Charming the Devil

Chapter 3

The homeroom teacher came in the last period with general announcements about how the year was going to go. At the end of it, she started talking about running for the school president. The campaigns would run for two weeks and the last week would be elections and result. The candidate with the highest number of votes would become the school president and the next, school vice president.

"I need to give the list of names of people who would like to run for school president. People interested raise your hands", she said.

I had read somewhere that sometimes all you need is five seconds of courage, five seconds of intense courage and your whole life can change accordingly. I decided to activate that courage right now and raised my hand.

"Okay, Kai! I am glad someone from our class is taking initiative. Best of luck to you and feel free to consult me for any guidance you need."

I could feel all eyes on me. I tried to search for my new old friends in those and find comfort - Oliver, Daniel, Nixie and Luna were all smiling and for the first time, I felt like maybe I could win this.

I got home that evening and started working on a plan to gain the students' support. The voting would have students from two years - mine and the grade below us. Each year had about three classes and there were 20 students per class. I know I will manage my grade's students with my friends. However, for the grade lower, I decided to give them what they would want the most - past exam papers and notes. Since I used to have a lot of boxing matches to attend, but also had to maintain good grades, I had always maintained good notes of what was being taught in class. I had also got my hands on past papers from my (boxing) seniors last year as soon as school had started.

Additionally, I had the perfect candidate to spread the word - my neighbour, Nathan. He was a grade lower and we had trained together since we were kids. We had always been good friends, he used to come home a lot.

Next day on my way to school, I saw Apollo sitting under a tree near the entrance. It looked like he was waiting for someone and when he started walking towards me, I prayed for the ground to open and swallow me.

"So you want to run for the school president?", he asked in a 'you think you are better than me?' tone.

"Yes", I answered timidly. How was I going to beat this guy if I cannot even look him in the eye?

I started to walk away and he caught up to me again, blocking my path.

"Do you really think you can beat me when you cannot even stand up to me?"

I kept quiet, partially because I didn't think he deserved a reply and partially because he was right.

"Look at you scurrying away. You know what you would make with your timid demeanour? A great pet. Yes, that is what you are!' he said as if he was hit with some profound realisation. "And once I win the elections, I will make you play fetch all day long", and with that, he got out of the way to let me keep walking. I walked away and turned one last time to look at him. He was smirking at me as if he had already won. I wanted nothing more than to beat him to a pulp. But I was taught that boxing was for the ring only and today I also learnt that sometimes the devil really does leave his place to come toy with humans.

I sat with my friends during the break to try and brainstorm ideas for how to target the students in our grade. I also told them about how I planned to speak to Nathan today evening.

"Maybe you could promise to get the yearly trip reinstated!", said Oliver. We used to have an annual trip of every class until a few years back when some students sneaked alcohol, got really drunk and trashed the rooms.

"That's actually a good idea, I'm sure all the students want to hang out one last time before we all get busy with college and working and rat race and blah blah", I was sure Daniel only agreed to this because he wanted to party, but the vote of confidence helped.

They all seemed to think it was a good idea and I decided to trust them. It was planned then, I will promise the younger grade students notes and past papers and promise my grade students my notes and reinstating of the annual trip. I will also have to speak to my homeroom teacher regarding the trip because I didn't want to promise something and not deliver it later.

After school, I called up Nathan and asked him to meet me outside his house.

"How's boxing practice going?", I asked him once pleasantries were exchanged. We were walking towards the playground we both go to since we were kids.

"It's going good, gotten more tougher since we have to make up for some students having left boxing"

"Maybe if you were really good already, the coach would not need to make you work twice as hard!"

"Maybe if I had my really good senior teaching me...", he trailed off mid sentence and looked at me, seeming unsure and uncomfortable having blabbered that.

"I am okay, truly. No matter what anybody else says, you know quitting boxing was my own decision. And I have no regrets. So, pease don't feel like you need to behave only a certain way around me."

He heaved a sigh of relief. I decided him feeling slightly guilty, but not a lot, was the perfect time to strike, "Hey Nathan, I need to ask a favour of you?"

"Hmm?", he asked making his way to sit on the swing.

"I am running for the school president this year and-"

"YOU ARE WHAT??!!", my man couldn't control his balance and was now talking from the ground.

Once I helped him up, I explained to him how it reached this point and where I would need his help. He gladly agreed to spread the word for me. We stayed on the swings, talking and catching up long after the sun had set.