"Ring!!!,Ring!!,Ring!!!", a loud bell rang through the walls of a class and all the students stood up at once obviously fed up with the previous class. It was your average classroom equipped with brown wooden windows, countless wooden chairs, a teachers table and an average sized blackboard.
The walls were a bright yellow, ceiling white and all these brought about a formal but comfy vibe to the classroom. But what really stood out was the dark skinned face amongst the crowd of fair skinned teenagers. He sat by the corner towards the far end of the class.
The awkward seat position said it all. He was ostracized. As everyone rushed out of the class for the break, he also stood up rushing in order to use the restroom as he was too timid to ask for permission. As he was rushing, he didn't notice the leg of the boy by his side in his front and then, "Ouch!!", he tripped falling headfirst to the floor.
The dark skinned boy held his bruised forehead and moaned in agony. The other students just walked by him, neither of them bothered to help him nor even acknowledged his presence. The boy fought the tears welling up in his eyes and looked at his assailant.
Charles didn't even bother hiding it, he just smirked walked up to Ahmad and punched his stomach while the later was trying to stand up. Ahmad felt air leave his stomach and his pain intensified as he crouched, clutching his belly in effort to alleviate the pain.
The surrounding crowd laughed and made fun of him, calling him all sort of names. He felt embarrassed and ashamed as the passing girls also looked at him with disdain. As he laid there, wishing he was dead, he felt furious for this wasn't the first time they were picking on him. They started some days after he joined the school.
At first, he didn't retaliate thinking they will soon get bored and that it was just because he was a new kid. But now they had gone too far. As he raised his head, glaring at Charles and standing up with clenched fist, everyone quitted down as they could feel tension rising in the air. But just before anything could happen, "Ahmad!!, Don't!!", a tanned girl shouted as she rushed through the crowd and tried to calm him down.
"Sophia!, Leave me alone!!, I have had enough of this!!", the boy shouted back at her and brushed her hands off him and turned to face Charles. His name was Ahmad and this was his third week in this school, Mont Fleuri. He was short compared to the others, dark skinned and he was thin and looked very feeble. He had a meek and shy temperament and this was what they took advantage of.
Charles was the school bully and ever since he joined this school, he and his goons had been picking on him and now they had crossed his boundaries and he was fed up with them. "Fight!!!, Fight!!!, Fight!!!", it all began with one person but soon the whole crowd was chanting it. And to the ears of the angry Ahmad it only fuelled his anger.
Before he could even move a step towards the smirking Charles, He felt a tap on his shoulder followed by his fist to his ribs. The sharp pain made his brain rethink the situation he was in and he clutched his ribs and screamed. The wrenching pain was something he had never felt before and the urge to punch that sucker face took over him. Everyone cheered at the beautiful display and they couldn't wait for more.
Charles felt smug seeing how one of his goons handled the situation for him and he was even more happy seeing the anger in Ahmad's eyes. "You are a coward, why sneak a move on me with your goons, why not face me head on, Huh!", Ahmad roared at him. Charles scoffed and said,
"Fight, you?, can you even kill a chicken, You are not worth it, Black blockhead". Ahmad erupted upon hearing Charles reply. Before he could throw a punch, a stern voice was heard, "What is going on hear?". It was Miss Olivia and he didn't need to see a face for the anger could be felt in her voice.
He had already stopped his advance hoping she didn't notice. He turned to look at her and there she was, standing akimbo just outside the class. She had this 'I don't want to hear anything' look. "Ahmad!!, don't think i didn't see you, to my office!!", she said, glaring at him.
Ahmad knowing he couldn't talk his way through this one, glanced at Sophia and walked away shoulder slumped after saying, "Yes Maam!!". Charles and his goons snickered seeing this, but before he could walk away," Charles!!, you too, follow him!", she said knowing he was the only likely culprit.
As the crowd saw her adjust her glasses, they all knew what it meant. So, soundlessly, they all left in a jiffy for they knew only detention awaited those that remained. She sighed seeing this. This wasn't the first them she caught Ahmad in a scene and she knew this wouldn't be the last. She felt sorry for that poor boy, but there was nothing she could do as Charles had a big background.
So, he couldn't be touched and she could only scold him and let him go and he also knew that so he did anything he liked knowing he wouldn't be punished. She had to do something about it or things would get out of hands. She gave the class a glance and walked away, going back to her office.