Over the years, I had fallen in love with Lorna but feared expressing my feelings. She was the apple of my eye and was terrified of telling her how I felt. I also feared rejection. She had fallen in love with a handsome, dark, burly boy, a footballer and the top scorer in the junior football league.

Ntale was a bully and intimidated all students and the teachers. He was the son of the Headteacher. Nobody dared to cross his path. He had a crew of notoriously stubborn boys who had unkempt hair, did not put on uniforms, swung from class to class. Sometimes, they jumped through the large classroom windows and escaped before lessons ended.

To compound it, this naughty crew always skipped examinations and were never promoted year after year. They were never expelled just because they played football at the school.

Despite their academic inadequacies and mischievous behaviours, these boys always ensured a continuous flow of trophies for the Headteacher's cabinet. Ntale prided himself in being the most handsome lad at the school. He had a senior one student carrying his large Duffy bag around.

For two years, I was the long-distance champion. Then came one unforgettable day. My friends and I had been training hard for the upcoming inter-district athletic championship when I saw Lorna, standing there, staring at me. Hurriedly, I galloped down a chilled bottle of Pepsi-cola and walked to Lorna. I lifted her off her feet and kissed her hard. My teammates cheered on.

She had fought hard to be put down, but I did not. After a few seconds, I stammered at her. “Lorna, I loooveee you!”, and I put her down.

She slapped me furiously as I stood there like a zombie. Then, I felt warm blood in my mouth. I gripped her small, slender hand and held it. Now, the students had gathered in large numbers and cheered on.

The commotion had also attracted Ntale to the scene. He was furious, he tried to slap me, but I grabbed his right hand and pushed him down. With lightning speed, I swung around and grabbed him by the neck, choked him a bit before lowering him to the ground. Ntale was breathless.

Shamelessly, I whispered in his ear, " I will sting you like a bumblebee, buck off!". By now, the students were perplexed by how I had subdued Ntale. More wild cheers echoed throughout the basketball court. I had the support of the students' body, I was their mess prefect, and this was my turf! Most students hated his nasty attitude.

Ntale feared the further confrontation, and he melted away quietly. Lorna slapped me hard again as she shrieked away with embarrassment while she hauled abuses at me. I felt remorseful but excited, I had defeated a feared bully at school.

The next few weeks, Lorna avoided me like I had a contagious plague. I felt terrible inside, and my heart ached. I could not concentrate on my studies.

(To be continued)

© Mwebe Morgan