The next day, Ruth had already spread to many Emerald hostelers who in turn transmitted the news to the Ruby hostelers that Paris liked her.

Now, she had claimed possession. Or rather, it would be safe to say that she created an impression that Paris was hers or soon to be.

And that was how the story flew to the ears of many boys.

Paris was coming back from the refectory after breakfast to behold Jackson and Robert - a close classmate of his, throwing shades at him.

"He doesn't like girls and he's already falling for Ruth. What happens when he finally begins to like girls?" Jackson rolled his eyes.

Robert sighed.

This news was more painful to him. With the fact that he likes Ruth who doesn't seem to notice him. But look at Paris who is less than a week here and Ruth has already gone head over heels for him. He burnt with fierce jealousy.

Factually, all girls are the same.

He always knew. But after thinking that Ruth would one day make an exception and has now seen the impossibility of it. He has come to terms with that fact.

He sighed again. And then pulled out his glasses, using his hand to wipe his eyes and then putting it back on.

What did Paris have that he didn't?

Well, he didn't hate Paris. But he hated the fact that his acclaimed girl was down for him.

"Hey guys. What is it that I'm hearing?" Paris asked a bit disgusted.

"That you like Ruth." Jackson spat out immediately.

"I. Like. Ruth." Paris stated with a disconcerted look.

Robert now looked up. "So it's true?"

"Ew. Hell no!" Paris began.

For some reasons, Robert was annoyed. Why the irritation from Paris?

"Look, that girl is a bug and they are my worst creatures. I have spent just few times with her and from what I'm seeing she's so not my kind of girl."

Paris added. "Robert you seem to like her. Do you?"

Now Robert nearly choked. Breathe, he couldn't.

"Don't switch the topic, bro." Robert managed to answer. "The whole school knows that you like Ruth."

Paris chuckled darkly. Funny? This situation wasn't. He just spent last night prep with Ruth and now he has been tagged to be a thing with her.

All right, she was dark skinned. A curvy one at that. But her personality didn't suite him. She looked like a whore. She talked way too much and she seemed to be so full of herself.

And now, she must have been the one to have spread the bad gospel of him liking her.

"I don't know if I should speak latin to you guys before you guys can comprehend what I'm saying. Jackson, she's in your class right? Please clarify to her that I don't have any feelings for her." Paris said dryly.

"Unless she loves dreaming in fantasy." He added, a bit annoyed.

While all this kept on spreading like a wide fire amongst the girls, Faith sat on her desk drawing the anterior part of a cockroach from her textbook.

They had biology next period and Mrs Alice would probably check the assignment she gave them before delving into a new topic.

"I see," Juliana one of her classmate nodded as she sat near a narrative Ruth. "But he looked like a mean guy."

"That's why we are advised not to judge a book by it's cover. He looks mean on the outside. But he's actually a shy romantic guy." Ruth said, puffing up.

"Aw, you guys will look nice. But he's yet to ask you out, right?" Juliana asked.

"Not yet," Ruth briefly responded.

Faith chuckled on her seat. She was now done with her diagram and she was trying to find its magnification. Then she would label.

She had been listening to Ruth. And she noted them all to be lies. It was only someone who didn't know Ruth or was as silly as Juliana that would believe those stupid tales.

She had come across the so called Paris and she knew him to be anything but shy and romantic to girls he just met. Rather, he was annoying and stupid.

Just then, Jackson entered the class with a wry smile on his face. He looked euphoric. "I never knew that people can seek attention like this." He began.

Many eyes were on him. "For clarification, Paris likes nobody. And when I say nobody, I mean you...Ruth."

The class was alive with drama. Ruth was beyond annoyed. She felt like tearing Jackson into pieces.

"Shut up! What do you even know? All you do is to carry your ugly face into peoples private business." Ruth hissed.

"I wouldn't, if it was actually a private business. But your acclaimed lover boy doesn't even see you as a friend. And your wide dirty mouth has trumpeted to the whole school the so called private business." Jackson said, moving to his desk.

"Prostitute," He muttered under his breathe.

"I can hear you!" A frustrated Ruth raised her voice.

"Were you deaf? No. Of course, you are meant to hear me."

Ruth cursed and threatened and bluffed till she ran out of breathe.

"Class compliment!" Faith stood up and urged her classmates to acknowledge the presence of Mrs Alice, their Biology teacher.

Ruth's heart nearly skipped a beat. She turned to Jackson and eyed him. If he wasn't talking trash about her, she would have earlier noticed Mrs Alice and then keep shut.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Again, the vice principal summoned Faith into her office during break time. There was a huge change in the SSEC of this year.

Faith knocked twice on Mrs Rose door before getting summoned in.

Apart from the pretty yellow suit that the woman wore that caught her fancy, something else looked...

"Sit down, Ms Daniels." The corporately dressed woman told Faith who still wondered what the other person was doing there.

For all she knew, he was an art student. And also, very new.

"Seals Stars Educational Competition has finally opened another chapter." Mrs Rose started. "But then you know who this young men are?"

Faith bored holes into one of the young men who happened to be Paris and then the other who was Robert.

"I know Robert." She lifted her glare from him and turned to Mrs Rose with a blank look.

"But we've met like twice." Paris stated with an arched brow. There was certainly no room for denial.

"All right." Mrs Rose sighed. "This is the new student who joined this school two days ago. He's Paris Paul, a very intelligent student from one of the top schools situated at the west. But then due to some necessities, he got into Stardom Academy."

From the corner of her doe like eyes, Faith could see how gladdened he seemed to be because of the accolade.

"And he will be your indirect partner because the school will be bringing forth the best from both department. But then your direct science partner will be assigned to you. As for Paris, it's Robert."

Robert nodded dutifully.

"Also SSEC this year will be tough. If you guys make the school proud, expect a surprise from me." Mrs Rose promised.

She was a good promise keeping vice principal. This made the students fight to get her attention because they knew that she would justly reward whoever impressed her.

Faith and the boys nodded. And when the VP finished talking to them she brought out some forms and told them that they would fill it and submit to her, latest Wednesday.

When they were out of her office, the anxious students sighed.

"Seems like you have had this discussion with Mrs Rose, first." Robert pointed out and Faith nodded.

"Honestly, I don't know how I feel about this stuff. This is my first time representing a school in a competition." Faith confessed.

Not that in her former school she was never among the pre competition candidates. But then, she never made it to the finals.

Robert chuckled. "That is if Esther will not be chosen."

Faith arched a brow. Who the hell was Esther?

Robert who seemed to read her thoughts, replied, "Everyone knows Esther Darwin. Well, I wouldn't blame you. You're just a month old here. She is very intelligent and since our school participated in huge competitions, she's been the one bringing us the medals."

I swallowed a lump that formed at my throat. And I felt terribly sore.

"But she isn't here." I stated.

"Says who? She would certainly be your partner. But I think Mrs Rose's fear is that she will object to having a partner. She always did. And all alone, she always emerge the winner."

Hm.

"Well, this is a news." I commented, putting my bottom lip in between my teeth.

"I'm actually waiting for you." Paris cut in, referring to Robert who turned and glanced at him.

"I'll be leaving, Faith. But then, I wish you good luck with your encounter with Esther Darwin." Robert finally told me and I watched him leave with Paris who looked kinda off.

There was something odd about him. I would have thought him to be a self minded person, if I just met him now. But Saturday told me a different version of how annoying and silly he could be.

With a deep sigh which I could no longer suppress, I walked back to my class.

Esther Darwin, I thought.

Well, if she was as brilliant and popular as people claimed her to be, then I would have heard of her since a month ago I joined here.

All negative thoughts got shrugged off as I stepped into the class.

Fortunately, no teacher was in class. But surprisingly, everyone seemed quiet and busy with one thing or another.

Apart from Rachael who seemed carried away in the twisted patterns the class dustbin had.

Honestly, that girl was the most care free person I've ever seen.

"Christ Jesus! I haven't seen my period this month." A shriek tore away from the quivering lips of no other shameless girl than Ruth.

It was a low shriek but due to the serenity of the class, almost everyone heard it.

Juliana who sat behind Ruth darted her eyes here and there, feeling ashamed on behalf of Ruth.

"Oh my God! How could I be this foolish? I thought I took the..."

Juliana cut in. "Shut up. Just close it, Ruth."

The latter turned back and eyed her angrily before turning front and whining.

"Aren't you tired of being overly dramatic, you rotten spirited stupid rubbish." The chubby blunt Frank voiced out his thoughts.

There was a short uproarious laughter that erupted from some of us. All though, I was careful not to give way to the devil and dare smile.

Else, the whole beings in this entire school would know of my nocturnal enuresis.

Ruth hated him. She didn't know what exactly about him pissed her off the most but he was her worst classmate.

The guts he always carried was way too much. And for his mind, he's blunt and got an untamed mouth.

"Can you just mind your business for once? What's your stress with me?"

She sounded agitated and frustrated.

"Deal with your damn stress let me deal with mine. If my relationship with Paris is pissing you off or whatever, then lots of laugh for you cause..."

"I love you in your fantasy island. Keep having the high hopes. Just keep fantasizing about what will never come true." Frank laughed briefly and stared at her in mock.

Unable to go on with all this stupid word exchange, I left the class to the hostel after taking proper permission from Mrs Diane, the head hostel mistress who gave me my room key.