It was a Saturday morning, and Jase was already awake before sunrise. He sat in bed reading comics, but his eyes kept drifting toward the alarm clock on his desk. It read 5:13 a.m.
He sighed.
Even though he had something to read, time was crawling. He was too excited. Today was the last day of exams.
Closing his comic book, he muttered, "Bruh… I ain't in the mood to read this."
He grabbed an old magazine about heroes and smirked. "I've had this since last year but never opened it. Hope it's worth my time."
Flipping it open at random, he landed on a page about Hyper X, ranked #7 and known as the fastest hero in Cameroon. But the caption caught his eye:
"Hyper X is Cameroon's speed demon, but his actions often spark controversy. Like the day he saved a hostage in the central market—he destroyed every robot inside, even though they were just caretaker bots."
Jase chuckled. "Guy always causing chaos."
He turned the page again and saw Stadia—the #8 hero of Cameroon. She looked fierce and beautiful. Her power? She could generate and control a special atom called Starlight, similar to photons.
"She's pretty," Jase whispered. "Maybe if I become a hero, I could date her…"
He paused, then shook his head and muttered, "I should stop dreaming."
His mood shifted. He stared at the ceiling.
"Maybe I'll be homeless tomorrow... Who knows. But I'll do my best to become rich."
He checked the clock again — 5:45 a.m. Time for a bath. He took the magazine with him and slipped into the bathtub. As he soaked, he stared at the water and imagined what it'd be like to just drown in it.
Meanwhile, in Obala, a small town miles away…
In a neatly arranged room, a teenage boy named Elan sat at his desk. Four textbooks lay scattered, but his eyes were heavy with frustration. No matter how hard he tried, the information wouldn't stick.
Suddenly, a book slipped off the table. It flipped open to the image of a smiling scientist.
That smile—it reminded him of Jase.
His jaw clenched.
"Why am I even hating him?" he said aloud, his voice bitter. "God just blessed his fucking brain and cursed mine."
He flung the book across the room.
"That guy doesn't even deserve to breathe my air," he growled. "Hope the curse works today."
In a dimly lit room nearby, a hooded figure—the same man who cursed Jase—prepared a bowl of water surrounded by crushed leaves and herbs. A small photo of Jase floated inside. The water rippled unnaturally as the man whispered a strange chant under his breath.
6:00 a.m. — Back in Yaoundé
Jase finished getting dressed, slipping on his bracelet. He caught the early bus to school. By the time he arrived, students were already gathered in the large hall.
The tension was thick. Everyone was murmuring about what they had studied—or more accurately, what they hadn't.
Jase quietly made his way to the back of the hall, then—
"Hyper X is the best hero!" a girl shouted.
"Girl, you only like him because he's handsome," a boy snapped back.
"That's sufficient!" she replied with a smirk.
Jase raised an eyebrow. Wait—they're talking about heroes here?
A girl approached him shyly. "Hey… can you help me, erm… Ndanga?"
Jase glanced at her, ignored the request, and walked past.
"Why are you bragging, dumbass?!" she yelled after him.
Unbothered, Jase joined a group in the back and said, "I prefer Stadia."
Everyone turned. Some were shocked. One guy grinned and stretched out a hand.
"Salute me! Stadia is the best."
They dapped hands.
"What's your name?" Jase asked.
"Emanuel," he replied proudly.
The girl beside him laughed. "We call him Ema."
Jase chuckled. "And what's your—"
Just then, the Dean of Studies entered, his voice stern.
"The exam shall begin. Go to your halls now. I'll never say this enough—no cheating! Good luck. God is with you."
"Amen," the students mumbled.
As the others moved out, Jase stayed behind for a moment, a strange wave of irritation building in his chest. Why do I feel angry all of a sudden?
He entered the exam hall. The invigilator eyed him with suspicion, which only annoyed Jase further.
Once the papers were handed out, Jase looked down, scanned the questions, and smirked.
"This is too easy," he whispered. "I don't even need a calculator for this shit."
Within no time, he finished the paper. Confidently, he stood and walked toward the door.
"Sit down!" the invigilator snapped. "No one leaves before time is up. Go revise your work."
Jase glared at him with cold eyes.
But the invigilator didn't flinch.
Across the room, Elan smiled smugly. He slipped a cartouch from his shoe and started reading the tiny notes hidden inside.
The invigilator raised his voice again. "Sit down, or I'll suspend you for three years and cancel your exam results!"
Jase clenched his fists. "Don't touch me."
"I don't care. GET OUT!"
SLAP!
A deafening sound echoed through the hall.
Everyone froze. The invigilator stood in shock, holding his cheek.
A second teacher burst in, quickly assessing the situation. Both staff members grabbed Jase and dragged him out as he kicked and yelled.
Outside the school, Jase stormed off.
"I don't even need you people to become a big guy," he shouted. "You're slowing my intellect!"
He refused the bus. He walked all the way home.
By the time he arrived, it was nightfall. His dad was cooking.
"How was your day?" his father asked from the kitchen.
Jase didn't reply. He headed straight to his room, threw himself on the bed, and stared at the ceiling.
A single tear rolled down his cheek.
He closed his eyes.
The world around him began to fade like water, warping and shifting.
Back in Obala, the curse master stared into his water bowl, Jase's face swirling inside.
Suddenly, Elan entered, grinning from ear to ear.
"Ekie, bro! You did good this time. You made my day."
The man raised an eyebrow. "Since I made your day, how about you make my dinner?"
Elan laughed and tossed him 75 FCFA.
That night, Jase tossed and turned in bed.
In his dreams, he was homeless. His classmates laughed and mocked him as he sat in the streets with nothing but his shame.