Episode 5

Leon on.

    I went from home to school on leg, it was nearly a 45 minutes journey,

I arrived fatigued and hungry, regardless of that, I scurried to class cause I was very late.

  I came into the class panting heavily, classes were on, the teacher was on the board, writing, I hunched my shoulders to hide my face and walked stealthily into the class, dodging to been seen by our English teacher, who was busy writing on the board.

  I went to my seat in the back row, I was a backbencher, back benched with bullies, delinquents, and unserious students.

   I sat and brought out a note, with the hope to catch up with what has been taught and written.

   Minutes later Lazarus completed what he was writing, he dropped his note on the desk, beside him, and faced the whole class, he sauntered for a moment before speaking.

  ''Did someone walk into class while I was writing.?'' He asked.

   Replies flurried amongst everybody.

  A few people affirmed someone came in, others couldn't give a clear answer, I didn't want to spread confusion in the class, it could occur only if I hush.

''It was me, sir.'' 

    I indicated and raised my arm slightly, the rising confusion was instantly squelched.

  ''Mr rayald, I'll excuse your reasons for being late to class today, considering your current state.'' He said.

  ''And the whole school wishes to express their heartfelt condolence to your family, we are deeply sorry for your loss.'' He added.

  ''Thank you, I appreciate that.'' I prayed that topic would end there, I didn't want everybody to know I recently lost my dad, but a snoopy guy at the front row asked a question that made the topic linger on.

  ''What happened to Mr rayald.?'' He asked.

  ''Did someone die.?'' Sandra the schools' students media executive asked, now she is involved, the news will spread all over the school, she might publish it in the school monthly magazine,

And I will be recognized as an orphan by the whole school.

  Mr. Lazarus spilled it out with no hesitation. ''He recently lost his dad, just a month ago, having lost his mom, as a child, now he is left without parent's.''

   He said it the worst way anybody could, and I caught everybody's attention, I became something to look at.

  The majority of the class condoled me, concerning the sad news, especially my friends, I commanded their pity and respect that moment, majority of e'm went into a huddle with me, and whispered solacing words, others showed little or no interest and pity, they compassed it as a personal problem that shouldn't be apprised to everyone, it's was none of their concern.

  Moments later, mark a chubby guy who goes by a nickname, Jargon,  he sat immediately to my right, at the back row, he uttered a sentence, that got me upset, he ridiculed me disdainfully about how I became an orphan and made gestures that depicted  a helpless beggar,

    He then called me a helpless orphan and cackled at it with his gang of bullies and delinquents, mark had it in for me, after a brief misunderstanding we had in the past, he had borne me resentments since then,

Mark is well known as a guy with a bad demeanor, he gives no importance to the problems of others and displays cavalier attitudes towards people's feelings, he gets uppity with anyone careless of their mood and emotions, he is the sort of guy everyone hopes they'll never encounter, in their life.

     He is abhorred pretty much by almost everyone, most especially girls, for being an outright chauvinist and desert of chivalry in him, he preferred forcing girls on himself rather than using a normal courtship behavior.

  it's undoubtedly a behavioral pattern that's usually caused or educed by an inferiority complex. 

   When you're unwanted by everybody and everyone seems better than you, sometimes you'd think being rude and austere is the best way to be the big guy, it is an emotional problem that is prevalent among teenagers.

   His abhorrence extends to his family, mark is more like a disease to his parents than a he is like son, they detest him very much and scolds him in school in front of every student, he has no shame now since his reputation has already been shattered.

  I retorted to his comments with the intent to annoy him and gave him as good as he got.

   ''It's better I had no parent than have one that treats you like garbage,''  I said to mark.

   It squelched his laughter, and he became sad instantly, he never expected it and he was unhinged by it.

   His eye's bugged and he gazed angrily at me, I retreated and sat tight on my chair, I went too far and I might be in for a beating, 

his family matter looked to be the Achilles heel of his bad guy, rude guy behavior.

   I caught looks of grief in him, his rudeness had just gone out, and he was saddened, he said nothing more, he just lolled back on his chair, and he kept gazing at me maniacally, I turned my eyes away from him and concentrated on our teacher, the rest of the day in class wasn't easy for me, I stayed with absolute fright in me, remembering the possible outcome of my earlier actions, called forth fear and worry in me, I also noticed that

  Mark kept silent the whole day, he kept it until classes were over, who knows what has been in his mind all day.

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