FINDING THE TRUTH

 

CHAPTER 2:  IT WASN'T SUICIDE.

********* THE PRESENT

"Wow! That must have been so shocking and sad. I'm so sorry" Michael, my colleague at work, said to me.

"Thanks" I  sniffed. I was trying my best to hold down the tears that are beginning to well up, as I looked at the children playing and have fun as much as they could.

"I've always wondered why it seems you are always thinking about something when you are alone. In fact you always like keeping to yourself  and most time, space out. I never knew you were always thinking about someone you loved dearly. I'm so sorry to hear the news of her death" Michael said to me.

I forced a smile. "Lol" I sighed " Her death was a shock to me that's why . However, how things turned out during and after the investigation of  her death was  a bigger shock.  I was beyond shocked. In this life  ehn pesin gats to dey careful.  You can be betrayed by anyone and it is always the least expected person" I sighed, shaking my head.

"Wow!  What happened? Can you share it with me? " He asked.

"It isn't so much of a good memory that I would  love to recount.  Sharing it my cause me a heartache" I said to him. I definitely do not want to talk about this.   I said to myself.

"I'm sorry.  I didn't know sharing it would be hurtful to you" he said apologetically.

"Of course not.  It's okay. Very okay" I  said, smiling. " You just wanted to know" I added.

" I'm sorry for her death.  You really did love her for you to always think about her" He said smiling back.

"Yes. I did. I wish she was still alive" I said sorrowfully. "I  really do miss Jibola. She was a vibe and a good hearted person" I said smiling as I swinged myself. 

"You really do love swings" Michael said laughing.

"Lol" I laughed back. " Yes I do. I hope this kids will not change it for me for one day for always  stealing their time on the swing" I said jokingly.

" They dare not. You are their teacher" He said smiling.

" You know, I'd really like to share my experience with you" I said.

" The story of your friend's death?" Michael asked.

"Yes" I replied.

"Will you be okay with that?" He asked to be sure.

"Yes. Of course. I'm okay sharing it with you. Take a sit on the other swing" I said.

"Well that's good. At least we have 20minutes before the break ends" he said.

" Lol. It isn't a story for 20 minutes" I said

" Alright. No problem. I'll really like to hear about your experience" he said.

"Okay.  As you know already, I graduated from the University of Beluma, Igando town, as a student of the Department of English. Beluma is a private university.  Life in the University was good up until the time of  Jibola's suicide.  I had three friends including Jibola, who were also my roommates. We had known each other since the first year of our university. We were beyond friends, we were sisters. We were  a family.

"What's the name of your other friends? Michael asked.

"Mariam and Rose. Rose was the only Igbo girl amongst us  and, she was in the same department with me. Mariam was a law student while Jibola was a medical student.  Mariam and Jibola were childhood friends . I was in 400 level when Jibola died. We were all in finals except for  Jibola. She was in her 5th year. However,  she wrote a scholarship exam that year to go further her education in the U.S . She was one of the few people who did well and won the scholarship.  Her death was  a sad experience. I wasn't expecting her death.  More like before then I had never thought of losing anyone dear to me. For some reasons I do not know about, that thought never crossed my mind. Probably because I  hardly have problems. I literally had everything I want and need. To me, It was like life was set to move smoothly without any problem for me. So, bad thoughts never crossed my mind. However, Jibola's death changed everything.

************FLASHBACK

I was seated on the floor, in sorrow, as I  stared at the note.  She even dropped a note. A Suicide note. I teared up as I read the content over and over again. It read

"Dear  roommates and sisters, I'm so sorry I have to do this.  I know committing suicide has always  been considered not to be the best solution out of a problem. However, the pain I'm feeling now is so unbearable and the only thing that can end it is death. No painkiller can subdue this  pain.  We've been facing a lot of issue at home recently, so much that I can no longer bear the pain. I can't bear to see my parents  in so much sorrow. I know I didn't tell any of you about all this. I'm so sorry. I know you all have always been of help when I have issues at home to solve, most especially Mariam. However, this time around, I couldn't muster enough courage to ask any of you for help. I don't want to always be a burden on your necks. I do still love you guys. Thank you so much for all you've done.  Tofunmi, I know you would be beyond shocked when you find me dead. Please do not feel bad about this. I want you to heal fast and get over it quickly.  Rose, my original Igbo girl,  Asanwa , I'm very sorry  that I  would be breaking your heart with this. My dear  Mariam , I know you would feel the most betrayed for not sharing any of this with you , despite  how close we are . I'm so sorry dear.  To my dear cousin, Abisola, and my parents, I'm so sorry and sorry for doing this. I just have to. Words are not enough to explain how said have been with the way things are, despite the hardwork. Please find it in your heart to forgive me. I couldn't be of help this time around. I'm so sorry.

Your beloved, Ajibola"

I screamed so loud in between tears as I read the note for the 6th time. Why? Didn't you tell us. Why? I questioned as I continued to cry.  I looked down through the balcony railings.. At that moment  I saw Jibola's  dead body being wheeled into the ambulance.  I felt so bad.  We had called the ambulance immediately. But it took them a while to arrive. Our hostel mates  who were around and had heard us when we screamed had rushed into our room, only to receive the schock of their life.  They were surprised that Jibola could have committed suicide.  "Jibola killed herself?" one of them had unbelievably questioned. Every in the hostel knew her well because she was a good person and was also a very friendly and Jovial person.  Some had even tagged her 'Doctor Jibola the ginger' because she was always carrying around her good energy and no dull moment around her. 

I stood up as I wiped my face. I went into the room. I saw Bukky and Lara, our immediate neighbours, cleaning up the pool of blood that had formed from Jibola's bleeding.  It was obvious that they were sad about the news.  Rose  alongside some of our other hostel mates  had followed the medical unit to the ambulance, down the stairs.  I continued to cry as we cleaned.  Bukky and Lara tried to calm me down but the tears just kept coming out uncontrollable.  "Jibola, my friend, is gone. She killed herself" I said to myself.  I still find it hard to believe.

I heard my phone ring, interrupting my thoughts. I wiped the tears off my face and stood up from the floor. I went to were I had dropped my purse earlier, on seeing Jibola's dead body. I fished out my phone from the corner of the bag. I saw the caller. "It's Mariam". I said more like I was talking to myself  but Bukky and Lara heard me.  "You have not informed her yet?" Bukky asked.

"Hm" I said as I  swiped up to pick the call.  " Mariam" I said gently. As I did not know how I should go about the news.

" Babeee" Mariam screamed with excitement, from the other side.

"Yes babe" I said she sounds so excited. How should I even tell her this. I thought.

"I'm on my way home now o. Has the celebration started? I just read Jibola's text message" She said.

" What celebration?" I asked her.

" Are you trying to pull my legs ni? Where's Jibola? isn't she home yet? Has she not broken the news to you? She asked.

Oh yes. Jibola was to tell us the good news on getting home. But we met something different entirely. How was I meant to tell her this. I thought trying to hold back my tears.

"Hello" Mariam said.

" Mariam, Jibola did not tell us the news. She..."

Mariam cuts in. "That girl is not serious. She wants to put you guys on suspense. She said laughing.  Well,  The good news is that  Jibola has been selected among the top 5 students to go further their education in the U.S." she screamed with joy as she informed me.

I was momentarily happy hearing the news but the joy I felt faded in a flash as I remembered that Jibola was dead.

"You are not saying anything, Funmi" Mariam said, the level of her excitement seems to have dropped a bit. " Aren't you happy to hear the news? Is something wrong?" she questioned worriedly.  She must have been expecting me to scream with joy on hearing the news.

"Jibola is dead, Mariam. I said in a low voice.

"Ehn! " She exclaimed

" She committed suicide.  We called you earlier to inform you but you didn't pick up. We concluded you were probably in a class." I said crying again.

"Committed suicide Ke?? Why would Jibola kill herself.  Please stop joking jare

"Why would I joke with such a serious  thing. We  found her lying on the floor in her own pull of blood, lifeless.  She stabbed herself  to death. She had actually called  us while we were on our way to the hostel.  She told us she had good news for us and we should hurry up. When we got to the hostel we say her so excited. We asked of the news but she refused to tell us and told us, we should first go get some whine for celebration. However, on getting back here,  she had committed suicide" I told Mariam with great sorrow.

" Ahh! Jibola killed herself Ke?  She killed herself? Ahh! Where are you guys?"

I heard her panicking already.  "We are still in the hostel. Please calm down. Board a cab  home or find someone to drive you home. Do not drive yourself  here

"I won't. I can't sef. I'm no longer in the right state of mind. Jibola killed herself Ke" Mariam said. I heard sounds of hurriedly packing something.

"Mariam please calm down

"How do you expect me to be calm. Have you called Abisola and her parents?

"We haven't. I do not know how to break the news to them" I said in great worry. " How would this people take the news.  Jibola lost her elder brother in a fatal car accident two years ago. I do not even think the family has completely healed from his sudden demise and now Jibola, who was the only child left, a very good and brilliant child, who was in her finals in medical school, is dead because she committed suicide.  This would be too much for her parents to handle. I said to Mariam, as I cried so hard.

"I know" Mariam said to me. I heard her crying too. " However, we have to still them. They are parents they have to find out about her death" she said in between her tears. " Don't worry I'll inform them now" she added.

"What of Abisola?" I asked as I sniffed.

"You call Abisola. I'll call her parents"

"Alright" I said.

"I'm on my way already" Mariam said as she ended the call.

" Was that Mariam?" I heard Rose.  I  looked up. I didn't even notice she was already in the room . She walked up to me.

" Yes . She was the one. I broke the news to her. She was also surprised to hear such news. She is planning on calling her parents to inform them. I am to call Abisola.

"Hmm" Rose sighed.  " I still find this hard to believe" Rose said dejectedly.

"Same here.  They've left with her body?"

"Yes. They are taking her body to the school morgue. They affirmed she is dead. I wished we had gotten here earlier. Maybe we would have been able to save  her." Rose said, sighing.

"Maybe" I said.  I looked for Abisola's contact on my phone and dialed her number.

******* THE PRESENT

"Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrhhh" The  School bell rang. Interrupting the story I was  telling Michael.

"Oops. Break is over, already. I'm really interested in the story" Michael said as we stood up to go back to our offices. 

We began to walk towards our offices as we saw other teachers  directing the pupils back to their classes.  I smiled. Being a teacher here is nice. Having to teach the children what I spent four years studying is fun. I love teaching.  A lot of people wondered why I chose teaching as a profession including my father. I'm from a well to do family. My father has a company he runs . I could have joined his company like my brothers did but I decided to be different.  My father wasn't in agreement in me being a teacher at first. His plan was that with my knowledge of  the English language, he would make me the ambassador of his company in the U. S  but I wasn't just interested. I just wanted to make my money on my own.  However, he still made sure I got employed in a good private school were I would be paid well. I smiled as thought of my father.

"Why are you smiling? Michael asked

"Just  thinking of my father" I smiled.

"Oh. You are  daddy's daughter?" he asked smiling.

"Yes. Lol" I laughed, nodding my head.

" Talking about daddy, it must have been really had for your friend's parent to find out she committed suicide" Michael said.

"Yes it was. However it would I've been much better  if it was just Suicide" I said shaking my head as I felt my heart ache at the memory.

"Sooo, someone had a hand in it?" He asked as if he was expecting someone to be responsible for Jibola committing suicide all of a sudden and not really what she had written in the note.  I also thought of that then too but I just couldn't think of who it could have been. How it turned out was more shocking.

"It was more than having a hand. She was killed. She was brutally murdered" I said, as I was getting angry,  remembering how the whole event turned out.

"What?? How did it turn out to be a murder case? So she was killed and then someone staged as suicide" Michael said, shocked.

"My dear. I was as shocked as you are now"

"That was wicked. Who then was the murder?"

"Hmm" I forced a smile.  It was.."

"Good afternoon ma. We have your class now ma" A secondary school student came in to inform me, interrupting my conversation with Michael.

"Oh alright. I'll be right there" I said.  " Michael, we will continue our conversation tomorrow. I've got two other classes  after this  also. I might be too busy to continue" I said picking up the materials I needed and exited my office .

"Alright" Michael said as I took my leave.

 Life! I said to myself , shaking my head.