Peter was allowed to explain before Claudia, and his explanation was cool, but on hearing Claudia explain, everyone clapped before she could make an end to her explanation.
Peter looked at Claudia from where he was sitting, and he was proud of her.
The class roared as Claudia took a bow.
"It would be nice if I had her as my girlfriend, but I won't, as I want her away from trouble," Peter said to himself remembering what his friends told him.
He looked at her as she walked to her bench.
He pitied her because she wore worn-out shoes, showing that she was poor.
"Turn over to the next page." The teacher said. "Master the topic for next week's class."
Minutes later, the teacher left.
Michael walked to Peter with a smile on his face.
"Thank you for what you did," Peter said.
"Love!" Michael exclaimed, laughing. "Let's step out."
Peter nodded and got up.
He walked with Michael out of the class and decided to ask his bordering question.
"Can I keep my relationship secret?" He asked and Michael looked at him.
"About?" Michael asked and Peter smiled.
"If she agrees to date me?" Peter said and Michael hissed.
"Why do you brood over this?" Michael asked.
"I just want to know," Peter replied.
"You can't be with her. She isn't your type, nor would I tell you to play her." Michael said smiling. "She is very poor. Her shoes are bad. I guess she is only good in academics."
Peter felt bad hearing his friend talk like that.
"You should also remember that your relationship can't be secretive if you ever date her because poor people don't keep secrets," Michael said. "Also you can't just date in your final class."
"We will be having our test next month and final exam in the next three months," Peter said, nodding.
"That's right," Michael said.
Peter stood still looking at Michael.
"Why did you want Diana?" He asked and Michael smiled.
"It's all to me," Michael said, and Peter smiled, nodding.
"Alright, what do you want to tell me?" Peter asked.
Michael told him all he wanted to say, and then they returned to the lab, where they took their bags and left for another lab.
The teacher walked in and gave them each a specimen to work on and a paper describing the process and what they should do.
They began to work on their specimen and Claudia finished hers in thirty minutes.
She raised her hands, and the teacher came to collect them.
When they were all done, the teacher looked at all the work and praised Claudia for her good work.
Minutes later, the teacher left.
Diana walked to Claudia and hugged her as she felt remorse for what she was about to do then.
"Terry's mother sells while her father works as a cobbler." Someone said from behind laughing while some people joined in the laughter.
Claudia felt sorry for Terry although she was not close to her.
Claudia's mother works around washing clothes to be paid while her father rides his bicycle around, so to her, Terry's parents were far better than hers.
"So what about that?" Terry asked. "We do not beg and we own our business."
Some boys laughed, making Claudia sad as she imagined what would happen when they found out about hers.
Minutes later, they all went into their class where they interacted with themselves.
Peter was told to interact with both Claudia and Kelly, a dark girl.
Claudia and Peter's eyes met, and Peter's heart beat faster. He only wished to be with her and not away from her as told by his friends.
Claudia took her eyes off Peter and began the conversation.
Minutes later, they ended and all of them left.
Diana walked to Peter and gave him a peck before leaving while all the people who invested in Peter's business waited and Peter transferred their money to them but gave Claudia hers handy.
Claudia held on to hers and kissed them.
She put the money into her bag and left.
Peter took in a deep breath, took up his bag, and followed behind Claudia.
He trekked following her for over thirty minutes, hiding whenever she looked back, but nevertheless, he was determined to follow her, though he was tired.
She continued moving and getting to a place, some boys blocked her path, telling her to hand over her bag to them carefully if she didn't want them to forcefully take her money.
Claudia opened her mouth imagining who could have told them about her money. Her thought only was on Peter.
"Why would he do that?" She asked herself.
The boy dragged her hands as she didn't want to cooperate with them.
On seeing this, Peter came out from where he was hiding and blew one of the boys hard, making Claudia surprised, but the remaining boys overpowered him and beat him.
Claudia used a stick to stop them and held Peter up.
She took the injured Peter to her house informing her mother of what happened.
"Thank you." The woman said.
They treated him and gave him a hot cup of tea.
Peter looked around the poor house and imagined how life was for Claudia.
"Thank you, Mrs. Banks." He said when he was feeling better.
"Alright, I have to leave." Mrs. Banks said and left.
Peter looked at Claudia.
"Whosoever planned this is going to pay," Peter said dipping something into her hands.
"I can't..." Claudia was saying seeing the money.
"Do not worry." He said. "Just see it as a way of thanking you for your care."
Before she could say anything, Peter had left.
"Who planned to steal my money?" She asked herself.
The following day, Peter rose up early in the morning.
"Today, I will get to the root of the matter." He said to himself fuming.
His mind went to Michael but he shook his head.
"It can't be." He said to himself.