The Monday assembly was longer than usual.
Teachers whispered. The Assistant Headmaster held a white sheet. Everyone knew what that meant:
Selection for the Inter-Schools Academic Challenge.
The top ten students from Form Three would represent St. Hubert in quizzes, essay competitions, and debates across Catholic schools in the Ashanti Region.
The criteria? Class performance, teacher recommendations, and discipline record.
Kingstar stood at the back of the assembly square, arms folded.
He wasn't expecting anything. After all, he wasn't loud. He wasn't a prefect. He wasn't on any academic board.
But when the names were called…
"Boakye Kwame… Mensah Joshua… Asante Benedict… Kingstar Darko!"
Heads turned.
Even he looked confused.
Some clapped. Others just blinked.
But one voice didn't stay quiet.
It was Dennis Osei, the new Assistant Compound Prefect. Known for his sharp brain and sharp tongue.
Kingstar didn't respond.
He walked quietly to join the other selected students in front of the staff room later that afternoon.
Mr. Obeng, their English teacher, handed out past competition scripts.
"We believe in you. Study hard."
But as they all opened the booklets, Dennis leaned toward Kingstar and whispered:
"Let's see if helping babies can help you here."
That night, Kingstar didn't sleep early.
He sat on his bed, reading comprehension passages, solving math challenges, revising current affairs.
He wasn't just preparing to answer questions…
He was preparing to prove a point.