*
*
Mrs. Adeoye's voice cut through the noise as she paused mid-lesson and turned slowly toward the back of the class. The room had been loud, but it went quiet almost instantly. Big Chilly sat there laughing with his friends, completely ignoring the lesson.
"If you have enough energy to disturb my class," she said calmly, "then you should have enough energy to answer a question."
A few students snickered. Big Chilly leaned back confidently and cracked his knuckles. "Ask, ma."
"Explain the function of the mitochondria in a cell."
Silence.
Big Chilly blinked. "…The what?"
A few students laughed under their breath.
"The mitochondria," she repeated.
He scratched his head. "Is that… like the brain of the cell?"
This time, the class couldn't hold it in. Laughter broke out across the room. Even I couldn't help but smile. Mrs. Adeoye sighed and shook her head.
"No. That is incorrect."
Big Chilly shifted in his seat, clearly uncomfortable. For the first time, his confidence cracked and he looked… smaller than usual.
Without thinking, I raised my hand.
The class went quiet again.
Mrs. Adeoye looked surprised. "…Omonigho?"
"Yes, ma."
"Go ahead."
I stood up calmly. "The mitochondria is known as the powerhouse of the cell. It produces ATP, which supplies energy for cellular activities."
The room fell silent.
"Correct," she said with a nod.
I glanced at Big Chilly. He was staring at me—shocked, embarrassed, and for once, completely speechless. I tilted my head slightly.
"Of course, I wouldn't expect you to know that."
The class leaned in.
"You're too busy eating fish heads and beating people who are better than you… just to convince yourself you're superior."
For a second, there was silence.
Then the classroom exploded.
Laughter filled every corner of the room. Some students hit their desks, others bent over in their chairs, trying to catch their breath. Even the ones who didn't like me couldn't hold it in.
Big Chilly's face turned red instantly.
"You—!"
I didn't stop.
"But the funny thing is," I continued calmly, "you're not better than anyone."
The laughter grew louder.
"You're just loud enough to hide the fact that you're actually the real loser."
"OOHHHHH!"
The reaction was immediate. The class lost all control. Some students were practically screaming, others wiping tears from their eyes. A few even stood up just to look at Big Chilly's face.
Mrs. Adeoye quickly turned away, covering her mouth. Her shoulders shook slightly as she tried to maintain her composure. For a few seconds, she struggled, then a small laugh escaped her before she coughed lightly and faced the class again.
"Alright, that's enough," she said, though the smile on her face hadn't fully disappeared.
The class slowly settled down, still whispering and chuckling among themselves.
Big Chilly sat down quietly.
No insults.
No threats.
Just silence.
I watched him for a moment, then took my seat.
For the first time… I had said something back.
And for the first time…
He had nothing to say in return.
The rest of the lesson continued, but the atmosphere had changed. Every now and then, someone would glance at me, then at Big Chilly, trying not to laugh again. Even the teacher seemed a bit lighter than before.
But I knew better.
This wasn't over.
People like him don't forget things like this.
I leaned back slightly in my chair and stared at my notebook, pretending to focus, but my mind was elsewhere.
I've crossed a line now.
A small part of me felt satisfied. Another part… was already preparing for what would come next.
Because in this place, humiliation doesn't end things.
It starts them.
-
-
-
Weeks passed.
After school each day, I went to my part-time cleaning job, then headed straight to my father's farm. I worked until evening before finally returning home, my body always tired but my mind still pushing forward.
As soon as I stepped inside that night, the smell of roasted potatoes greeted me.
"You're back, love," my mother said with a warm smile. "I made you something nice and I prepared a hot bath for you to relax your aching body."
I looked at her and smiled. "Thank you, Mom. I'm not that tired. Also, we'll be able to plant wheat next week. I've cleared the area you mentioned."
Her face lit up instantly. "You cleared it? But that's five acres!"
"Yes, Mom. I've been working on it for days. I thought you went to the farm?"
She hesitated slightly. "No… I've been busy at work lately. My boss your father's friend has been a bit harsh these days, so I haven't had time."
I frowned. "Mr. Richard? Didn't you say he treated you well before? Why the sudden change? Wasn't he part of Dad's team?"
She went quiet for a moment before muttering, "I guess people change."
"What was that, Mom?" I asked.
"Nothing," she said quickly. "Let's eat."
I could tell she was hiding something, but I decided not to push it. Maybe she just didn't want to burden me.
As I sat down to eat, I asked, "Where are Tina and Tomi?"
"They're asleep. You know how they are," she replied.
I checked the time. It was already 9:30 PM.
"Just… I miss them," I said quietly. "I haven't really talked to them lately, with Tomi preparing for her exams and Tina helping you at work."
She smiled softly at me, clearly touched.
We talked for a while after that, about small things that didn't matter much but still made the house feel alive.
Then we went to sleep.
-
-
I woke up early and went to the kitchen, only to see that the dishes had been left unwashed. I glanced toward the room. My sisters were sleeping peacefully, and my mother lay resting with a faint smile on her face. I knew that behind that smile, there was always a kind of sorrow she tried to hide from us.
I let out a quiet breath.
I have to make it to the gym today.
It was Friday, and gym day was mandatory. I hadn't been consistent last month when it came to sports and health. Just like my academics back then, laziness had gotten in the way. But things were different now. I wanted to change. At the very least, I didn't want to keep looking this weak.
So I started working.
It was around 4:00 a.m. when I woke up. I washed the dishes quickly and finished before 4:15. After that, I put food on the fire—firewood, since the cooking gas was finished. It wasn't anything new. We were used to managing like that once in a while.
By 5:30, I was done.
I ate, packed my things and headed out.
Gym day was enforced across schools and workplaces because of a government bill passed years ago, so I didn't have to worry about being late. In a way, it felt like a break from normal school pressure.
When I arrived, I stepped inside and barely had time to settle in before
Smack!
A sharp hit landed on the back of my head.
"Oh… not again."
"Didn't I tell you not to come here, lowlife?"
I turned slowly.
Big Chilly.
Anger rose inside me, but I pushed it down immediately. No matter how I felt, I couldn't act on it. He was the mafia lord's son in this town. He got away with almost anything.
Even if I tried to stand up for myself, I wouldn't last. He would beat me before I even had the chance to react.
And then there were his two bodyguards.
Laide… and Aliko.
They were always with him.
Both came from wealthy families, and both of their families worked under Big Chilly's father Lord Alfonso, a man known for his cruelty. For over thirty years, he had controlled things from the shadows, and anyone who crossed him simply disappeared without a trace.
Laide came from a long line of warriors known as Balogun, a respected title in their family. His father Akin was the current Balogun chief. Technically, Laide wasn't supposed to inherit the position since he wasn't the first son but his build alone made him the obvious choice. He was huge, muscular, with a sharp jawline that made him look like one of the warriors from old legends. Strength defined him.
Aliko was different.
He wasn't built for fighting but his power came from wealth. His father owned most of the industrial factories in and around the town. Even though this was just a tier-two town, their influence extended beyond it. His family was even richer than Lord Alfonso's.
Aliko didn't fight with his fists. His strength was influence, money, and control. He bullied with words, status, and power. If money could solve it, he would use it.
I was still thinking about all this when—
Smack!
Another slap hit me, snapping me back to reality.
"You pervert, you still showed up here?" Aliko said with a smirk. "This place is meant for people like us, not you. Didn't I warn you not to come here again? Or do you want another punishment like last time? When I told you to bow down and lick my feet so I wouldn't tell my father to make your family's life miserable? Or have you forgotten already? Looks like we've been too soft on you."
I pushed myself up, ready to talk back, but the moment his words sank in, my anger faded. This was exactly what had been happening for the past two weeks, ever since I embarrassed Big Chilly in class. They didn't even need this gym. Their families owned better, private ones. This place was just an excuse a stage to make me suffer.
I knew I should have stopped coming, but I couldn't. I had made a promise to myself. I was going to improve, no matter what. I was tired of looking weak, tired of being pathetic. So I endured it. Every day, the punishments, the humiliation… I endured all of it.
Because I was afraid.
Afraid of them. Afraid of their families. If they said they would ruin us, they would. And I had no one else. My mother was all I had. Going back to the slum wasn't an option. I knew what that life was like. I had lived it before my father changed everything for us.
Then Big Chilly stepped forward and looked down at me.
"Kneel."
I didn't hesitate. I dropped to my knees immediately. I wasn't in a position to argue, not if I wanted to avoid getting beaten even worse.
Laide stood quietly to the side, arms folded as usual. He hadn't said a word, but everyone knew he was the most dangerous among them. Unlike Big Chilly, he didn't act out of emotion. He only moved when necessary, and when he did, it was precise. Controlled. Loyal to the core, because that was his role.
Around us, people had gathered, watching from a distance. No one stepped in. No one ever did.
Whispers started to spread.
"Poor kid… they bully him every time. If I were him, I would have stopped coming here."
"That's exactly why I respect him. I don't have that kind of courage."
"That's not courage. That's suicide. Those guys could kill him and nothing would happen."
"Still… I hate myself for not being able to help."
"We're all the same. If we interfere, we'll just drag our families into trouble. Or worse… end up in the slum."
Their voices blended together, low but clear enough for me to hear. I said nothing. There was nothing to say. They were right about everything.
Big Chilly's expression darkened as he caught bits of the whispers. The slight embarrassment from earlier in class was still there but now it was turning into something else anger.
He looked at me and smiled but there was nothing friendly about it.
"Wow," he said slowly. "Looks like you've got yourself some fans."
He cracked his knuckles and tilted his head.
"Alright then… today's punishment will be different. You're going to act as my punching bag no, my sparring partner." He glanced at Laide. "He'll teach us a few moves first. Pay attention. After that… we spar."
I kept my face neutral, but inside, I already knew how this would end.
There was no need to dress it up. No need to pretend. He just wanted to beat me again, only this time with an audience and an excuse.
I stood up slowly and followed them.
Laide stepped forward from the corner, unfolding his arms. He stretched slightly, then pointed at me.
"You should wear a body suit," he said calmly. "For your own safety."
I looked at him, surprised. This was the same person who had beaten me without hesitation in the past weeks. What changed?
I didn't question it. I just moved.
As I reached for the suit, I glanced briefly at the people watching. Some looked away. Others watched with quiet tension. No one spoke.
"Yes, go on," Big Chilly said lazily. "Before I change my mind."
I quickly put the body suit on. It felt tight, but it was better than nothing.
When I finished, Laide spoke again.
"You too," he said, turning to Aliko.
Aliko blinked. "Why me?"
"You'll spar," Laide said.
There was a brief pause.
Big Chilly didn't interfere this time. He only watched.
Something had shifted, but I didn't question it. If it meant fewer broken bones, I would take it.
Aliko wore the gear reluctantly, adjusting it with an annoyed expression. The crowd grew closer, forming a loose circle around us. Laide stepped into the space between us, calm as ever.
"Listen," he said. "Fighting is not complicated. People make it so."
He raised his hand slightly.
"Your first problem is hesitation. You think too much."
He demonstrated a straight punch, clean and direct. The air snapped.
"Commit. Half-decisions get you hurt."
He shifted his stance, making a small turn with his foot. It was subtle but controlled.
"Second, movement. Angles. Don't stay where you can be hit."
Then he exhaled shortly.
"Third, breathing. Every strike. Every defense. Control it."
He stepped back.
"That's enough for today."
Aliko frowned slightly. "We should practice first."
"No," Laide replied.
Silence followed.
"Show me what you understood."
Aliko moved first.
It was off. Stiff and unbalanced.
The reaction was immediate.
Laughter spread through the crowd.
He tried again, forcing it this time, but it only got worse. The laughter grew louder.
His face tightened, embarrassment creeping in.
Big Chilly turned sharply to the crowd, his voice cold. "Who said that?"
No one answered.
Then a girl's voice cut through.
"And what if we did?"
The noise died down instantly.
She stepped forward slightly, her expression steady.
"You want to punish everyone too? Like him?"
Big Chilly stared at her. "You don't know who you're talking to."
"I do," she replied without hesitation. "You're just used to no one saying anything."
Murmurs spread again, quieter this time.
Big Chilly's fist clenched as he started walking toward her.
"Stop."
The gym owner stepped in.
An old man moved in front of the girl, standing his ground. "You won't do that here."
Big Chilly held his gaze.
For a few seconds, no one moved. The silence felt heavy, like the whole room was holding its breath.
Then he stepped back.
The tension broke. People let out quiet sighs of relief. Everyone knew how that could have ended.
Laide had watched everything without reacting. He didn't interfere. He didn't comment.
He simply turned to me.
"Your turn."
I stepped forward.
No rush.
I inhaled slowly, then moved.
The punch came out clean. Not strong like his, but the form was right.
I followed with another strike.
This time, something felt different.
The movement flowed.
For a moment, everything slowed down. I wasn't thinking anymore. I was just following what I had seen.
When I stopped, the gym was quiet.
"Again," Laide said.
I repeated it.
Better this time.
A few voices rose from the crowd.
"He copied that—"
"No… he understood it."
I stepped back, my chest rising slowly. I knew my body wasn't as trained as his. I couldn't produce the same power, but the movement was there.
Laide watched me for a second.
Then, just slightly, he smiled.
"Impressive," he said. "Most people take years to combine instinct and form."
I was surprised. A lot of thoughts ran through my mind. I had come here expecting another beating, not a lesson. I wasn't trying to become a fighter or join any warrior path.
He glanced at my frame.
"You lack strength, but that can be built."
I nodded. I didn't trust myself to speak. I didn't want to say anything that might change his mind.
Big Chilly said nothing. Aliko stayed quiet too.
Something felt off, but it wasn't my problem. Today, I had avoided getting beaten, and that was enough.
After a moment, they left. The embarrassment, the failed show, all of it went with them.
The tension in the room eased immediately.
People started talking again. A few came up to me. Some greeted me, others just looked curious.
I noticed the girl who had spoken earlier. I wanted to thank her properly. I would do that later.
For now, I ignored the attention and moved to the side I dropped my bag on the floor.
Ten push-ups.
Ten sit-ups.
It wasn't much but it was a start. Then I got to work.
*
*