The Assembly Call
723 Words
In Agunbiade Victory High School, there were many rules.
Some rules students could bend.
Some rules students could secretly break.
But there was one rule everyone feared.
No student was allowed to bring phone to school.
If a teacher caught you with one, the punishment was serious.
Sometimes the phone would be seized for weeks.
Sometimes the student would be punished in front of the whole school.
Because of that, most students didn't even try.
But Ether was different.
It was on a Thursday morning.
Students stood in lines on the assembly ground under the hot sun. The prefects stood in front controlling the lines while teachers watched from the side.
Ether stood quietly among the SSS 2 Art students.
The principal was giving a long speech about discipline.
Most students weren't even listening.
Some were whispering.
Some were fighting sleep.
Ether simply stared ahead calmly.
Inside his pocket was something dangerous.
His phone.
He hadn't planned to bring it that day.
But earlier that morning, he needed to make an important call before school started.
So he kept it with him.
No problem, he had thought.
I won't use it
Then suddenly -
Bzzzzz.
The vibration was small.
But Ether felt it immediately.
His phone was ringing.
He frowned slightly.
"Who is calling me now?"
The vibration continued.
Students around him began turning their heads.
One boy whispered.
"Guy... your pocket dey shake."
Ether slowly reached to his pocket.
His mind moved quickly.
If he ignored the call, it would keep vibrating.
If he answered, teachers might see him.
He looked toward the teachers.
They were focused on the principal.
Ether made a quick decision.
He answered the call.
Right there
On the assembly ground.
The boy standing next to him almost fainted.
"Are you mad?" he whispered.
But Ether calmly placed the phone to his ear.
"Hello."
The voice on the other side spoke quickly.
Ether responded quietly.
"Yes... I'm in school."
Pause.
"I'll call you later."
Then he ended the call.
The entire thing lasted less than ten seconds.
But several students had already seen it.
And their eyes were wide with shock.
Did he just answer a phone call in assembly?
Word spread through the lines like wildfire.
"Ether brought phone!"
"He answered call!"
"Right on the assembly!"
Some students turned their heads to look at him.
Others whispered excitedly.
But Ether simply placed the phone back into his pocket and stood normally like nothing had happened.
The principal finished his speech a few minutes later.
"Students may now return to their classes."
As soon as the assembly ended, chaos started.
Students surrounded Ether immediately.
"Guy!"
"You carry phone come school?"
"You even answer call for assembly!"
"Are you not afraid?"
Ether just smiled slightly.
"It was an important call."
One boy shook his head in disbelief.
"You get mind."
Another girl whispered to her friend.
"That boy no dey fear anybody."
Within hours, the entire school knew.
The story became bigger than the one about the disciplinary committee.
Now students had a new opinion about Ether.
He wasn't just confident.
He was fearless.
But there was something Ether didn't know.
Even though Aminat was still on suspension....
News about him had already reached her.
One of her friends called her that afternoon.
"You remember that boy that defended you?"
"Ether?"
"Yes."
"What about him?"
Her friend laughed.
"That boy carried phone to assembly and even answered call!"
Aminat went silent for a moment.
Then she slowly smiled to herself.
"That boy is trouble," she muttered.
But deep down....
She was impressed.
Meanwhile, Ether had no idea that his reputation in school had just changed completely.
Students now respected him.
Some admired him.
Some feared him.
Some hate him thinking he was proud.
But one thing was certain.
The quiet new boy who resumed in the 8th week of SSS 2... was no longer invisible.
Everyone in Agunbiade Victory High School now know his name.
Ether.
But while his reputation in school was growing...
His heart was slowly moving in different direction.
Because the more he thought about Aminat...
The more he realized something painful.
She was his senior.
And getting close to her might not be as easy as he thought.
Soon, Ether would make a decision.
Should he try to win her heart...
Or let her go?
- Writer
