We had caught our culprit. Or in Kasy and Ms. Isong's case, the suicide victim.

Asides from occasionally stealing snacks from her bag, I didn't know Amira Yusuf well.

I knew she competed with Annika in science class and I also knew she was the exact opposite of her twin brother, Ahmed Yusuf, and let's not forget the fact that she's been besties with Tari Disemi since creation. But then, all those were general knowledge.

We didn't know why Amira would want to take her life, but not everything was as it appeared. And that's why we didn't conclude on Amira Yusuf.

◈ ━━━━━━━ ⸙ - ⸙ ━━━━━━━ ◈

"We can never be hundred percent sure she's the one," Ms. Isong said. CJ was already halfway through the door after Kasy had called out Amira's name. To him, it was case closed since he had more important things to do than play detective.

"So what do we do?" CJ asked as he made his way back to Ms. Isong's desk. "It's not like we can walk up to her and ask, 'hey Amina, are you planning to commit suicide?'"

"It's Amira," Kasy corrected.

"The same thing," CJ deadpanned.

"Look," Ms. Isong started, "I just need you to get close to her and see if she'd talk about anything...depressing or, I don't know..."

"She'll never talk to me," CJ concluded.

"Or you mean you'll never talk to her," Kasy stated with raised bushy eyebrows.

"Same thing," CJ mumbled.

"Kasy," Ms. Isong called, "she's much more likely to open up to you."

"Duh," CJ mumbled with arms folded in front of his chest but the two females in the room heard him. "So, are we done here because I have things to do?"

"Yeah, you can go," Ms. Isong said before the two students began making their way out of the staffroom, "Kasy," Ms. Isong called out.

Kasy turned around and headed back to Ms. Isong's desk.

"Uhm... I know that CJ isn't exactly enthusiastic about this task but... I need you to try your best, even if you have to do it alone," said Ms. Isong.

Kasy gave a curt nod. "I will."

"Thank you." Ms. Isong smiled warmly before Kasy left the staffroom.

• • •

The lunch break had become as eventful as it could get when Ahmed Yusuf had pulled a junior student into the SS 2 Art class and was forming scars on the little boy's back using his long cane wrapped in black tape.

"So you get mind collect my watch, ba?" Ahmed yelled at the boy facing the wall with his hands raised, "If I finish with you today, you go know say I no be your agemate." And with that, Ahmed raised his cane high up in the air before speedily bringing it down to connect with the boy's back.

The sound of the cane against flesh and the little boy's cries was enough to draw the attention of every senior student in the senior block.

Ahmed had refused to listen to the little boy's explanation after he'd walked into their classroom in search of his Rolex watch and found the little boy wearing it.

"Senior please..." The junior student cried out before he felt two simultaneous strokes of the cane on his throbbing back. The pain was unbearable.

Tari Disemi stormed into the classroom on hearing the commotion from the corridor.

"Ahmed, what the hell!" Tari exclaimed on seeing the torture the junior student was going through.

Either Ahmed didn't hear her or he had decided to ignore her as he continued to flog the little boy nonstop.

"Let him be, he's the Disciplinarian, it's his job," Enock Sakala said to Tari as he stood next to Sola amongst the crowd of people who had come to watch.

"And I'm the Social Prefect, so I demand to know—" Tari immediately cupped her forehead as she felt a sharp pain on her head. Maybe shouting wasn't a good idea at the moment. Before she knew it, dizziness took over.

"Social Prefect my ass. Just mind your business." Sola Fadiya glared at Tari Disemi who didn't bother responding to her as she immediately walked out of the classroom.

As the little boy continued to yelp and Ahmed refused to stop with the flogging, more students continued to troop in to find out what the commotion was about.

Amira made her way through the crowd and towards the back of the classroom until she got to her brother. She held his right arm but he shoved her away without even looking her way.

"Ahmed, stop what you're doing!" She yelled but it was as effective as pouring water on stone.

Amira continued to tug at Ahmed's shirt but he didn't even move.

The crowd suddenly began parting and making way as Annika Malan took long strides until she was a few feet away from Ahmed and his victim.

"Ahmed," the Head Girl called out slowly and it almost sounded like a whisper but Ahmed heard her and he stopped with his hand in the air, holding on to his cane, "that's enough," the classroom was dead silent as they watched Ahmed drop his cane and stormed his way through the crowd and out of the classroom with Amira running after him.

The junior student brought down his hands and turned around in his kneeling position before laying on the floor with his throbbing back. His face had turned red and wet with sweat, tears, and mucus dripping out of his nose. As he laid there, he didn't stop crying.

Annika sighed softly before walking to the boy and crouching down next to him.

"That Senior that sold the watch to you," Annika mumbled, knowing that a crowd of gossips were still standing behind her, "don't ever collect anything from him again."

The boy managed to nod as he looked up at Annika's emotionless eyes.

"And also, you know that reporting this incident will only make Senior Ahmed put a target on you... Well, unless you plan on changing school because we both know there's no way in hell Ahmed will get expelled." Annika smiled. "In other words, reporting wouldn't yield much result. It will only make everything worse. Do you understand me?"

The little boy took a little while to determine if Annika was advising him or simply being heartless before he gave a curt nod.

Annika gave a fake smile that disappeared almost immediately before she majestically stood to her feet again. She looked down at him and said, "Now, stand up from there and head to the infirmary,"

The boy watched with perplexity as she made her way out of the classroom.

But what had he expected? For Annika Malan to help him get up?

Hell no.

• • •

"Ahmed, me ke damun ka ne?" (What is wrong with you?) Amira scolded her brother as they stood face to face in the corridor. Although Ahmed wasn't looking at his sister, she could tell he was furious with the way he was breathing like a horse that had just finished a race.

"Amira, ki shiga taitayinki, don Allah," (mind your business, please,) Ahmed said after he'd finally turned to look at the shorter girl.

"Sai na fada ma baba game da wannan zafin ran naka don na ga yana nema ya zama wani abu daban," (I'm going to tell father about this. Your hot temper is becoming something else,) Amira threatened.

Ahmed scoffed. "Wannan banzan mutum? Ba uba na bane," (That useless man? He's not my father,) he said, looking directly into Amira's eyes. "Saboda haka zaki iya gaya mashi ni ba damuwa na bane, daman abinda kika fi iyawa ne. Yarinyar babanta." (So you can tell him for all I care because that's what you do best. Daddy's girl.)

"Kana da babban Marsala, Ahmed—" (You have a big problem, Ahmed—)

"Amira, ke ce me Marsala bani ba," (You're the one who has a problem,) Ahmed snapped, "Wai me yasa bazaki kyaleni ba ne, a maimakon neman mugun aikin da kike son kai ma babanki rahoto?" (Why won't you just leave me alone instead of looking for an evil deed to report to your father?)

Ahmed began walking away when Amira held on to his arm for him to hear her out but he shoved her hand away and left.

• • •

Mr. Chris, the Physics teacher, walked round the class, distributing test sheets which he'd scored the previous day. The students found it childish but Mr. Chris preferred distributing the test sheets himself.

Amira frowned at her paper when it got to her. She'd scored a nine out of ten. That wasn't good enough. She was quite sure Annika would have a perfect score and that made her insides go sour.

"Of course, as usual, Annika is the highest." Mr. Chris grinned as though he'd won a lottery as he handed Annika her test sheets. Sheets in plural form since Annika had used an extra sheet. "I even had to give her an extra mark. You people should learn from her."

Amira crumpled her paper that moment. Bitterness couldn't describe how she felt.

She couldn't let Annika come first this term. Annika always came first.

Whatever she did was useless. No matter what she did, her efforts would always be rendered unfruitful because Annika always came out on top of the class with Amira barely making it to the second position.

That's why Annika Malan and Amira Yusuf could never be friends, the competition was intoxicating enough for them not to realize they had some things in common other than wanting to come first in class.

Amira had wished Tari were with her in the Science class. At least her best friend was always good at consoling her and reminding her that she was so much better than Annika Malan, ten folds.

Amira had almost given up when she applied for the position of Head Girl and was given Sanitation Prefect instead while Annika was chosen. Hell, even Kasy Kanayo who was an Art Student was chosen as Deputy Head Girl over her.

Amira was getting tired but she couldn't give up. She had to prove that she could beat Annika. She had to prove that there was nothing special about Annika. She wanted to show everyone that what Annika Malan could do, Amira Yusuf could do better.

By the time Amira had returned to earth, Zehan Essien had been giving a ridiculous definition of Waves. Mr. Chris had decided to give the boy a public, oral test since he'd missed the main one.

"That's wrong," Mr. Chris cut Zehan off of his misery, "can anyone please give me a correct definition?"

"We haven't treated the topic—" Amira was complaining when she saw Annika raise her hand high up in the air.

"Yes, Annika." Mr. Chris looked happy that someone was about to answer the question.

"A wave can be defined as a disturbance which propagates through a material medium and transfers energy from one point to the other without causing permanent displacement in the medium." That was Annika's smart response after she'd stood up majestically.

"That's what I said," Zehan cut in before Mr. Chris could speak up.

"That's not what you said, Essien, sit the fuck down." Zehan was a little bit surprised that Dele had finally decided to speak to him but wasn't the slightest bit pleased with the way Dele had addressed him.

"Akindele, mind your business or I'll mind it for you," Zehan spat back. Everyone found it a little funny the way they referred to each other with their surnames but they knew that if the confrontation continued, it wouldn't end well.

"And how do you plan on doing that?" Dele raised his voice a little.

Before Zehan could reply, Mr. Chris was already threatening to send them both out of the class if they continued with their bickering.

Zehan knew that as far as Dele's goons weren't with him, he could beat him to a pulp.

Dele on the other hand didn't think he needed back up from Ahmed and Enock if he ever needed to send Zehan to the hospital. Sooner or later, one of them would end up in the hospital.

• • •

CJ Ikem had spent the entire Physics period in the library as he moved from aisle to aisle, stuffing different books which he'd never return into his bag.

The pregnant librarian was sleeping on her desk and there was no one else in the library. It was such a golden opportunity for CJ.

A few minutes after the bell signaling the end of that period went off, CJ heard footsteps making their way into the library.

With his book bag on his shoulder, he decided it was time to make his way out. He walked swiftly past the fifth aisle, fourth aisle, third aisle but before he could make it past the second aisle, something pulled him by the back of his collar with great force and dragged him into the second aisle.

Annika Malan had also lost her balance in the process of pulling CJ and although she was very sure CJ would put his hand around her waist and stop the both of them from falling miserably to the floor, she still felt her back and the back of her head collide with the cold tiled floor, producing a loud thud.

To make matters worse, CJ Ikem was right on top of her, staring with wide eyes.

"Whose there?" They heard the pregnant librarian call out to the disturbance that had apparently waken her from her slumber.

CJ shook his head vigorously to tell Annika not to make any sound or movement. Sure he wouldn't want to be caught with stolen books.

When he was sure the woman had gone back to sleep, he gently got off the Head Girl who looked breathless and annoyed.

After Annika had gotten up from the floor and dusted her Blazer and skirt, she grabbed the tie that had been hanging loosely on CJ's neck and pulled him towards the far end of the library and into the small store where old books were piled up.

The room was dark, stuffy, and smelled like old, dusty newspapers but Annika didn't seem to mind as she turned to CJ and said, "We need to talk,"

"What exactly is the colour of your problem?" Cj asked instead. He didn't fail to show how irritated he was.

"My problem?" Annika scoffed, "Ahmed nearly killed a boy today because he bought a stolen watch!" They didn't bother keeping their voices down since no one could really hear them from in there.

"I thought Ahmed was your friend." CJ didn't fail to hide the sarcasm in his tone.

"Yes, and that's why that little boy is still alive," Annika replied.

"So, why do you keep stalking me?" CJ raised his eyebrows.

"Stal—" Annika was short of words. Of all people she would ever want to stalk, why would she pick a thief? "Now, listen to me. You're going to go and meet that boy, apologize to him and refund his money. Do you hear me?"

"Or what?"

"Or I'll tell Ahmed that you were the one who stole it in the first place," Annika threatened.

"I didn't steal anything." CJ shrugged. "I saw a watch on the floor, I picked it up and since this school doesn't have a lost and found... I decided to give it to the junior student who claimed to be the owner."

"You're... You are crazy!" Annika exclaimed. "You better do as I told you to or else I'll make sure you're expelled."

"Whatever," CJ mumbled before he decided he'd had enough of Annika's blabbing and walked out on her.

CJ made his way out of the empty library with the librarian still fast asleep. He quickly made his way down the stairs leading to the third floor where SS 3 classes were found but since the SS 3 students had long finished their final exams, they were no longer attending classes.

The corridor was empty so it was surprising when CJ heard his name echo behind him. He turned around to find Zehan Essien standing in the middle of the corridor with his hands shoved into his pockets. He looked mischievous.

Up until that moment, CJ never thought Zehan knew his name. But then again, it was such an easy name to memorize since it had just two letters.

CJ stood at the stairway waiting for Zehan to catch up to him.

"Hey," Zehan started with a smile, "I need you to do something for me."

"What?" CJ asked, not really interested in what Zehan had to say.

"Don't worry, I know you're a businessman so I'm going to pay you for everything," Zehan said with a smirk, his hands not leaving his pockets.

It was only Zehan Essien's first day back but he already had everything planned out.

"I'm listening..." CJ trailed.

"Okay, let's say there will be a search tomorrow in class," said Zehan, "it will be unexpected and there will be nothing in particular they'd be searching for but let's say they find weed in the Deputy Head Boy's bag. It would be interesting, right?"

Zehan grinned devilishly while CJ widened his eyes slightly at the realization of what Zehan was asking him to do.

• • •

The SS 2 had a free period since the Biology teacher had supposedly fallen sick. Kasy thought it would be a good time to get to know Amira a little better.

She had always been friendly with Amira but never close friends, probably because they had little in common. But then again, she always thought Amira and Tari had nothing in common either, like zero.

"Flat chest, how far na?" Kasy heard Enock and the morons he called friends laugh at her as she made her way past them. Of course, even Dele who had been moody all day found it funny enough to smirk.

She couldn't believe even the idiot, Charles Elias, who had once asked her out was laughing as well. It's a good thing she never thought of accepting his proposal, although now she thought of it, it might've been a prank.

She had walked past Annika and Timi Disemi who was seated in the front row, probably discussing Ohm's Law and other boring science stuff.

She could see Zehan seated with CJ at the back of the class, mumbling something to each other. She averted her gaze immediately and headed towards Amira's seat. Luckily, she was alone, as expected, since Tari had been fast asleep in the Art class.

The class was very rowdy but Amira seemed to be able to concentrate on her Physics textbook amidst the noise. Kasy watched as she used wrote something down in her notebook using a black pen.

"Hey," Kasy said after taking the empty seat beside Amira.

"Hey, Kasy, what's up?" Amira looked up from her textbook and turned to Kasy.

Amira was light-skinned. She had the smallest lips Kasy had ever seen and big, bright eyes which made her look like an animation character. Her chin was pointy and her eyebrows were nearly invisible but she still looked beautiful and nothing like her twin brother.

"If you don't mind... I was thinking since you're such an expert in Biology, you would help me understand this topic..." Kasy trailed, finally realizing that she hadn't brought a Biology textbook with her and she couldn't remember any topic in Biology either.

"What topic?" Amira queried.

"Em... That last topic the teacher..." She trailed off again, scratching her braids.

"Hormones and Hormonal Secretions?"

"Yes! Yes! Exactly! You're so smart!" Kasy exclaimed with glee and relief.

Amira was starting to get suspicious of the Deputy Head Girl's surprise visit. "Well, as you can see, I'm trying to read up on Waves since it seems like everyone in class is ahead of me and I don't want to be..." Amira shook her head vigorously as she stopped herself from rambling.

"You know I'm an Art Student and Biology isn't exactly my thing but I can't fail it in midterm—"

"Annika or Dele or even Timi can help you... I'm really busy right now," Amira said before turning back to her textbook with a sigh.

"They're all busy—"

"Look Kasy," Amira snapped a little at the shorter girl, "you top your class like...every term while I barely make it to the second position here with Dele and Timi acing their exams. So I think that even if you fail Biology, you'd still come first. I don't see a reason why you should be bothering me."

Kasy was a little dumbfounded but not offended. It was obvious that Amira was under a lot of stress and with the way she kept flipping the Physics textbook, one would think she was angry with the equations.

Kasy chuckled awkwardly. "Well, I don't always come first. I mean, Adam and Tamara also give me a tough time too." Kasy knew she was talking like a lunatic but there was nothing much she could do. She had to keep the conversation going. "Besides, all this competition isn't healthy."

"Healthy or not, Kasy, my parents will disown me this time around if I let Annika come first again." Kasy laughed at Amira's response until she realized that Amira wasn't laughing with her, instead, she had a bland expression.

"Kasy, just come back later, okay? I'm in over my head at the moment." Amira sounded like she was going to cry if Kasy didn't oblige so she simply nodded and stood up to leave. "Oh and tell Tari that I still have the doughnut in case she gets hungry," Amira added before Kasy left her presence.

Kasy left the Science class in a hurry but before she could make a U-turn into her class, Dele held her arm and got her to turn around. She hadn't known he was following her.

Dele's cologne hit her nose as soon as her body hit his as a result of the unexpected turn.

"You're very short." Dele chuckled as he looked down at her.

Kasy hit his chest playfully as she blushed miserably.

"Are you here to continue where your friend's stopped?" Kasy asked, referring to Enock's teasing when she'd walked in. Dele let go of her as they now stood two feet away.

"No, don't mind them," Dele said, "I wanted to know if Zehan has said anything to you since..."

"Asides from him looking at me like I killed his entire family, nothing else." Kasy shrugged.

"What's even wrong with him?" Dele asked. "I don't trust him, he's up to something."

"I guess he's angry," Kasy replied.

"Angry? I should be the angry one. Because of him, I'm not the Head Boy." Dele began raising his voice but calmed down in order not to draw attention their way.

"We told the police he killed his brother."

"Which was exactly what he did," Dele whispered. "It's not like we lied. We both saw it happen."

"I know, Dele. But why does it feel like we lied?" Kasy asked. "I don't even like thinking about it because it's just..."

"We told the truth," Dele stood his ground, "So I don't know what you're feeling guilty for. It was the Essiens and Mrs. Elias that tried to make us think we were crazy when we saw Zehan push Ismael."

"They said we shouldn't talk about it," Kasy mumbled, reminding Dele of what Mrs. Elias had said.

"They allowed him to waltz in here like he owns the goddamn school and they expect me not to talk about it?" Dele scoffed. "If Essien crosses my line, I swear, I will sing what happened like a goddamn lullaby."

"Dele, just calm down, please," Kasy pleaded, looking at the agitated boy, "let the past stay in the past."

"If he wanted to forget about the past then he wouldn't have come back." Dele shook his head to emphasize his statement.

Kasy sighed, not knowing what else to say. Dele turned around and walked back into his class without saying any other thing.

• • •

It was ten minutes after dismissal and Zehan couldn't wait for the next day. But first, he needed to get home and rest.

No one else was in sight as he packed his things before making his way out of his empty classroom. He was about to walk past the Art class when he noticed that people were still in there. He would've walked by if only he didn't recognize Adam's voice as he screamed, "Leave me alone!"

Zehan walked in time to see Ahmed smack Adam on the head and Enock laughing behind him. They had emptied Adam's backpack on the floor and its contents were now in a visible display.

Ahmed must've sensed Zehan's presence since he decided to leave Adam alone right after he called him "Eve". The duo laughed their way past Zehan and out of the classroom.

Zehan watched as Adam bent to pick up his books and other things that had been scattered all over the tiled floor. He couldn't help it, he had to at least help Adam.

Adam on the other hand was shocked to see Zehan picking up his books. He was so surprised that he had to stop and watch Zehan do all the work.

"I was supposed to teach you how to fight those stupid fools," Zehan mumbled more to himself as he kept on picking up books.

Adam could remember when Zehan had promised to teach him karate which he would use on Ahmed and other bullies but that was shortly before he disappeared. It wasn't like Zehan was an expert in the art but the idea was comforting.

"You just disappeared like that," Adam finally spoke as he collected the pile of books from Zehan.

"What did you expect me to do?" Zehan asked. "It was what you guys wanted, isn't it?"

"You know I didn't tell anyone anything," Adam said immediately, "I always believed you."

Zehan stared at Adam for a few seconds before asking, "Are you telling the truth?"

"Yes."

Zehan could always tell when Adam was lying and to say that he was relieved to know that Adam was telling the truth would be an understatement. It was good to know he had someone on his side and fewer people to unleash his wrath on.

"I'm telling the truth, so stop acting like I sold your kidney without permission," Adam joked and Zehan smiled. "How are you?" Adam asked afterward.

"I'm not fine," Zehan replied honestly, "but I'll soon be." Zehan gave that creepy smile that always got under Adam's skin.

Zehan was definitely up to something.