"What do you want to talk about with me?" I asked, looking at Clarissa, my best friend. Clarissa was a very beautiful teen with her curly ginger hair, light brown eyes, pointed nose and full lips. If I were a boy, I would date her. She was so gorgeous, especially with her freckles on her cheeks, my goodness! She was a curvaceous short girl. It was her biggest insecurity to have big backside and big breast. If only she knew how beautiful she was. Clarissa was born in a small town in Canada before her parents came to live in New York when she was three years old.
She nervously looked at me and replied, "I like your brother." My heart skipped a beat when she confessed. Fear gripped my heart tightly. I hope she is not talking about Cyrus. For some unknown reason, that was the first thing I thought about. "Which one?" I interrogated, somehow scared of the answer. "Xavier." Immediately the name left her mouth, I let out a breath full of relief. "Really? I thought after what he did, you have forgotten about him?" I asked, excited now. She shyly shook her head. "Oh my gosh, my best friend is going to be my sister-in-law! That bastard didn't tell me anything though". I said.
"That's because it's still one sided." She dropped the revelation on me and my smile slowly dropped. "What?" I asked. "He still doesn't like me back." I felt really sad for her. "I will help you win -" I was interrupted by her shaking her head. "No, Aelia. I didn't tell you so you would help me. I just wanted to tell you because I thought you deserve to know since he's your brother." She said but I was going to have none of it. I made it my new mission to bring both of them together.
"Did you hear? Mr. Fox resigned," our assistant class president spoke behind us. Clarissa and I turned around to look at him. "What?" I asked. Kingsley nodded in affirmation. Even though we were Fashion students, we took History and Chemistry. In case any of us wished to study History or Chemistry at the tertiary level, we would get the chance to do it. "So who will be taking us in History now?" I asked curiously. You see, Clarissa and I just loved gossip. No juicy gossip got passed us. If the matter happened five minutes ago, we would have heard it the minute it happened. "Mr. Jackson, our principal." He replied and out of nowhere, I became nervous. Of course, everyone knew that Cyrus was mine and Xavier's brother but he was ruthless to the extent that he did not favor us during school hours.
One time, he even suspended Xavier for engaging in a fight with his colleague, for two whole weeks. Apparently, Xavier's ex-girlfriend, I hated Catherine so much, had cheated on him with his colleague. Filled with rage, Xavier had gotten into a heated fight with the colleague. It's safe to say the colleague had to be hospitalized at the end of the fight.
I turned in my seat and grabbed my History notebook. Somehow, I wanted to impress Cyrus. I was a straight A student but trust me when I tell you that it was not easy to get an A if Cyrus was the teacher. I learnt from our past seniors that last year, not a single student got even a C in their Chemistry exams. Yes, my brother is that wicked.
Just then, the class door opened to reveal my elder brother, Cyrus Jackson. The man he was. The class went quiet immediately he stepped in. The aura around him alone could make anyone piss himself except me, of course. I found him admirable. "Good morning, class. Sadly, Mr. Fox will not be taking you anymore in History. I will be your substitute teacher for the rest of the semester. I will take my time and spell out my most simple rules to you. No student here will be treated specially no matter what our relationship may be.
1. I have zero tolerance for lateness. Once I enter the classroom before you, it means that you won't be taking History that day.
2. I will not tolerate anyone's phone ringing during lesson. Once it rings, kindly pick up your bag and excuse us.
3. I would hate to find any of you chatting either verbally or by any digital means while lesson is going on. Once you are caught, you will go through a three-day detention.
That will be all for now, the rest will be forwarded to your class presidents so that they will send it you. Thank you. Now, where did Mr. Fox pause in his last lesson?"
While he spoke, I quietly scoffed and rolled my eyes. "Such an asshole on his first day." The moment I whispered, I heard him call my name. "Miss Aelia." I sat up right. Everyone was looking at me. "Is there anything you would like to share with us?" He asked. I felt heat creep up to my cheeks as I shyly shook my head. "No, sir." I replied. When he nodded, I thought he would let it slide but I was in for a surprise when he asked, "Miss Aelia, kindly enlighten us on why maps were created." I wanted to give him a cheeky answer so badly but the hard look he sent my way made me think otherwise. I politely gave my answer.
He nodded in approval at my answer and continued with the lesson. For the rest of the lesson, I only kept glaring at him with a pout on my lips. I was not going to talk to him for the rest of the day. "Time is almost up. Tomorrow, I expect that each and everyone of you will submit a printed summary note on our first president's administration. Key points will be based on his start and end of service and how he helped the country develop economically and socially. Not more than two thousand words." Why? I looked around to find everyone with a displeased look on their individual faces. I almost burst into laughter.
If this was how Cyrus was going to take us for the rest of the semester, then it was already clear that nobody was going to like him. I sighed and shook my head in disappointment. To make matters worse, it didn't even look like he cared. Well, who was I kidding? This was Cyrus Jackson, the most ruthless yet most successful principal there ever was.