The list came out on a bright Tuesday morning. Kingstar rushed to the café with Kwame and a few others. His hands trembled as he typed in his placement code.
"Congratulations! You have been placed at ST. HUBERT SEMINARY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL."
He froze.
"St. Hubert?" he whispered.
He had heard of the school known for discipline, intelligence, and priests-in-training. It wasn't what he expected. He had dreamed of Prempeh or Opoku Ware. But here it was.
"Is this a mistake?" Kwame asked.
But it wasn't.
Soon after, word spread that only students who had 15 aggregate or better would be admitted without entrance exams. Those like Kingstar, with aggregate 18, were to write an entrance exam before final acceptance.
It was another twist.
Kingstar went home in silence. His father was outside, fixing the car battery.
"St. Hubert? That's not just any school, King," he said, smiling. "God wants something big from you."
His mother agreed. "If they need an exam to prove your worth give them a reason to accept you."
For two weeks, Kingstar buried himself in revision. Morning to night Maths past questions, Science notes, English comprehension drills. He carried his books everywhere: to the kitchen, to the bathroom door, even under his pillow.
The day came. He arrived at the St. Hubert gates, lined up with nearly 90 other hopefuls all with aggregates above 15. Some were confident, some looked confused, and some whispered prayers.
When the papers were distributed, Kingstar breathed in deeply.
He started with Maths. Every formula clicked. Every number danced into place.
English came next. He smiled as he tackled comprehension, remembering how his mother used to make him read aloud in the evenings.
Then Science his weakest subject but this time, he was prepared. He wrote with focus, flipping pages like clockwork.
A week later, the results were pinned to the school's notice board.
1st Place: KWABENA KINGSTAR 93.7%
He blinked. Others gasped.
The boy who came with aggregate 18 had topped the entrance exam above students with better BECE scores.
The Headmaster smiled when he shook his hand.
"Welcome to St. Hubert. You've earned your place."
Kingstar looked at the gates again.
"I didn't expect this path… but maybe this is exactly where I need to be."
His story was only beginning.