HELENA

CHAPTER THREE (The Skeptical moment)

I didn't know I could really study like this just to win the competition. I was going through my books like a hungry lioness ready to bounce on her prey. Good things don't really come on a platter of gold now that I think of it, the saying is true.

I'm not someone who really enjoys reading though always come home with the best results, but I know that I don't have a choice if I really want to win this competition.It has not been easy but I understand the saying that " no pain no gain."

It was the week of the competition and even though I preferred not to go to that school for that week but dedicate myself to what I was doing, my mom won't hear of it as she reminds me that even attending school might really help as things taught for the week may help in winning the contest something I later agreed to.

I then decided that for this week, I would try and be waking up around 5 AM in the morning to try and read. The reading I will stop when it's 7:30 AM and get ready for school as the way to balance everything.

That is what I was doing this Monday morning going through my " physics" book and solving numerous examples to prove that I understand each topic.

" Helena come and taste this soup, I want to know whether the seasoning inside is enough." My mom and cooking, it's something she really enjoys doing while I the lazy type even dread going into the kitchen not to talk of cooking. Although I can cook, as my Mom made sure of that and a good cook at that.

" Ok Mom I'm on my way," I said and close my book to go and meet her in the kitchen.

" How is it? Is the seasoning okay?" She asked blinking her eyes continuously while asking me.

" It's really tasty, you're the best mom!!" I said sinking at her.

" I knew it, thank you Helena wherein you reading before?" She asked.

" Yes but after leaving this place, I will just go straight to the bathroom and have my bath."I said lateness to school this week is not something I would like, I planned to be my best self this week.

" That is a nice idea" she commended me,she obviously didn't want me to get to school late so as not to get on the bad side of the principal.

" Before you go and have your bath,help me wake up Klow to go and have his bath as he's also resuming today." She added and continued with her cooking.

" Okay Mom." I said and went into her room to wake the big head up to have his bath. Klow is a junior student in high school though we're not attending the same school. His school Jumab was just down the road and therefore easy for him to go. After I made sure that he has opened his eyes and could hear me, I dashed out of the roof to go and take my bathe and prepare for school.

After having my bathe, I dressed up for school and went to join my mom and brother in the dining to have breakfast.

" Mom,are you going to resume back to your work starting from today?" I asked since she didn't say anything about it.

" Yes, since I have regained my strength what would I be doing staying at home?" She said smiling at me. Do we even have a choice as we had spent almost all our savings on treatment so there is nothing to be done about it.

" Okay Mom, I just wanted to confirm." I said smiling at her only to hear the little boy hiss Slightly.

" Table manners Helena, don't stress my mom." He said trying to annoy me this morning which I would not allow. I looked through his face to see him smirking while I also smiled wryly thinking of how to deal with him this morning.

" Mom have a nice day and you take this." I said while I gave Klow a knock on his head, took my bag and run out of the house before my mom could query me for what I did.

I went to knock on Jasmine's door to ask whether she has gone only for her to come out immediately. She had been waiting for me since I told her yesterday that I would go to school today. We hugged then started walking as usual to school though not running as we left home today earlier than that day.

.......

We got to school and settle down before the class began thanks to leaving home early. We were still waiting for the teacher to come in and take us" Biology", when I heard Stephen clear his throat to speak.

" I heard your mom had an accident, Jasmine told me about it when I asked of you from her." He said while I glared at Jasmine for running her tap water mouth anyhow,she only laughed.

" Yes, she has recovered already,thank you Stephen." That was the only thing I could say, I don't know why I don't really like saying much when I'm talking with Stephen when that is what I have always wanted.

" It's nothing, I was just worried for a friend." He said smiling while I blinked my eyes repeatedly to reboot what I just heard. He considers me as a friend,that is so loving of him I thought blushing.

The teacher came in for biology and the lesson commenced immediately. I'm not really a lover of biology and so was lost in thought daydreaming of I and Stephen enjoying our romantic moment just because he told me that he considers me as friend. You can't blame me for that he's my crush. He has all the manly attributes I want man to possess so I did not waste time in falling for him.

I was jolted out of my dream by Stephen that I didn't know when the Biology teacher left the class.

" Is something wrong? You were lost in thought and I don't even think you paid attention to the biology lecture." He said calmly not knowing that it's his statement that caused all this.

" No maybe I was just worried about my mom," I said obviously it was a lie. I didn't have the confidence to tell him I was in love with him.

.........

As usual, when it was 4 PM in the evening,we closed for the day and the students trooped out of their various classes to go home. I did not go home immediately as I was called by the principal so I had to beg Jasmine to wait for me as I don't like going home alone.

" You called for me Sir," I said to him as he busied himself in his work.

" You were not in school last week, you only came on Monday. Did anything happen?" He asked after pausing what he was doing and faced me.

" My mom had an accident and I had to stay with her at the hospital." I said because I had no choice but to say it so he won't think it was a deliberate action.

" Ohhhh!! I didn't know so how is she now?" He asked and I bet I had not seen this attitude in him before.

" She's now okay and has regained her strength, thank you for asking Sir." I said, but not smiling because he hate someone smiling sheepishly when talking with the person.

" It's nothing, I only called you when I heard that you're in school today, so that you can fill some documents regarding the competition. You should have filled it last week but because you were not around, I had to keep it. Thank God you came today, because tomorrow was actually the last day for the submission since the competition is on Saturday."

" Okay Sir, I collected the documents and filled it as expected after which I returned it back to him. God bless my mom is this how I would have lost this golden opportunity if I had acted as planned not to attend school this week.

After going through the documents,he told me that that I could go home now as I had filled it properly. I thanked him profusely and went to meet Jasmine in the class where she waited for me and the journey home began immediately.

......

It was finally the day of the so much expected event I was happy but also sceptical about the exam. The principal told me the results would be out that same day of the competition as it was going to be a computer based test competition. I woke up early for the exam,had my breakfast and rushed out of the house to my school as the principal promised to take both Tevi and I there.

We made use of a hall owned by the Roserman Foundation I believe was built specially for this annual competition.The place was filled to the brim by students from all over Trembor but unfortunately one person is getting the scholarship.

We started and we were giving the duration of thirty minutes to answer all questions. The questions were tricky and difficult but I made sure I tried my possible best in answering them to the best of my ability before submitting.

It was not easy as we were to answer questions on Mathematics,Physics, Chemistry and even Biology. I answered the questions as if my life depends on it as I must get admitted into the school. Finally we were instructed to submit with the promise of sending the results to the principal today in the night.

The principal after dropping us, left so we both had to find our way back home ourselves. After boarding a cab that took me home, I went in to sleep sceptical about the outcome of the results that I was to hear this night.

......

In the night,we were just sitting down at the parlour chatting as we normally do in the night before we sleep.

" Helena how was the competition?" My mom asked as she was actually not at home when I came home.

" It was fine but you know I can't say whether I would actually win. The place was filled with students from all over the schools in Trembor. Every school has it's own brilliant ones,so it won't be easy." I said to her with a dry smile on my face.

" Don't worry, I know you tried your best but not to worry, going to KAIS is not the only success in life. I'm with you on this. Whatever results you bring home is okay you've done your best come my dear..." She said and I fell into her embrace.

" Helena don't worry, your brother here believes in you too. I trust you on this that you will make us proud even though you do hit me." Klow said to me and for a second I thought it was my father. Klow is usually caring on days like this. I feel okay and satisfied as long as my family are with me on this.

I was still on this when my mom's phone rang with the principal's name on the screen. It was one of the things I filled the other day and he called my mom to save his number on her phone.My mom handed the phone over to me and patted my shoulder that it's okay.

" Good evening Sir," I said nervously after answering the call.

"Helena you didn't do well as expected" the principal said.

" I don't understand Sir"........