🎶 Damn, I wish you
Would've had my child
A pretty little girl with Diddy's style 🎶

Chapter Thirty Two

"Ow, ow Layla Grace stop!"

Severin was at Serayah's funeral as of right now along with everybody else.

The dress code for the funeral was turquoise because that was Serayah's favourite colour when she was still alive.

Layla Grace was currently pulling Severin's hand because she had overheard Serayah's parents saying that he was the reason she was dead as of right now.

She just wanted to see if this was true, pulling Severin to one side to talk to him when no one was looking.

She folded her arms at him but she didn't say anything else to him.

Severin didn't even know why he was here.

"Care to explain?"

"You were the reason Serayah died?"

Honestly speaking if Severin had known that that was the reason he was here then he would have probably run away by now ages ago.

What he didn't understand though was the fact that Layla Grace was surprised. She was acting like she didn't know this already.

"I didn't know this already."

"That's not my problem."

She didn't reply, with Severin just staring at her as she had stared at him, then he had sighed to himself... wanting to know what people had said to her about why Severin was in jail.

He got arrested because there was a terrorist attack in the room we were in, DeVante had lied to her. The real terrorists had gotten away whilst the police had arrested Severin instead as we were trying to escape.

But Severin's not guilty so why was he okay with getting arrested?

When he tried to defend himself, the police didn't want to hear it, Jordan Francis had added: this conversation was back in May. They also said no one could visit him and he was coming out the day before Serayah's funeral.

Severin genuinely had no idea that she had been told all of that. He had thought that his sister had known everything but clearly not.

She had seemed to be ranting to him for the longest time about all of this with Severin just saying that she was a diva and a drama queen at the end of their conversation.

She wasn't trying to be a drama queen or a diva, that was the thing. Then realising she was at a funeral, Layla had taken a deep breath.

Because she had decided to be nice to Severin once and for all. They were both siblings whether they had liked it or not.

"Look, Severin, you've got to tell these people the truth. They think that you were in jail by accident. That's why."

But didn't Serayah's parents make it way too obvious that he was somewhat guilty for all of this?

"I don't know, Layla." Severin shrugged. "If they find out that I killed her then I probably won't hear the end of it."

"They have to find out the truth eventually, Severin. Plus you said you hate lying so why would you go against your own words like that?"

Then she had mentioned how he was twenty five so he really had to be responsible.

As if age had defined maturity. It didn't half the time.

Severin knew so many twelve year olds for instance that had acted twenty since they were insanely smart - and he knew twenty year olds that had acted twelve.

"You get the drift, Severin. Just tell them before the end of the funeral, or I will do it. I don't want to do that though. You can tell the truth during your eulogy for Serayah or something. Plus it's what Serayah would have wanted anyway."

She might have been right about that.

Even though it had seemed like the right thing to do, Severin was having doubts which he had kept to himself as the funeral service had just started.

The funeral priest was known as Enrique who was Latin American. He looked depressed - of course he was depressed.

He was a funeral priest.

Severin genuinely didn't know a job that was worse than that.

We are here today to celebrate the life of Serayah "Rayah" Jackson. Born on the 26th August, Serayah was the only child to Gloriana and Lombardo Jackson.

The song Amazing Grace was sung by the beautiful choir members of the church, with some people crying.

Someone in the audience had realised that Serayah's birthday would have literally been tomorrow if she was still alive.

Yeah, I know. I realised that too, Enrique had replied. Sadly, birthdays are only for the living, I'm afraid. Gloriana and Lombardo, I am extremely sorry for your loss. Losing your only child must be very hard on you.

Not as hard as being responsible for it, Severin had thought to himself. Or being a funeral priest in general.

After Serayah's life story, that was when eulogies were then said about her. Severin's wasn't first or second.

First were inevitably her parents, who had cried non stop as they had gone up on the stage. Funnily enough for Severin, his name wasn't mentioned once over killing her.

Serayah was beautiful! Lombardo had sniffled through tears. Gone way too soon. It would have been her birthday tomorrow!

We most definitely had our ups and downs with her but she was such a joy to be around. A lot of people complained about her but looking back, they realised that she wasn't annoying. She was just misunderstood.

We don't know why she died but whoever was responsible for this, hope they get the karma they deserve.

They lied about the last bit. They did know why she really died - they were just by far way too embarrassed to say it in front of everyone.

And many other heartwarming things about their now late daughter.

Severin sank in his seat when Lombardo had mentioned that the person or people responsible for Serayah's death deserved karma.

Jordan Francis had noticed this, asking him if he was okay and he nodded.

"Also, about Solana-"

"Don't sweat it, man." Jordan Francis had whispered. "It's fine."

Jordan Francis didn't want Severin to speak to Solana again especially after he had almost kissed her back at the retreat even though they were married.

Solana was sick right now so she couldn't have made it to the funeral.

Jordan Francis and Solana didn't have the time for a break before due to plans for Serayah's funeral mainly but their break had started last week, which was going to last for three.

He would have stayed with his sick wife but he didn't know where she was for starters plus he wanted to pay his respects at the funeral at least.

After Serayah's parents had said their eulogies about their daughter, next was DeVante, Severin, Jordan Francis, Katari then Layla Grace.

"Hold up, why ain't Severin and Layla Grace going?" Someone had pointed out from the mourning audience. "Severin was literally her boyfriend, plus the three of then had all lived together."

It didn't matter the order they had said their eulogies, as long as they had been said.

They needed more time to prepare for their eulogy, that was why. Also Severin wasn't ready yet until after DeVante.

DeVante was first.

DeVante: Yo everybody. What's up? It's me, DeVante from Jodeci.

"We know who you are baby!" Some fan girl screamed even though this was supposed to be a funeral, not a concert.

Jodeci didn't come as they didn't really know Serayah like that. Everyone here right now had to give a eulogy.

They could have been guest singers though they were too busy for that especially how they were all in relationships now.

DeVante: Right. My fault for saying that. Anyway, I had known Serayah for some time. She was amazing and we met a university.

*continued* Believe it or not, she was very shy. She was the kid no one really noticed in school or university in this case. That was until she had gotten closer to Severin after a project and they got together.

A lot of girls had been crushing heavily on Severin back at that time, so when they had found out that Severin was her boyfriend, that kind of instantly boosted her popularity.

Serayah was really down to Earth and I loved that about her. A lot of people judge her without getting to know her properly but she actually did have a huge heart.

If there's anything her death taught me it's that life is way too short to hold grudges against the people you care about. And I think that Jordan Francis had said the same thing earlier as well.

Before she died, her me and Severin had kind of gotten into a huge argument, but I don't really want to go into it.

DeVante and Severin had winked at each other after that statement.

After DeVante's 5 minute eulogy about her, it was finally Severin's, with everyone staring at him.

Before he had done his eulogy though, he wanted a sing a song from one of Serayah's favourite TV shows of all time: Empire.

"Yeah sure. Go ahead," Enrique urged.

Not replying, Severin had then gotten the microphone already, with Katari being surprised as she didn't think he could sing.

"Uhm, if y'all know the song. Join in. But it's not by force, don't worry."

Then he started singing the song pretty slowly, holding back his tears.

Zoning on this life
Had my share of BS, drama and strife
I ain't worried bout tomorrow, I'm good tonight
If I don't see tomorrow, I'm good tonight

Severin was kind of croaky towards the end of that verse because he was crying pretty badly. This song hit really deep now that Serayah was no longer with them.

It was called My last Night.

Everyone that knew the song started singing in after with Jordan Francis standing up and shouting the lyrics.

We livin that luxury 'cause where we come from close to hell (yea yea yea yea)
So if tonight death come for me I'ma be too turnt up to tell

Severin smiled as they had sung for him.

Living it, Living it, like it was My last night

Everyone was jamming.

My last night, my last night, my last night
My last night, My last night, my last niiighhhtttt!!

That was all he wanted to sing even if he didn't sing most of it.

After that, everyone had cheered and now it was time for the actual eulogy.

Severin froze, he couldn't do it.

In fact, he just stood there looking at Layla Grace mainly, with Enrique telling him to hurry up nicely as they had limited time, he had another funeral after this too.

No words came from his mouth.

Forget stage fright, this was altar or funeral fright.

"Come on Severin, you can do it!"

He couldn't.

He shook his head.

"I.... I can't say goodbye to Serayah. I'm sorry," he apologised, backing away. "I could barely sing the song I wanted to sing for her. Let alone saying an entire eulogy."

The guilt really got to him that was why.

He stormed out of the entire room without looking back.