Chapter 7: Chapter 7

Daniel arrived home from school to find thier maid in the back in the mansion. He was really hungry.

"Welcome young master" she bowed a little in respect.

"Sister Nancy, I've told you several times not to call me young master. I have a name. Call me Dan instead" he complained letting himself fall on the sofa.

"I'm extremely tired. What can I eat?" he asked.

"I made pancake for lunch and it's still hot" she said and turned to go.

"Sister Nancy!" Daniel called. She turned back facing him.

"Where's my mum?"

"She went out not quite long"

"Perhaps, do you know where she went?" he asked again.

"Nothing like that and I don't dare ask her. Else, I'll lose my job". Daniel smiled at her.

"It's alright. I was just asking". He knew his mother would never tell the maid where she's going. She has changed from what he knows her to be. Nancy went back to the kitchen to serve him his lunch of hot pancake and juice while he remained where he sat. He was still thinking of how the day went for him.

He made friends with Richard in school that day and he had tried talking to Michelle. She responded, but he doesn't like her mode of conversation.

"She's too cold for her looks" he thought.

But what could be the reason she acts like that?. That's something Daniel doesn't have an answer to yet.

"That Daisy of a girl is cool, good looking and close to Michelle. I guess if I become her friend, I can easily get to become Michelle's friend. Yes! That's what I'll do" he smiled to himself.

"Dan. Your food" Nancy prodded his ties since he was now laying on the sofa. He rised up smiling widely, his dimples showing clearly.

"What's making you happy?" she asked.

"Nothing much Nancy. I'm just happy" he said digging into his food. Nancy nodded, "I can really see that. For you to have called me Nancy, you must've been very happy.

"Ah!, Before I forget, your mother instructed me to inform you to prepare for the weekend. Your cousin will be visiting". She dropped the bombshell. Daniel stopped chewing the bit of food in his mouth.

"Which of them?" he asked, then continued eating

"Erm.... I think she said Ma'am Vanessa". Daniel gasped almost choking on his food.

"Take it easy Dan" Nancy patted his back so the food would go through the right way.

"Vanessa?!" he asked immediately he's calm not sure he heard her right.

"Yes. Is there a problem?" Nancy asked.

"Nothing" he replied.

"What's the devil coming to do?" he mumbled.

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

The next day at the Arrowhood's mansion, Roland and Michelle were preparing for school as usual. Desmond was the one who prepared breakfast for the family that day. Amelia came down from her room to see her children before they leave for school.

"Good morning kiddos. You're looking so cute. I can see you're both ready for school" she said.

"Yes mummy!. We don't want to be late. Bye mum!" Michelle said.

"Bye" She waved at them after which she walked to the refrigerator to get herself some water to drink. Then she heard footsteps.

"Desmond" she called lightly but no one answered.

"Desmond!. Is that you?" she repeated.

"Good morning Lia" Scott greeted her instead. She turned her back at him acting like she didn't see him.

"Lia, I'm greeting you" he said trying his luck but got no answer still. He knew she's really angry at him for what transpired the previous night.

"Amelia, I'm really sorry for last night. Try to understand me. I was really tired"

"That's not a good excuse for not answering my question" she fired.

"Take it easy. You don't have to shout Lia. Fine, I'll explain to you" he said. Amelia was about to reply him when Desmond coughed making his presence known to them.

"Good morning. Am I disrupting something? he asked syllabically staring at them one after the other.

"Nothing Desmond. I was looking for you this morning. Where were you?. Amelia asked ignoring what she wanted to say to her husband.

"I went for a morning jog after I finished cooking" he replied.

"That's fine. Make me an Orange juice before I come back here" she instructed before walking up the stairs.

"Lia, don't ignore me please. Let's talk" Scott pleaded but she didn't yield to him. Scott rubbed his fingers in his forehead with one hand tucked in the pocket of his pyjamas gritting his teeth.

"This woman is something". He thought.

"I guess you both are at loggerheads over something. Right?" Desmond asked.

"Yes, but it's nothing serious" Scott replied. Desmond moved closer to his father and made sign for him to hurry after his mother.

Scott entered his wife's room immediately after her. He had ran up the stairs to catch up with her.

"See Lia, I went to the company to attend to an urgent matter. Trust me, I'll have come home straight if it's not important" he sat beside her hoping she doesn't know much of what really happened.

"Then why couldn't you answer when I asked last night?" she questioned. Scott scratched his head with his forefinger.

"Sincerely, I was really dizzy and wasn't paying much attention". Amelia smiled after what he said.

"You think I'm dumb?. I know you more than you know yourself. I'll let it slide for now though" she thought within herself.

"Ok fine" she said. Scott was elated. He really needed her.

"How about I make it up to you now? he snuggled close to her.

'Payback time' she smiled.

"Not now darling. I have to go to the supermarket. The goods I ordered from the beverage company will be delivered today" she stood up from the bed.

"Lia please. I said I'm sorry. You can't punish me like this" he dragged her back to himself.

"Alright" she agreed to satisfy him.

"Finally!. After a long time of pleading" he thought. He kissed his wife hurriedly not able to contain his feelings anymore.

"Don't be rough" she said and he nodded.

***********

At school, Michelle and her friend, together with Daniel and Richard, were offering the same subjects for that session. Michelle say beside her friend as usual in class talking about some girlish activities.

"Good morning everyone" someone entered the class. It was the maths teacher. He was in charge of the first lesson that day.

"Good morning sir" the whole student answered in chorus sitting properly in thier position.

"My name is Mr Andrew. I'll be taking you mathematics for this academic year" he introduced himself.

"Nice knowing you sir" the students replied.

Then, he continued "Before we begin today's class, I'll like to tell you my teaching rules after which you'll introduce yourselves for me to identify you with. Firstly, while I'm teaching, no side discussions. Anyone who wants to ask a question, should always signify first by raising thier hand and he or she is not allowed to speak, without being granted the permission to do so. Moreover, I don't tolerate laziness. Any excersise or assignment given to you in my class should be done properly and submitted promptly. Lastly, if I should pinpoint or correct any student thrice, he or she will face the consequences squarely. Trust me, you wouldn't want to try me" he concluded.

"This teacher is too much. What's with the stupid rules and regulations?. Is he the only teacher in the school?" Jane, the shortest girl in class said to her partner.

"I'm wondering too. I hate maths more than I hate a snake, yet he's instructing to do assignment properly and submit on time" Jane's sitting partner who was sitting at her left side row, hissed.

While they were talking, the teacher heard all they said and smiled. "Spoilt brats"

"Do you understand what I said?" he suddenly roared, his voice sounding very thick and thunderous.

"Yes sir" the students responded as if they were forced to. Concluding what he has to say about his teaching principles, the students introduced themselves one after the other. Then, he began his teaching.

"We'll be revising some things I'm sure you've learnt in your previous classes". He drew a figure, labelled it and faced the class, then asked " Who can find the missing angle?". Immediately, Daniel raised his hand.

" This is an opportunity to show how smart I am. I'll make sure she's impressed" he thought within himself.

"You can come over" the teacher said. Daniel walked towards the classroom board and wrote some things.

"That's all sir" he took a bow and returned to his seat smiling at Michelle, but she scoffed at his action.

"What a show!. I bet he doesn't know he got the answer wrong" she said while Daisy laughed.

As Daniel sat, Richard walked to the board in his bossy style without asking. He picked up the board marker, solved the question on another part of the board, and returned to his seat as well. Then, he winked at Daniel.

"Put your hands together for Richard" The teacher was amazed. "He solved the question perfectly well, the solution steps are orderly and he's very fast" the teacher commented while everyone clapped. Daniel was embarrassed.

"If I knew I'll get the question wrong, I wouldn't stand up first. God knows what she thinks of me now".

Just then, the alarm bell rang indicating the end of the ongoing classes and the beginning of another as it has been programmed by the school. More lesson periods passed with Daniel and Richard fighting mentally.

For each period, Daniel answered any question asked by the teachers. Anyone he got wrong, Richard would answer it without waiting another second. The last class he tried it, Daniel clenched his fist totally annoyed. But Richard whispered to him "Chill dude, it's just a few questions. At least, you got the rest right."

Then the alarm bell rang again. It's time for extra-school activities.

"Finally!" some students said, each of them trooping out to the sports dressing room to change for thier respective activities.

Michelle changed into her Dobok which is another name for a Taekwondo uniform, likewise Richard. While Daniel and Daisy got changed into thier mufties holding thier golf clubs with them. Daisy wore a coloured white polo shirt and a short blue skirt while Daniel's was the same shirt as Daisy's but with black trousers.

"Bye girlfriend. See you later". Daisy waved at Michelle while she went to the golf course.

***********

The martial arts room was filled up halfway. Everyone were dressed in thier wears. The whole dresses looked alike with just slight differences. Richard began troubling Michelle by engaging her in a discussion, but she ignored him by switching her position several times. Yet, he followed her. Coming to her aid, was a senior who will be guiding them for that day since the instructor was absent.

"Everyone should line up properly" he directed and they began practice. Soon, it was closing hours. Michelle picked her short white towel, cleaning the beads of sweats that formed on her face and neck. It's been long she practiced martial arts.

Unknowingly to her, Richard was right at her back. Like a flash of lightning, he used his leg to kick her forward, making her stumble a bit. She tried balancing herself as she learnt before, but Richard had calculated her steps. Then, he immediately used his leg to draw her leg backwards making her fall on her palms and knees. He bent near her and whispered "Next time, don't ignore me. You should have fallen on your stomach. I guess you're smart enough to prevent that".

Michelle stood up and dusted her palms and trousers. Richard smirked at her with his arms crossed. She clenched her fist about to retaliate, but then, someone held her.

_Trouble and Schemes begin!.