HE GIRL OUTSIDE SCHOOL

Precious sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the message on her phone.

The unknown person had promised to help her get Daniel's attention.

She read the message again.

UNKNOWN NUMBER: "Let's talk first."

Precious typed a reply.

PRECIOUS: "How did you get my number?"

The response came a few moments later.

UNKNOWN NUMBER: "Rita."

Precious frowned.

PRECIOUS: "Rita gave you my number?"

UNKNOWN NUMBER: "Not exactly. I saw your number when she was showing me something on her phone."

Precious was not convinced.

PRECIOUS: "What's your name?"

UNKNOWN NUMBER: "Sandra."

Precious remembered Rita mentioning a girl called Sandra sometime earlier, but she had never spoken to her.

PRECIOUS: "Okay. What do you want?"

SANDRA: "I heard you have a new teacher you admire. I just want to know if it's true."

Precious hesitated.

She knew she should not be discussing her private feelings with a stranger. Favour and Rita had already warned her.

But curiosity was getting the better of her.

PRECIOUS: "Who told you?"

SANDRA: "Don't worry about that. I know Rita, and I know a little about these things."

PRECIOUS: "What things?"

SANDRA: "How to make someone notice you."

Precious stared at the screen.

Before she could respond, her mother's voice came from outside.

MOTHER: "Precious! Have you finished your assignment?"

She quickly locked her phone.

PRECIOUS: "Almost, Mummy!"

MOTHER: "Don't spend the whole evening pressing your phone. Your examination is getting closer."

PRECIOUS: "Okay, Mummy."

Her mother walked away.

Precious picked up the phone again.

She was about to reply when another message arrived.

SANDRA: "Let's meet sometime. I can explain better."

Precious looked at the message for a long time.

Then she replied.

PRECIOUS: "Maybe."

The following morning, Techage Model College was already busy.

Students gathered around the notice board to check the latest announcement about the inter-house academic competition.

Samuel was arguing with another student about which house would win.

SAMUEL: "I'm telling you, Blue House will win this year."

BLESSING: "You said the same thing last year, and your house came third."

SAMUEL: "That was because the judges were not fair."

BLESSING: "Of course. The judges were responsible for your poor performance."

Nearby, Precious walked into the classroom with Favour.

Esther was already seated, reading her notebook.

ESTHER: "Good morning."

FAVOUR: "Morning."

PRECIOUS: "Good morning."

Esther looked at Precious.

ESTHER: "Did you prepare for the selection exercise?"

PRECIOUS: "Yes. I revised Economics and English."

FAVOUR: "Me too. I think we should practise together after school."

ESTHER: "That's a good idea."

Precious placed her bag on the desk.

Her phone vibrated inside it.

She checked discreetly.

SANDRA: "Good morning. Have you thought about what I said?"

Precious quickly locked the screen.

Favour noticed.

FAVOUR: "Who is that?"

PRECIOUS: "Nobody."

FAVOUR: "Nobody is sending you messages this early?"

PRECIOUS: "It's just somebody."

ESTHER: "Somebody we know?"

PRECIOUS: "Can I not receive messages again?"

Favour raised her hands.

FAVOUR: "Okay, Madam Privacy. We won't ask."

But Esther continued watching her.

Something about Precious's behaviour was becoming increasingly unusual.

Later that morning, Mrs Williams entered the classroom with Daniel.

MRS WILLIAMS: "Students, we are here to conduct the first selection exercise for the inter-house academic competition."

The students became excited.

DANIEL: "Good morning, everyone."

STUDENTS: "Good morning, sir!"

Mrs Williams explained the arrangement.

Students would answer questions from different subjects. Their performance, confidence and ability to work under pressure would help determine who represented SS2.

Samuel rubbed his hands together.

SAMUEL: "This is my time."

BLESSING: "Please, just don't disgrace us."

The first question was directed to Samuel.

He answered incorrectly.

The class laughed.

SAMUEL: "I was testing the question."

MRS WILLIAMS: "Samuel, please allow the next person to answer."

When it was Precious's turn, Daniel asked an Economics question.

DANIEL: "Precious, what is the difference between demand and quantity demanded?"

Precious stood up.

PRECIOUS: "Demand refers to the entire relationship between price and the quantity consumers are willing and able to buy, while quantity demanded refers to the specific amount consumers are willing and able to buy at a particular price."

Daniel nodded.

DANIEL: "Very good. That's a clear explanation."

Mrs. Williams recorded her score.

Favour answered the next question correctly, while Esther demonstrated a good understanding of English grammar.

By the end of the exercise, all three girls had performed reasonably well.

MRS WILLIAMS: "I am pleased with your efforts. The final list will be published after the teachers review the scores."

The students applauded.

Precious smiled.

For a moment, her attention was completely on her academic achievement.

But as the class ended, she remembered Sandra's message.