Chapter 1 Blurb

The auditorium was filled with students after our school's annual cultural ceremony. There was an important announcement to be made by our school principal. Every one kept their fingers crossed on what's the important news they were to hear in such a short notice. I already know the news but I'm not the one to disclose. I'm James Marshal an introvert boringly studious and a school captain for senior volleyball team. A few among my friends came rushing to me after sneaking out for snacking at the college cafeteria. "Hi James what do you think the old man wants to lecture us with this time?" I only smile at my best friend Sherlock and look ahead. The principal enters the stage in his neatly gelled gray hair and polished black suit. "Good afternoon, dear students. I know all of you are speculating on the news I am going to expose but I wouldn't keep you waiting. Yes the results of our school literary topper are out. Any guesses?" Everyone in the hall begin to gossip and some were shouting my name. "Yes you are right." His breaths were excited. "The literary topper for the academic year 2015-16 is Adrian James Marshal." Every one begins to clap and whisper congratulations to me. I reach the stage shaking hands with a few fellow students on my way. The principal pats my shoulder a look of appreciation in his experienced eyes. He gives me a firm hand shake and hands over the trophy to me. My fingers run admiring the beautiful copper shield and eyes twinkle in happiness looking down at the crowd cheering for me. It was my biggest moment of joy, my achievement and the reward for my hard work from the last two years. Unlike all my friends and classmates hailing from opulent families I did not have the power of money to rank an admission in St Xavier's. I am a middle class boy who worked night and day for the best grades and attained what I'm today. My father left this world when I was less than two. My mother works two jobs a day as a waitress in a restaurant in the evening and serves as a billing assistant in a grocery shop during the morning shift to place food on our dining table. My only aim in my life is one day become a popular man, earn millions and free my mother from all the struggles she encountered in her life to bring me up. As I walk down the stage with the trophy in my hand the girl most awaited and the one who stole my every dream comes forward and hugs me tight. "Congratulations James" Amaira whispers and kisses my cheek. Goosebumps invaded my system as I experience the touch of her lips on my skin. The crowd acclaims and claps for us as we escape to the back of the stage. "Hi James I felt very happy for your achievement. I'm very lucky to have you as my friend. I wish one day to become like you and make my parents proud." She beams to me in admiration. "You are two years younger to me and have time to prepare and win the literary trophy. Don't worry I will prepare you good even after I pass out from the school." I assure Amaira and get each of us a chocolate muffin from the cafeteria. As promised I coached Amaira in all the subjects and helped her achieve good grades. "I will pay you the fees for teaching me." She insisted. "It will help you earn a few days of meal instead of suffering hunger." I felt very sad for her words but brushed my thoughts away. Amaira is my girlfriend. She would only think good about me and in a way tried to help me but I wouldn't take any fees from her. I continued to teach her for the next two years and helped her fetch good grades. Six months later, It was the final day of school, the day of school prom. It was also the day I decided to make Amaira officially as my girlfriend though it would be a surprise for her. I was dressed a black tuxedo. The prom dance was about to start. The stage was beautifully decorated with roses, lilies and several colourful lights. My fingers were trembling in anxiety as I walk to the centre of the stage with my hand dipped in my pant pocket, holding the blue rectangular box in my fingers. My friend Sherlock called Amaira to the stage. She was dressed in an ankle length turquoise colour gown that hugged her curves in the right places. Amaira is my first love, first kiss and my first in everything. She looked very beautiful and immaculate like a fallen Angel in the rich attire. The colour of the gown reflecting her eye colour made her explicit and gorgeous from the usual crowd of girls. All the students were clapping for us as Amaira walks to the stage because they already knew what was about to happen. Some of my friends tried to teach me tales about Amaira's disloyalty upon me but I'm enough intelligent not to believe such gossips. My angel is as pure as the holy cross. She was standing in front of me. The crowd coos for us as I gave her the rose and dropped on my knee to hold out the promise ring for her. "Amaira will you grace me on this special occasion to be my girlfriend and future wife?" I asked her in expectancy with anticipation in my eyes and a full blown smile on my lips. My ears record a roar of laughter at the next second but my eyes weren't ready to believe on what's happening in front of me. "Amaira what happened to you? Are you okay?" I ask her in a stupor about to reach her hand. She evaded my touch moving behind, held her head back and laughed. A handsome young man walks to the stage in the next second. "How could you even imagine that a wealthy girl from a powerful family like me would marry a beggar like you? I just used you to attain good grades James Marshal." She speaks arrogant between her chuckles. The crowd started murmuring, some smiled conceited and others gazed at me with pitiful looks. Sherlock walks behind and pats on my back trying to ease me. "What you have done is a blunder. A day will come when you will pay for this." He cautions Amaira but she doesn't seem to care the least. "Look at that shabby suit Marcus," she snickers and turns to the side to look at the man standing beside her. "You should have taken your tutoring fees from me James, tsk...tsk." She gives a deplored look. "At least you would have purchased a suit worth wearing instead of using this rag." She points to my dress in a condemnation. Marcus gives me a look of disgust with a shake of his head and holds Amaira's hand. After taking two steps forward he stops and turns back. "Don't dare to look at my girl ever again." He warns in a menacingly low growl with a finger pointed to me and walks away from the stage. I blink twice, thrice but nothing registered in my brain. I was still on my knee with my hand extended holding the ring in the box. Sherlock gets behind patting my shoulder and helping me to stand. "She...she" I point to Sherlock Amaira's departing form but no words further pulled out except the tears in my eyes washing out in streams out of my cheeks. "Hold up those stupid tears, you are born a man and supposed to be bold, decisive." Sherlock admonished. "You would stay intrepid, undaunted and teach the bitch a lesson. Promise me of that today." He spoke determined hypnotizing me by his gutsy gray pools and I took the pledge. I will destroy you Amaira Witmore to a state of no retrieval. This is the vow of a wounded anthropoid who resolves treachery better than a nature's fury.