"Fuckers," Ivie murmured before daring to risk a method. Her chest thudded as she said, "You can search me all day, you'll just be wasting your time. I know where she hid it." The sisters paused and she saw Sister Rita's eyes narrow.
"Hmmm. Go on."
"I don't have any magic, I can't do anything."
"No, you can. You can show us, leave the magic to us."
"You can't find King Anton's portrait, what makes you think you can—" a slap across her face stopped her. She felt a cut in her mouth and tasted blood, and she wished she had shut up.
"Were you saying something?" Sister Rita taunted.
"I will show you." The plan was simple. She would pretend to take them there, run into her room and hide the deed. Since they've already searched it, she didn't think it would be a problem.
And that was exactly what happened. She pressed herself against the door, preparing herself for when Sister Rita would start banging, but it never came, instead was cracking sounds of laughter.
"Alright, alright," she heard her voice. "Enjoy your last night, sleep to your heart's content, by tomorrow morning, we'll leave. I should have it by then, you should know what would happen if I didn't."
She heard a click sound and realized that the door had been locked from the outside, she waited until the steps faded before she slumped to her bottom and cried.
——
Father Chibuike jerked as the door opened with a force that threatened to bring it down.
"Whatever happened this morning?" He asked Father Ekene. "Did Agatha finally agree to you?"
"How I will love that. But I have a news that you may not like."
"I'm busy, another time." He hadn't slept throughout the night, couldn't sleep. For one thing, Amaka had been so uneasy. He tried to remember, but couldn't piece together when she had befriended Itohan, it had always been Ivie from the beginning. Another thing was the uneasiness that he felt himself, like he was forgetting something, like he was making a mistake of sort. Maybe he should visit Itohan, or maybe he should wait, her suspension was due in some days time, or maybe—
"It's about Ivie."
The thoughts dried from his brain and he looked up. "What about her?"
"I thought as much. She's seeing someone."
He sighed. "That?"
The amusement left Father Ekene's face. "You know?"
"I'm even surprised it traveled this fast."
His jaw dropped. "Everybody knows?"
"You know just how students can't keep their mouths shut." He shrugged. "It's youthfulness, let her have her fun."
"What are you talking about? How can you call it fun?"
"She's dating him and so? I'm busy." He started to walk to the door, grumpy.
"He's the Dean, he's a priest, how can everybody know and not do anything?!" Father Ekene thought aloud.
He paused. Stopped, and turned back around. "What did you say?"
"I saw them last night, they're having an affair," he explained.
"Who did you see?"
"Ivie and Father IK. You said everyone knows."
"She recently started dating JohnMary, that's what everyone knows." Silence stretched between them for a while. "Are you sure?" He asked.
"I was coming out from the infirmary after I put Agatha to bed when I saw them. You've had me watch over Ivie for some time now, I can make her out from anywhere."
"Something doesn't feel right," he mused.
It felt different from the Ivie he knew, Ivie feared Father IK, the Dean wanted to expel her, how could they move from enemies to friends in a twinkle of an eye, much more lovers? Then he remembered when Odion had told him. Did Ivie have magic? Even Amaka would not go to her.
"I was surprised mys—"
"You did not see anything."
"Excuse me?" Father Ekene blinked.
"I said, you did not see anything."
For a while they both looked at each other, silence overcoming them.
"Fine," Father Ekene agreed. "But he's supposed to be a priest, Chibuike."
"I'll handle it. But you did not see anything."
The bell rang from the speakers and they turned. The bell ringing only meant there was a general announcement.
"Let's see what the Dean has to say," Father Ekene went out first and Father Chibuike trailed behind him. The former excused himself to join Agatha while Gaga made her way towards the latter.
"Good morning."
"Hope you didn't cry too much?" He nodded to her, the humour not reaching his eyes.
"Not really. What is the Dean going to say this time around? He should be fast."
"Have you talked to Ivie since then?"
"Why would I bother myself?"
"I heard something very strange. Tell me, you're her friend, is she friendly with the dean?"
"The dean? Ivie is weary of every staff here, she seems to think they're dangerous for reasons she prefer to keep to herself. She never went to his office in the past, or I would go with her. And now he wants to expel her, why would she be friendly with him?" Then he voice lowered, her gaze sweeping past him, "But she feels so different."
He trailed her sight to see Ivie with JohnMary, laughing and smiling. When she saw them, she waved and came to them, dragging JohnMary, who looked hesitant, with her. "What are you doing here?" Itohan asked, darting her eyes from the priest to Ivie's friend.
"Bonding," father Chibuike replied. "I decided you're not fun anymore and Gaga shares my thought."
Itohan paused her lips. Were this two holding a secret too? It seemed all her friends were closer to Father Chibuike than she thought. Who next would she find spending time with him? Aisosa? JohnMary? Betrayers.
"Would you look at that expression?" Father Chibuike said to Gaga. "I could watch it all day."
But Gaga was not looking at her, her gaze was fixed on JohnMary instead. "Are you happy now?" She asked him.