THE REAL TRUTH OF THE MATTER

"Bayo's classmates." She repeated before sparing us a good look. I guess it helped that we were still putting on our uniforms. She recognised it and there was a faint spark in her eyes as she lifted them back up to meet our faces.

"Oh let me show you to his room..."

"Wait." I was quick to stop her as I placed a hand on her arm. The moment she looked up to me, I withdrew my hand. I shifted my eyes to her side and there he stood staring back at me.

"Tell her." He urged. I drew in a deep breath.

"We're... I'm here to speak to you." I confessed and watched as her brows steadily creased. She was confused and I could see that. Well, I don't blame her. She's about to get even more confused.

"I..." I wasn't sure on how to say what I'm to say and as I shift my eyes to Bayo by her side, I could see the anticipation in his eyes. He was looking forward to this.

Fine. I  need to get over this once and for all.

"Your son wishes that you eat well and stay healthy. Also, you have to believe that he's alright. I can't exactly tell you how or why I'm saying this to you but I just have to. He's going to be fine." I narrated, my last sentence held assurance and for a second, I wondered why I felt so sure about that. One look at her face and the crease between her brows went deeper. As I said, she was going to feel even more confused but I didn't think I needed to tell her why I said all those things.

"Really? Tell her you can see me and I'm standing by her side." Bayo urged but I casually shook my head at him. This was going too far already.

"I have to go," I told her as I locked arms with Laila.

"W-wait. " She called but my legs were fast as I hurried away, dragging Laila along with me. I didn't want to wait any longer. I didn't want to say more.

Soon, we were in the car and Uncle Shola drove out of the hospital premises, only then did I catch my breath freely.

"Are you going to tell me what's going on with you?" Laila asked and I met her curious gaze, her arms folded beneath her chest.

"Laila I said later. I'll tell you everything later."

"No, now. I want to know why you spoke like you knew him or probably called him up and he told you he was fine. Of course, that's ridiculous but... just tell me."

"Yeah, Rida. Tell her since you couldn't tell my mum." Bayo interfered as he looked back from the front seat which he had shown up at without my knowing.

I glared hard at him.

"Hey, Rida." She snapped her fingers in front of me to get my attention and it worked as I redirected them back on her.

"What are you staring at? Lately, you seem to space out a lot."

"I'm fine."

"Are you?" He intervened and I held in my contempt for his snarky replies, refusing to look his side.

"Rida." She called once more.

"Tell me the truth. I'm your best friend." She urged in a lower and much calmer voice. Her eyes gave away her sincerity and her honest search for me to trust her.

Fine!

"I am seeing Bayo's spirit, ghost or whatever state it is and even as I speak to you, he's seated on the front seat staring back at me. He wanted me to tell his mum that I can see him and she has to take better care of herself. I told her to take her health much more serious but I didn't tell her that I can see her son and now, he's upset."

"Wow." He added and I looked away from him and back to Laila, her look was blank. I couldn't guess what thoughts filled her mind.

"Lai-"

"Wow. That's nice." She professed before leaning back in her seat.

"Did you just come up with that or..."

Bayo burst out into laughter.

"Laila I'm serious. I swear, I'm not lying."

"Rida stop!" Her hands were on my shoulders.

His laughter continued, each second of it got on my nerves and the longer I subdued my anger, somehow, it fueled up. I was like a ticking bomb ready to go off any minute.

"You don't need to come up with stories. It's okay if you don't want to tell me the truth-"

I shifted my head to him, "go away!" I exclaimed loudly and frantic. It must have startled both Laila and Uncle Shola but it did the trick. Bayo's laughter faded, he turned away from me and soon, he was no more to be seen.

Daringly and fearfully, I looked Laila's side and she carefully withdrew her hands then quietly leaned back in her seat as she looked away from me. I could see it. There was fear, worry, confusion all jumbled up in her eyes as she tried to steady her facial expression. Sadly, I backed away as well. I peered towards uncle Shola and caught him sparing me a glance through the rear-view mirror. This was exactly what I've been trying to avoid.

I couldn't find the appetite to eat even though dinner that evening was one of my favourite dish, white rice and assorted goat pepper soup. The scene kept replaying over and over again in my head.

"Rida, what's wrong?" Mum's question propelled me back to reality. I looked up to her and she had concerns attached within her eyes. Erika stared at me while she scooped a spoonful of rice into her mouth. I stole a glimpse at dad and he kept at eating.

"Nothing. Perhaps, I'm not hungry."

"How was school?" Dad inquired without looking at me and my insides straightened up.

"It was okay."

"And your Exams?" He shifted his eyes to me.

A strange wave of guilt swept over me. I haven't been preparing the way I should've.

"I... I'm preparing."

"Good. Like I always say the early bird gets the worm."

I nodded in accordance. Whenever it came to dad... I was speechless. He held an authority that couldn't be tampered with and he'd set a goal for both Erika and me. She was good at keeping her mark but I... I try my best.

Back in my room, I took my seat behind my desk and began my study for the night. Scarcely halfway into my reading, I was reminded of Bayo. He hasn't shown up since that instant. Well... good riddance!

"Wake up!" I woke up in a startle and looked left and right. My eyes dilated at the sight of Bayo seated by my side. I'd dozed off in the car while on my way to school. Wait... he's here?

"I guess... Maybe I was rude to you the other day. You've helped me more than you know it and I should've thanked you so, thank you."

I blinked a few times at him. He just apologised and appreciated my efforts. However, it felt sudden. I'd indirectly expected him to be absent for a rather long time.

"Well, I guess it's okay. After all, the deal was for you to stay away once I'd spoken to your mum." I stared out of the window and realised we'd driven into the school compound.

"Yes but..."

"No more buts. I have priorities you know." I pushed the door open and stepped down from the car then wore my school bag over my shoulder.

"The thing is...  you need me."

"What?" I halted on my tracks to face him.

"Rida! Rida!" Laila called as she hurried towards me. Once she met up with me, she halted a second to catch her breath.

"Where did you leave your phone? I've been calling." She announced and it seemed all was good between us once more. That made me excited.

"I told you. I'm only authorized to my phone on weekends."

"That one aside... Hmm. Big news... Bayo, the same Bayo we know has woken up."

What?

"That... that's impossible. He's right here." I pointed to him standing right by my side and he limited me a glance as well.

As I retreated my gaze to Laila, I noticed she spared the direction I pointed at a look and as her eyes shifted back to me, there was turmoil in them.

"No, he's not. We didn't know this but Bayo woke up roughly three days ago. He healed quite miraculously and now... there he is." She communicated before walking to my side as she pointed to the young boy with a white cast over his left hand and a neck brace around his neck. His friends flocked alongside him. The smile on his face was bright as they conversed.

But... but, it can't be. If he's Bayo then... who have I been conversing with all this time?

Deliberately, I shifted my eyes to the one that I'd believed to be him. There he stood, just as I'd met him when this all began. He grinned.

"I told you... you need me." He professed and just like that, he faded away forcing me to lapse into an internal turmoil. My heart raced at the thought of it all and what it could mean.

This can't be. It can't be that from the moment I saw him at his desk and right up to this period, it had all been fake. Was he... Was he a figment of my imagination?

I  shook my head.

It's not logical. That can't be. If he is then that would make me... insane.

Am I insane?

                           To be continued...