My phone started ringing again, it was Timi, i wondered if he had gotten to Ijebu-ode so soon. i ignored the calls, and focused on Toun…After the fifth ring, i picked up..
Timi : why didnt you pick?
me : i was with Toun
Timi: please, this is not the time for you not to pick calls.
me: i am sorry..have you arrived?
Timi : Not yet, at the outskirts
Me: told you to call me when you arrived.
Timi : yes i know, something happened…i got a call from school..
Me : People have found out about Abayomi's death?
Timi : that's not it..
Me : then what?
Timi : National's head is infront of the School gate, on a piece of white cloth on the ground, his body is missing..
I was silent..
me : yeah, lemme know when you get to ijebu-ode..
Jafar was calling Eli out, it was War.
I planned to wait for Jafar to come in before I slept. Toun was sleeping innocently, I wished I could just sleep and when I wake, I would realize that the past few hours had been a dream. Apart from the room in which Toun and I were, the entire house was filled up to the brim. I could hear voices, though they were sober.
I wanted to call my dad to tell him about it, but I decided against it. I was wondering about who I could call when I dozed off, because I woke up to the sound of a couple of cars arriving at the apartment. I eavesdropped till I heard Uche's deep voice. I waited for Jafar's but didn't hear him. I waited until I slept off.
When I woke up, Toun's eyes were staring at me, she didn't look happy or sad..she just stared…
Me : How are you feeling?
She didn't answer me, instead her eyes shone with impending tears.
I excused myself and went to the Living room to see Jafar. I saw Four guys sitting on a brown sofa..
Me : goodmorning bros'es
Guy 1: goodmorning madam…sorry about your friend, we go everly threat those guys fucck up..
I just smiled..
Me : Please is Jafar around?
Guy 1: He left very early…
Me : what of Uche?
Guy 1: he left with him, you have Jafar's number?
Me : yes
Guy 1: call him…
I walked back to the room to see Toun on the floor. She was singing Yoruba praise songs..I would have joined if I knew the words, but I didn't so I just called Jafar.
Jafar : Hey
Me : You came in and didn't bother checking on us?
Jafar : I thought you guys would be asleep..
Me: I was waiting for you..
Jafar : I have to go now, would see you later..
He hung up.
He sound cold, it must be the ish going on, I said to myself. I called Timi..
Timi : baby, how was your night?
Me : I had bad dreams
Timi: I couldn't sleep. His blood stained by sleeves..
Me: sorry dear..
Timi : How is Toun?
Me : she is not good..
Timi : wow…it's a terrible thing.
Me: where are you?
Timi : I am in school..news have gone round..
Me: about the deaths?
Timi : yes, the senate has cancelled all electoral activities. Elections have been cancelled. The senate would be meeting by 10am to decide if they should close down the school for a while.
Me: oh..
Timi: I would go to the hotel and pick and and Toun's things..will bring it over later..
Me : you are a darling, thanks..
Timi: take care..
He hung up..
Toun had stopped singing.
Me: Timi will come see us soon..
Toun started crying, it started with little sobs until she started wailing..
Me : Please stop crying…
Toun: Abayomi is all alone in a mortuary, naked with strangers…and I am here, you say I should not cry?..i keep thinking about the moment he knew he was going to die…he was killed…Abayomi was murdered in cold blood and you say I should stop crying?
She started singing again, it was a Yoruba song about how wonderful God was, and how he wouldn't fail his children. I couldn't sing along…but I cried..