Chapter 3 Pfft.. Demon Rod !

In the cafeteria, there was an annoyingly long queue. Cece couldn't help but ask;" What's going on?", she was surprised because she had never experienced such queue in a school cafe. "Well, it's usually this way, there's only two chef in the school, you know this school is not as advanced as other schools but the population here is surprisingly much, hence, the long queue. The earlier you get here, the lesser you have to wait in line" Helena explained

Cerina had no other choice but to wait in line, she only ate little in the morning and now her stomach was grumbling. She waited patiently as the line moved as slowly as ever.

Minutes later that seemed like forever, it was her turn to be served. Cece heaved a long sigh as she patted her grumbling stomach, but just then, a male student walked right in front of her, overtaking her, Cece was dumbfounded.

She tapped him lightly, and he turned to look at her. Suppressing all the anger that had risen in her, she tried to be gentle as possible and said," Hey! You don't just walk to the front of a queue and overtake everyone. Go wait for your turn!!", Cece said, her anger threatening to explode. He just looked at her, not saying a word, he scoffed and turned to place his order. Cece's anger rose to the top of her nerves as she pushed him away and screamed," Move to the back of the line!!"

The entire hall went silent as they watched the scene unfold, gasps and whispers that dared not to be too loud echoing amongst the students. Helena tugged Cece's sleeve,her expression confused, scared and at the verge of breaking down. "Cece, let it be! He's Senior Dylan!", Helena cried out.

" I don't care who the fxck he is!", Cece exclaimed angrily, her irritation clearly printed on her face.

Helena didn't wait for her to respond as she dragged her away from there, and motioned for Patty to get their food.

Meanwhile, Dylan's expression had turned cold, his gaze burning with fury and somewhat possessing a menacing aura," Who was this girl that dared to oppose him?"

Helena dragged the girl away but he couldn't take his eyes off her back view, glaring at her. She had dared to oppose him, his lips formed into a mocking smile laced with anger.

"Helena dragged Cece out, she looked like she was about to cry. " What's wrong with y'all? Why afraid of him? Because he's a senior? What gives a so-called senior the right to intimidate others that way?", Cece asked practically fuming with rage.

"He's not just any senior, he's Senior Dylan!", Helena cried out. "He'll forever haunt you for challenging him"

"Haunt me?? I dare him!!" Cece scoffed

"You don't understand. Senior Dylan is ruthless, once you cross his path and get him angry, he does really bad things. Even the principal respects him", Helena explained and then said in a whisper," He is nicknamed Demon rod, because he strikes without mercy ", Helena emphasized, fear and respect evident in her tone

"Pfft.." Cece burst out in mocking laughter. "Demon rod?!, what lame character name is that?", Cece laughed.

"It sounds funny but it's true. Cece, please avoid him", Helena pleaded

"Alright, alright, I'll do as you say", Celena said in resignation. She had promised just yesterday that she'd avoid all forms of trouble.

Speaking of ruthless, Cece couldn't help but smirk, she usually held a similar title but nobody ever dared to give her such ridiculous nickname. Or maybe they did, just not to her hearing.

A teacher whom Helena introduced as their Moral studies teacher called the attention of the two girls. When they arrived, " I heard you caused some drama at the cafeteria", he said staring at Cece. The man was Mr. Ben, he was rather slim, like someone who was underfeeding, with overly grown beards, although looking well maintained, didn't seem to fit his slim oval face. " I didn't intend to cause any drama. I just couldn't tolerate it when he came to overtake, I mean he won't d!e if he waits in line just like others!!", Cece complained.

"You're a new student, aren't you?", he asked scanning Cece from head to toe.

"Yes I am"

"You don't know about unspoken rules, huh?" Turning to Helena, he scolded "Why didn't you warn her before hand?"

"It... it just.. happened all of a sudden ", Helena stammered

"I just hope her foolishness doesn't cause problems for you", he told her and turned back to Cece

"I heard you're much of a troublemaker, that's why you got expelled, you better behave yourself in this school or else you'd regret it. Here we won't expel you, we'll only punish you, until you're tamed", he said annoyed.

"Sir, with all due respect, I'm not a troublemaker, why scolding me when it's him who's at fault? I only retaliate when mistreated"

"I see you've got some nerves"he exclaimed angrily

"As much as I don't like trouble, I'll always give in full, if them ask for", Cece replied with incredible boldness

"We'll see how it goes then", he replied and walked away trying not to get angry.

"Why does everyone seem to be wary of this Dylan?" asked Cece anxiously

"I'd advise you to just not cross paths with him, let's leave details for later", Helena said and the two girls walked away changing the topic of discussion.

They both headed back to the cafeteria and got their lunch, Cece was surprised at the amount of the food apportioned to them. It was soo small, she only had to manage it as she had provisions in her cabin. She'd probably have that later. She looked around but there was no sign of Senior Dylan anywhere. Noticing her action, Patty told her that Dylan left as soon as Helena took her out, he seemed really upset with you. Cece rolled her eyes. "That doesn't bother her", she thought

After having their lunch, Cece headed back to class alone. Although break wasn't over yet,she didn't want to be loitering around. Cece brought out exercises and began solving them as lessons had not yet begun. She was the only one in the class but she didn't mind.

Few minutes later,the bell rang indicating end of break and students began trooping in masses into their various classes. Not long later, the maths teacher Master Chris entered the class and lesson began. They were treating "Laws of indices" and Cece paid attention to the class. Mathematics was one of her favorite subjects. Just as she was enjoying the class, a junior student, with the permission of the teacher asked for Cerina Ceril.

She looked up, and acknowledged her name and the student said that the principal was seeking her attention immediately at his office. Cece didn't think much about it, as well as her fellow classmates, thinking it was because she's a new student. Who could have guessed that trouble had come knocking on Cece's door?

The student directed Cece to the office, and Cece knocked on the door,"Come in", a sharp voice rang from inside. She opened the door and peeked inside and her eyes met a rather chubby man with bald head and a pair of medicated glasses sitting comfortably on this nose. He looked rather mean as he spoke sharply again, "What are you doing standing by the door? Come in here now". Principal Vance ordered.

Cece came in and that's when she noticed another presence in the room also, she recognized him as Mr. Ben, the one who had confronted her earlier, but he was looking so dishevelled, not like his usual cool self Cece had met earlier.

Cece was yet to process what was happening when he shouted at her, "You!.." he seemed really angry

Cece looked around in confusion, from the teacher to the principal, not quite understanding what was going on. "What have I done?", she asked innocently.

She felt it was about her confrontation with the senior Dylan at the cafe..she remembered the nickname Helena said he had and couldn't help but scoff, it sounded so lousy.

"What are you feeling so smug about? You had the guts to harass me and now you're feeling proud, right?", Mr. Ben ranted almost exploding with anger.

"Wait! What?..", Cece asked in utter confusion. "Why are they suddenly talking about harassment?", Cece thought loudly.

"Sir! Something must be done to this unruly child. While taking an inspection today, I heard she had confronted Dylan, and I tried to talk gently to her, to warn her not to cause any troubles,. You needed to see how rudely she spoke to me, so sharp tongued, I left her in anger and went to continue my inspection, only for me to get to my office and found everything in disarray. Important notes and documents littered around the room and worse, there was water everywhere up to my knee length. I was dumbfounded because few minutes before I left, everything was in order. I rushed to the bathroom to switch off the water and that's when I noticed an unscrewed socket that left a naked wire hanging in mid air, any little mistake, and that wire dropped into the water, I would have been roasted alive!!", he cried out in fright.

Cece was still lost in thought thinking how all this was related to her, when he continued. "I ran for my dear life, out of the office, and that's when I saw the writing at the back window "DON'T MESS WITH CECE!". I am still in shock as we speak ", Mr. Ben lamented bitterly. "How can this girl be so ruthless? Do you have any idea that your expensive prank could have cost me my life?", he shouted at her with blood shot eyes.

Cece was totally lost and confused, what the hell was even going on right now, she opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out of it.

The principal's expression was more complicated,he spoke sternly as he turned to Cece," How do you explain this level of absurdity? You almost cost me a teacher's life. Do you even know the implications of what you've done?!", he spoke raising his voice as his hand slammed on the wooden table

"I didn't do any such thing, I am being wrongly accused", Cece spoke up.

"Then what explains the messed room, the unscrewed socket, the handwriting on the window?", Cerina Ceril, you're in big trouble this time.