Kingstar stood in the school chapel, his voice thin during Mass, his heart heavy.
His grades were dropping.
He was lying to his mother.
He was stealing his own future little by little.
But he couldn't stop thinking about Pearl.
Her laugh. Her calm. The way she made him feel seen not as the "choir boy" or "bright student," but just… Kingstar.
Every Friday, he found himself waiting for night.
Every Saturday, broke and guilty.
Then came the letter.
Pinned on the notice board one Monday morning:
URGENT: All Form Three Students Are to Submit Proof of Full Fee Payment by Wednesday
Signed: Assistant Headmaster, Academics
His stomach turned.
He hadn't paid the balance.
Not even close.
That Wednesday morning, students lined up at the admin block, receipt folders in hand. Kingstar? He skipped breakfast. His head pounded.
When it got to his turn, he forced a smile.
"Kingstar Darko. Checking balance…"
The bursar's brows furrowed.
"You've only paid half."
He fumbled.
"I… I think my mum maybe the bank"
"No stories. Go bring the rest. Or no exams."
The words hit harder than a slap.
No exams.
That same day, during dawn roll call at 4:30 a.m., the discipline master stormed the dorms.
"We're missing six students every Saturday night. Today, we're doing a bed-to-bed check. No excuses."
Panic filled the room.
Raymond, already alert, whispered, "Chale, if dem catch us we finish."
They didn't catch him. But they caught two others.
And the pressure tightened.
That Friday, Kingstar didn't jump.
He sat behind the classroom after prep and just stared at the sky.
He thought about his mother, working extra hours at the market.
He thought about Pearl, who hadn't replied his last message.
He thought about himself, and the boy he used to be.
That night, for the first time in a while… he prayed.
"God, I know I mess up. But please… don't let me destroy myself."