The streets of Tarkwa Maakro echoed with footsteps and buzzing chatter. BECE results were finally out, and students were rushing to cafés and kiosks to check their fate.
Kingstar walked silently alongside Kwame, the sound of flip-flops slapping the ground somehow louder than ever. Inside, his mind replayed the BECE like a movie the memorized codes, the finger signs, the way he mouthed answers like a seasoned secret agent.
He entered the internet café. The place was packed.
Uncle Poku, the café owner, smiled as he saw him.
"Sign Master himself. Your results go shock dem."
Kingstar forced a grin. His fingers trembled slightly as he typed in his index number.
Submit.
Loading…
The screen flashed:
Mathematics – A1
English – C4
Social Studies – B3
Integrated Science – C5
RME – B3
ICT – B2
Pre-Technical Skills – C5
Ghanaian Language – C5
Aggregate: 18
Kingstar stared at the screen.
He rubbed his eyes.
"A1 in Maths," he whispered.
But his joy was short-lived. C5 in Science, Pre-Tech, and Ghanaian Language? Eighteen aggregate?
He had passed. But this… this wasn't what he expected. Not after how confident he had felt. Not after helping so many of his mates.
Just then, a few boys burst in.
"Kingstar! I get 07!"
"Chale I get 09 your signs dey work ooo!"
"You be legend, bro!"
They patted him, laughed, some even tried lifting him up. But inside, Kingstar's heart was heavy.
"How did they do better than me?"
He smiled for the crowd but walked home quietly that day.
That evening, as he sat outside, his mother brought him a warm plate of rice and stew.
"Eat, my son. You didn't fail. But maybe now… you understand why your future must be yours alone."
His father added with a nod,
"You got A1 in Maths. That means you have potential. Now learn to protect it."
Kingstar nodded.
He had learned the hard way that sometimes, helping others too much could cost you.
But he wasn't done yet. This was only the beginning