the second update :) enjoy!🥺💕 btw there's only two chapters left in my drafts :( updates won't be as frequent like before :)

036| Damned, Diamond Necklace II

~K O M I S O L A~

When you're an outcast, you would be linked to every unfortunate circumstance. Bad things would happen and then be blamed on you. You'd stick out like a sore thumb in the midst of others no matter what.

"We've got a fucking thief in our class!"

I couldn't have hated Tiamiyu more than I did at that moment. The way his loud voice boomed through the whole class and was the only thing that could be heard in the graveyard silence.

Hanniel held my hand and tried to take me out of class, but I didn't budge, "I didn't steal it."

The tension was thick. Everyone could feel it. Even Yusrah became a spectator and Dabirah seemed to be the one against me.

"Komisola, let's go." Hanniel held my hand again. I looked up and his eyes were pleading, begging for me to just listen to him, thick with emotions.

"I didn't steal it, I swear." I said immediately. A huge lump formed in my throat and it was so hard to get rid of. "Why would I?"

"Maybe you have a stealing problem. Kleptomania, maybe?" Dabirah interjected and when I turned to her, her eyes had a dark, mocking look in them that stared right at me. She smirked and checked her nails in an uninterested manner.

Ameenah and Hassan walked in, hand in hand with each other until they paused and noticed that everyone was on their feet and notes were in a disarray on the floor.

They both looked at me and Ameenah let out a scoff, "I don't even want to know what's going on here."

"Ameenah!"

Someone appeared at her back, that tall guy called Ibrahim that I had seen earlier. He sounded exhausted. His eyes met mine for a second but he was quick to look away. "The Head boy is calling you, Hassan, Tiamiyu and Hanniel." He said and draped an arm over her shoulder. "By the way," he started as they both turned around, "I heard you won a gold medal in a foreign country."

"South Korea, idiot."

"Ouch. Why are you so obsessed with that country?"

Their voices became distant and their footsteps could be heard down the hallway. Hanniel was reluctant to go but I forced him to. I didn't want his help. I didn't want him to be involved in all this. He had no idea what he was getting into.

"Just give me the necklace." Yusrah came forward and snatched the necklace from Dabirah who stretched it further away from her reach. "Dabi, the necklace. What's your problem? Just give it to me."

"Yusrah," Dabirah shook her head. "What if you hadn't found it? You go talk wetin you dey talk now?"

"Report her to Mr Jarah." Sarai chipped in and my eyes almost fell out of their sockets. Did Sarai just say Yusrah should report me to Mr Jarah? Look at someone I supported.

"I didn't steal anything." I stepped forward and cast a glare at Sarai who gulped and looked away. Something was suspicious about her whole countenance. She was always timid, hands holding each other nervously and shoulders in a tense manner but right now she was different.

"Are you scared?" Dabirah taunted. She gave me a once-over and that damn smirk did not leave her lips.

I was starting to get angry. Pissed even. I hated being accused of a crime. I had had to go through that for years and now, another one? Why would I even steal when I could easily get mine? Mother and Father were dirty kind of wealthy. They had MONEY. So why would I want to steal?

"Why won't you understand that I didn't steal-" I raised my voice but I was interrupted by another slap. Even more painful than the last one. My right eye almost became blind. I felt an ache spread through my head instantly and both my cheeks stung from pain.

"Are you mad?" Yusrah pushed me. "Are you mad?"

Another push.

"To fucking hell with you if you think you can do something like this and get away with it! You're raising your voice at Dabirah, who are you?! Oh, you've forgotten your place? You're an incest breeder. An incestophile that sleeps with her elder brother and records every bit of it!"

The tears stung more than my cheeks. Hot, burning tears that I tried so hard to stop from pouring. They intensified when I heard a loud snicker following.

"We saw it in your backpack! Yet you keep repeating the same statement!"

"What's going on here?"

I recognized that voice. It belonged to the suspicious Abdelnour family member. Ibrahim.

Why did he come back?

CK, being the telltale he was, reported everything like he had recited the words in his head. His eyes were sparkling with interest and he gave his all to watch the drama unfold in front of him. How could someone be so inhumane like this?

Then I realized. Ibrahim was here before me. Then he must've seen the person who put the necklace in my backpack because I surely wasn't the one who put it in there. Either that or...

I shook my head. He had no reason to.

With a confused face, he walked closer to the scene till he finally got to where I stood and faced me. His eyes were questioning me. Thousands of unspoken questions made them light up.

I decided to ask him a question I really wanted to ask. "You were here before me, was anyone in class?"

"Hm, yes. The person was wearing a pair of glasses."

I looked around and my eyes landed on Sarai who looked away instantly. She just avoided my gaze.

"Is she the one?" I pointed towards Sarai and Ibrahim looked back. He saw who I was pointing to her and registered her face for a moment.

"I don't think so."

"Hey! All these you're doing is none of my business for all I care about. I'm reporting you to Principal Matthews and that's it."

Just kill me then.

Principal Matthews didn't like seeing my face. He preferred I stirred out of any rumor or scandal whatsoever to make sure I wouldn't have a cause to step foot in his office.

"My necklace abeg," Yusrah came forward and snatched her necklace from Dabirah's hand before putting it back into its case. I sucked in a deep breath when she turned to look at me. Her gaze was sharp, straight, unwavering and coated with hatred. "Even if you have kleptomania, you should know better not to mess with my things."

How many times did I have to say I didn't steal the damned, diamond necklace???

"I don't have kleptomania!"

Even I was surprised at my sudden outburst. Some people flinched and I shakily exhaled to control myself. Yusrah looked like she couldn't believe her ears and her eyes had widened twice their size. My eyes became blurry with tears and the tension in the air thickened.

"You don't have kleptomania?" Yusrah scoffed. "You don't have kleptomania?"

A tear dropped when I received another slap.

"Yusrah, stop it."

Someone squeezed himself in between me and Yusrah. It was Ibrahim.

"No matter what," he sounded angry, "you don't have any right to raise your hand against her. Report her to the Principal if she has done something wrong."

"This is none of your business, Ibrahim." Yusrah inhaled sharply, refusing to look at Ibrahim while her fists were balled. Meanwhile I was behind him, watching like the coward that I was. I didn't know what to do.

"I never said it was. I came here for a different reason, and I'm taking her away."

The next thing Ibrahim did startled me. He held my hand and began to drag me along with him. Everyone stared at us, probably shocked that an Abdelnour was being this close to me.

And when we got to the door, he turned back for a second and said, regarding everyone, "when she comes back, don't try to lay a hand on even a strand of her hair."

I pulled my hand out of his when reached the corridor, out of everyone's sight. My heart was beating heavily and I was still trying to register all that had just happened.

"I don't know what they're accusing you of, but I know you didn't do it." Ibrahim managed a pitiful smile at me. I looked away and focused on the ground, suddenly finding it as a means to distract myself from the current situation.

Sometimes I convinced myself I only had a little more time to be done with high school, for a change of environment. But then it was too much to handle. People would say eventually, every new tale, rumor or gossip dies down gradually in time. My case was different.

I hated myself for it.

I flinched when I felt a warm finger wipe away a tear on my face. I looked up and saw Ibrahim frowning at me.

"It's okay to cry, but it's not a good look on you."

Ibrahim smiled, before turning around and walking down the hallway. I wiped my cheeks and followed him, then I paused in my steps. Why was I following him?

"Senior Inaya asked me to call you. She's angry."

My mouth dropped open at that. Angry? Senior Inaya? Both in one statement? How and why? Who could've thought?

"Angry? Because of me?" I blinked in confusion.

"Yes," Ibrahim answered without looking back. I increased my speed in walking and even had to run up to him at one point. Boy, he was fast at walking. "You forfeited the game. Everyone saw it. Before you did, she was literally cheering up. Screaming your name like she was your biggest fan."

My heart raced one more time and my shoulders slumped in disappointment at myself. It was hard to believe I could hurt Senior Inaya.

"I'm surprised you didn't even hear her screaming. The Head girl gave her a look but she didn't care, which was very bold. She was so excited."

I tend to tune people out whenever I'm involved in something. Just like my therapist said, I don't pay attention to my surroundings.

"I didn't mean to hurt her." I muttered, lowering my head. Ibrahim looked back and casted me a half smile.

"Of course. But if you think you made the right decision, then no you don't need to explain yourself to anyone. You had your reasons."

"Thank you." I said, honestly. "Thank you for everything."

He was the last person I would've expected to be my knight in shining armor. When Hanniel left, I thought I would have to face all of them myself. But I denied that. I didn't want to accept the fact.

"Wait,"

Ibrahim stopped abruptly and I bumped into him. I really did. My head hit his back and I awkwardly moved back. "Sorry," I apologized.

"I just remembered."

I waited for him to continue because I was starting to get confused.

Too much confusion lately.

"That girl, she's the scholarship student, right?" He looked at me.

Who on earth was he talking about?

"The girl you pointed to in class earlier." Ibrahim raised his brows in hope, thinking I would remember.

I did.

He was talking about Sarai.

"She's the one I met in your class."

I died and resurrected.

Ibrahim continued, "actually, I came to take a fountain pen in Ameenah's bag, because it was for me."

I shot him a weird look.

"She seized it. And it was important to me."

I nodded in dismissal. Talking about Ameenah didn't tickle my fancy. "Then I saw Sarai at the back of the class. I didn't know if it was her seat or not since it wasn't my class. I also couldn't question her so I just left her to her business."

"Was she holding a necklace?" I almost jumped at Ibrahim. No wonder Sarai was acting so suspiciously. Something was up with her.

She was behind this. Definitely. With Dabirah.

"No."

I realized, Ibrahim was as unobservant as I was.