===== Chapter 20 [ Part 2 ] =====

There goes a sigh escape your lips as you finally manage to finish taking your quiz for your Personal Development course. How awful the contents are, but you fortunately survived with a sweat in your temple. Dropping your pen on the table, you snatch your paper as you quietly make your way to the short and stout professor.

"Done?" your teacher asks in his very distinct deep voice. His brow, raised in an incredulous manner, as if it's really shady for him to see you accomplish the assessment paper he has carefully prepared for the class so quickly.

For as you can probably guess by now, this teacher is a terror teacher. Actually, scratch that— he's not the terror teacher you would usually encounter. He's strict, but he's not strict because he cares about your classmates' being; he's strict because it is his hobby to terrorize.

Anyways, Professor Marquez is just totally someone you wouldn't want to have in your class.

This professor is so deranged that he has carefully prepared the questions in all his examinations to be difficult to the point that he himself would also have a hard time answering it.

And you know what makes it more worse is that he actually knows that he's one cruel nighmare to all his students. Barely going to class, he intentionally teaches the most basic facts of the lesson and then proceeds to give out very long quizzes that contains the hardest questions.

With that kind of personality, of course, you'll easily hate him. Fortunately, you are not that stupid-stupid; so you are still alive and kicking despite how it is hard to struggle to float in his ocean of madness.

This old professor has already given out two quizzes for the past single month; and you managed to pass it all— a few numbers, however, above the failure mark.

You purse your lips as you bite back the urge to retort a sarcastic remark. Like duh, of course, I am done. Isn't it the reason why I'm standing here before you in the first place? You instead nod in confirmation while you politely transfer the paper to his hands.

"Hmm," he says as he scans over your answers.

Though you can't really classify yourself as a smart person, you have studied enough for this subject to be confident that you will pass and have a decent score.

Your lips slightly twitching when you happen to perceive a disappointed expression cross that wrinkly face of his. You can only take it as a good sign that you did well. Maybe you should be thankful that you didn't sleep last night.

"Sir, are you going to check the paper" you timidly ask, wanting to inquire about your grades, and this old man suddenly has a shocked face on.

A serious expression replaces it, and he earnestly says no to your face, angrily ordering you instead to return to your seat since you are being a distraction right now.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Sir," you apologize in the most sincere tons you can muster.

With your back turned on the old professor, you cannot help but let out a smile. Some of your classmates manage to witness that smile— a mix of envy and surprise showing in all their faces.

Soon, lunch came; and you were pondering then at the moment if you should also skip eating Lunch.

However, the thing is you also skipped Recess earlier.

Maybe it's indeed wiser for you to stay inside the classroom, but you can't exactly coop up in this room forever. Despite that, you're still also undecided with eating though because you don't exactly feel hungry right now.

You sigh while you stare at the door, observing your classmates slowly exit the door with their friends.

"(Y/N), you're not gonna eat?"

A familiar feminine voice suddenly calls out.

You turn your head to perceive that it's your classmate who has the same name with you.

(Y/N) Ia Simons.

Or better known as Ia.

As since both of you do have the same first name, people would prefer to call her Ia to make it easier for all.

A smile forms on your face as your gaze land on her. Though you aren't exactly friends with her, you are able to hold a short conversation with her from time to time. Ia isn't like the others, and you know that she is an honest person.

"Don't know," you shrug. "How about you?"

Ia shyly smiles as she clasps her hands together. Somehow looking slightly hesitant, she still continues her offer, "I was thinking of inviting you... Will you?— I mean do you want to or—?"

"How about your friends?"

You tilt your head, confused.

Althought you are grateful for her invitation, you know that she has a lot of friends to hang out with? Right? Why would a friendly girl like her would want to hang out with a slut like you?

"You can hang out with us!" Ia chirps, without skipping a beat. Her eyes, twinkling with hope.

Since she seems really keen with the idea of you joining them, you cannot dare to refuse. So in the end, you reluctantly nod to her delight. She happily walks out the room as you follow her from behind, feeling somehow awkward for what is about to come.