Soledad; a Victim of the Fall (NANOWRIMO2023)

Chapter 2: The Fight

It’s been two years since that incident. Alex never attempted to cross any student’s path. Yet, he still gets talked about and even insulted in class. Alex never thought of fighting back or causing a scene. He planned to plead with his dad to take him out after he completed his basic education in five months.

“What is the median of the number on the board?” Mr. Bello, the mathematics teacher, asked, facing the class.

The students looked at their textbooks, confusedly. Usually, after the 3rd term of basic five, they automatically get promoted to the junior secondary school of their choice.

A look of disappointment plastered the maths teacher’s face as he dropped his marker on his desk.

“Erick. Sandra. Boma... Don’t you know what median means? I told you in our last class.” Mr. Bello reminded the students.

Their vacant eyes just blinked at him.

Mr. Bello placed both hands on his desk and leaned on them. Teaching was more frustrating, especially with very forgetful kids. There was no doubt, that students from Greater Heights Academy were only good at sports and other physical activities. Mr. Bello slipped to his seat and placed a hand over his face in embarrassment.

“Bose!” he called out. “What about you?

“Do you have any idea what median means?”

“No, sir. You didn’t teach us.” Her small voice defended.

“I thought you just last month. It’s barely four weeks ago and you’ve forgotten?” His eyes widened at her in bewilderment. Bose slipped through the pages of her notebook to find the topic, but she couldn’t.

“I can’t find it here.”

I wonder what you children think of these days that makes you so forgetful!" he won’t out carefully.

Alex knew the answer. He was smart and intelligent; he was always the first position in class. Answering would make others insult him, so he kept quiet. Waiting for an answer.

“A median is a number, which is the middle number or the middle value.” He finally explained. “Now, who can tell me the median in the following figures?”

“It’s 9!”

“Oh, there you go. So you knew the median was 9, and you kept quiet all this while?” Mr. Bello exhaled.

“I’m sorry, sir. I just wanted to allow others to learn.” Alex rasped with his head lowered.

“Hmm... That’s thoughtful of you, but don’t keep an answer to yourself next time. After all, you’re also a student.” Mr. Bello nodded optimistically with a half smile. Then he continued with the class.

About to write, Alex’s eyes caught Bose’s glare. She vacantly focused on him with half-dead eyes. And her nose wrinkled. Her lips gave a silent hiss before facing the whiteboard.

Watching her do this was disturbing. Alex just turned away to concentrate on the lesson. Mr. Bello gave them an exercise to solve before stepping out of the class. Once he left, a slim boy with pointed ears and nose walked up to Bose.

“I would have answered that question if Alex didn’t interrupt. It’s annoying how much we have to put up with this maid’s son. He thinks he knows it all while he knows nothing!”

He reported to Bose as if she was his mother. It irritated Alex why most of them reported to Bose, the class monitor. ‘She isn't that smart. Was it because her father is the FCT Minister?’

“That’s true, dear. It reminds me of an idiom: empty vessels make the loudest noise. Don’t bore yourself with a lunatic like Alex.” She persuaded Eric.
Alex gazed at her and her manical expression hardened.