David, dressed in school uniform, was sitting on the sofa opposite the TV, watching the news. The current topic was about the numerous deaths in Calabar City last night. As focused were David's eyes on the screen, as sad as he was. "Death's really a big threat to our survival", he thought.
     His Dad joined him. "The first Ratboy was easily killed...will this second one save us from that monster?", asked his Dad, feeling devastated.
     David kept mute for a while, before he heaved a sigh. "There's something you taught me Dad, when I was 8 years old...and it's still fresh in my memory", he turned to Dad.
     Dad kept a look that actually expressed;"What did I teach you?"
     "When you were framed up at your workplace for fraud...", replied David. Dad nodded his head because he'd then realized what David was going to say.
     "It was after a month, you were proven innocent and the two men who framed you up were brought to the open", he said. Dad nodded his head again to show he was paying attention.
     "You called me later that day, telling me that life is all about ups and downs. At times, bad people who hate you for no reason will strike but with what happened to you, you used it as an example to show to me the good must always overcome the bad at the end. You remember Dad?", asked David.
     "I remember everything clearly Son", replied the Dad.
     David heaved a big sigh because of the long talk. He faced the television and was silent for few seconds. "Then...don't worry about Ratboy. He's going to destroy that monster", he concluded.
     Dad nodded his head in agreement once more and replied;"Okay Son."
     David switched off the TV with the remote and said to Dad;"I'm ready to go to school now."
     Dad, who had forgot he was to head out to work, quickly stood up. "Let's go Son!", he replied. David stood up and both of them left the house.
     *                       *                       *
     David was going straight to his class. Before his class was Stella's class. He saw Stella looking at him in anger. David kept this apologetic look on his face as he entered his class.
     *                       *                       *
     During break period, Stella reprimanded David in the study park. David was sitting on a table while Stella stood in front of him.
     "Where did you go to last night David?", she asked in an angry mood but calmly.
     "I'm so sorry Cutie. The time we tried running away and the crowd bumped into us, I never knew you fell. After I'd run a long distance, I realized you were never behind me all along. I'm sorry", David apologized.
     Stella got completely lost in what David was saying. "What made sense in what you just said? How would you run a far distance without knowing I wasn't behind you? Secondly...I was still at Food Court for a while until that monster tried to kill me by throwing a car at me so, I ran away from there. Didn't you try coming back to find me?", Stella, disbelieving what David told her.
     "I actually did but when I went back there, I could not find you", David lied.
     "How slow were you?", asked Stella in a higher tone.
     "I'm sorry Cutie...I'm really really sorry", David apologized another time, after he saw their classmates now looking at them.
     Stella realized she was using a high tone and looked round to see her people looking at them, worried at why she was in an argument with David. "Relax guys! It's just a minor thing we'll settle in no time", she told everyone.
     As they were gradually turning away and resuming with their various activities, Stella turned back to David. "We made the promise just yesterday and I understand no human's above mistakes so...I forgive you."
     "Thanks Cutie", David felt relieved. They both had a very warm hug.
*                        *                        *
     David was having a discussion with Mr Robinson in the kitchen while Mr Robinson was baking a cake in the oven.
     "Shouldn't I tell my girlfriend I'm Ratboy?", questioned David.
     "This is the last time I'm saying this, if anyone finds out you're Ratboy, SHC won't like it one bit", said Mr Robinson.
     "I almost had a heated argument with Stella today", pleaded David.
     "Solutions will surely come when it's the right time...if SHC finds out a single person knows you as Ratboy, they won't be any solutions", Mr Robinson warned.
     David became sad. "I'm in a very difficult situation right now", he said.
     "Everything's gonna be okay. Let's just keep to the rules and regulations of the SHC", assured Mr Robinson.
     David made a sound that meant he wasn't happy with the situation still, and also tiredness.
     Mr Robinson checked his watch for time and found out 35 minutes had already past a while ago. "35 minutes have already gone and the cake's still in the oven", he said. He opened the oven and brought out the two cake pans and shut it up with his leg.
     "Hey Dave! My chocolate cake is ready", he said, "Come and enjoy", he kept them on the drawer.
     David tried brightening up his mood. "Sure! Have you checked if it's really done?", he asked as he walked up to the drawer.
     "Uhmmm...", Mr Robinson picked up a knife nearby. He inserted it into the centre of the forest cake and it came out clean. The same result occurred for the second cake. "Yeah! They're done", he said.
     David brought the cooling rack and Mr Robinson released the cakes from the pans to cool down on the rack. "Let's make the buttercream while they cool", he told David.
     "Let me go get the necessary ingredients right away", David zoomed off.