Bab 72: Seventy two
Nick was out of sight so I did my best to stay quiet so my aunt didn't remember that I was still around but...
"Julie," she turned to me."The school called after we spoke." For some reason, I didn't believe that. It just feels like she called the school and not the other way around.
"What did they say?" I folded my arms and leaned on the wall closest to me.
"Your class teacher identified Uche's writing. They've been trying to reach his father but to no avail so tomorrow they're going to ask him to invite his dad."
"Why?" I asked.
"Nathan's parents are involving the police. Uche's not yet eighteen. A parent or guardian must accompany him if he's going to visit the interrogation center..."
"But..."
"Julie, do you now see this is serious? If he confesses to anything, you're going to be marked an accomplice who caused obstruction to the law or whatever your principal said."
"Well, he's not going to confess to anything, cause he didn't do anything, aunt."
"How are you so sure he didn't?"
"I asked him, he said he didn't do it. He left the note but didn't beat Nathan up." I listened to myself and realized how stupid I sounded. But that doesn't matter, I trust Uche.
"He agreed to leaving the note?" My aunt picked that.
"Well... yeah, he didn't beat him up, he just left a note. And there are no cuts or bruises on him whatsoever. I checked."
"Julie, are you seeing Uche?" My aunt asked after a long pause.
"I see him everyday, we go to school together."
"Julie, I know you understand what I mean to ask."
"I don't." I shrugged.
"You're dating him." It wasn't a question this time.
"No, I'm not." I laughed nervously, I don't even know why I did.
"You are. Damn it, of course you are. Explains why you think you're so sure he didn't do it. He beat someone up because of you and now you're covering things up for him."
"No. No, aunt. No." I shook my head everytime I said no, feeling the need to.
She didn't say anything after that. Just a long stare at me, before sniffing and rubbing her plans against her face.
"Get me water," she said and I left to get her some.
****
The next morning.
Nick didn't say a word to his mum when he came out of his room and met us eating breakfast.
"Nick," My aunt called him back when he opened the front door to leave."Come back here and have breakfast."
"I'm not hungry."
"I didn't ask if you were hungry or not, come have your breakfast. I woke up early to make it, you're not going to leave without eating it and putting my effort to waste."
Nick sighed and slammed the door shut. He came to where we sat and I thought he was going to sit with us but he took the dish designated to him and went back to his room.
I saw my aunt cover her face in her palms. I couldn't tell if she was crying but I could hear her sniff frequently.
I ate my food in silence and just when I was about to finish, Nick returned from his room and dumped his plate to the sink.
"Thanks, mum, breakfast was awesome," Nick said snidely to irritate his mum but she ignored it.
I picked up my school bag and went after him. "You shouldn't act like that with her, you know," I told him when I caught up to him.
He ignored me and knocked on Uche's door. Two knocks and Uche came out, hanging his bag over his left shoulder.
"Did your dad call you?" Nick asked him before he could say a word himself.
"Not yet. She probably hasn't told him yet, but maybe he decided he'd ask me about it when he gets back." Uche replied him then turned to me."Hey," he greeted casually and I feigned a smile.
Neither of us said anything to ourselves till we got to school. We all knew we had problems hanging over our head but decided not to talk about it. But I changed my mind during lunchtime at school.
I walked into the cafeteria with Casey and stood to look around. I immediately sighted where Uche was. It wasn't hard to find because a handful of girls stood around him, Nick and Kim. Surprisingly, April wasn't there.
I walked to the table and sat in the only free space at the table. It was the space next to where Kim sat. He smiled widely immediately he saw me.
Nick questioned me with his eyes when he looked up and saw me, but I ignored him. I didn't come for him I came for Uche.
"Uche," I called for his attention since he was on his phone. He looked up at me, and went numb for a while.
"You eating with us today?" He asked and I shook my head.
"No. I wanted to talk to you about something."
"What do you want to talk about?" Nick asked after I spoke and I rolled my eyes.
"None of your business. Uche, please come with me." I said and stood from the where I sat.
All three followed me with their eyes while I left their table. Uche soon stood up and followed behind me but someone stopped him.
"Uche, I texted you since last three nights, but you haven't responded. Are you mad at me or something?" It was April.
"Not now, April, I'm busy." He wanted to walk away but she ran in front of him.
"You're avoiding me again like before..."
"April..." Uche sighed and then looked at me where I stood waiting for him.
"I'm sorry, if you're mad at me." April didn't let him dismiss her.
"I'm not mad at you, I'll reply your text when I'm free."
"You sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure April. Now, please get out of my way."
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