UNBREAKABLE

Chapter 5: Ruined

Leonard's POV

I drove cheerfully to school having a good laughing session with Liz, I never knew she could be so lively for a pregnant woman,

I often thought pregnancy makes women grumpy and difficult to approach, not to mention their mood swings, but Liz seems different, so down to earth, her husband must be so lucky to hav such a loving woman

I reached my destination and offered to drive Liz to where she was headed, a coffee shop, few miles away from the school, but she declined, saying I was in a hurry and she doesn't want me to be late.. I have her a smile and pecked her cheek, mouthing thank you, I strapped her in and watched as she drove carefully, disappearing from my view

It's the first time I walking into the school, never had it happened in my four years here, no wonder I had every eye staring at me and the whispers could be overheard, not that I cared

"Is that not Leonard Williams"

"He's even on foot, you don't get to see that everyday"

"I thought he left school for some fun, so why is he back on the last day the professor announced, maybe he has a good explanation to this actions, not that I believe Bash anyways"

"The professor will be so happy to see him, I just hope this ends well"

"If we are asked to vote, I'll rather give all my votes to him that that his bone faced brother"

"I could kill to have him as mine"

"You are just dreaming, wake up and realize he is not your league"

I heard all the comments, most were as if the speakers didn't care if I overheard them or not, they continued their gossips and I mined my business taking large strides to the class

I was surprised to see it was empty, oh my! What have I missed this few periods I went on tour

I exited the class room and headed to the school hall, the stares were even more severe, and I had a feeling there was something more to this, one one of the girls did mentioned something about the professor and I paid deaf ears

Is the professor sick?

Why is everyone heading to the hall?

I had a strange feeling but I just waved it out, took my seat at the hall and waited for the unknown

I had tired dialing Bash to inform him that am in school but he busied my calls and after three trials, his lines were switched off, I shrugged and put back the phone in my pocket.

Not up to thirty minutes, the school council walked in, and I was taken aback, what is really going on in school today, why didn't Bash tell me anything

Everything seems alien to me and I was too focused on the scene to ask anybody for explanation.

It wasn't long until I saw the professor, he was more like my mentor took the stage, and the statement I heard shattered my heart in a thousand pieces,

"We all know why we are gathered here, and I wouldn't like to waste any of our time"

"We had given one week grace for Leonard Williams to show up to the council and explain his actions and also claim his badge, failure to do that, the badge and award will be passed to the second runner, Bash Williams, and since he was adamant to our request, for certain reasons, I will like to make this final announcement before I proceed"

"Is Leonard Williams in this hall today?

" If he is can he please step forward and explain his actions to this council or deny his claims to this badge if he doesn't want the award"

I felt my blood boiling, has all this been going on in school and my brother whom I trusted so much couldn't relay the information to me?

What is going on here, I felt a huge lump on my throat and I swallowed hard to sink it down,

If Bash wants the Badge, he can as well have it, but iam not leaving this hall without clearing my name, my reputation is at stake and this stigma will spread like wild fire

I stood up majestically and strode to the stage, the crowd gasp, others cheered, the professor held a shocking expression and as I moved to ascend the stage, I felt a pair of eyes shooting daggers at my back, I turned around and I saw him.. Bash, seated in all his glory, ready to claim my award which I gladly gave him

But sitting there to witness how my reputation is being ruined without uttering a word didn't go unnoticed, the looks on his face told me exactly what I needed to know, he told them about my trip and there was no point in my arguing or lying before this crowd, it will make them hate me even more

I took the stage and trapped the microphone,

"I bowed to the council and greeted good morning, turned and bowed to my audience, good morning friends and colleagues

I really do not know where to start from, but iam sorry for not showing up on the day of award, I took a trip a week before that day for a photography tour and wasn't aware of any developments until this minute

And whatever must have been heard by this panel which wasn't from my lips should be considered invalid

I do value my batch, and I will gladly proof it if that's what it takes to convince you"

The crowed cheered and whistled, some chanted my name, some applauded, then I saw Bash taking calculated steps to the stage, and stood next to me.. He gestured for the microphone and I stepped away from him to gain access

"Ladies and gentlemen, if Leonard Williams says anything that doesn't come from his lips should be considered invalid, how then is he going to explain the call he made to me,saying he cared less about the Badge which I had played for everyone here"

I was taken aback as I would not believe Bash could stoop so long, I didn't believe he could do this to me his brother, he was trying to make me look bad before this people, he wants to ruin me, and am never letting that happen

"Yes I do accept that call came from me, I agree I had made that comment and for that iam truly sorry"

The crowd was thrown into chaos, the crowd that were cheering me suddenly wer turned against me

"You do not deserve the badge"

"You think you can go to anywhere and appear here after wasting our time to tell us you are sorry?"

"You are an unserious person, you will end up abusing that privilege if it's given to you"

"Let that honor be given to Bash, he is more worthy of it"

I turned and looked at Bash and he had a smile plastered on his face, how dare he smile after ruining my reputation?

I sighed and continued my my speech, IAm sorry for making that statement, and you are right to judge me, I was wrong, however, I only made that statement with Bash on the phone because he asked me to give up my award for him, and he threatened to break our brotherly bond if I do not give up my prize for him, and because I value our bond, I had to give it up for him, and I refused to show up on the day of award giving,

I just didn't expect him to ruin Mr reputation in order to get the badge after I had given it up willingly

"You are lying because you want to clear your name"

"Whatever Bash said, he said it with proof of your call, what proof do you have to make us believe you are telling the truth"?

I saw the smile on Bash's face and I smiled too, I brought out my phone and lifted it to the crowd

"Bash did played a record of the call we made, but omitted the part he begged me to let go of my badge, and played the part I refused the badge to the crowd

Now here is the full version of the call"

I turned to look at him, and he had turned pale in a minute, I sighed satisfactorily

After playing the call to the crowd on speaker, everyone started booing Bash and all manner of insults were thrown at him, the students stared at me apologetically

"You have a good heart Leonard for giving up such privilege to a back stabber

We think you deserve the award, you earned it"

The professor walked up to me totally ignoring Bash and the Badge was placed on my left chest, the professor engulfed me in a bear hug and whispered weldon son!

I turned to look at Bash and he shot me a glare and walked out of the hall, I was just wondering what he was up to because I know my brother too well

Bash's POV

As I left the hall, I immediately placed a call to Max and unleashed my anger

I gave you a simple job, abduct him and keep him hidden until I receive the award, you are so incompetent, not only have you ruined my plans, you ruined my reputation

He is walking victoriously in the campus after rendering my life useless

"It's not my fault boss, I got there as soon as I got your call and he was not there, he must hav left on his own, I tried calling you to report the situation but your number was off, please don't blame me"

I yelled with devastation hitting the steering a few times, I stretched my nose tried breathing to calm my nerves,

You have to fix this Max, I don't care how, make it look like an accident

I want him dead once and for all, and make such the consequences are not traced to me

"Consider it done boss"

I dragged a deep breath and rested my head on the steering as tears ran down my cheeks freely

Why am I so useless, why am I so backward, I feel so hurt

Why does he have to be better than me in everything... Why?

Why does he have to ruin everything for me?

My subconscious replies, it's because you compete with him over everything, you will be more at peace with yourself if you stop comparing yourself with him, be happy in who you are...

I shut it out completely,

After sobbing to my hearts content

I made a decision that once I take his life, there is no going back, I will not hesitate to take the life of whoever stands in my way

I kicked the ignition as I drove killing my conscience and diving into a journey of no return.