Chapter 5 School Resumption

Michelle awoke to a cold, chilly Monday morning. She hurried out of her room dressed in her school uniform and settled beside Roland at the dining table, where they breakfasted on bread and eggs served with hot tea. Michelle urged Roland to eat quickly as the driver would arrive soon.

After breakfast, Michelle checked her wristwatch and hurried upstairs to her mum's room to greet her, while Roland packed his books and writing materials.

"That's my boy," Michelle patted Roland's head, checking his attire. He looked handsome as usual.

"Good morning, Angel," Desmond called out as Michelle stood up to pack lunch for Roland and herself.

"Big bro, sorry I didn't come to see you before leaving. I didn't want to disturb your sleep, and I don't want to be late for school," Michelle apologized.

"It's nothing. I was once like you, remember?" Desmond smiled, recalling their previous conversation.

"Oh, that. What am I a brother for? But remember to watch your actions," he reminded her.

A light knock interrupted them-it was Anderson, the driver.

"Miss, the car is ready," he informed them.

"Alright, we'll be on our way," Michelle replied, and Anderson left.

"Bro Des! Goodbye," Michelle waved at him.

"See you later in the day," Roland said, walking towards the car ahead of Michelle.

"Have a nice day," Desmond waved back at them. Michelle and Roland got into the car, and soon they began their journey to school.

*

*

The students of Worthings High School buzzed with excitement as they returned after a long summer break. Worthings High, renowned in its division, boasted the largest sports field, well-equipped laboratories, and a captivating school layout adorned with bright flowers that painted the exterior like a paradise.

Known colloquially as "the school of the rich," Worthings High was esteemed for its high standards and top-notch facilities. Each student had the privilege to carry a mobile phone of their choice, albeit with rules. All in all, the school was of a very high standard and produced high intelligence.

Michelle alighted from the car, bidding her brother farewell as Anderson drove off to drop Roland at his junior high section, situated farther from Michelle's senior high.

"Babe, what's up?" Daisy called out from behind, waiting for Michelle since her arrival at school, their usual routine as best friends.

"I'm all good," Michelle replied.

"Yeah! I can see that," Daisy said, taking Michelle's hand as they headed towards their class. On their way, they encountered Richard on their track, dressed sharply.

"Hello, Michelle," Richard waved at her.

"Hi," Michelle replied in her light, angelic voice, choosing to maintain civility on the first day back to avoid unnecessary trouble.

"How was your holiday?" Richard asked, a wide grin on his face, seeming familiar.

"Fine," Michelle replied curtly, swiftly walking away with Daisy. She had no intention of entertaining further conversation with Richard, known as a troublemaker.

Once settled for the day, the morning assembly commenced promptly and ended quickly as usual. Mr. Matt, the school principal, addressed the crowd, welcoming everyone back for a new session and term.

"Good morning, students," Mr. Matt began in his clear English accent. "You are all welcome back to school for a new session and term, which I assure you will be more interesting and memorable than the past ones..."

"Memorable? I hope so," Michelle murmured under her breath, quickly flashing a smile to the person standing next to her to mind their own business.

"...As we have new intake and familiar students, I urge you all to get acquainted with each other to achieve our goals for success this year," Mr. Matt continued, gesturing enthusiastically.

"Moreover, the newly selected prefects should ensure that the school rules and regulations are strictly adhered to. For the convenience of the new students, the names of the prefects will be posted on the bulletin board near the broadcasting room. You can check that at your leisure. I implore you all to work hard hand in hand to achieve your best. Good luck at Worthing High," he concluded.

The students applauded thunderously as the principal finished his speech, dispersing to their respective classes.

Michelle and Daisy sat close to each other in class, chatting and gossiping cheerfully. Since it was the first day, teachers were busy, and there was no formal class.

The MaVaMi trio approached Michelle and Daisy, surprisingly with enthusiasm rather than their usual scorn.

"Is this a pretense or a change?" Michelle thought to herself. The trio were infamous as school gossips and troublemakers.

Preferring not to spoil her mood, Michelle dismissed the thought with her usual philosophy of "You never can tell; change is constant."

A sudden uneasy feeling washed over Michelle. Trying to identify its source, she noticed a tall, handsome boy sitting adjacent to Richard, glaring at her. Clearly a new student, Michelle had never seen him before.

Uncomfortable under his gaze, Michelle excused herself from the class briefly, informing Daisy she would be back.

Upon returning a few minutes later, Michelle found the boy still staring at her. With no other recourse, she decided to ignore him.

Changing the topic, Daisy asked Michelle about choosing an extracurricular activity for the year. Participation in activities like martial arts, golf, soccer, and baseball was mandatory at Worthings High.

Considering what would benefit her most, Michelle told Daisy she intended to join martial arts.

"Martial arts?" Daisy exclaimed in surprise.

"Yeah, I'm good at it," Michelle replied.

"Which type exactly? There are so many," Daisy inquired.

"I haven't decided yet. It's between Judo and Taekwondo," Michelle replied.

"You never cease to amaze me. How strong are you?" Daisy chuckled.

"It doesn't matter. I'm leaning towards Taekwondo," Michelle stated firmly.

"Woah!" Daisy reacted in admiration.

"What about you?" Michelle asked in return.

"Golf," Daisy replied confidently. "I've trained for it before, and I love it."

As they conversed, Michelle was interrupted by a neatly rolled paper that landed on her desk. Looking around for the sender without success, she hesitated to insinuate anything.

Opening the note, Michelle read: "Happy new term, dear Mich! I heard you're joining the Taekwondo team this term. I'll be joining too. It's going to be fun, trust me."

Still in a trance after reading the short note, Michelle was brought back by Daisy snapping her fingers in front of her face.

"What's written there?" Daisy asked.

"It's from Richard. He's getting into action," Michelle replied.

"How sure are you? We just resumed, for God's sake. He won't start this soon," Daisy said skeptically, though the note's distinctive calligraphy confirmed it.

Michelle pointed discreetly at Richard, who gave them a devilish smirk.

"What the hell!" they exclaimed in unison, turning back to face the front.

Michelle sighed inwardly, preparing herself for what could be trouble from Richard in the days ahead.

After school hours, Michelle convinced Daisy to wait for her at the school car park. She wanted to explore the school alone to find a place where she could unwind and relax. Eventually, Michelle settled on the school garden as her sanctuary. It was adorned with a variety of colorful flowers emitting a pleasant aroma, and the atmosphere there was always cool and serene-a perfect place for her to calm her nerves.

Once she had surveyed the garden, Michelle rejoined Daisy at the bustling car park. Anderson, Michelle's driver, would be dropping Daisy off at her house as per Michelle's request. The area was alive with activity as parents and guardians gathered to pick up their children.

Suddenly, a movement behind them startled Michelle and Daisy. They turned cautiously, only to see the boy Michelle had noticed earlier in class.

"Hello!" he greeted them finally.

"Hi," they replied tentatively.

Extending his hand, the boy introduced himself, "I'm Daniel Bassey. But you can call me Dan, I think it's better that way."

Daisy, taking the lead to avoid any potential conflict, responded, "I'm Daisy Cole, and she's Michelle Arrowhood. Nice to meet you."

Michelle merely shrugged, growing irritated by the encounter. She didn't wish to engage further. Just then, Anderson arrived with Roland in the car.

"Big sis, here!" Roland called out excitedly.

With polite nods, Michelle and Daisy excused themselves, leaving Daniel standing there.

Unbeknownst to them, Richard observed the entire interaction from a short distance away. "This term is gonna be super interesting for me," he smirked to himself, relishing the drama unfolding.

"Baddass!" Daniel muttered under his breath, feeling slighted by Michelle's lack of response.

Richard, intrigued, approached Daniel. "Hey newbie, what's wrong?" he asked with a smirk.

"I tried talking to her, but she didn't respond. Instead, the other girl was answering for her," Daniel explained, feeling perplexed.

"You mean Michelle?" Richard clarified, his grin widening.

"Yeah, that's her name if I can remember," Daniel affirmed, still puzzled by the encounter.

"You can call her a badass, but she's also the smartest and most brilliant girl I know in this school. She's a bit fiery, though," Richard explained.

"Really?" Daniel queried, confused.

Richard chuckled and lightly punched Daniel's arm.

"Watch your back," he advised cryptically before slinging his bag over his shoulder and strolling away.

Daniel watched Richard leave, pondering about what he just heard.