Happy birthday to me!

Ada pressed her fingernails into the desk with rising curiosity and asked the pressing question.

"Why?"

She watched as Sade gulped and wiped streaks of tears that rolled down her robust cheeks.

"Bimbo was crazy in the head." Sade bluntly replied.

Ada tilted her head with a sneer on her face, "Was that a reason to hate her?"

Sade slided her palm on the desk with trembling fingers and replied, "You....don't... understand who Bimbo was. She was a whirlwind, destroying everything in her path and direction. She took away someone I liked deliberately just to spite me. She didn't even like him. She treated the boy I liked as a conquest-"

"So you hated her simply because of a boy?" Ada interrupted and shook her head with pity. She thought that Sade had a tangible reason and she was eager to listen to the crying teenager but now she was utterly disappointed at the result.

"It's not just about a boy. She knew I liked him and she went for him without caring about my feelings. She did it not once, not twice and not thrice either. She shoved it in my face and she never apologized for it." Sade explained while gesticulating with her hands.

Ada buried a pen into her black braids and purposely glanced at Sade with death glares.

"You do know that this is an interrogation right?" Ada inquired.

"But you said it's just like a mere conversation." Sade objected.

"Does that give you the right to be gisting me about your boy drama issues?" Ada asked.

"But-"

"Look dear, your best friend is dead and the best thing you can do right now is to tell me something that will help me to catch the murderer." Ada spat.

"But don't you want to know who Bimbo was?" Sade obstinately objected.

Ada inhaled sharply and rubbed her tired eyes with vigour. She was beginning to get tired of Sade not giving her the answers she desperately needed.

"This girl is really annoying." Ada mumbled quietly and tore her gaze away from Sade.

"Bimbo was two faced." Sade declared and Ada instantly turned her head.

"What?"

"She was a saint to her parents but in school she was a rebel. I don't know why she was like that because she never wanted to talk about it. She skipped classes but she was always the best in class. She's the only one that could brighten up a dull class with little effort. She was so beautiful but she wasn't perfect. She was far from perfect-" Sade started but paused instantly and she placed her forehead at the tip of the desk.

Ada lifted her neck and noticed that Sade was tearing up again. She was about to speak when Sade raised her head with tears bathing her face.

"I... am.....so.....sorry, It's so hard to talk about someone I miss so much." Sade cried.

With empathy on her face, Ada reached out for a tissue in her top drawer and handed it over to a crying Sade.

Flipping the pen in her hand, Ada continued,"You're in the same class with her right?"

"Yes." Sade sniffed.

"What about your friends? Bola and Mercy?" Ada asked.

"We were all in the same class."

"And do you girls fight, argue or bicker?" Ada propped up an eye brow.

"Yes, we do,"Sade wiped her face,"Sometimes."

"Alright, what are your usual arguments based on?" Ada continued.

"Well, boys, school work and gossips." Sade said.

"Gossips? What kind of gossips?" Ada shifted her neck.

"The usual." Sade shrugged.

"Do you care to explain?" Ada threw her left hand in the air.

"It's just normal gossip between friends.We talk about celebrities, boys we like or basically about our lives." Sade explained.

"Alright, have you ever gone hand to hand combat with Bimbo?" Ada asked, tapping her fingers against the table.

"No, why would I do that to my best friend?" Sade exclaimed.

"I don't know, maybe because you like and hate her at the same time." Ada shrugged and chuckled softly.

"I would never fight her physically and beside, Bimbo and Bola were always at loggerheads." Sade replied and reached out for her bag.

"Really?" Ada questioned.

"Yes, even on Valentine's day, Bimbo and Bola fought in school." Sade replied and dipped her right hand into her bag.

The loud sound of Sade fumbling with her bag reached Ada's ear drums and she bit her lips to suppress her irritation.

"And what was the reason for the fight?" Ada placed her left hand on her cheek.

"I don't know, I wasn't there. How do you expect me to know?" Sade rudely answered.

Ada sighed.

"Why are you so obnoxious and rude? Why do you keep answering my questions with questions? I do the asking while you do the answering. What kind of rubbish is this? We aren't mates for goodness sake. Your best friend is dead and you're busy parabulating. I'm not here to play Sherlock Holmes with you neither am I here to play Scooby-Doo." Ada stated icily.

"Why is the police so aggressive?" Sade taunted, removing her hand from her bag to reveal a small white bottle.

"I beg your pardon?" Ada stuttered with her eyes wide open.

"I said I don't know anything about the fight. Will you shoot me because of that?" Sade uttered.

"What are you saying?" Ada asked.

"Are you trying to get a forced statement out of my lips? Are you trying to show me police brutality?" Sade continued.

"I don't understand what you are driving at." Ada stated dumbfoundedly.

"We won't stop protesting, we won't stop asking for our rights." Sade replied venomously.

"What right?"

"End SARS or are you trying to support them since you're also the police?" Sade folded her arms.

Ada wondered why and how the conversation drifted off to another sensitive issue. She wondered why Sade was even interested in that topic. She mashed her lips together and thought of what to say.

"Can we go back to our conversation? We were talking about Bimbo, your best friend." Ada smiled sweetly.

"You're trying to avoid the question. Who do you support? SARS? Or the People?" Sade inquired.

"Uhm...look here, this is not the right time nor is it the right place to talk about this." Ada replied.

"Why?" Sade asked.

"Well-" Ada began but was interrupted by the chiming of Sade's phone. She sighed softly with relief washing her bones. She glanced at the wall clock, it was 2pm already.

She then looked at Sade but was perplexed at the expression on her face. Sade was staring at her phone with shock written on her face. The fingers clutching her phone was visibly shaking with trepidation. Ada was curious and she gently raised her neck to spy on Sade's phone but Sade had dropped the device on the table.

"What's going on?" Ada whispered with concern.

"Nothing." Sade responded and opened the bottle. She shoved three pills into her hand and swallowed it instantly.

Ada tilted her head and scanned what was written on the body of the bottle. Her brows creased when she realized what it was.

Anxiety pills.

"You're lying." Ada gave off a small smile.

"No, I'm not." Sade shook her head.

"Then why did you just swallow anxiety pills?" Ada questioned.

"I-It's b-because o-of m-my forthcoming exams." Sade explained.

"And how do they help exactly?" Ada placed both hands under her chin.

"They help to calm me down during exam tension and they also help me to read well." Sade replied.

"The side effect of anxiety pills is drowsiness and you think it helps you to read more?" Ada propped up a eye brow.

"Yes."

"You're such a talented liar. You swallowed those pills because of what you saw on your phone." Ada stated.

"I'm not lying."

"Then give me your phone." Ada stretched out her hands.

"No."

"Why not?" Ada asked.

"B-because it's mine and not yours."

"If you have nothing to hide, it's not so hard to give me your phone." Ada replied.

Ada watched as Sade held her phone to herself as if someone was about to snatch it away from her.

"It was my mom. She sent a message that she was almost here." Sade explained.

"And that made you agitated?" Ada asked.

"Yes."

"Okay, where were you on the 14th of February?" Ada asked.

"You've asked me that question before." Sade answered.

"Does that matter?" Ada inquired.

"I told you that I was at home." Sade replied and swallowed another pill.

"You're lying." Ada spat.

"No, I'm not. You are trying to brainwash me." Sade retorted.

"I know you're lying." Ada repeated.

"I'm not lying." Sade replied and swallowed another pill instantly.

"Then why do you keep swallowing those pills? What's making you feel nervous and scared?" Ada yelled.

"You!" Sade screamed.

"Me?" Ada tilted her head.

"You...are....making me remember what I don't want to remember." Sade whispered and buried her slim fingers into her hair.

"What don't you want to remember?" Ada asked.

"Nothing." Sade sighed.

"Come on, you can talk to me." Ada assured.

"Can I? Can I trust that if I speak, you won't blast my head off with a bullet?" Sade asked.

"Of course, you can trust me." Ada persuaded.

"Then I've nothing to say." Sade shrugged.

"Jesus Christ." Ada muttered uncontrollably.

"Did you know that your friend, Bimbo was pregnant?" Ada licked her lips and rubbed her hands together.

"No, I had no idea and Bimbo wasn't pregnant. Was she?" Sade replied, swallowing another pill.

"What about your other friends?" Ada asked.

"I don't think they would have an idea on that." Sade responded, swallowing another pill.

"I think that you should stop swallowing those pills if you don't want to drop dead soon." Ada gave off a brief smile.

"Okay." Sade nonchalantly replied.

"So as we were saying-" Ada started.

"My mum is here already." Sade suddenly announced out of the blues.

"B-but she didn't call, how are you so certain?" Ada asked.

"I'm sure she's here. I'm sorry but I have to go." Sade begged.

"I'm quite sure that you're not sorry." Ada rolled her eyes.

Ada huffed as she watched Sade rise up on her feet and grab her bag with so much energy. She slapped her forehead softly and drifted her gaze away from Sade. She was appalled when Sade suddenly grabbed her wrists.

"Can I request something from you?" Sade asked.

"Of course, yes." Ada answered.

"Please...stop....digging....into...Bimbo's death." Sade pleaded.

"What? Why?" Ada asked.

"Please just do it." Sade hurriedly replied.

"Why should I? You know something about it, don't you? You know who killed her." Ada responded, staring into Sade's eyes.

"Even...if...I....do, I won't tell you." Sade stuttered.

"So you do know." Ada gobbled her head.

"I never said that, you have to listen to me. Please." Sade begged, tears threatening to drop down to her cheeks.

"Give me one reason why I should listen to you." Ada spelt out.

"Because if you don't, you are going to destroy my life with my friends included. " Sade cried, grabbing Ada's wrists tightly.

"Huh? What do you mean by that?" Ada asked.

"Our lives are already messed up. Please don't make it worse." Sade begged again.

"You're making things quite complicated-" Ada began.

"Please, thank you. I have to go now." Sade sputtered hurriedly and removed her hands from Ada's wrist. Without sparing Ada a glance, she held on to her bag and raced towards the door and left, bolting it shut.

"I never said I was going to do it." Ada yelled.

Ada interlocked her fingers and sighed heavily. The message that Sade was trying to pass across was brief and simple. Sade was scared but of whom exactly? Ada knew Sade knew something about Bimbo's death but she wondered why Sade kept shut. She opened the bottle of coke and took a huge gulp. She was curious when Aderonke mentioned the girls as suspects but she was now even more curious after speaking to Sade.

The door instantly flew open and Ada removed the bottle that hanged on her lips, dropping it quietly on the table.

"Who's there? Don't you know that you have to-" Ada started but was stuck in mid sentence on noticing that it was Kola who had entered.

"I'm not someone that needs to knock before entering your office. What are you hiding that I haven't seen before?" Kola chuckled.

Ada rolled her eyes.

"What do you want abeg? And don't even think of sitting down." Ada warned on sighting Kola pulling out a chair.

"When did you start speaking pidgin? I'm obviously going to sit down." Kola laughed aloud.

"I just said-"

"What's up? How did your interrogation with that girl go?" Kola asked, licking his lips.

Those pink lips.

Ada could barely concentrate and she also licked her lips unconsciously.

"W-Which g-girl?" Ada stuttered.

"The girl that I saw that ran out of your office. She ran as if a lion was chasing her. What did you do to her?" Kola asked.

"Oh, I was interrogating her for Bimbo Williams murder case. She's her best friend and I didn't do anything to her for your information." Ada eyed him.

"Okay and how did it go?" Kola continued.

"Interesting and fun. I never knew that some people could be chronic liars." Ada laughed.

"Like you abi?" Kola grinned.

"What's that? How am I a liar?" Ada sternly replied.

"Do you love me? No I mean, Do you like me?" Kola asked.

"Obviously I don't like you." Ada shrugged.

Kola laughed,"And you still think you aren't a liar?"

"I said I don't like you." Ada repeated.

"Keep saying it till you believe it." Kola teased.

"Oh My God." Ada facepalmed herself.

"I know God is yours but you are also mine." Kola winked and laughed.

Ada covered parts of her cheeks and lips with her hands. She wanted to hide the smirk on her face and the blush that settled on her cheeks needed to be concealed.

Kola was both annoying and romantic.

"Just get out." Ada yelled.

"Why is your blood always hot? I was just pulling your legs." Kola begged.

"Go and pull someone's leg elsewhere." Ada hissed.

"Anyways, when are you leaving the office?" Kola asked.

"Soon why?" Ada answered.

Ada examined Kola as he shamelessly reached for the bottle of coke and began drinking it without looking at Ada's shocked face.

"Why would you drink that without asking me? I was going to-"

"I was the one who gave you in the morning, so what's your stress?" Kola chuckled.

"I don't even care. I'll buy another on my way." Ada rubbed her neck.

"I need you to please take me home." Kola pleaded.

"Why?" Ada asked.

"Please." Kola begged.

"What's wrong with your car? I saw it this morning." Ada placed her hand on her cheek.

"I.. have a flat tyre." Kola lied.

"Really? Then what's wrong with your legs?" Ada smiled.

"It hurts." Kola pouted.

"Then that's your problem." Ada shrugged.

"You are such a stingy woman." Kola teased.

"Whatever." Ada replied nonchalantly.

"Have you heard about the End SARS protest going on?" Kola suddenly asked.

Ada inhaled sharply, "Yes."

"And who do you support?" Kola asked.

"I support the people." Ada replied.

"What of the police? Aren't you one?" Kola continued.

"And why should I support the police?" Ada glared at him.

"Nevermind." Kola responded.

A huge mountain of silence fell between them.

"Can you please leave?" Ada asked.

"Why are you chasing me away?" Kola replied.

"I'm not chasing you away as you can see, I have work to do." Ada rolled her eyes.

"I can see that." Kola sarcastically replied.

"Please leave." Ada repeated.

"Alright, thank you for this." Kola rose up in his feet and held the empty bottle of coke in his hand. He threw it into the waste bin that was beside the door.

Ada scoffed. She watched as her ex- boyfriend left. Loneliness washed over her instantly. She missed Kola. She missed him so much but she couldn't go back into the relationship. Kola wasn't the problem. She was. She placed her head on the table and sighed. The day was truly fascinating.

*******

Sade climbed the stairs leading to the main entrance of the police station hurriedly. Her heart was slamming against her ribcage furiously and she couldn't stop it. She sat down on a big stone and offloaded her bag, settling it down on her lap.

The detective was too nosy and she tried her best to stay calm but she just couldn't. The eagle eyes of the detective was alarming. She didn't expect to be bombarded with so many questions. She knew she had to talk to Bola and Mercy about the detective.

She reached for her phone and opened it. She pressed the mobile data button and messages began flooding in. The school group chat was still titled, Rest in Peace Bimbo Williams. Sade sighed.

She looked at the tweets in her notification. The End SARS social protest was still ongoing and strong. That was the only thing that felt right to her. Her phone chimed again and she nearly dropped it on the floor in fear.

With shaky fingers, she pressed the message application and opened it. The highlighted message at the top of the bar sent her heart racing. Sade's heart began beating again, faster than usual. It was worse than an althete running on the tracks. She reached for her pills and the books in her bag spilled out on the floor. Without looking at her books, she fumbled for the pills and as she read the message, she swallowed her lips. She took one, then another till she swallowed ten pills in total.

Her legs shook like a leaf and she suddenly felt heat in the pit of her stomach. The message was enough to send someone to the grave. She saw her mother's car in the parking lot and instantly she stood up. With slow, unreluctant steps, she walked towards her mother's car, Her phone still tightly gripped in her right hand. The message kept spinning the impossible in her brain and that was all she could think about. The message was like a voice in her head that won't stop talking. She looked at her phone again and read the message carefully.

"I hope you didn't tell the detective anything because if you dare think that you can drag me down, I will drag you and your friends down as well. Silly girl."