Dust to dust, ashes to ashes, today is the day that Chail, a certain boy, will have a really tough time. Chail and the boy were completely exhausted from running non-stop for two minutes to get to the school courtyard, finally escaping from the place they were in.
Both Chail and the boy were gasping for breath. (My legs are killing me,) Chail thought, realizing he had run too much. The boy, on the other hand, remained silent, choosing not to complain. Although he felt annoyed about losing his ball, he managed to keep his emotions in check. Rather than lashing out, he released all his frustration with a deep, exasperated sigh.
The boy walked away without saying a word, leaving Chail to ponder, (Maybe it's best to give him space. I'm already feeling exhausted after that run, and haven't pushed myself like that in a while.) Despite his fatigue, Chail wished he could have a conversation with the boy before he departed, but unfortunately, he was too worn out to engage in any meaningful dialogue.
While exhausted, Chail's mind started to wander, but he quickly remembered that he needed to reach his classroom before the homeroom teacher returned.
Chail groggily pulled himself up from the ground and wearily headed towards his first class. The walk felt never-ending, dragging on and on until he finally reached the classroom. Nervousness washed over him as he pondered whether the teacher had already arrived, yet he summoned the courage to step inside regardless. He couldn't help but think, (Perhaps I shouldn't have followed him, but at least the teacher hasn't shown up yet.)
Chail's nerves quickly dissipated as a feeling of immense relief flooded over him, grateful that the teacher was absent from the class. With newfound confidence, he closed the door behind him, only to be startled by an unexpected presence that suddenly appeared beside it. (Who or what is this?) Chail wondered, feeling a piercing gaze from tiger-like eyes. An instinctual fear crept over him, the feeling of being prey. Unsure of what would happen if he stayed still, Chail slowly turned his head to see the person - and to his surprise, it turned out to be the homeroom teacher.
The teacher was puzzled as to why a student was blocking the doorway, so she kindly instructed him to return to his seat. Chail quickly complied, not hesitating for a moment.
Even though she graduated from college two years ago, she appeared to be 19 years old, earning her the nickname Miss Riley among the students. Carrying a side bag, Miss Riley walked into the classroom and headed directly to her desk. Placing the side bag on the desk, she began rummaging through it as if in search of something.
She pulled out a ball and placed it on the desk. Miss Riley called the attention of all the students, grabbing the ball from the desk, and showing it to the entire classroom. She explained how she obtained the ball from another teacher and how she managed to locate the rightful owner by identifying the class grade written on it with a marker.
The classroom atmosphere suddenly turned gloomy, sparking confusion among the students and leading to murmurs throughout. Trying to restore order, Miss Riley smacked her desk, sending a signal for silence that resonated with the students, bringing an end to the murmurs and redirecting their attention towards the teacher.
Chail was consumed by fear, not only due to the teacher's desk-smacking, but also because of the unknown consequences he might face after confessing the truth. He muttered to himself in frustration, (Why is this happening?) As he sat there, unsure of what to do, he realized he had two choices: either reveal the owner of the ball or stay silent.
Chail became more and more frustrated as a series of problems piled up throughout the day. Suddenly, an unsettling shiver traveled down his back, making him feel as if someone was watching him closely. When he looked back, Chail noticed the boy whom he had seen earlier in the auditorium and hallway, staring directly at him. He silently pleaded with himself, thinking, (Please, just don't stare at me. I get it, I understand.)280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaAs9vyokQ
This made Chail nervous. It felt as if the boy's eyes were warning him that if he reported the incident to the teacher, he would reveal that Chail was the one who threw the ball. Chail quickly averted his gaze from the boy and focused instead on the teacher, consumed by fear that the boy might expose him as the culprit.
He was so nervous that he didn't hear the teacher count down from 5 to 1, waiting for the owner to come out. But to his surprise, no one appeared. Though Miss Riley didn't show her disappointment on her face, the atmosphere coming from her was telling a different story. However, this setback didn't crush her spirit; instead, she quickly devised a plan B. Miss Riley informed the class that, since the owner didn't come out, the entire class would be punished. In just two days, the class would work together in groups of three on a class project.
The class project will focus on our national heritage, and Miss Riley wants each group to share something about our country, Saint Lucia. Just as she finished explaining the assignment, the school bell rang, signaling that all students are now free to leave the school compound.
