It’s been two years since that incident. Alex never attempted to cross any student’s path. Yet, he still gets talked about and even insulted in class. Alex never thought of fighting back or causing a scene. He planned to plead with his dad to take him out after he completed his basic education in five months.

“What is the median of the number on the board?” Mr. Bello, the mathematics teacher, asked, facing the class.

The students looked at their textbooks, confusedly. Usually, after the 3rd term of basic five, they automatically get promoted to the junior secondary school of their choice.

A look of disappointment plastered the maths teacher’s face as he dropped his marker on his desk.

“Erick. Sandra. Boma... Don’t you know what median means? I told you in our last class.” Mr. Bello reminded the students.

Their vacant eyes just blinked at him.

Mr. Bello placed both hands on his desk and leaned on them. Teaching was more frustrating, especially with very forgetful kids. There was no doubt, that students from Greater Heights Academy were only good at sports and other physical activities. Mr. Bello slipped to his seat and placed a hand over his face in embarrassment.

“Bose!” he called out. “What about you?

“Do you have any idea what median means?”

“No, sir. You didn’t teach us.” Her small voice defended.

“I thought you just last month. It’s barely four weeks ago and you’ve forgotten?” His eyes widened at her in bewilderment. Bose slipped through the pages of her notebook to find the topic, but she couldn’t.

“I can’t find it here.”

I wonder what you children think of these days that makes you so forgetful!" he won’t out carefully.

Alex knew the answer. He was smart and intelligent; he was always the first position in class. Answering would make others insult him, so he kept quiet. Waiting for an answer.

“A median is a number, which is the middle number or the middle value.” He finally explained. “Now, who can tell me the median in the following figures?”

“It’s 9!”

“Oh, there you go. So you knew the median was 9, and you kept quiet all this while?” Mr. Bello exhaled.

“I’m sorry, sir. I just wanted to allow others to learn.” Alex rasped with his head lowered.

“Hmm... That’s thoughtful of you, but don’t keep an answer to yourself next time. After all, you’re also a student.” Mr. Bello nodded optimistically with a half smile. Then he continued with the class.

About to write, Alex’s eyes caught Bose’s glare. She vacantly focused on him with half-dead eyes. And her nose wrinkled. Her lips gave a silent hiss before facing the whiteboard.

Watching her do this was disturbing. Alex just turned away to concentrate on the lesson. Mr. Bello gave them an exercise to solve before stepping out of the class. Once he left, a slim boy with pointed ears and nose walked up to Bose.

“I would have answered that question if Alex didn’t interrupt. It’s annoying how much we have to put up with this maid’s son. He thinks he knows it all while he knows nothing!”

He reported to Bose as if she was his mother. It irritated Alex why most of them reported to Bose, the class monitor. ‘She isn't that smart. Was it because her father is the FCT Minister?’

“That’s true, dear. It reminds me of an idiom: empty vessels make the loudest noise. Don’t bore yourself with a lunatic like Alex.” She persuaded Eric.
Alex gazed at her and her manical expression hardened.

Alex heard their gossip, but he overlooked his classmate's faults and gave the cold shoulder. Later, the school's timekeeper rang the bell for the long break.

Alex was coming out of the toilet when he saw Boma and Eric. He stopped Alex in the corridor.

“Just leave him alone,” Boma snapped.

“Why should I? I need to teach this idiot a lesson!”

Alex nodded his head like Eric was wasting his time. “I’m not an idiot, Eric, but what’s the need to explain this to you? Can you excuse me now, please?”

“I’ll avoid him if I’m you.” Boma cursed beneath his breath and stood between the both of them. “Ugh... This is so annoying.”

Eric’s lips tightened with hate. His fist tightened, watching Alex’s emotionless face. He wanted to leave. Eric stopped him once again.

“I have no idea why you’re acting up, Eric.” Alex gathered the courage to defend himself. “You didn’t know what median is. How is that my fault?”

Eric’s eyes were raised with envy. His frown tightened with gritted teeth.

“Please, stop harassing me. I’m trying so hard to leave this school without causing any trouble, so back off.” Alex warned.

Heated, Eric blew out his cheeks and rubbed his forehead, which held beads of sweat. His heart raced at Alex’s words.

“Who gave you the audacity?” Eric grunted. “You are nothing but a busybody! A parasite and a maid’s son! Don’t think you’re the best student because you get the top scores. I won’t fall for your tricks!”

In the blink of an eye, Eric threw Alex a punch, and he dropped unconscious. Like a bag of sand.

“Alex!” The boys blinked at the lifeless body.

“Oh, no... What have you done?” Boma clasped both hands over his mouth.

Shocked at the bones, Eric gulped on his dry saliva.

“What happened to him?” He looked up at Boma. “Alex!”

“Alex!” Boma tapped him on the shoulder.

Bunmi, who was about to check on her brother, stumped upon them in the corridor.

“Alexander!” she screamed out his name. Petrified, she pulled herself up to face them. “What have you done to my brother, you bully?”

“I didn't do anything.” Eric stuttered as fear transformed his face.

Bunmi stormed into the nearest classroom and alerted the class teacher for help. Her whole body shivered due to the fright. Alex was always healthy, he never fainted before.

It must be a dream.

Getting there, Alex was already in a pool of blood. The thick red liquid lingered through the intertragal notch of his ear. The scene was terrific. Other students gathered around Alex’s motionless body. No one could comprehend what had just happened.

Once the headteacher was informed, she called an ambulance and rushed Alex to the hospital.

Experiencing such a terrifying act made Eric go numb. In slow motion, he asked for air to breathe. Somewhere outside the crowd of students. All Eric felt was his heartbeat sinking down his throat. It choked him in hysteria, watching the panic on his classmate’s faces.

The terror scene gave Eric goose pimples. He hurried to Bose and Daniel with teary eyes. It was a nightmare in broad daylight.

“What have you done? Don’t tell me you caused that?” Bose stirred at Eric. She held onto her forehead, swallowing the lump of guilt growing in her small, racing chest.

“He almost killed Alex. I mean, what was the need to blow him?” Boma reported, wiping a hand over his head.

“Alex faced me. I only hit him. I just wanted to teach him a lesson.”

“Who among you caused the scene? Miss Atinuke, their class teacher, walked up to the gang. All eyes turned to Erick, and he was left to dance to the tune of what he caused.

“Eric, do you know that you almost murdered your classmate? You have no idea how shameful it is to dismiss this news to Alex’s parents.” A vein popped out in his class teacher's neck. “We’ll invite your parent as well so, follow me.” She stormed at him, disappointed.

Without a word, Eric followed his class teacher to the headteacher’s office. The school management stopped lessons for the day due to the incident.

Alex was admitted to a nearby hospital and was rushed to the ICU. The doctors took off his uniform and connected the necessary devices to his body. With a heart defibrillator, the doctors pumped his heart. The effort wasn’t effective on Alex’s flatlined body.

After multiple attempts, he finally regained consciousness and the AED machine showed his heart beating. They transferred Alex to the male ward to take some rest.

Eric’s parents hurried to the school. They met him kneeling in the head teacher’s office. Mr. Bello, who was also the assistant head teacher, stayed with him at the office, while the head teacher was with Mr. and Mrs. John at the hospital. Rebecca buried her wet face in her husband’s chest. Mr. John didn’t break down in tears as his wife did. Instead, he shook his head sadly and whispered in Rebecca‘s ears.

“Calm down, my dear. Our son will be fine.”

They didn’t inform the Williams, yet. Not to distract them from work. Mr. John and his wife, Rebecca, are the housekeepers of the Williams family.

Once the doctors transferred Alex to the male’s ward, they bolted to meet one of them. Recognition dawned on the doctor's serious, dull face.

“How was it? Is there any improvement?”

“Luckily, you brought him here on time.” He reported, facing the head teacher whose clothes were stained with Alex’s blood. “If you’d waited a minute more, we might have lost him today.”

Then he faced Mr. John. “Is he your son?”

“Yes. How is he, doctor? Is Alex responding to treatment?”

“Yes, he regained consciousness,” He paused to breathe. “But it won’t be safe to visit him yet-”

“When can I see my son?” Rebecca interrupted.

“You can check on him in four hours, from now. I gave him some sedatives to ease his pains so, don't disturb his treatment.” the doctor advised.

“Wow, praise God! That’s good news! I thought I'd lost him...” Rebecca whipped off her face with the edge of her long, pleated skirt. “I’m glad my son made it.” she forced a smile and cried at the attempt.

“Well, apart from that. Your son has AMF.”

“AFM... What does that mean?” Mr. John asked anxiously with his hands wrapped around his chest.

“Acute flaccid myelitis.” the doctor replied.

“What is it about?” Rebecca gasped with a tilted head.

“AFM is a rare, but serious condition that affects the spinal cord. It can cause sudden weakness in the arms or legs, loss of muscle tone, and loss of reflexes. This condition mainly affects young children, but Alex will be healed if properly treated.”

“Oh, please, help Alex. He’s our only child.” The couple pleaded in unison.

“Sure, I will do my job. I just want to advise that you monitor him more. I mean, his eating pattern, sleeping pattern, who he moves with, and his health condition. I would describe some drugs to speed up his recovery process. In the meantime, Make Alex feel settled and well-rested.”

It worried the doctor that Mr. John and his wife cared so much for Alex. ‘As their only child, they wouldn't abuse him at home, would they?’
Mr. and Mrs. John looked up at the doctor and thanked him gratefully.

“Excuse me.” he bowed to take his leave.