jina eyed her best friend. "Glad you finally came to stay in my room, Moon. The people in that room are not it."

"Tell me more about it," Kamari responded, ignoring how Jina addressed her by the meaning of her name. She was used to it.

"I've got Bukunmi, Kiishi and this weird ass girl, Lisa in the room. You know how that Kiishi girl is; annoying as fuck. Bukunmi's pretty okay, but that Lisa girl..." Jina trailed off.

"What's with her?" Kamari urged.

"She's strange. She has this bad girl persona. She's the I don't give a flying fuck, stay away from me type of girl. I also have a feeling she doesn't like me."

"That's not true," Kamari countered. "Everyone likes you. And if she doesn't, she's clearly bad energy. Stay away from her. She's JEALOUS."

"Nah, she isn't jealous." Jina waved off her best friend's statement.

"Hm hm?" Kamari contemplated. "Okay." She shrugged, not wanting to think anymore.

They both got to their lines and Jina was surprised to see Bukunmi at her front. "Hey, girl." She tapped Bukunmi on her shoulder, who looked around and mustered a small smile at Jina.

"Hi." Bukunmi waved at Jina.

"You don't look okay," Jina stated.

"Me?" Bukunmi instinctively pointed towards herself. "No, I'm good. Perfectly fine."

"Hm, okay." Jina smiled, although she didn't look like she was having any of what Bukunmi said.

The truth was, Bukunmi was nothing close to fine. Minutes ago, she had just comforted a crying teenager, who kept muttering words about how he should have stopped a girl in repetition. From the corner of her eye, she saw someone walking to the boys' line next to her.

It was Marcellus.

The half caste looking boy caught Bukunmi's eyes staring at him, to which he gave her a strange look.

"Hi Marcellus," Bukunmi mouthed.

Noticing his jaw clench in displeasure, Bukunmi fought the urge to snicker. She found his full name pretty, but he seemed to dislike it, and she had no idea why. She had to admit though, it did sound funny in a way.

Marcellus.

"Hello everyone."

Bukunmi tore her gaze away from the half-caste looking boy. The Principal had stepped unto the podium, alongside the two Vice Principals and teachers.

"I have called this urgent meeting because of what had just happened. Diana Ottun used to be a student of this prestigious academy..."

It wasn't hard to notice how the Principal had switched to the use of past tense so easily.

"This drastic action of hers has greatly affected everyone of us, including her. I request that no one panics and this doesn't make a negative effect on our school activities. I am not surprised, although..."

"What does he mean by that?" Marcellus muttered to himself.

"The same goes for me, sir," the Vice Principal for Academics interjected. "Her ranking was a Failure, so I am not surprised too."

Gasps and whispers sprung up from every angle of the room.

"Students, please read. You don't want to end up like Diana, do you?" the Principal continued.

"May her soul rest in peace," the Vice Principal added.

They were about to step off the podium when someone's voice halted their movement.

"That was so wrong of you, sir."

Heads turned around, surprised at the person whom had dared to speak up against the authorities of the school.

"Excuse you?" the Principal questioned.

"I said, that was so wrong of you, sir. No offense, but that is one narrow mentality. A student died and you're hardly showing sympathy just because her rank was a Failure. Do you think she committed suicide because she was satisfied with it? First, you call this meeting which you could have done tomorrow, then you begin to stylishly threaten students with the case of a dead person. YOU ARE VERY WRONG, Principal Leye."

The person whom had spoken up was none other than Bukunmi. Her eyes already brimming with cold tears, glared at the Principal and his colleagues.

"How dare you say that?"

Bukunmi swallowed, getting ready to say her last goodbye to the grounds of BHS and hello to a new hell. She could imagine instant expulsion from the school and severe punishment from her mother just for speaking up against the Principal.

What was she thinking? What did she just say to the Principal—

No, Bukunmi cut off all her fizzling thoughts. There was nothing wrong with what she did.

Even if no one stood with her, she was doing the right thing. She knew she was.

"If it were to be an A+ student, you would be saying something totally different from what you are saying now, Principal Leye. It's because of you students feel so suffocated in their academic nature."

The hall was even more silent than ever. So silent that a pin drop could be heard. The Principal glared daggers at Bukunmi, his jaw locking in a tense and his fists clenched, which he had placed on the podium.

Marcellus stared at the girl next to him. This was a new level of courage. He'd never seen this sort of situation before, and this girl acting this way piqued his interest.

She was fierce, and he liked it.

"This assembly has been called to an end. The whole school is dismissed and you can return to your individual activities. You," the Principal pointed at Bukunmi, whose heart dropped to her stomach. "See me in my office, right now."

The weight of her actions seemed to dawn on her suddenly. She blinked, processing everything that had just happened.

I'm dead.

-

"Daniella, I don't care what you say or think, we're going to that school and it's final."

"Why don't you ever understand me? I want to stay in my school, I don't want to go to BSH!" the girl yelled at her twin brother.

"It is not your school! Fuck, there's absolutely nothing I can do about this. I can't do shit. Madam Zuha has paid for our fees, everything, from the school uniforms, to our tutoring fees, to excursions and trips— dude, she has covered everything."

"Is it because we don't have any money again to use for our fees? That's why you are accepting her offer?"

"Obviously."

"That's not the only reason why, Niel. Don't fucking lie to me." The fairer twin warned, taking a daring step towards her brother and glaring at him.

Fear flashed in Niel's eyes, before he quickly pulled on a mask, replacing it with the hardened gaze he had on his sister. "Believe me or not, Niella—"

"It's because of what happened in our school, right?"

Niel said nothing.

"No way. Don't– don't tell me Madam Zuha has agreed to cover up your case for you!"

Niel slowly nodded. That was partially the reason why they were transferring schools, but his sister did not need to know the full reason. He didn't want to endanger her. He'd done enough of that. He wanted to protect her, and start afresh. He couldn't protect himself, he knew. He remembered the warning he'd received few days ago.

"No matter what you do, Dan. I'll be everywhere. You just wait and watch."

He was after them. He was after their lives, and Madam Zuha had agreed to protect them. He just had to pay a price for the protection; help Madam Zuha to sell her illegal drugs.

He didn't want his sister to be aware of that.

"Madam Zuha really said she'll help you with the case? You're not going to prison—" Niel clasped a hand over his sister's mouth, and gave her a glare to shut her up.

"Shush, Niella, don't say anything more. Just get ready. We're starting tomorrow. Madam Zuha will take us there."

Niella sighed into her brother's palm, suprising him by her next action. She bit his hand, narrowing her eyes into slits at Niel who let out a yelp of pain. "Don't ever put your hand on my mouth again."

-

"Why did you say that?"

Bukunmi exhaled deeply, fingers fiddling with each other behind her back as she bit her lower lip. This was where her bravery had led her to, and abandoned her.

"I... I just said what I thought was right, sir," Bukunmi answered, not daring to look up at the Principal in the eyes.

"Look at me when I'm talking to you!" The Principal bellowed, slamming his hand on the table and causing Bukunmi to jump back in fear.

Her widened eyes flew up, and the Principal caught a hint of tears in Bukunmi's cowardly, glossy stare.

"I just said what I thought was right, sir. Diana did not deserve that."

"Are you truly feeling for her because she did not deserve that or you are afraid you will end up like her?" the Principal shot.

Bukunmi's hands dropped limply by her sides.

The Principal raised a finger, pointing at Bukunmi. "You are like her."

That statement seemed to make her want to explode. "I am not a failure! Just because I get bad grades or can't be a brilliant student like other students doesn't mean I am a failure!"

"If you raise your voice at me one more time, Adetale," the Principal leaned in closer, gritting out his warning in immense rage, "I promise to have you sent away from this school. Now leave."

Without any word uttered in defense or argument, Bukunmi turned on her heels and stormed out of the office.

Quickened steps across the hallway after she had left the Principal's office, the tears that she had forced not to drop out of her eyes now poured out of their freewill. Her eyes remained glued to the floor, not until her feet stopped at the sight of white and black sneakers. She had almost bumped into the owner of these shoes.

She looked up. It was Marcellus. He had been standing and looking at her for a while.

George was also next to him.

"Can't you see where you are going?" Bukunmi snapped at Marcel instantly, not caring that George was looking at her in the messy state she was in. She probably looked horrible right now. But she needed someone to unleash her anger on, and Marcel seemed like the right person for that.

"Calm down." Marcel raised his hands, backing up. "If anything, you're the one who kept staring at the floor. And you're crying. What a sight."

Bukunmi fumed.

Was he teasing her?

How dare he?

"Come on, Marcel," George spoke up. Suddenly, it seemed like all of the anger and sadness in Bukunmi had melted and her shoulders slumped visibly. "You can see she's crying."

"She was the one who spoke up against the Principal in front of everyone. She was bound to have received one or two insults from him."

"What do you mean?" Bukunmi asked. Her anger threatened to resurface.

"I think you know very well what I mean."

As he walked past her with George, Bukunmi stood in the middle of the hallway, wondering what exactly Marcellus meant by his words.