When two academic rivals agree to help each other and end up falling in love, what happens?
Tito, a girl struggling with sickle cell disease, and Benjy, a popular jock at Cherry High School, have always been the top students, with Tito consistently...
Benjamin shrugged. What was so hard to understand about electromagnetic waves? “Dare, it is so simple. We have gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet radiation—”
“Oh, sorry. I just thought you wanted me to tell you.”
Dare shook his head. “You are a dork. Big nerd.”
“You know I don’t like that word.”
“How about science freak?”
Benjamin picked up his bag and draped it over his shoulder. He stood up, ready to go.
“Shut up. Let’s just go. I am starving.”
Dare jumped to his feet, shrugging the school's blue coat onto his shoulders. His friend was taller than him, with brown skin and the kind of face girls liked. He knew he could get into the handsome boys' department but his friend would destroy the whole department. No kidding.
They had gotten halfway down the crowded hallway with students in uniform when Dare spoke, “Dude, I am so happy you won. My best friend. The whole football team would be glad to hear that one of us is representing the school.”
“Calm your horses. I haven’t won yet.”
“Yeah but how hard will it be?” Dare Pffted with his mouth. “You will beat other competitors.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Then I know you gave it your best,” Dare said, slapping him on his shoulder. “Relax. It is just a science competition.”
Benjamin gave his friend a look.
Dare laughed. “Okay, I am making it sound so easy when I don’t even know what electromagnetic waves are.”
Benjamin chuckled.
------------------------------------
Benjamin's heart thumped all the way home and he didn’t even know why.
He closed the front door behind him, taking in the scent of Ofada rice. Surely, his mother was performing wonders in the kitchen.
Their living room had a bland look. It had no decorations, no pictures on the wall, and no themes. Just sofas and stools complimented their small flat screen television mounted on the wall.
He was about to kick off his shoes when he remembered that his father wouldn’t be so keen on the idea.
“Tani yen?” His mother asked.
“It is Benjamin. I am home,” he answered, throwing his bag on one of the sofas. He began loosening his blue tie.
His mom entered the living room wearing an apron. She reached out to touch his forehead.
“Are you okay? You look awful.”
“Gee, thanks, Mom.” He fumbled with his tie.
“I was just saying.” She moved closer to help him with his tie. “How was school today?”
“Good, I think. I can’t wait to gist you all about today but that would be after lunch.”
“You like food ehn.” His mother laughed. “Guess what I prepared for you.”
“Ofada.”
“Hmm. Good guess.”
He shook his head as his mom handed his tie to him. “I can smell it, mom.”
The sound of someone groaning jerked up their heads.
At the sight of his father, Benjy jumped from his seat. His stoic expression made him wish he was anywhere but here.
“He is a boy. You shouldn’t be spoiling this kid,” His father said to his mother.
“The boy is my son. I carried him for eight months and a half.”
“Then ask him real questions like How were his classes today? Did he have any tests?” His father looked at him pointedly. “Did he pass or fail any?”
His mother rolled her eyes. “Maybe I was waiting for you to do just that.”
His parents were like this every time. They argued about everything and sometimes it made him wonder how he had survived growing up in their house.
“Good afternoon, Dad.” he bowed his head.
“Afternoon. How were your classes today?”
Ah, he was about to start with the questions. “Good. All seven of them.”
“Did you understand what was taught today?”
“Yes.”
His father's expression didn’t waver. “Any test?”
“Yes.”
“How many?”
“Just one.”
“Did you pass or fail?”
“Gabriel, why now? Let the boy eat,” His mother's voice was stern but his father wasn’t even looking at her.
“I passed, Dad.”
“Good. Score?”
“87/100.”
His father eyed him with a critical squint. “Why couldn’t you get 90 or even 98?”
He resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Nothing pleased his father.
“It wasn’t just an ordinary test, Dad.”
“What do you mean it wasn’t —”
“I passed the test that made me my school's representative of the Medunal science competition.”
There was it. He watched his father’s eyes widened with amusement.
“Sweetie, is it that big science competition that gives the winner a cash prize?” his mother asked.
“Yes, Mom.”
His dad’s countenance shifted. “You are the representative?”
“Yes, Dad.”
“And that girl? Your superior?”
Of course, his father knew about Tito. The man was always keeping a watch on his grades. There was a time his father almost fought with one of his teachers because Tito got a higher score. His father thought Tito's parents were paying for her grades.
He couldn’t tell his father the reason why he was allowed to represent their school. It was not an option.
“I passed her with three marks.” He lied.
“That’s good. That’s impressive.” He turned to his mom. “You see what I always tell you. My son is going to be the best.”
He spruced up when his father meet his gaze. “I hope you know this means you’ll read like there is no tomorrow?”
“Yes, Dad.”
“Competitions like that are scary. You’ve to prepare.”
“Yes, Dad.”
“Good boy.”
Now that he had raised his father’s hope, he had to go to any absurd extent to win this competition. He can’t afford to lose.
اوووه! هذه الصورة لا تتبع إرشادات المحتوى الخاصة بنا. لمتابعة النشر، يرجى إزالتها أو تحميل صورة أخرى.
