WebNovels

Chapter 5 - The Announcement

"So who is this Jeremy you mentioned?" Kelvin asked, his voice sharp with curiosity as they walked the halls.

"He's... never mind." James cut himself off abruptly. The memory of the incident—whatever it was, flashed in his mind, instantly sealing his lips.

The trio continued their campus tour, with Priscilla and Kelvin acting as experienced guides, pointing out landmarks and navigating the sprawling campus.

James learned that Braxton was efficiently segmented: one side for junior high and the other for senior high, separated by a long fence with a large connecting gate.

Even with the connecting gate, each side had their own gate for entrance and exit.

In essence, the path to junior high or senior high is different, and you can only pass through the specialized gate of each sectors.

The connecting gate was accessible only to teachers and school officials. If need comes for students to pass through the connecting gate, they'd have to consent or receive specialized access to go to the other side.

The rules were simple—junior high students were not allowed to visit the senior high students' premises and vice versa.

Each side had three main blocks, one for each grade, alongside specialized blocks for administration and extracurriculars.

"And we are back where we started. Phew!" Kelvin sighed dramatically. "This is it—the Grade 10 block. Obviously, this is where all our classes are, along with our dedicated facilities."

"Thank you so much, I truly appreciate it," James said, a genuine smile finally lighting his face. "I was actually considering requesting 3D map of the school just so I wouldn't wander off... but thanks to both of you, I'll be fine now."

Before the two could reply, a bell chimed, signaling the commencement of the next lesson.

"Oh! F*ck me! We were gone for sixty-six minutes, thirty-five seconds already?!" Kelvin screamed, checking his wrist.

"Oh, I didn't realize you were time-conscious," James teased, smiling fully, before they sprinted back to class.

They all breathed a collective sigh of relief as they entered to find the room mercifully teacher-less. They rushed to their seats just as the History teacher, John Maxwell, walked in.

The class proceeded smoothly. Though History wasn't James's natural strength, his habit of studying ahead gave him a mental edge, allowing him to impress John Maxwell just as he had Eric Brayden.

Lesson after lesson passed, marked by the constant chimes of the school bell. Finally, the chime that rang was for the end of the day.

Students immediately streamed out, but the majority lingered. Only a fraction headed directly for the exit gates. Most were content to hang around, engaged in loud discussions, juvenile tricks, and even some brazen flirtation.

"Attention all Grade 10 students! Report to the assembly hall immediately!" A booming, masculine voice thundered from the speakers mounted across the senior high blocks.

Murmurings rippled through the lingering crowds.

"An announcement? But some of us already went home!" a student exclaimed

"Do you think there's a problem?"

"I hope it's not a problem and just some boring announcement."

"Wait, do you think it has to do with the new boy? The one Eric was blabbering all about? I hope it's not another issue of..." another began, before being violently cut off.

"Don't mention that name, or else you'll jinx us!"

Curiosity overriding exhaustion, the students began swarming toward the assembly hall.

Just then, John Maxwell, the History teacher, approached James's group. "Ah! Kelvin, I see you're with the new boy. James, is it? It's good to see big brains working together," he said, smiling. "I thought this might be of most interest to you." He gave a knowing look and then rushed ahead.

John's voice had been loud, and nearby students quickly registered the teacher's commendation. Kelvin was already popular—commended by teachers, known for his intelligence and his father's sponsorship.

It was no shocker to hear the appraisal of Kelvin. What had truly caught the students off was the teacher's mention of a new boy.

There it was, the new boy with handsome face was officially tied to him.

"Wait, that's the new boy?" a student asked, assessing James.

"He's quite the handsome one," a female student giggled, her cheeks warming.

"Mr. Eric kept saying he answered most of his questions well in our class," a frustrated student muttered. "That annoying man kept comparing us to him!"

"Ah! Now I understand why Kelvin is with him."

"Intelligent and cute? Oh my gosh!" another girl squealed.

"Hold it, Cinderella. He might not be your prince charming; he might be another... Bucky waiting in the corner."

"Who said that name?!" a student yelled, the sudden mention sending a palpable wave of tension through the crowd.

Everyone soon flooded the assembly hall, a space so large it resembled a mini-stadium, with capacity for over two thousand people.

Along the white wall of the hall, steel chairs were stacked in several rows. The polished jade tiles gleamed under the fluorescent lights, capturing the radiance and giving off its own beauty.

At the extremity of the hall, an elevated platform equipped with massive speakers and other media tools—plus decorations that made it stand out from every other thing in the hall—served as the stage.

The speakers worked hand in hand with smaller ones attached on the walls meticulously, to spread messages passed from the stage.

"Good day, everyone! First things first, we're sorry for calling you on such short notice," Principal Williams Jones spoke, his booming voice echoing from the massive stage speakers.

Flanking him were Eric and John, standing stiffly like soldiers at ease.

"We had word from one of our sponsors to prepare an event based on two subjects: History and Geography. It sounds weird, right? After all, it's just the first week of a new semester."

He paused, letting the suspense mount.

"But, it's a huge win for the school and the selected students. The winners of this event will receive a full scholarship from this semester till the end of their journey in Braxton, plus other substantial benefits for the school and students!" Williams announced.

The hall instantly dissolved into chaotic murmuring.

"What does he mean by 'the rest of our journey in Braxton'?"

"WAIT! Is he saying till Grade 12?!" a student shouted.

"Silence!" Williams's voice boomed again, instantly quashing the noise.

"If he keeps shouting like that, his lungs will burst," a student joked silently.

"Yes! The full scholarship is indeed till Grade 12," Williams confirmed. "I know some students left before the announcement, so we'll be giving the full terms and conditions for participation tomorrow when all students are present."

"You're all dismissed. Please, stay safe," Eric concluded, rounding off the assembly.

With that, students rushed out, anticipation crackling in the air.

'I wonder what the event is all about. For such a reward, it must be grand,' was the common thought circulating in every student's mind, including James's.

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It's closer than you think, guys! You can't just expect me to jump there. Do you?🌚😏

As usual, your thoughts and ideas—comment it down.

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