chapter 4

As Miss Karen entered the classroom, her bright smile and sparkling eyes immediately caught Sophia's attention. "Oh, look who decided to grace us with her presence today," Miss Karen said, her voice dripping with warmth and enthusiasm.

Sophia's eyes locked onto Miss Karen's, and she couldn't help but smile. "Good morning, Miss Karen. I'm so happy to have graced the class with my presence," Sophia replied, her voice laced with humor.

Miss Karen chuckled, clearly delighted by Sophia's witty response. "Oh, that's amazing. How are you?" she asked, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

Sophia nodded, feeling a sense of calm wash over her. "I'm fine, Miss Karen."

As Miss Karen began to write on the board, the sound of chalk scraping against the slate filled the air, accompanied by the rustle of papers and the murmur of students chatting quietly. Miss Karen turned to Leah" Leah " she called out "did you tell Sophia about the maths test today " she asked her voice gentle

" yes miss Karen, I did" Leah answered winking at Sophia who sat just opposite her

Deborah, however, sat silently, her eyes fixed on some distant point, her mind consumed by thoughts of the punishment she would receive later that day. She was lost in her own world, oblivious to the commotion around her, until Miss Karen slammed her desk loudly with her test script, making Deborah jump.

Deborah's eyes snapped up to meet Miss Karen's, and for a moment, they locked gazes, the tension between them palpable. "What are you thinking of, Deborah?" Miss Karen asked, her voice firm but gentle.

Deborah shrugged, her eyes dropping to the floor. "Nothing important."

Miss Karen's expression turned stern. "Then focus."

As the test began, the room fell silent, the only sound the scratching of pens on paper and the occasional rustle of pages. Deborah's mind wandered, her thoughts consumed by her love of basketball and her desire to pursue it as a career.

But her father's disapproving face flashed before her eyes, and she felt a surge of anger and frustration. Why couldn't he understand her? Why couldn't he see that basketball was her passion?

The test ended, and Miss Karen collected the scripts, her eyes scanning the room as she did so. Deborah felt a sense of relief wash over her, but it was short-lived.

Miss Karen went on to lecture the class on two more subjects before the bell rang signaling that it time for lunch break

Noise filled the cafeteria due to the number of people trying to grab their lunch and some group of people talking while eating lunch.

Deborah was already in the cafeteria, as she stood to leave she sighted Leah and Sophia coming carrying their food and a book in each of their hands, Deborah deliberately obstructed Sophia's path, causing Sophia to trip and fall hard on the floor. The sound of Sophia's tray of food and papers scattering everywhere filled the air, accompanied by the gasps and murmurs of the other students.

Leah rushed to Sophia's side, helping her up and brushing off her clothes. "I knew you did this, Deborah," Leah said, her voice trembling with anger.

Deborah smirked, her eyes flashing with defiance. "I did nothing, and besides, you don't have any evidence."

But Leah's eyes narrowed. "Too bad for you, you forgot we have a CCTV camera, huh?" Leah said feeling disgusted and angry for what Deborah did to her best friend, she bent down to help her friend up and take her to the school clinic

Deborah's face paled, and she took a step back, her eyes darting wildly around the cafeteria.

The scene unfolded like a slow-motion movie, the tension building with each passing moment. The sound of the cafeteria's chatter and clinking dishes faded into the background as the drama played out.

Finally, the principal's voice cut through the chaos. "Deborah, please come to my office."

Deborah's eyes dropped to the floor, and she trudged out of the cafeteria, her head hung low in shame.

The scene unfolded like a slow-motion movie, the tension building with each passing moment. The sound of the cafeteria's chatter and clinking dishes faded into the background as the drama played out.

When the break ended, Deborah was called into the principal's office. The fluorescent light overhead buzzed faintly as she pushed the heavy door open, her palms clammy against the cool metal handle. Inside, her father's piercing gaze cut through her like a blade. She froze. His deep brown eyes, usually warm, were now filled with disappointment. Deborah couldn't bring herself to meet his stare; she knew trouble had arrived.

Her father turned back to the laptop on the principal's desk, his shoulders stiff. The grainy footage showed Deborah shoving a smaller girl—Sophia—against a row of lockers. The girl crumpled to the ground, clutching her arm. The video looped, and the room felt unbearably silent except for the faint hum of the laptop fan.

Mr. Benjamin shook his head and stood, his hand trembling as he delivered a sharp slap to Deborah's cheek. The sting burned her skin, and tears welled in her eyes, but she refused to cry.

"Deborah," he said, his voice thick with disgust, "how could you hurt people like this? Why is your heart filled with so much anger? Just look at what you did to poor Sophia. She's in pain—because of you!"

Deborah clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. "I've been in pain too," she spat.

Her father frowned, confusion creasing his brow. "What do you mean?"

"She stole you from me!" Deborah's voice cracked, her emotions pouring out like a flood. "She made you love me less! You're always comparing me to her because she's the kind of daughter you've always wanted!"

The room fell silent. Mr. Benjamin's jaw tightened. "You should try being like her," he said coldly. "Maybe then I might have a change of heart."

Deborah's throat burned as she fought back tears. "Dad, I don't want to be in school! I should be at a basketball academy, training for what I truly love. School isn't for everyone!"

"That's not possible," Mr. Benjamin snapped, his voice rising. "I can't let you waste your life chasing a silly dream. Why can't you be like everyone else? Go to school, become something useful—like a doctor, a lawyer—"

"I'm different!" Deborah interrupted, her voice shaking. "Not everyone learns the same way. I just want to be a basketball player. Maybe if I win awards, you'll finally see I'm not useless!"

Mr. Benjamin glared at her, his face flushed. "My decision is final. You're staying in school. I won't let you throw your life away."

"It's not throwing my life away," Deborah murmured, her voice barely audible.

The principal cleared his throat, breaking the tense silence. His voice was calm but firm. "Mr. Benjamin, I understand your frustration, but you need to take it easy on your daughter."

"I need to reset her brain," Mr. Benjamin retorted, pacing the room. "She's losing her mind."

The principal leaned forward, his hands folded on the desk. "But Deborah is being honest with you. She's telling you what she truly wants. Forcing her to stay in school just to fulfill some societal expectation won't help her. She'll keep failing."

Mr. Benjamin stopped pacing, his brows furrowed. "So, you're saying I should let her go to a basketball academy?"

"Yes," the principal replied. "Give her a chance to prove herself to you. Let her show you she's capable."

Mr. Benjamin rubbed his chin, his thoughts swirling. "I'll think about it," he said at last.

The principal nodded, then turned to Deborah, his expression stern. "In the meantime, you will face consequences for your actions. You'll apologize to every single student you've bullied—kneeling if you have to—and make amends."

Deborah's head dropped, her heart sinking.

"And," her father added, pointing a finger at her, "you'll prove to me that you're worthy of my support. No more bullying, in or out of school. You'll complete your punishment and finish high school with decent grades. Do you hear me, Deborah?"

Her voice was small, her shoulders slumped. "Yes, Dad. I hear you."

U

"You can leave now," the principal said, his voice laced with disappointment as he shot her a pointed glare.

Deborah turned and walked out of the office, the weight of their expectations pressing down on her like a storm cloud. The sting of her father's words lingered, but deep inside, a flicker of determination began to burn.

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