"Tolani..." Tega called once again while staring at her stilled form wrapped up in the duvet "will you tell me exactly what is wrong with you?" She said nothing, with her head covered as she laid immobile "you have been acting strange since you got back from school and Theresa said something about you having a break down"

Silence was what he received. She didn't utter a single word to all what he said. This got him a bit worried because since she got back from school yesterday evening, she hasn't said a single word.

She went straight to her room, refusing to talk to anybody.

It started yesterday morning when his father got a call from the school that Omotolani was acting strange.

Theresa noticed that her roommate had fever that early morning when she woke to see Omotolani shivering and sweating profusely in her bed.

Then the next event was so strange to everyone because Tolani got up from her bed, spent a long time in the bathroom, dressed up without saying a word and instead of going to the classroom, she went straight to the principal's office, begging that she should be allowed to go home.

The principal was confused and surprised at the whole thing. She asked her the reason why she wanted to go home and since she was unable to come up with a valid reason, she was denied.

Omotolani resorted into begging, crying and went as far as throwing a fit, she refused to leave the office unless she was allowed to go home or she will defy the rules and sneak out by herself.

It got worse when her friends came over to check on her, hearing the drama she was creating in the principal's office. She refused to listen to anyone rather, she was hellbent on going home, in the long run, the principal got fed up with her behaviour and decided to call her uncle to brief him on the whole situation.

Mr Peters was equally confused when he noticed her strange behaviour when he got to the principal's office, she looked stressed up and equally scared, he decided to take her home, to keep an eye on her and to figure out what is really wrong with her.

Tega having enough of the silent treatment, walked up to the bed, snatching the duvet away from her head. Her eyes were shut tight giving away that she was awake.

He sighed, placing his hand on her arm only for her to flinch. He frowned at the action, wondering what could have caused that because he just touched her like usual.

"Tolani what's wrong?" He asked placing a hand on her forehead again, taking note of the fact that she flinched under his touch but he chooses not to say anything about it. "Your temperature is high. Are you sure you don't want to see the doctor?"

She stayed still not saying a word which got him a bit annoyed and worried.

She probably had some issues in school, he heard about the bullying issue, yes he was pissed but he is going to sort out that one later, right now... He is worried about her health.

Or was it Akorede? Did he mess up? Did he break her heart?

The last time he had to deal with this was during April's episode. He had never seen her acting this way so this got him a bit worried.

"Let me get you something to eat, you didn't eat yesterday"

Sighing again when she said nothing, he rose up from the bed, before walking towards the door. He turned to look at her still form while he opened the door, shaking his head, he closed the door after him.

___

"Any news?" That was the first thing Akorede asked Theresa when they met up. Theresa with a crestfallen look and a slumped posture shook her head. "Fuck!" He cursed loudly not caring if anyone heard him or not "I don't get it! What is actually wrong with her?"

"If i have an idea, you know i would have said something. I'm in the dark here, just like you" she said before crossing her arms.

She was equally worried, just like him. Finding Omotolani in the principal's office, crying her heart out for no reason as she refused to leave unless she goes home was something she never thought of seeing.

"What did you say you noticed again?" He asked putting his hands on the banister, holding it tightly while staring at the school blocks in front of him.

"Well... I don't know when she got into the room that night, i met her fast asleep although i could have sworn i heard her crying in the middle of the night but i thought i was imagining things... The next morning, i noticed she was down with fever...i tried talking to her but you know how she has been acting" Theresa points out.

He pondered on what she said but was still unable to come up with a single reason for her behaviour.

Did anyone mess with her again?

If anyone bullies or taunts her in anyway, he will deal with the fellow mercilessly. He will actually send the person out of this school.

He was still staring down at the heads of students going in and out of blocks when he noticed the pathetic figure of his arch enemy limp out of the senior block.

Tilting his head to the side, he watched him limp away, putting pressure on his left leg.

'What is wrong with this one?' he thought.

Last time he checked, his mobility was intact four days ago, he started limping around about three days back, the same time Shetemi had a fit in the principal's office.

"I heard he is nursing a wound... Got into a fight and got stabbed" Theresa said with a shrug also watching his source of interest.

"You believe the bullshit?"

"Na... If he got into a fight with you, i would have understood but we are talking about Akeju here, who in his right mind will get into a fight with him to the extent of stabbing him? Is the fellow wishing for death?"

"Hmmm...." He looked away from him "Strange things have been happening recently. Let's keep our eyes on him, and put our ears on the ground since no one has a clue of what went wrong. I will keep on calling Tega to know if there is any change"

Theresa nodded before picking her bag as they both head to class.

                           😔😮‍💨😢

"She isn't eating?" April asked Tega who was leaning against the door frame with a tired expression on his face.

"Yes and she hasn't said much since she got back. She stays in the room all day, refusing to eat or have a decent conversation with anyone. My dad wants to take her to see the family doctor this evening because he is equally worried."

"What exactly happened?" She asked in a hush tone stealing a look at the still form on the bed. The room was quiet with no light because she had the curtains down and the lights turned off so the natural light was unable to come in.

"We got a call from school of her acting strange, she kept on saying she wants to go home. My dad met her in the principal's office crying for absolutely no reason"

She nodded, looking at her again.

"Can you excuse us for a moment? Let me talk to her maybe i can get something out..." Tega shrugged at April's suggestion stepping out while quietly closing the door after him.

She stood at a spot watching her if there would be any movement from the figure on the bed. There was none but she knew she was awake.

"Hey... How are you doing?" She walked closer towards the bed "Omotola are you okay? Everyone is worried about you"

April asked softly before taking a seat at the edge of the bed, observing the quiet environment. You can barely see through the darkness but she was not bothered because it was something she was use too.

She enjoys the darkness... She finds herself craving it a times because it brings her calmness and solitude.

"Do you want to talk about it?.... His it boyfriend issues? School? Did anyone hurt you?" She pressed on but still got no answer "you know i don't do this because it's not my thing but i see how much you mean to Tega and you are also a good person... What's the problem? I'm not leaving here if you don't tell me what's going on"

April said before getting comfortable on the bed creating space for herself, not minding the stiff posture beside her.

There was silence for a while as April mindlessly taps on her phone, she noticed from her side eye that she was slowly turning on her bed, ruffling of sheets could be heard and she saw that she had removed her duvet from her head as she sat up.

"I will turn on the light" it came out more like a question rather than a statement, April stood up to switch on the lamp stand, she winced at the intensity of the bright rays.

April studied her for a moment, she knew something was off immediately she saw her face. It was all too familiar to her. The sad countenance, the bleakness in her eyes.

"Tolani, what's wrong?"

"Nothing..." Her voice cracked, she cleared her throat to ease the tension while April gave her a look "i don't want to talk about it."

"At least there is something, even if you don't want to talk about it."

Tolani looked away from her sharp eyes, her mouth wavered as her hand shook. She has been starving herself and it's telling on her body.

"You are not eating and you refused to come out. What happened at school?" April noticed how her body freeze up at the mention of school and she looked lost for a moment. "Tolani?"

"Nothing. Nothing at all"

"Nothing at all?"

"Yes. Nothing happened"

She said this while avoiding eye contact with April, fidgeting alongside which was all strange to to her knowing the jovial person she was.

"Are you sure everything is okay?" She asked slowly, allowing the question to sink in. There was silence.

She finally locked eyes with her, April noticed the tears underlining her eyes, she moved closer slowly putting her hand on hers recalling Tega saying she was flinching at the slightest touch.

"I don't -" she shook her head as the tears fell. This got April worried.

"You can tell me anything? Is it school? The students? Are they bothering you?"

"I'm just tired of everything" she said as her voice wavered with emotions. "I'm so sick and tired of everything... Why can't they just leave me alone? Why can't he leave me alone?"

April stopped short, watching her cry silently but she held on to one thing she said.

He? Who was the 'he' she was talking about?

"He? Did Akorede hurt you?" She asked innocently with the thought of them having a fight or an argument but she only shook her head. "Then who is the he? Does Akorede knows that someone is troubling you in school?" She shook her head. "Tolani, i need you to communicate and talk to me, let me help you because i know you are hurting..." April cajoled.

"He just came from no where and just grabbed me" she said in between tears as she hiccuped. April paused for a while before her eyes widens in horror at what she was thinking about.

"Who grabbed you?" she asked while holding unto her arms, shaking it "answer me"

"He touched me"

"Where?!"

"Here.." Tolani said while touching her private causing April to gasp.

"Where did you say he touched?" The two girls jerked at the new voice. Tega stood leaning against the door frame with his fists deep in his pocket, a calm look on his face but his voice sounded deadly.

"Tega! I thought i told you to wait outside that i can handle this!" April reprimanded while she started crying all over again.

"Where did you say he touched you?" He asked ignoring her as his gaze was all on Omotolani

"Just leave her-"

"I asked again..." This time his voice deepens due to the anger in him "what did he do to you?..." Tolani shook her head defiantly "answer me jor!" The two girls jumped in fright "did he touch you?"

"Yes..." Omotolani replied on a meek note.

"Thank you" he turn around walking out of the room, the two girls watched the empty spot he stood at seconds ago before he walked in again "name" he said while snapping his fingers for answers.

"Akeju" she said in between tears not wanting to anger him further.

Tega and April exchanged looks of horror.

"That same family?! Those accursed brothers!" April exclaimed.

"He is so dead..." Tega swore loudly before storming out of the room as April wrapped Tolani in a warm hug in other to pacify her.

In the words of Tega...
'He is so dead...'

What do you think is going to happen in the next chapter?

What do you think April mean by 'that same family?'

Don't forget to vote and comment.

Thank you 🥰🥰