The registrations and reporting are over. Students are gathered in school hall for orientations as lecturers from different departments are preparing for presentations to respective team students. Everyone is sitted ready to listen, some are still coming in. The royal detective have invaded the University from each department in form of students, all to get the real culprits of abuse.
"Attention everyone." The school counselor, Mr Benson Dube calls for attention and everyone kept silent. " You are all welcome to Yashilan University of all nations, I'm your counselor, Benson Dube. Hope everyone is in this hall, for these orientations are very cardinal to everyone of you who've just reported.
At that moment, Lawrence and his companion sneaked in, but the counselor spotted them. " Young men, there is no need to hide, for i have already seen that you are late. please find yourselves sits before we begin. Everyone who is still outside, I request you to get in and we begin our business." She requested.
Having seen him and he saw her, she looked away avoiding him, coming to sit next to them, on the empty sit that's beside her. "Oh no, This man again. Why is he coming here, when there are other sits everywhere. " complain in a low tone to michie.
" Wow he's so cute. Just take a look at how every girl is staring at him, wishing for him to sit with them." Cheelo squeezing Brianna's arm excitedly.
"Stop looking at him, or eish he will make his way here." Whispered.
Almost to sit there, when a sudden guy find himself on the sit. Seeing the look on his face, the guy smiled mockingly at him.
"Young man, you are wasting our time. Find yourself a sit." request him to once again, the counselor.
Lawrence find himself a sit in the same line with her, but to the far end of the left side. The orientations begun, different heads of sections are coming on one by one, introducing themselves and how things works in their departments. The rules and regulations are all clarified. Finally it is the principal's turn to speak. He is the only Innocent man, with the few of his team, the majority are culprits of corruption and abuse in their offices, using the principal's name as being in full awareness and support.
" Good morning to you all, students of this wonderful University." smiled in his honest, pure heart.
"Good morning sir " Everyone answered in unison.
" I must confess that I am a very happy man to have you all as students of this school. It is your presence that makes this University, without you people, there will be no Yashilan University." Smiled. You all came for different programs of your interests, although, in this University, you have to take an O Level test, which will determine, to which class you will belong according to the percentage marks, you shall obtain. I will therefore urge you all to study hard for your exams that you'll have to take in a week time. I wish you all the best in your studies." Walking away with some of the the staff members followed.
"This marks the end of our orientations. the rest remains for each one of your departments, to do it." The rest of the staffs left and then the thousands of students rise and begin to walk out in so much noise.
"Hey, I'm Castro." stretch out a hand for a shake.
"Brianna." they shake hands, while looking at Lawrence who who begin to move towards them.
" We have to go. Bye." Grab michelo by hand and they walked out in a hurry. Lawrence saw that she was running from him and made a strategy to use another exit, just to catch up with her.
Just after she turned, prince Lawrence appear in front of her. "Running away from me?"
"O, come on, why should I run from you?" Fold her arms staring around.
"I will leave you two." Cheelo run giggling.
Brianna goggled, while staring at where she was going, feeling betrayed.
"Sorry to bother you again, but can we talk? I promise to behave."
"Look Mr____
"Lawrence is my name, you can call me that."
"Ok but I have to go now, I'm no___
"I won't wast alot of your time, please." begged. "Come, let us sit here. " took her to a bench and they both sit.
"Brianna, I'm sorry of how I behaved on our first meet. "
"I don't remember telling you my name, so how did you know it?"
He chuckles, "Your name is written, all over your pretty face, my dear lady."
Brianna is embarrassed and turned the face down.
The prince moved a bit close and took her hands in his. still facing down, She freezed, "Brianna, will you be my friend, I promise to behave."
She slowly draw the hands out and quickly stood, swallowing hard.
"Sorry." He apologized.
" It's okay. I have to go now, remember we have a test in 7days." Shamefully said.
"yeah, you are right, but you haven't given me an answer."
Just to avoid this conversation, she finally give him an answer. " Alright, fine, friends. See you later." She hurried away without looking back.
"Thank you Brianna, you are amazing!" Shout over, very excited.
Prince turned to leave when he found Temba standing behind him. "Hey, you scared me." Step back in fear. " How long have you been standing here?"
" Not too long. I have a record that you would like to hear." pass over the phone.
Without questioning, prince took over the phone and press on the record. It is a conversation between Mr Benson, the man who welcomed Brianna and michelo the first day of their report and the head of school for humanity conspiring against Brianna, now that the exam date have been set, by the principal. Prince Lawrence is filled with rage upon hearing this. His breathing rate change, his heart pounding like crazy. "I will not allow this to happen." glaring then he walked away.
Panic took over him that he couldn't find rest, he raise and stood by the window, feeling the fresh air just to calm himself down. Brianna on the other hand is fixed on books, studying as cheelo is snowing up the banker, like she doesn't care about the exam, so are the other two girls.
"Hey, Michie, wake up." whispered.
"Oh, for what Bri?" Pull the blanket to her head.
"You need to study, the exam isn't very far, you know." Whispered again.
"Ok, tomorrow, I promise." In a sleepy voice she said and then turn around and face the wall."
She didn't speak again when she closed her book and switch off the light.
It is morning again and the very first day in O level class. Different students, with different career interests are learning together till the 7 days are over. This class is usually lectured by heads of departments and the first session is taken by the head of health department then after the break, the head of humanity will come in and they will call it a day.
Brianna and michelo are ever together, not a day did they separate. Next to them is a guy from Zimbabwe. Prince
Lawrence was disturbed the whole night such that he forgot about morning class. It is now that he has appeared in the second class. His presence is usually noticed by alot of ladies and some guys who don't mind their own business.
"Look who is here." The two ladies who crash on him whispered to each other. Beside these, other ladies too whispering at each other. The guy is handsome for sure to be ignored by any lady. Brianna is the only one who plays pretence with him, just to avoid him being close. Lawrence and Temba passed front sits and sit behind, a line after Brianna's. Just after they settled, the professor came in.
"Good morning everyone." professor.
"Good morning." They all answered.
"Starting from you, on my right, coming to my left, stand up, tell us your name, where you are from and what you came here for."
The guy in the first sit stood and introduced himself and it went on that way until it reached Brianna.
"Miss, tell us who you are." Request professor.
" I am Brianna Kumwenda, here for a career in Humanity, specifically in social work and law. I am a citizen of this beautiful kingdom, specifically in Benzina province, capital of Yashilan Kingdom."
"Why did you prefer doing that program, when your results qualified you to do medicine and these other professions?
Everyone surprised by his question. The prince looked him with disappointment.
" My results won't be the one to choose a career for me, I choose what i love."
"And this is what you love?" Asked again, in unfriendly way.
Without fear or discouragement, she answered confidently, "Yes. Being the voice to the voiceless is my desire, above everything, justice is my priority for the afflicted and feeding the hungry as well as giving an opportunity and hope to the less privileged and abandoned children."
The Prince couldn't hold back his joyful tears, he allowed them to fall as the rest of the class clap for her.
"Interesting." moving his head. " You may sit down miss. Good luck in your career, I hope you make it to that class.
"She will. I will make sure she does make it, whether you like it or not." He thought, prince Lawrence.
In Benzina province
Mrs Kumwenda is preparing food for her husband, Reuben who is putting on his work suit, Ready for work to his vehicle workshop. " Where are you going to without your cup of coffee?"
" Honey, I'm late. The customer is calling me for an emergency breakdown, I will drink it tomorrow, darling." Buttoning the work suit jacket.
Grace sigh in disappointment.
"I'm very sorry, my love, I promise it won't happen again." Moved close, with hands around her waist.
"Alright, go. You are getting more late."
Mr Kumwenda embraced his wife, with a kiss on the forehead, he left.
Yashilan University
The lecture went well, hands out we're given to the students in preparing for their coming exam on Friday. "See you all tomorrow, same time." Before he could leave, he looked around and stopped on Brianna. "Miss Kumwenda, please help me with the books, to the office." Walked ahead, leaving the books behind for Brianna to carry.
This action really raided alot of suspicions to other students. Prince Lawrence and Temba looked at each other in suspense.
She is still thinking about it when the man stopped by the door and speak again, "Are you still standing there, madam?"
Brianna carried the books immediately and followed him. After them, the entire class left, talking about it and only the few who minds their business said nothing.
Outside the office, Temba and prince eave dropping on their conversation.
" Miss Kumwenda, I really liked your courage. That was an hilarious speech, but you see," walked out from his table and stood behind her. "Hard work doesn't pay in this University. Whispered in her hearing. She take a deep breath. " I will tell you why," turned her to face him, because there is always the easy way for pretty, ambitious young women like you."
Lawrence, who is listening from behind the door couldn't hold himself anymore, when he decide to go in, but Temba hold him back, wiggling, in saying no, don't do that and he hold himself.
In determination, Brianna opened his mouth and speak, "Let me try, my hard work, then let see if it won't pay me." Turned to leave, then he hold her back by wrist.
" It's pointless to try and competing with the winning team. Such stubbornness my dear, will send you packing in your first attempt, and you will leave to regret, when you had an opportunity, right in front of you."
Without turning back, she hold the handle and open it.
Having seen the moving of the handle, Lawrence and Temba run to a hidden corner, from there, they watched Brianna going. The prince's heart pained and longed to give her a crying shoulder. A second evidence against the man is recorded. Other evidence are coming , against other staffs of other departments.
Brianna went to a bench in the playing park, sitting there alone, she cried her sorrows out. Prince appear from the blues and offered her an handkerchief to use in rubbing her tears. Out of frustration, Brianna stood before him, " Will you leave me alone!" Shout, " all you men want from us, is nothing than our bodies, so get lost! I don't want to see you anywhere around me!" Yelled and took a step to walk away, but he hold her back and pulled her in a hug. From his arms, Brianna subbed more and more, holding him tight and he hold her back. Temba swallowed hard in sorrow as he watched her weeping in the prince's arms.
She stopped crying after some minutes and wiped off her tears embarrassed that he watched her cry. "I'm sorry."
"You don't have to, I understand the agony of your heart." Helped her wipe the still rolling tears, while staring in her beautiful, Innocent eyes with admiration and longing.
He picked her bag and locked his hand in hers, "Come on, let me escort you."
"No no no, I can walk on my own." Tried to free her hand from his, but he tighten it. "Hey, let my hand go." she tried again, but to no avail.
Instead, prince took the hand close to his eyes, examining it, "Why are these fingers, so tiny like that of a bird?" Teasing her.
She gave out a long face.
"Don't look at me like that, I'm telling the truth. Hey bird, come here, come and see your sister's fingers " He teasingly said.
Brianna burst into laughing now, "Are you crazy, huh. It's obvious you will never change, let go of my hand, you silly boy." Pulled out and run away giggling.
He remained standing, smiling, what he hopped for has happened. At last he has made her laughing again. After she was gone, he walked to his room.