Handsome Boy Always Wear Helmet to School Just to Find True Love
In the bustling chaos of Royal Grace High School, where rain-soaked students dashed through the drizzle to their classes, one figure stood apart. Michael, a brilliant SS2 science student, was unmistakable with his polished shoes, spotless uniform, and ever-present black motorcycle helmet. Known only as “Helmet Boy,” he was an enigma to his peers. No one had seen his face, and no one knew his full story. Having transferred from another city six months prior, Michael’s helmet sparked endless speculation. Some whispered he hid a scar; others giggled he was masking body odor or an ugly face. The rumors fueled relentless bullying, led by Cynthia, the sharp-tongued daughter of a powerful senator, and her loyal sidekicks, Jessica and Vivien.
Cynthia, draped in wealth and arrogance, made Michael’s days a nightmare. Flanked by her friends, she mocked him in the corridors with taunts like, “Hello, astronaut, going to the moon?” Michael never responded, his silence a shield against their venom. To Cynthia, his quietness was weakness; to Michael, it was strength. But not everyone saw him as a target. Amanda, a calm and observant girl from a humble village settlement, was different. Her father, a carpenter, and her mother, a roadside corn seller, struggled to provide, yet Amanda carried herself with grace in her patched uniforms. She never joined the mockery, instead noticing the peace in Michael’s silence. One quiet afternoon, she found him under the school’s old mango tree and sat beside him. “You don’t talk much,” she said softly. Michael, surprised, stayed silent, but Amanda’s gentle presence marked the start of a quiet friendship. They shared lunch breaks, roasted corn, and moments of stillness, building a bond that made Michael feel truly seen.
The school’s annual cultural day brought color and festivity, with students in vibrant native attire and the air thick with the aroma of jollof rice and roasted meat. Amanda, in a simple, faded Ankara gown, glowed with understated beauty. Michael, in a tailored deep-blue Senator outfit, still wore his helmet, drawing laughs from the crowd. Under their mango tree, Amanda asked, “Why keep the helmet on? Today, everyone’s showing who they are.” Michael’s voice trembled: “I’m scared. If I remove it, people won’t see me the same. Maybe you won’t either.” Amanda held his hand, her voice steady: “I don’t care what’s under the helmet. I like the person inside.” Her words planted a fragile hope in Michael’s heart.
Cynthia, enraged by Michael and Amanda’s growing closeness, plotted to humiliate him. During morning assembly, she took the microphone, her voice dripping with false sweetness. “Let’s celebrate honesty by revealing Helmet Boy’s face!” The crowd chanted, “Remove it!” Amanda protested, but Michael, knowing escape was impossible, stepped forward. With a soft click, he unhooked his helmet and lifted it. Gasps erupted. His face was flawless—smooth skin, sharp jawline, and bright brown eyes that radiated calm. Cynthia’s jaw dropped; Jessica and Vivien whispered in shock, “He’s handsome.” Michael, unfazed by the awe, walked away, Amanda following. Behind the classrooms, he confessed, “I hid my face because I’m tired of people liking me for my looks or my family’s wealth. You saw my heart, Amanda. That’s what I wanted.” Tears in her eyes, Amanda admitted, “I’m poor, Michael. You deserve better.” He held her hand firmly: “You’re the best thing that’s happened to me. That’s love.”
Their moment of truth was tested when Michael brought Amanda to his parents’ mansion. Mrs. Daramola, cold and skeptical, questioned Amanda’s intentions, dismissing her as a poor girl unfit for their legacy. “Do you think this is a fairy tale? Love in poverty?” she sneered. Amanda, with quiet dignity, replied, “I didn’t know he was rich. I loved him for who he is.” But the Daramolas rejected her, and Amanda left, her heart heavy but her pride intact. The next day, she vanished from school. Michael searched desperately, visiting her home, but her mother’s evasive answers and a mysterious man in a suit claiming Amanda no longer lived there deepened his fear. Days passed with no sign of her, and Michael’s world crumbled.
Meanwhile, Cynthia, egged on by Michael’s mother, began a public charade, acting as his girlfriend to bolster their family’s status. She flaunted snacks outside his class, posed for photos, and spread rumors that they were dating. The school buzzed with gossip: “Money always wins.” Amanda’s absence fueled the narrative that she’d never stood a chance. One evening, Amanda returned quietly to retrieve a forgotten book, only to be cornered by Cynthia and her friends. “Still hanging around, carpenter’s daughter?” Cynthia mocked. Amanda, silent, grabbed her book and left, her heart breaking anew.
Then, everything changed. A state convoy rolled into the school, and Amanda stepped out, not in her patched dress but in an elegant gown, her presence regal. Behind her emerged Governor Okesi, the state’s powerful leader. The school fell silent. Amanda took the microphone, her voice unwavering: “For one year, I came here in disguise to see who would treat me kindly without knowing my name. Some mocked me, laughed at my clothes. But one person loved me for my heart.” Her eyes met Michael’s as she revealed she was the governor’s daughter, tired of suitors chasing her family’s power. The crowd erupted; Cynthia and her friends staggered in disbelief.
In private, Amanda explained to Michael: “I hid my identity to find real love. You wore a helmet; I wore poverty. Yet we found each other.” They laughed, their shared disguises forging an unbreakable bond. Governor Okesi confronted Michael’s parents, chastising them for judging Amanda’s worth by her supposed poverty. Humbled, Mrs. Daramola later apologized to Amanda, promising to value love over status. In their final year, at the valedictory dinner, Michael proposed—not with a ring, but with his helmet, saying, “Let’s keep discovering each other, no more masks.” Amanda, tears in her eyes, joked, “Only if I get to wear it sometimes.” As they embraced, the crowd cheered for the boy who hid his wealth, the girl who hid her title, and the love that saw through it all.
