Love above contract

HENRY POV My landlord held his cheeks in shock at my audacity. I had just slapped the very man who could kick me out of his property with just a stroke of his pen, and a notice from the court. I have never disrespected an elderly man before, but I don't know how I lost control. Now, I am sure going to regret my actions in a painful and bitter way. My name is Henry, a 20 years old guy in 200 level. I am a student of engineering at the University of Betney. I believe I just made the biggest mistake of my life, and this is how it all started. ***2 HOURS EARLIER*** “30 minutes left!”, Mr Ade roared, adjusting his spectacles to sit comfortably on his nose. He stood up from where he sat and began moving round the hall, looking into the papers of every student, and hissing as though he wanted us to fail. Actually, he does want us to fail. He began to mutter curse words under his breath, complaining of how much he hates his job, and how much he hates us too. I don't really blame him, I do kind of hate everyone sitting here as well. Mr Ade walked over to where I sat, while I wrote viciously on the paper, smiling to myself. I was sure he would be impressed with what I had written, given the fact that I was almost done with the questions, and still have over 20 minutes on the clock. Brilliant! Mr Ade studied my paper for a while before shaking his head in disappointment. “Some people are just writing rubbish”, his voice echoed through the hall. My heart sank, my head started spinning. What does he mean that some people are writing rubbish? Does that mean that all my efforts have been a waste? He walked away from me, and I could feel my brain letting go of every bit of information it had stored in preparation for the exam. At one point, I couldn't tell what I was doing anymore. I looked around only to see people using pencil and ruler to plot a graph, and I seriously didn’t know why? He walked over to the desk of another girl, and after looking at her script for a while, he took it from her and tore it, sending her crying out of the hall. Wow, just like that? You must be wondering who the man think he is. Well, let me do a brief introduction of the mean man invigilating us. He is our engineering HOD (head of department). Let's just say that he is a sadist, and everyone fears and hates him. He could literally ensure you fail for smiling too much. “5 minutes left!” a lecturer announced from where he sat, looking up from his wristwatch. I quickly wrote down the few things my brain could remember, and submitted my work when it was time for it to be collected. I walked out of the hall, my head aching from the stress I had passed through. While walking down the hallway, I overheard the smart students arguing if the answer to question three was either 34.56 or 34.55. I remember solving that particular question and getting -1,353,625.96. This exam is indeed not for the weak. I found the girl whose script was torn crying by a corner of the hallway, with her friends trying to cheer her up. She's coming back to re-write this paper next year, that was certain. I stylishly moved closer and overheard them saying that Mr Ade had seen where she had written some answers on her hand, and that's what made him tear the paper. Now, it all makes sense. Well, she's lucky she didn't get a two year suspension, else, she would cry more than a new born baby. I walked home feeling down, avoiding those places where I knew a few people would call me to ask how my exam went. I got home tired, only to see the landlord dragging my properties out of my room as though he found some drugs in it. “What's going on?” I exclaimed, rushing over to where he flung my bag containing some new shoes I hadn't tried on. “You are not really okay mentally for asking me such stupid question. You have been owing me rent for the past year and six months, and you are acting surprised as though you don't know what I came to do.” He hissed at me. “You thought you were smart when you refused to pick up my calls.” “Sir, please, give me more time.” I begged. I can't be feeling down after writing today's paper, and still have to deal with my landlord's fury. “You are joking, aren't you?” He laughed hysterically. “You must really think I'm daft, that I would grant you more time. That's how you keep begging until you graduate from this university rent free!” He flung another of my bags containing my school documents, and due to the fact that the bag was slightly opened, the documents flew out, scattering all over the place. At that moment, I lost it. I didn't know when I marched up to him, and landed him a life changing slap. He immediately held his cheeks, surprised that I had the guts to slap him. My lodge mates began to whisper among themselves, they have never seen this part of me before. It was at that moment that I knew I had gone too far. My hand began to shake visibly, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze. “You slapped me?” He asked, still not believing his eyes. “I'm…I'm….so….” I received a sharp jab on the jaw before I could apologize properly. I fell backwards, trying hard to steady myself. My breathing rate increased with the passing second. I could feel adrenaline shoot up my veins and my eyes were beginning to show a shade of red. My landlord pounced on me, pinning me to the ground, and landing a series of punches on my face. To be honest, I didn't have time for this. I had another paper tomorrow and I had barely studied. My lodge mates didn't make a move to separate us. They stood a distance from us, some making bets on who would win. I knew from the very day I stepped my foot into this school that everyone schooling here was just a click away from being crazy. I wiggled myself free, and threw a few punches his way. The exchange was intense, the last time I got involved in something like this was back in high school with a fellow student. After a while, someone separated us. We stood facing each other, trying hard to catch our breath. My face had a few cuts and some blood stains from the punches I received on my lips. “I will teach you a bitter lesson, you naughty boy! Just wait and see.” He said angrily, and stormed out of the house. “Wow, you really have some guts.” A lady said from among the students who witnessed the whole scene. “And to think he is an introvert.” Someone replied. “Truly, one shouldn't judge a book by its cover.” I don't really understand what these people are saying. So because I stay away from trouble and all their stupid drama, it now means that I should tolerate every stupid thing they throw my way? I know my rights as a student, and I will not let anyone intimidate me. Being in debt is not a crime. It is a civil offense. Before long, my landlord returned with a few officers, and pointed at me, claiming that I assaulted him. He claimed that I attempted to stab him, and he had acted in self defense. I was shocked at his accusations, and turned to face my lodge mates, hoping they would stand by me, and against this injustice, given the fact that they witnessed everything themselves. They nodded their head in support of the landlord's claim, shocking me even more. Turns out, they were scared of being kicked out themselves, and therefore, decided that it was better to sacrifice my freedom than being kicked into the streets. The police officers surrounded me, pointing their guns directly at me, shouting at me to get on my knees. They honestly believed I was armed, and after a few shouts, one of them approached me, and pinned me to the ground, putting me in handcuffs. All I wanted was to study for my exams the next day, and now I'm sure going to prison. They dragged me up and took me to their station in their vehicle. They dragged me into the station as though I was a common thief they had caught on the streets. People around kept looking at me, many of them wondering what a guy like me could have done to deserve being dragged like that. I could hear a few whispers from among them. Just when I thought my struggles were over, and I could finally defend myself, the police officer in charge of the station said something that made my blood run cold. TBC.