Aderonke checked herself through a mirror before coming down from her car. She wore a greenish-blue gown made of soft, satiny fabric, long and loose. A semicircular, high collar made of silk-like materials headed the ankle-length robe. She had been expecting a call from the detective, but who was she decieving?

The detective hated her and so did she. She was Yoruba and well...that detective was Igbo, probably why they never got along in the first place.

Her phone vibrated from inside her purse and she removed the device hurriedly from her purse.

It was her husband and it was a video call.
She slid the accept button with a grin on her face. Her husband's tired eyes was the first thing she saw.

"Good morning baby, Why did you leave me on the bed, alone?" Wale asked, rubbing his eyes.

"I wanted to go somewhere." Aderonke replied with a wink.

"Wait, you are outside?" Wale's brow went up.

"Yes, my love." Aderonke replied.

"Are you okay, Ronke?" Wale's voice drifted to panic.

"What do you mean? I'm okay. " Aderonke spat.

"Then where are you?" Wale asked.

"I'm at my boutique. Any problem?" Aderonke answered.

"N-No, I-I was just worried that you might have-" he began.

"Might have gone to cause trouble abi?" Aderonke helped to complete it.

"No, I didn't mean it that way. Stop putting words into my mouth. " Wale warned, covering his screen with his left palm.

"Why are you behaving like this na? Why are you putting your fat hand on the screen. " Aderonke squeezed her face.

"Sorry." Wale quickly apologized and he removed his hand.

"Better, I'll talk to you la-" Aderonke thought she was delusional, she thought she saw a woman's hip beside her husband. But she shook the thought away. Her Wale would never cheat on her, he wouldn't dare. If he did, she would shred the unknown woman to pieces.

"Ronke, is everything alright. What were you thinking about? I thought the network was bad." Wale waved his finger in front of the screen.

"Wale, are you alone?"

"Yes, why are you asking? Is anything wrong?" Wale asked.

"Nothing. I'm fine." Aderonke shot her husband a huge smile.

"Alright, I want to do some things before heading to work. I'll see you later ehn?" Wale blew his wife a kiss.

"Alright darling I.... " Aderonke blushed but her face instantly fell on noticing a pinkish blue satchet or was it a nylon. Her heart began to race. It looked like the condom that she found in Bimbo's Bible. Then she took a huge breath, maybe it was a type of chewing gum. Maybe she was just overreacting and overthinking but it wouldn't hurt to ask him.

"Baby, what's that......" But Wale had cut the call already. Aderonke gulped, she had no reason not to trust her husband. So why was she bothering herself with it?

She placed her phone into her purse and snapped the purse shut. She took quick steps towards her boutique. She was eager to see what her staffs were doing. She was actually more bothered about the finances.

She wore her sunglasses, inhaled sharply and walked into her boutique.

But what she saw made her to snatch the sunglasses away from her eyes.

What was she looking at?

Sam, one of her male staffs who was assigned to carrying of clothes, bags and shoes for customers was grinding Pelumi, who was always sitting at the counter to receive customers who were ready to pay. Sam was holding her waist and holding her buttocks, at the same time, both of them jamming to Vibration by Fireboy.

Her control button snapped.

"Sam, you dey craze?" Aderonke yelled in pidgin and they both disengaged from each other in a flash.

"G-Good m-morning ma." Sam greeted with sweat bathing his face.

Aderonke hissed and turned to Pelumi.

"I knew it, your day of reckoning was coming anyways. You that, you are always sticking Bible quotes on the counter like Holy Mary. Can you see your life outside?" Aderonke shouted.

" S-Sorry ma." Pelumi slightly bent her knees.

"Keep your sorry to yourself, where are the others?" Aderonke asked.

"You see ma....Esther went for her sister's wedding, Lara.....is....in....the..... hospital and Segun...I don't know ma." Sam shook his head.

"All of them, at the same time on a Friday morning?" Aderonke nodded.

"Yes ma." Sam and Pelumi chorused at the same time.

Aderonke sighed, if they were lying. She would remove half of their salary and spend it on buying more goods.

"Ma, I'm...so....sorry....about...your...loss." Sam stuttered while scratching his head.

Aderonke glared at him, "What did I lose?"

"Ma...we...all...heard...about....it, we.... understand that you might not want to talk about it." Sam explained with his hands and Pelumi who was standing beside him nodded in approval.

"Sam, why is it that when you talk, it's like someone is drawing okro. Are you arindin ni?" Aderonke asked.

"N-No ma." Sam replied.

"Then what's your problem?" Aderonke inquired.

"Nothing ma." Sam answered.

"See the fools I'm talking to, they are still holding hands." Aderonke pointed at Sam and Pelumi's interlocked hands.

Sam and Pelumi chorused at the same time," Sorry ma "

"Don't stop holding hands oh. You are free to love anyone you want, whether it's tree or chair or food sef." Aderonke said.

"Yes ma." They chorused again.

Aderonke looked at a trembling Pelumi, "Better buy condom before you catch pregnancy for someone who can not feed himself."

"Yes ma." Pelumi replied.

"Get me the finance book, I want to check " Aderonke asked.

She shook her head as both of them bumped into one another.

Maybe their love was too strong?

"See them, Fools. Bird of the same feather. You better not fornicate here." Aderonke mouthed as Sam and Pelumi looked for the finance book.

The door of the botique opened and Aderonke flipped her head. The blood on her face drained instantly on noticing the customer who has just walked in.

Abike.

"Good morning everybody oh." Abike shouted, pretending not to see Aderonke.

"Come and attend to me oh." Abike screamed louder, holding her belly.

Aderonke hissed and walked away, she sat on a nearby chair, fuming. What was Abike doing in her botique? She lifted her neck to see. Abike was picking off big adire dresses from the rack.

Aderonke beckoned to Pelumi.

"Ma?"

"Tell that woman that just walked in that thieves aren't allowed here." Aderonke whispered.

"But ma, she didn't steal anything. Why would I-" Pelumi started.

"Will you shut up there? Over ripe pawpaw." Aderonke insulted Pelumi's light skinned aura.

"Go and do what I said." Aderonke gritted her teeth.

"Ok ma." Pelumi nodded walking away and still grumbling.

Hushed conversations reached Aderonke's ears and her legs vibrated in anticipation.

Abike suddenly screamed, "Who is that idiot that called me a thief? Who?"

"Ma, please calm down. It was my madam that said-" Pelumi started to plead.

But Abike shoved Pelumi away and walked towards Aderonke.

"What is it?" Aderonke said, feigning ignorance.

"Why did you call me a thief?" Abike demanded angrily.

"I never said you were a thief, I told my staff to tell you that thieves aren't allowed here and since you think I'm referring to you, maybe you are a thief then." Aderonke shrugged.

"Are you mad, Ronke? It's like your daughter's death is still peppering you for body abi?"

Aderonke stood up,"May thunder fire that your stupid mouth."

"I know it's still paining you, Ronke. Don't hide it." Abike continued.

"If you try me Abike, I will strip you naked, beat you mercilessly and make your body to look like tyre."

"Beat me, shebi you're Anthony Joshua's sister?" Abike teased.

Aderonke looked at the floor in anger and instantly noticed a red fluid coming out from Abike's gown. The sudden realization almost had her rolling on the floor in laughter.

"Why are you looking at the floor? Are you scared of me?" Abike shouted.

"Abike, look at the floor." Aderonke chuckled.

"Why? So that you can beat me abi?" Abike continued.

"Not at all, I want you to see your own child die." Aderonke laughed.

"Ehn? What are you saying?" Abike was confused.

"Better look at the floor, You are having a miscarriage." Aderonke laughed harder.

"Modaran!" Abike screamed when she looked at the floor.

"My baby!" Abike continued shouting.

Aderonke grabbed Abike's fat cheeks, " That's karma. What comes around goes around, you mocked me for losing my child, now it's my turn."

"Somebody help!" Abike wailed, holding her dress.

"Checkmate." Aderonke winked, walked towards the counter and sat down gracefully.

"B-But ma, we need to do something. She's losing so much blood." Pelumi said, panicking.

"Don't worry, she's just acting drama. She will be fine." Aderonke smiled.

"B-But ma...." Sam tried to talk.

"Both of you, just shut up and go and arrange the clothes on the rack." Aderonke yelled.

"Yes ma." Sam and Pelumi chorused without objection and left.

Aderonke lifted her head and watched as Abike rolled on the floor, crying and shouting for help. She admitted in her mind that she hadn't seen anything funnier or comical since Bimbo died.

******

The bell rang for recess and Bola instantly shoved her books into her bag.

"Bola!" Sade called.

She refused to answer.

Sade was seated behind her while Mercy was in front, still scribbling notes.

"Bola!" Sade called again.

She wasn't interested in answering Sade, She was still very angry at her.

Mercy turned and tapped her, "Bola, Sade is calling you."

"And so?" Bola spat.

"What do you mean, and so? I greeted you in the morning, you didn't answer. I called you now and still you didn't answer." Sade spoke.

"Maybe because you aren't important." Bola shrugged.

The students in the class began to mumur among themselves.

"See the way she gave it to her."

"She didn't even waste time at all."

"Omg, Sade is about to cry."

Sade stood up, "I'm not important? What is wrong with you Bola?"

"I should be asking you that question, Madam talkative." Bola retorted.

The students in the class filed out in groups, each discussing about their previous classes, leaving Sade, Bola and Mercy alone in class.

"What are you talking about?" Sade asked.

"Why did you go and tell the detective that I slapped Bimbo on Valentine's day, the exact day she died? What is the color of your problem, Sade?" Bola spewed angrily.

"What?" Mercy dropped her pen and turned around.

"B-Because I had to say something." Sade scratched her neck in nervousness.

"Really? Or you planned to make me a major suspect." Bola continued.

"Why would I do that?" Sade then looked at Mercy, " See me, see wahala oh."

"Since you have a big mouth, I confessed to the detective that we all knew Bimbo was pregnant." Bola folded her arms.

Sade's mouth gaped open, " W-Why would you say that? I told the detective that I didn't..."

"Just hang it there, hang your stupid excuses there." Bola banged a table.

"You people should not start fighting, please. We all owe it to Bimbo." Mercy uttered.

"Owe what to whom?" Bola walked towards Mercy furiously.

"You heard what I said." Mercy replied and continued writing her notes.

Bola laughed humourlessly," You of all people shouldn't be saying that. A week after Bimbo died, you were moaning in the toilet and Jide, our smelly head boy was pressing your breasts like bread. You think I didn't see you?"

"Jesus Christ." Sade placed both hands on her head.

"And so what? Don't you allow boys to touch you too? Don't you..I mean... Don't we all have secrets too?" Mercy dropped her pen and stood up.

"Do you want me to go to the detective after school and tell the detective that I know who killed Bimbo?" Mercy continued, pushing Bola's chest.

"He will kill you before you go to the detective." Bola snickered.

Mercy banged her desk, " Aren't you tired, Bola? Aren't you tired, Sade? Are you not tired of being threatened by the person who killed Bimbo?"

"Go ahead and do what you like." Bola waved her hand.

"It's just so painful...that..the... person...who.. did...it...had to be him." Mercy wiped the incoming tears.

"You people should stop your madness abeg." Sade yelled.

"You are yet to see madness." Bola took off her ring.

"If you touch me, you would be expelled." Mercy shouted.

"Who's interested in beating you? Bush baby!" Bola spat.

"Guys, I'm....." Sade stated in a small voice.

Without looking at Sade, Bola told Mercy, "Stay out of my way, okay?"

Looks of terror suddenly flashed through Mercy's eyes and she screamed, " Sade!!!!"

Bola turned around and noticed that Sade was falling backward with blood leaking at the corner of her lips, she was fainting but it wasn't normal. She reached for Sade before she fell and she shook her violently before Mercy joined her.

"Sade! Sade! Sade!" Bola shook her but Sade's eyes had already drooped shut.

"She's....not... opening...her....eyes." Mercy said, tears clouding her face.

"Sade! Wake up!" Bola shouted again. No matter how angry she was at Sade. She knew she couldn't handle it if Sade died.

Bola carried Sade on her shoulders, Sade was very thin.

"Where...are..you... taking...her...to?" Mercy asked, her hands trembling like a leaf.

"A female teacher, Sade needs to go to the hospital." Bola responded hastily.

"Okay, I'll follow you." Mercy replied.

"No, you have to go meet up with the detective." Bola objected.

"Why? Sade should be my number one priority." Mercy begged

"You have to or else the detective would find you suspicious." Bola replied.

"Okay, take care of Sade."

Bola didn't reply, instead she ran out of the class shouting,"Help!!!!!"

Blood was gushing out of Sade's mouth and it was staining Bola's uniform, she felt it.

That warm thick fluid soaking her uniform.

She wanted Sade to be alive. She needed Sade to stay alive.

Vote. Comment. Laugh and Enjoy.

Good morning and a happy Monday to y'all.