When I arrived at school the next morning, I saw faces filled with wariness and girls crying. I heard the sombre tone of the hymn being sung by her classmates

“Rest in peace Sedi” they sang in exhausted harmony.

The air felt different and there was no regular banter amongst grade 9 pupils just mute nods and whispers. The scene confirmed what I tried to ignore. Lesedi had really passed on. She was infamous and yet still people mourned her.

Later in the day, I found out that she drank abortion pills, but apparently, they took her life as well. That was the hurried version of what went down. Every class was called to bring a chair to the assembly, and we attended the sorrowful memorial service.

My eyes were startled to see Mr. D with his two-piece and head bowed. Well, well, well. What did we have there? Was Mr. D attending the memorial service? I nudged Cindy’s arm to show her the unexpected presence. we stared at each other knowingly.

“Mzala, are you thinking what I’m thinking!” Cindy exclaimed.

“I’m not sure, just tell me”

“What if Mr. D had something to do with ukshona ka Lesedi?”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Cindy, I think you have a point” Khensani cheeped in.

“Phela zololoku the guy had just been slapped by mogirl” Khensani clarified.

“And now jigijigi out of the pink, bah bah bathi uLesedi ufile” Cindy added

“Welele, Ha no guys. Nna ka msola sir o” Rea from my class said.

Rea had said what we were all feeling, she was suspecting Mr. D.

“O busy mo acting like he feels sympathy! Does he actually feel it or he was forced by Mathousand our principal?” Cindy asked.

“Maybe ha nyake go bacisa wa bo, showing face what not” Rea whispered.

“Mzala phela this guy o rata dilo tsa ma Nigeria and you know Nigerian movies are always about black magic and karma” Cindy responded

“Ah ah, ene vele so what if he practiced witchcraft to end the girl who messed with his reputation?” I asked sceptically.

Everyone shrugged at the question, we were all filled with suspicion, but we couldn’t stand a chance in court. The suspicion was just that, a hunch with no compelling evidence.

Did the ever so above mediocrity man have a hand in Lesedi’s departure? Karma and black magic! I didn’t think he would forgive and forget that easily after the way he was ambushed!

I shut down the thoughts immediately. How can such a prestigious man participate in such? A Christian? He wouldn’t! I decided as I bowed my head to pray for Lesedi to rest in peace.