Chapter 3: Chapter 3

Family dinner in the Arrowhood's mansion was short. They all headed to thier respective rooms after Desmond asked his mother when his father would be back from his business trip.

"He should be back next week" she said.

While they were eating, Desmond noticed Michelle was too lost in thought. He knew something was wrong somewhere and maid up his mind to find out before going to bed.

*****************

Michelle laid on her bed crying with her pillow in her hand as she recalled the memories of the third and last academic year which was the most difficult time for her in the junior high school when the relationship between her and Richard turned out for the worst. She had known Richard at the beginning of the first academic year in the junior high school. Initially, she's not the very social type. She never associated much with her mates because of her temper except for Daisy. Rather she loved being alone in her own world of imaginations out fear that she might offend a lot of people with her strange actions which no one would understand.

Whenever she had to communicate with anyone not too close to her, she talked less and rather looked away. This made her mates think she's rude, aggressive, full of herself, and snobbish. Only Daisy understood what she was avoiding and tried to ameliorate the situation, but was never a success.

Richard had joined the school lately and unfortunately, he was in Michelle's class. As the whiz kid that Michelle was, he tried making friends with her but she never cared about it and whenever they had an argument, it always turned out to become an altercation. With time,they became aquatinted with each other but only in class. He studied her every move and action, then he found out that her likely weakness was her temper. Therefore, he started frustrating her by picking on her. Overnight, he turned into her bully. All along, she cared less and tried all possible best to avoid him.

However, the last year in the junior high school was the most torturing for her. Things only became complicated. She had a final exam and an entrance exam to write, but couldn't concentrate and she also had to indulge in aberrant behaviours  punishable by the school laws and it became her usual habit back then.

Richard tormented her in so many ways that she couldn't avoid. It was like a battle she's destined to fight because everytime she reported him to the school authority, and he is punished, he would only stop for some time and devise another method of getting back at her which only hurt her more.

Making, the whole situation totally unbearable for her, Richard made every single classmate of hers speak badly of her to her face and behind her back. Even some crimes  she knew nothing of were alleged upon her. Then she became the subject matter of little gossips which is something she dreads badly.

Michelle wanted to tell her mum because she knows what length her mum could go for her over the matter but she was scared it'll only make matters worse as Richard was not the type to give up his plans easily.

Flashing back to one of the terrible incidents, which made her cry more was when Richard spilled a greasy oil on her school uniform. Back then, when he soiled her clothes, she had reported him to a teacher since she didn't want to portray the image of a nuisance. The teacher followed her to her class to investigate the matter, only to discover that the whole class supported Richard instead of saying the truth.

"Who did this?" the teacher had questioned with rage. Margaret the leader of the MaVaMi trio which comprised of three gossip girls of average height had shouted that no one was responsible for the act.

"How come her uniform is stained?" the teacher questioned further.

"I think the oil spilled on her dress from her school bag. Maybe when she wanted to take something. Who knows?" Vanessa, the second girl of the gossip group had said to the teacher in pretence. The teacher moved closer to Michelle's bag and found an open plastic containing oil in it. She looked up at Michelle.

"What's this?" she asked.

"That's the oil pack ma'am" the other kids had told the teacher. On getting to the spot, Michelle was shocked down to earth. Her school books and jotters were heavily soiled with oil.

"It's a lie. It's Richard's doing" she shrieked.

"You crazy bitch! Richard never did a thing. He has been silent the whole while. Why are you bent on implicating him? You must be out of your mind." Miranda the last member of the gossip girls yelled at her.

"Who is lying? You or me? Did you just call me a bitch?" Michelle had asked, her temper intensified violently.

"Yes! What can you do?. It's only a bitch like you that's capable of lying" the MaVaMi trio yelled in unison.

A shouty exchange of words had ensued between Michelle and her classmates as she tried to defend herself in the presence of the teacher.

"Decorum!" the class teacher Miss Caroline had shouted.

"What's wrong with you all?. Are you all out of your senses?" she had asked.

"We're sorry ma'am" They all apologized.

"Sorry for yourself! Miss Arrowhood, to my office" she instructed Michelle.

Only then did it dawn on Michelle that Richard had set a trap for her. He had placed the oil bottle in her bag after spilling it on her, got the other kids on his side and make it seem like she's the perpetrator of the crime.

"He really planned it well" she thought. She entered the staff's office after the teacher.

"Kneel over there" the teacher had ordered and she obeyed without a word to save herself from further trouble.

"You came into my office to report an innocent fellow" the teacher had begun.

"No...it....it's not...." Michelle had stammered out if fear.

"Keep quiet! What is not?" the teacher had yelled frightening her more.

"I must not hear a word from you until you are told to speak" she continued. "Now I'll list your offences and the respective punishment for them. Firstly, accusing an innocent person. For that you'll be the school janitor for a week after which you'll apologise to the person in question".

Michelle gasped. She was confused on why she was to apologise and who exactly was to apologise. Then the teacher continued "Secondly, causing commotion in class during lessons, you'll have to give up your post as the class president for that. Also, lack of respect for a teacher and use of foul language. I'll spare you for this because I've never known you to behave so terribly. You Are really disappointing. And lastly, you have to adhere strictly to the punishments or you get suspended."

"Now get out of here. Brilliant for nothing fool!" the teacher had concluded.

All the memories were still fresh like it happened the day before.

"If Richard could get all the kids to support him, what about the teacher, how did he get her? , Or is she just being partial and plonky?" that was a question Michelle never had an answer to.

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Michelle decided not to think about it anymore and straightened up in preparation to sleep. During that period of her psychological and emotional imbalance, it was only Desmond her elder brother who understood her actions and stood by her. This had really made them closer than anyone in the family. He had strengthened her physically and emotionally with so much inspiring words.

Michelle thought of going to discuss with her brother, but she changed her mind comforting herself that it's nothing. A knock on her door startled her but she waited to know who was knocking.

"Mich, are you asleep?" Desmond asked when there was no response.

"I know you're yet to sleep. May I come in?"

"Come in" she responded weakly. Desmond entered her room closing the door gently behind him.

"I like your room fragrance. It's been a while" he said. Michelle sat bolt upright on her bed with a book in her hand. Desmond sat close to her studying her facial expression. Yet, she didn't utter a word because she knew damn right that her brother would know something was wrong from her cracky voice.

"Mich! What's the matter again?" He spoke softly almost like a whisper. Michelle nodded her head negatively which was to tell him that nothing was wrong.

"That's a lie!. You not saying a thing is a problem. And the fact that you've been crying here ever since you ate dinner is also a problem. Michelle, talk to me. Have you forgotten that you have a shoulder to lean on when you're down?" He asked calmly. His cool, appeasing words made all her faked courage melt. Desmond patted her back assuring her that she'll be alright. With time, she stopped crying.

"What's the matter" he asked again.

"We'll be resuming school on Monday" she said.

"So?"

"I'm apprehensive"

"Is this about Richard?". Michelle nodded affirmatively.

"What about him?"

"Daisy told me she saw him the day before and he might be up to something more hurting this time"

"Then you are scared he might bring you down again"

"Something like that" she said.

"Whatever happens, just be calm and follow the principles I taught you last time. Okay?". She nodded again.

"So what'are they?"

" Avoid superlous discussions with him, smiling at all times and I should never show when I'm hurt in his presence" she concluded.

"Moreso, at all times, control your temper and never cry in his presence. It'll only boost his ego"

"I'll try my best" she sighed with relief.

"That's my little angel". She smiled.

"You see that smile, I love it" Desmond commented.

"Thanks to you" she replied and bade him goodnight.

Desmond waited in her room, until she was really asleep, covered her with her duvet, then left her room closing the door quietly. He finally allayed her fears. On his way back to his room, he kept thinking.

"What does this Richard of a guy want from my sister. I guess it's time for me to find out"