A brown diary sits open in front of Magnus Kwabena Pais as he slides his pen above it.
There is a poem written down. He titles it 'Dewdrop', indirectly dedicating it to his heartbeat, Anthemon Yaa Tane. A few metres away in the classroom is Henry Cladwell, whose clanking footsteps draw nearer.
Magnus is so engrossed in reading through his poem, he doesn't realize this. Henry walks faster. Magnus gives a smile to his diary, still reading. Suddenly, he sees two hands slapped strongly on his table, sounding a loud thud.
The class goes silent and all heads turn to face Magnus' table. Various eyes roll over not in surprise because this was nothing new to them. Anthemon watches the figure towering above Magnus and whispers "Oh poor Magnus".
In front of Magnus was the guy famed for his extensive bullying skills. One whose name brought the knees of weak and fearful students wobbling and down with forced respect. Even though, he was on the same level as any other student, he commanded yet great authority on them, mainly the quiet and innocent-looking boys.
Magnus was today's pick because he had noticed how Magnus would stare at Anthemon and scribble something down afterwards. This had gone on for long but he decided not to interfere.
In his eyes, the limit of this nonsense had reached and he had to find out whatever it was Magnus was always writing. Today was that day. He was predator and Magnus was prey and he would have his answers at long last.
Henry looks down on Magnus with a scrunched face as he sinks into his chair. He intentionally takes a quick look at the door of the classroom. Henry looks there too. Magnus places the diary under the desk and places an exercise book on his table in place of it. Henry looks back at him, feeling within himself that something has changed. His eyes scan the table.
"Where is it?"
"Where is what?"
"You know what I'm talking about"
"What if I don't?"
"Don't make me hurt you… I just want to know what your deal is with this writing stuff"
"Hurt me? Seriously Henry? Your father brought you to school to-"
"Don't bring my father into this" Henry grunts, "You don't know me"
"Henry, I.."
"See her?", Henry whips his eyebrows to Anthemon's direction. Magnus looks, catching her staring for a moment. "She's the cause of all this"
"Henry, you don't have to do this"
"Oh but I do", he chuckles, "You're not allowed to live a pretty life and have your crush alongside"
"Who says I have a pretty life? Do you even kno-"
"You can't have your cake and eat it too Magnus"
"You are just evil" Magnus' pretty dark face becomes gloomy.
"Magnus…" they lock in on an intense stare, as Henry's bright brown eyes get closer to him
"Call me evil, call me wicked, call me a bully… I don't care. All those are tags I could take down anytime"
Magnus pants slightly, his heart racing from the intimidation.
"Henry you don't have to do this", Magnus whispers
"Not this statement again, if you're scared of what I'll find out in the diary, how much more her… She'll find out how much of a dork… You. Are." He pokes his chest with his fair veined hands.
Magnus remains silent.
"You think because she's your colour, she'll just accept you?"
"Don't be racist Cladwell!", Magnus' arms rest on the sides of the seat of his chair, slightly wobbly.
"Then bring the diary." Henry's built body towered above Magnus' slimness.
"Make me"
Anthemon watches this. She feels the tension rise and doesn't like where it's heading. A hand taps her shoulder, from the back, slightly grazing her well rounded afro. She looks back with slight shock.
"Oh Sabine… umm" Anthemon pauses, "…hey"
"Hey.. Anthemon" Sabine says with her voice cracking. Sabine herself understands how poor the level of communication between her and Anthemon was.
She, Sabine, had a devastatingly evil plan. That which could possibly end the life of Anthemon. Her eyes twinkled with a malice as her grip on Anthemon's shoulder tightened slightly. She smiles at her wryly, walking to her front. Anthemon sucks in her lips tightly. She takes Sabine's hand and pulls it away from her shoulder gently.
Sabine looks surprised and smirks. Anthemon smiles and asks, "How are you doing?"
Sabine draws back a bit and smiles with her head tilted to one side and her right arm resting on Anthemon's table. "I just happen to have the bucket in front of you and I'm just waiting for you to stumble…" she says with a slight whisper and a hint of joy and sadism.
She pauses. With her mouth slightly open and her head still tilted, she stretches out all the fingers on her right arm, tapping each finger on the table in rapid succession. She licks her teeth slowly as she closes her mouth and clicks her tongue, smiles again and locks eyes deeply with Anthemon. Anthemon's eyes widen with confusion as she didn't understand what parabolic phenomenon was taking place in Sabine's sentence.
"I'm sorry, I don't quite get you" she says, trying to break herself free from the shell of discomfort Sabine had placed her in.
"…and kick the bucket", Sabine concludes.
She leaves Anthemon confused and releases her hand from the table. She waves at Anthemon before she proceeds to take her seat, a few seats away from Anthemon's.
Anthemon hears a loud rip of paper and looks over to Magnus' direction. To her surprise, Magnus was surrounded by sheets of papers, seemingly torn from some books on his table.
"Look.. fine. I'll show you what I was writing but please don't let anyone know"
Magnus had the actual diary in which he was writing his pieces in, between his knees now. Henry had threatened to harm his beloved Anthemon if he didn't show him everything he was writing. At first, Magnus tried to act smart and gave him an almost empty exercise book with mini-pools of uncompleted pieces in them.
Henry, being the bully that he was, snapped and tore all the pages to pieces. But finally, Magnus gave in to Henry's desire for the sake of peace.
He handed his diary over to Henry who read with a slight chuckle. Henry begins to read softly, a piece titled 'Her Name'.
"Anthemon, name of flowers
Anthemon, name of peace
One which could bring down hearts of towers
Unchanging, for no one to please
Eyes, brightest amongst all lights
Lips, so carefully and perfectly carved
With love so eternal
Anthemon, name of gold
Anthemon, name of perfection
One which could redefine nations of old
Being that wave of change, perfection's reflection
Redoing the broken
With peace in her, forever dwelling
Anthemon, Anthemon, name of might
Anthemon, Anthemon, I love you just right"
"That's very very…" Henry doesn't complete his sentence and walks over to his seat, plopping the diary on Magnus' table. Magnus sighs and feels slightly convinced that everything was okay. Soon, school came to an end.
The next day at school, Henry steps in front of the class and announces, "Juice of the dayyy!" he pauses and sees the looks of confusion on everyone's face.
"Eh? You've also joined the Juice family?" Favour Dola says softly with his peculiar Nigerian accent but with the slight intention to be heard by Henry.
"Yeah, I know it's usually Margot who does this but she'll come with her own juice on that bad boy very soon but for now, let me give you all my juice of the day" Henry says, smiling.
Magnus is confused and doesn't understand what is going on, he notices Henry smirk at him for a few seconds. His breath begins to speed up and his eyes widen. He covers his mouth with his right hand and lets out a soft, "no".
He takes his bag which sat carefree on his side. He opens the zip and continues to whisper a "no", repetitively. He looks through the books in his bag, his hands trembling and his breath increasing in speed every passing second. He realizes that his little diary was nowhere in his bag. He shakes his head vigorously, "Oh God", he whispers. He locks eyes with Henry, who smirks yet again at him.