chapter 5

Sadik was silent all day along in the class without uttering a single word to anyone in the classroom. When a teacher comes in, Sadik tried to hide himself so that he won't be asked to introduce himself. Sarah kept defending him when other students were making fun of him. It was 2 O'clock, the closing time for class. The class bell was rung and the students started getting out of their classes. The Christian students headed to their hostels while the Muslim students headed towards the Mosque. Sadik was the last person to go out of the class. When he went down stairs, he found Peter waiting for him. Immediately Peter saw him, he ran to him and held his hand."How was the class today?" Peter asked."It was okay" Sadik replied."But you look so depressed, did something bad happen?"Peter asked."I was being made fun of in the class even by some of the teachers" Sadik complained."Please be patient Sadik, most of the kids you see here are spoilt so they shouldn't bother you" Peter said trying to pacify Sadik."Oh thank you Peter" Sadik appreciated."Come on, we should get going" Peter suggested.

Peter and Sadik walked away from the area of the classes, they got to a point where there was a road that leads to the mosque."We should meet in the room when you are done praying" Peter said."Okay I will see you there" Sadik replied. Sadik went to the mosque and prayed, after that, he went to room and found Anas waiting for him."How was the class today?" Anas requested."It was nice" Sadik responded with a fake smile on his face."No it wasn't" Peter interrupted."Most of the students in his class kept insulting him throughout his stay in the class" he continued."Is that so?" Anas asked angrily."You should report them to the boarding house master or the Vice principal". "No its okay" Sadik said."I will leave them for today" he added."Oh that's so nice of you, I just came to check if you're okay" Anas said."Thank you house captain, but I think everything is okay now" Sadik replied."You boys should change into your house wear, the bell for lunch will ring any moment from now" Anas concluded. Peter and Sadik changed into their house wear. They went to the dining hall and had their lunch.

Tuesday and Saturday are usually sport days in the school. The sport starts from 4 pm and ends by 6pm. All students are supposed to wear track suit that matches the color of their house and a white canvas for the sport. Peter and Sadik went to the field together after they had dressed. It was the first time Sadik was seeing something thing like that. The field was so beautiful with grass carpet all over the ground. Most of the boys were playing football and basket ball and very few were playing lawn tennis and table tennis. For the girls, most of them were playing volley ball and hand ball while others were playing local games. Sadik was so amused that made him wished to be part of it. But as soon as he remembered what happened to him in class, he decided he is only going to watch.

"What sport game do you prefer?" Peter asked Sadik."Actually, I'm not good at any" Sadik replied."Oh you don't mean that, at least you're supposed to be good at one" Peter insisted."Actually we only play football in my previous school, and I don't think I'm good at it either" Sadik replied."What about volley ball? I think is the simplest sport game" Peter said. "Perhaps I would have been good if I had had the chance to play" Sadik replied.

Sadik saw some group of girls playing volley with a very Fat girl among them."Please don't break our ball" James said laughing at the fat girl as he was passing close to the volley ball coat. The fat girl ignored him; she only smiled without saying anything.

Sadik and Peter went close to the football field and sat on the grass carpet and watched the football game. They talked about each other's life as the game was taking place. As Sadik looking around, he suddenly saw Fatima playing hand ball and all his attention diverted to her. She wore a green track suit with her hair falling across her back. Sadik kept watching her as she was happily playing. When the ball was thrown out of play, Fatima ran to get the ball. When she bent down to pick the ball, her eyes caught him staring at her and he quickly looked away and pretended as if he was watching the handball."I must be such a fool" he thought in his mind.

At six O'clock, all the students started leaving the field to their various hostels. Sadik and Peter were also leaving to their hostel when they came across a group of girls surrounding the fat girl."I thought you said you will finish it today" one of the girl said."I'm sorry, many people had brought theirs too and that's why I delayed" the Fat girl replied."Well, you better get it done by tomorrow or else you will never talked to me again" the girl said and she left with the other girls leaving the fat girl behind. Peter and Sadik were behind them watching everything."I really pity that girl, she is a very kind person and the students here took that opportunity and make use of her" Peter said."People in this school are cruel" Sadik responded."Come let's go talk to her" Peter suggested, and he dragged Sadik by the hand as they walked to her. "Hello Mary" Peter said."Hi Peter, how are you?" She asked."I'm doing well. I didn't see you playing at the field today" Peter said."Yes I didn't, I was busy that's why I didn't get involved in any game" Mary said. "But I did play volley ball for about 10 minutes" she added. "Oh I see" peter responded. "Is like I'm seeing a new face with you" Mary sighted."Oh yes, his name is Sadik" Peter replied."What class are you Sadik?" Mary inquired."I'm in SS2 C" Sadik answered."You must be new here, because I've never seen you before" she responded."Yes I came here yesterday" Sadik replied."Oh that's good Sadik, see you next time" Mary said."You too Mary" Sadik replied.

Sadik together with Peter walked to their hostel, they took their shower and changed into their house wear. At about 8 pm in the night, all the students had gotten ready for their night prep. The boys moved to their classes while girls moved to the school library. Sadik and Peter walked out the hostel together."Let's meet after the night prep," Peter suggested."Okay I'm even feeling sleepy" Sadik replied."Oh so soon? Don't go and sleep in the class, you might be punished for it" Peter advised."Oh I'm just kidding Peter" Sadik teased."Okay we will meet later" Peter giggled and walked away. Sadik walked to his class thinking of the trouble he's going to meet. He quietly entered the class and went straight to his seat. He was surprised that the class was so quiet then he noticed the school head boy in the class. The head boy was in charge of controlling SS2 C and other prefects are in charge of controlling other junior classes. For the final year classes,some teachers were in charge of controlling them.

The class was quiet and the students were busy with their books throughout the study time. A bell rang by exactly 9 pm indicating that the study time was over. Sadik stood up and headed towards the door."Hey where are you going to?" The head boy stopped him."I thought the study time is over" Sadik replied."You're just desperate to leave, don't you know that the first bell is for the girls?" The head boy questioned." I have no idea so" Sadik replied."Okay boys are supposed to go by 9:15 pm, so you have to wait for another 15 minutes" the head boy said."Okay can I please go and ease myself" Sadik requested."You have five minutes to do that" the head boy replied. Sadik went to the washroom of his class. After he was done and was about to leave, he notice Fatima walking on the school main road with her two friends through the window. By the side of the road, were blocks painted black and white with street light giving out a very beautiful and bright light ahead of them. He stopped and watched her walking across the road with her friends until she was no more visible. He went back to the class and soon, the bell was rung for the second time. Sadik came out of class and found Peter waiting for him and they continued walking together.