FINDING THE TRUTH
CHAPTER 5
IT WASN'T CHIDI
*******Flashback continues
SHORT STORY
"Ko! Ko! Ko!"The door sounded as Mariam's knuckle hits it.
"Ko!Ko! Ko!" She knocked again when we didn't receive an answer. "Who is there?" I heard someone say from the other side of the door.
"It's Tofunmi, Mariam and Abisola"I responded.
We had decided to inform Bisola of our thoughts on Jibola's death and our plans to investigate Chidi. She agreed. We do not want to believe Jibola killed herself. I'm not saying Chidi is involved in this, but with the way they ended things between themselves, I suspect Chidi to be involved in this. Bisola wasn't a big fan of Chidi in the first place too. She doesn't like him at all. I don't know why. Rose wasn't with us because She was still busy with her project defence.
Chidi since we all doubt that Jibola killed herself. Bisola was in for the inves next second, Alex, Chidi's roommate opened the door and invited us in. We exchanged pleasantries since it's been a while we came visiting.
"It's nice seeing you guys again" How's Rose and Jibola?" Alex asked.
"Hmm" Mariam sighed. "That's the main reason we are here. Rose is fine but Jibola.." Mariam paused "is dead" she stated.
"What Jibola is dead?" Alex exclaimed.
"Yes. She is. She committed suicide" I responded.
"Committed suicide? Jibola? She isn't the kind of person that would do such" he said doubtfully.
"And that's why we are here. We came looking for Chidi. Is he not around?" Mariam asked.
"Yes. As you can see. He hasn't been coming to the hostel since last week. That was about 3days after Jibola brokeup with him. When I called him to ask, he said he had personal issues he needed to solve" Alex stated.
"Personal issues and what could that be?" I asked curiously.
"He didn't mention that to me. That's his own problem. Does he know about this?" Alex asked "No. We've not informed him" I said
"I can't believe Jibola killed herself. It's very unlikely of her" Alex said perplexed.
"Exactly. We know our friend well enough. She isn't the type that would kill herself over a problem. She doesn't allow challenges way her down. This makes me doubt this was suicide. It could have been a murder staged as a suicide" Mariam said.
"Then who would have done that?" Alex questioned in confusion.
"Chidi" Abisola said firmly.
"No. Chidi does not have anything against Jibola so much to call for murdering her" Alex stated.
"But they brokeup recently on a serious issue even Jibola refused tell us about it. But I remembered vividly she once said she's suspecting Chidi to be in to something shady because he was acting strangely at that time" Mariam said.
" I'm sure Jibola was later right about her suspicion. It was probably something Chidi did not want anyone to know about and because she found out about it, he decided to kill her. I hope killing Jibola wasn't part of the personal issues he had to take care of"Abisola said firmly.
"No. How could you be so sure? You seem to know Chidi more than I do?" Alsc
"And what will I do with having some much knowledge of him. The truth is I have never liked that guy even though he is your friend. I only accepted his relationship with Jibola because of her" Bisola scoffed.
"Chidi does not hate Jibola or have anything against her like I said before. In fact he still loves her and wished he never messed up. Yes they did breakup over something Chidi did not want anyone to know about and that is his involvement with Vivian, the girl that was recently arrested as the leader of a cultgroup. If it were to be known that he was involved with her, he is also going to be arrested. He was cheating on her with Vivian. I know Chidi isn't a saint but he wouldn't think of killing anybody not to talk of Jibola.
"You seem to trust him so much. Where has he been the past few days? You don't even know" Abisola said with mockery written all over her face.
"Or could it be that one of the members of the cultgroup killed her? Probably because she was Chidi's girlfriend? I asked.
"No. She couldn't have been killed by them. They've all been arrested. Besides, none of them including Vivian knew Jibola was Chidi's girlfriend.
"I don't think Chidi is involved in this" Mariam said. " Besides, we all came here with no evidence against him. We can't say because we never really liked him because of his unnecessary love for women, accuse him of something we don't even know if it's true. We probably should leave" Mariam said.
"He had personal issues to take care of? Really?? I found out that my cousin supposedly killed herself , a week and half after they brokeup and you think I would believe that. I don't trust that guy" Bisola lamented to no one exactly.
"You better believe that. I did not kill your cousin. I know you've never liked me and I have accepted that but you can't just come here and frame me up for killing her" I heard Chidi's voice behind me and we turned back and there he was at the door. He closed the door behind him and angrily walked towards us. How long has he been there? I asked myself.
"Oh you are here. Very good. We found Jibola dead, she supposedly, I repeat, killed herself. Do you have a hand in this or one of the followers of the cult leader, you cheated on her with?" Abisola yelled at him.
"Abisola calm down please" I said to her.
"I did not kill her. I've not seen or spoken to her since we brokeup. She refused to see me. Why would you think I killed her?" Chidi yelled back in anger. "Because I don't trust you Chidi.
"Because you don't trust me? Because you don't trust me you are accusing me of murder. Have I killed someone in your presence before? Do you know you sound very illogical right now? Yes I know I'm no saint. I know i wasn't a good boyfriend to Jibola despite the fact that she loved me. I cheated on her not once, not twice. Vivian wasn't that only one but she never knew but you somehow always find out I wonder why you never told her" Chidi said.
"You expect me to tell her something she wouldn't believe cus she trusted you so much. Oh please. You seem to have delighted in the fact that she trusted you so much so you continued with your nonsense" Bisola scoffed.
"I know I betrayed her and I messed up! I know" Chidi yelled. But I did not kill her. Why would I?
"Because she knew your secret with Vivian which you probably were afraid she would tell someone about cos you might get arrested, if the police were to find out" Bisola continued with her accusations.
"Would you please stop??" Chidi yelled. I did not kill Jibola and staged it as suicide. Stop accusing me of this"
"So where have you been? Why have you not be staying in the hostel for the past one week and three days?? Mariam asked
"I had personal issues to take care of" he said.
What personal issue? Where is the proof that Jibola wasn't the personal issue you ran away to take care of?" Abisola asked. Hun? Answer me" she commanded.
"I wasn't in Igodo the past few days. I just happened to be back today. I went back home to.." Chidi paused.
"To what?" Bisola questioned impatiently.
"Bisola would you please calm down" Mariam told her
"My mother was in debt. She got a loan from a microfinance Bank to start a business, last year. However, the business did not fare so well to yield profits. She was instead making losses. She was unable to meet up with the deadline. After so much pleading, it was extended to two months. I had to gather up money. Although I'm not justifying the fact that I cheated on Jibola, I only cheated on her to get money from those girls. They were rich families and they were living a lavish.. Bisola interrupted his explanation.
"Enough of the story. Where is the proof? You think we would believe all these?
"You really want a proof?
"I did not stutter" Bisola said firmly.
Chidi rummaged through is bag and brought out is phone and a paper. He threw the paper at bisola's face.
"Read it" Chidi said. Bisola bent to pick up the paper. We moved closer to read it too. It was a microfinance Bank receipt. Chidi wasn't lying about his mother's debt. He snatched the paper from Bisola's hand and handed his phone over to her.
"Are you satisfied now?" He asked.
"We are sorry Chidi" I apologized sincerely to him.
"I'm..." Bisola hesitated a little" I'm sorry"
"What really happened? How come Jibola is dead? What happened? Ignoring our apologies, he questioned.
"We found her dead in our room in a pool of blood. Rose and I. She committed Suicide" I stated. "Suicide? Jibola? That's very unlikely of her" he said.
"That's why we actually came here which was wrong of us" I said apologetically.
"Why did you guys think it was suicide? Did she hang herself?" Chidi questioned.
"No. We found her lying dead in a pool of blood. She was tightly holding a knife which she assumed as what she used to kill herself. We also found a note which she had written stating why she had to kill herself" I explained as I teared up.
"I don't want to believe this. I might have not treated her well but I know what Jibola is cable of and what she isn't. She would never kill herself" Chidi said confidently. He seems to be sad with the news of Jibola's death.
" Exactly. What makes us doubt she killed herself. I don't know why she would do this. She didn't even tell me about anything. No Jibola didn't kill herself. I'm sure someone did" Mariam wailed.
"Let's take this to the police" Alex who had been mute since Chidi came in, spoke.
"Yes. I support that. Let's carryout an investigation to be sure about all this" Chidi said in agreement.
"But we have no evidence that she might have been killed. We all are just guessing here. We can't just involve the police without anything as a clue" Mariam said.
"Hmm. You are right. May be we should involve the school forensic team and also request for an autopsy?" Chidi suggested.
"An Autopsy?" Bisola questioned. She doesn't seem to buy the idea.
"Yes. If it were to really be murder and not suicide we can find a clue by examining her body or the clothes she was putting on then, for fingerprints and also the knife.
"Yes. Yes! With that we can know whether we are right about her death or not" Mariam said. "Yes I agree" I said too.
"But autopsies are quiet expensive most especially forensic autopsies. It ranges from 300,000 to 450, 000 and right now, Jibola's dad will not be able afford that" Bisola stated.
"Don't worry. I will tell my dad about it. Although I am yet to break the news to my parents" Mariam said gloomily.
"I would also support with something. I'll inform my parents too" I said
"I don't know. I don't think Daddy would agree to this" Abisola said with worry written all over her face.
"Why wouldn't he? Let's inform him first. We would have to convince him to agree" Mariam said.
"That should be all right? Chidi asked.
"Yes" responded. We stood up to take our leave. The atmosphere was getting awkward. I feel bad with the way we wrongly accused Chidi. We probably shouldn't have jumped into conclusion like that. Bisola proceeded to exit the room, opening the door, she left without uttering a word. Mariam followed her.
"I know someone who works with the school forensic team. I'll call him tonight" I said to Chidi.
"Good. See you tomorrow" Chidi stood up from the chair he was sitting on and proceeded to the balcony.
"Chidi" I called him.
"Yes" he responded not turning back.
"We are very sorry for our accusation against you" I said. He paused and turned to look at me. "It's alright. I deserve it" Chidi said smiling faintly.
"Bye then. Bye Alex" I said as I closed the door behind me.
~~ Erioluwa
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