Upon hearing the distant school bell, Mieal's heart sank. He hurriedly made his way to the gate, trying to remain unnoticed by the security guard. Feeling trapped, he started to think to himself, (I really don't have time for this. I need to get out of here.)
In a rush, Mieal dashed past the security and made his way to the school's front door. Exhausted from the sprint, he opted to wait by the entrance to catch his breath.
Mieal spoke aloud, "I guess the security guard isn't following me? I'm so tired but I really need to get to my class." As he walked, thoughts raced through his mind, (I know I have to explain why I was late to the teacher. What a pain.) Despite feeling anxious, he mustered his ambition and headed to his class.
As Mieal approached his classroom, he noticed a woman talking next to the door. Judging by her appearance, he immediately recognized her as Miss Riley. He felt unsure of what to do and realized he had nowhere to hide.
Shocked by the predicament he was in, he attempted to quietly slip away before the teachers caught him. Yet, despite his efforts, he couldn't help but freeze when he heard Miss Riley calling his name.
As Mieal stood there, he mentally scolded himself, feeling regretful for not immediately returning when he first saw her.
With an uncomfortable tone, he responded to Miss Riley with a simple "yes." Inquisitively, she questioned him, "Where were you planning to run off to, young man? Do you realize how late you are?" Despite being his homeroom teacher, Mieal couldn't help but find Miss Riley intimidating.
Moments after Mieal's encounter with Miss Riley, he found himself standing outside the classroom with his hands raised, serving his punishment for arriving late to school.
Everyone inside the classroom, including Chail, was aware of Mieal's situation. However, Chail couldn't say anything as the class had already begun, so he let out an exasperated sigh. In his mind, Chail couldn't help but think, (Wow, what a foolish mistake to be late on only the second day of school.)
He felt a sense of sorrow towards Mieal's situation, Chail murmured to himself, sighing once more. "I hope he gets here soon; he's going to miss out on the class announcement."
"Okay, class," Miss Riley began, "I am going to start the seating arrangement I came up with. When I call your names, group up and place your desks and chairs next to each other. These will be your teammates for the rest of the semester." She called out the names of the first and second groups, leaving Chail, Mia, and Mieal as the third group.
After realizing what was happening, he felt grateful for the perfect opportunity to explain to Mia what had happened at the auditorium. However, before he could react, Mia raised her hand to get the attention of their teacher, Miss Riley.
Unfortunately, Miss Riley didn't notice Mia's raised hand and instead freed Mieal from his punishment and let him inside. It was only when Mieal had already rushed back to his seat that Miss Riley finally spotted Mia's hand up. Curious, she asked Mia, "What is it?" Without hesitation, Mia requested if she could switch groups with someone else.
Miss Riley sighed and declined, "Before you ask why, it's because of a rumor I heard from a little bird. I was told that both of you have some issues with each other. It's important for you both to set aside your differences and plan what you will present for the class project tomorrow."
Miss Riley thought to herself, "I'm not getting paid enough for this." Feeling a bit frustrated, she then noticed Mia staring intensely into her eyes, like a wild animal fixated on its prey.
Miss Riley didn't feel discouraged; instead, she felt enthusiastic. However, she didn't show it on her face, but there was an aura emanating from her.
Despite her young age, Mia refused to back down. Instead, she intensified her gaze into Miss Riley's eyes, aiming to instill terror. Though they were supposed to have a teacher-student relationship, in that moment, it felt more like a clash of fierce creatures.
Miss Riley's commanding voice roared through Mia's ears as she opened her mouth and firmly spoke, "Get to your seat!" Mia quickly backed down and obediently made her way back to her seat.
In that instant, Chail heard a faint laughter emanating from group 2. It was the girl to whom he had entrusted the letter for Mia.
A wave of confusion washed over him as thoughts raced through his mind. "Could she possibly have orchestrated this? But then again, the teacher did mention hearing a rumor. Could she be the one who disclosed it to the teacher?"
Chail let out a sigh and quietly said to himself, "I shouldn't jump to conclusions without knowing the facts." Suddenly, Miss Riley's stern voice interrupted his thoughts, "Why haven't you taken your seat yet?"
She stared at Chail with an intimidating aura. Reacting quickly, Chail hurried to his seat without any hesitation. As he reached his desk, he noticed Mieal appearing exhausted and Mia engrossed in a book.
Chail pondered to himself, realizing that this was an opportunity for him to apologize to Mia. Filled with newfound confidence, he softly called out to her, saying, "Excuse me, Mia."
Unfortunately, she continued to ignore him.
Undeterred, he made another attempt, uttering, "Um, Mia." Yet again, his efforts were rebuffed. "I suppose she doesn't want to talk to me," Chail thought to himself.
Chail's heart sank with disappointment, and a deep sigh escaped his lips. Mieal looked at Chail's disappointed face and then shifted his gaze to Mia. He felt a wave of confusion wash over him as he sensed there might be some underlying tension between them.
As he pondered to himself, Mieal wondered, "Maybe I should speak up. It wouldn't be ideal if we can't get along for this project, and perhaps they'll take on all the work without any benefit from me as a reward."
He then said to Mia, "It's not okay to ignore someone; at least hear them out." Mia replied to Mieal's statement, saying, "I think it's best to mind your own business. What happened between us has nothing to do with you."
She started thinking to herself, (What's his problem?) Mia didn't really care about the boy's statement, but what he said bugged her a little.
After flipping through page after page, she finally found a topic that she could use for the class project.
Excited, she called over Mieal and showed him the topic, intentionally excluding Chail. Chail tried to sneak a peek at the topic, but Mia quickly shut the book in his face.
Mieal became angered by what she had done to Chail, making him think, (What is wrong with her? ) Mieal quietly shouted at Mia, "can't you see that he wanted to watch or are you forgetting that he is a part of our group?"
To which Mia responded by shouting back, "I told you to mind your own business!" Despite their attempts at keeping their voices low, their words could still be heard.
Both Mia and Mieal felt a strong sense of danger emanating from Miss Riley, who was visibly angry. Instead of saying anything, she simply pointed towards the door, signaling for them to wait in the hallway. Meanwhile, Chail could only let out a sigh.
Disconnection
In the afternoon, Chail and his classmates were in the classroom, taking notes from a textbook that contained information about Saint Lucia's culture. As Chail flipped through the pages, his curiosity was piqued, much like when reading a captivating novel. He stumbled upon interesting topics, such as how Saint Lucia is the only country in the world named after a woman, and its renowned annual jazz festival. However, Chail couldn't shake off the feeling of gloom, as he noticed that he was the only one in his group putting in most of the effort. Contemplating the potential grades on their report cards, he couldn't help but express, "This is such a disappointment."
Chail walked out of the classroom, feeling a bit blue, and caught sight of Mieal standing alone in the hallway near the glass windows, basking in the warm afternoon sunlight like a contented plant. He approached Mieal and casually asked, "Hey Mieal, do you know where Mia is?"
Mieal turned his gaze towards Chail and crossed his arms firmly. With a tinge of frustration in his voice, he responded to Chail's question, saying, "I have no idea, and honestly, it doesn't matter to me." Chail was concerned that the ongoing disagreement between Mieal and Mia could potentially hinder their ability to work together on the class assignment, ultimately resulting in a failing grade on their report cards.
He advised Mieal to attempt to have a rational conversation, saying, "I know you're upset, but let's focus on finishing our project. Can we temporarily put that aside and talk about the topic I've selected?" In response, Mieal shakes his head and says to Chail, "Hey, Chail, I don't think she's interested in talking or being in our group. I can't understand why she's been mean to you though, there's no reason for it." As he ponders silently, he wonders, (What's up with him? Did he not notice how she treated him, or is he defending her just because she's a girl?)
Chail began to remember the auditorium. In that moment, he quietly said to himself, (Hmm...) Then he turned to Mieal and explained, "Actually, there is a reason, but it wasn't my fault. It was because of something you did."Mieal's anger surged as he grabbed onto Chail's shirt, a strong desire to yank him closer conflicting with an internal restraint.
Instead, in a frustrated tone, he confronted Chail with a piercing gaze. "Why are you pinning this on me? I barely know her! Stop trying to justify what she did." Internally, Mieal couldn't help but question: (Why was Chail going to such lengths to defend her actions, even possibly lying for her?)
As tensions rose between Chail and Mieal, Chail's anxiety grew, causing him to clutch onto his pants and speak in a tearful voice. "In the auditorium... you and someone else were playing with a finger sling shot, and your shot hit Mia. Because I was closest to her, she believes it was me." Chail's expression carried a glimmer of hope, as if he believed that this explanation would finally resolve the situation.
Mieal thought to himself, (Oh no, is that why she's mad him?) He released his grip on Chail's shirt and put his hand to his head, feeling sad about Chail's situation. Finally, he spoke up, saying, "Chail, I'm really sorry. I didn't realize it would cause you trouble. I was just trying to joke around."
Chail gently placed his hand on Mieal's shoulder and silently contemplated, feeling like it might be too late for a change. But then, he mustered the courage to express his thoughts to Mieal, saying, "Even though we may have differences and come from different backgrounds, we should always look out for one another because that's what true teammates do."
A certain memory from his past suddenly came to mind, causing him to feel a bit embarrassed. Despite that, he carried on with his statement: "When we care for one another in simple ways, it has the potential to change lives and shape a world filled with love and compassion." Taking his hand off Mieal's shoulder, he walked away and asked, "So, are you coming?"
Confused, Mieal stood still, his eyes fixated on the hand gripping Chail's shirt. Memories from his past flooded his mind, causing unease. Clenching his fist, Mieal took a deep breath and reminded himself, "We're a team, whether we like it or not. There's nothing I can do." With determination, he called out to Chail, who was already moving ahead, "Wait up! I'm coming!" and swiftly ran towards him.
Chail and Mieal went around the school looking for Mia. They checked all the usual places, like the lunch area, other classes, and even behind the school. But they didn't find her, so they decided to go back to their own class.
As they walked to their classroom, Mieal said in frustration, "Ah, where could she be? Lunch time is almost over." When Chail heard Mieal's words, he felt disappointed. He thought to himself, (I guess we should let her know when lunch ends. I'm too hungry right now to keep searching for her.)
As they walked towards their classroom, they happened to see Mia's friend coming down the stairs. She was a girl with beautiful brown skin, black hair, and cute twin tails held together with ball hair ties. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she hurried over to them.
With excitement in her eyes, she shouted "hold up" at Chail and Mieal as she stood in front of them. "We haven't talked yet, so let me introduce myself. I'm Cupid Matcher Lisa, but you can call me Lisa. I'm here to make your romantic dreams come true," she said cheerfully.
Both Chail and Mieal felt really confused and a little bit relieved when they met Mia's friend because they knew they could ask her where Mia was. Chail was nervous but still managed to ask Lisa, "Um, excuse me, Lisa, have you seen Mia by any chance?" Unfortunately, Lisa ignored him like she was daydreaming.
Mieal didn't understand why she was acting strange, so he quietly asked Chail, "Do you think this is a good idea? Something about her is a little strange." He shared his worries with Chail because he thought it might not be the best decision.
Lisa smirked and walked confidently towards Chail, her eyes filled with determination. "So, it's true," she said firmly, gripping her hands together as if she were about to pray. "You're in love with Mia." She repeated her words out loud, her voice filled with excitement. "Their love is like a powerful storm, wild and intense, but absolutely breathtaking."
Chail was really surprised and felt really embarrassed by what Lisa was saying. He tried to explain the misunderstanding as she kept talking about romance, but Lisa wasn't paying attention to anything he said.
Mieal was even more baffled by her behaviour and whispered to Chail again "I told you this was bad idea we should have proba-." he got distracted by Lisa staring at him with determination.
He asked her, "What's wrong? Do I have something on my face?" Lisa kept looking at Mieal with a serious expression and said, "This mysterious person has joined our story. His piercing look and mysterious presence make me feel excited, like reading a thrilling romance book. Could he be the one who competes for the love of our heroine? It feels like we are characters in a passionate story of longing."
Lisa was so excited that she felt like she might explode, getting lost in her thoughts. Mieal and Chail didn't feel comfortable with Lisa's misunderstanding and turned it into a romantic situation. They just wanted to leave.
Chail was nervous and unsure about what to do, but he mustered up the courage to talk to Lisa. "I'm really sorry to interrupt your daydream, but could you please tell us where you last saw Mia?"
She smiled at him and said in a calming voice, "Mia is not too far from here. I know she might seem tough, but try to treat her like you treat your friends." She looked at Mieal and said, "Everyone faces challenges, even the smartest people in school. Sometimes, we all need love and support to feel better when we're feeling down."
As soon as Lisa uttered those words, the school bell chimed loudly, letting everyone know that lunch time was over. Lisa happily said goodbye to Mieal and Chail as she skipped to their classroom, feeling really excited. However, as Mieal and Chail walked to their classroom, they couldn't help but feel worried about what Lisa had said about Mia.
Mieal and Chail walked into the classroom. All their classmates were already sitting at their assigned seats, but Mieal and Chail's seats were empty. They closed the door behind them and walked towards their seats. The classroom was a little bit noisy, but it wasn't loud enough to bother the other classes.
As Mia read her social studies book, she intentionally acted like Chail and Mieal weren't there. Confused, they sat down and shared a puzzled look.
Mieal whispered to Chail, trying his best to be quiet. "Do you think I should tell her about the auditorium thing?" He wanted to explain everything so that the tense feeling in the air could calm down.
Chail shook his head slightly, like saying "no." He whispered to Mieal in response to his question, making sure not to get Mia's attention.
"It's better not to talk about that right now. Let's talk about the subject I chose instead." He wasn't sure what he would do if his plan didn't work, but he had faith in himself.He talked to Mieal in a regular way, as if they were the only ones around.
He talked to Mieal in a regular way, as if they were the only ones around.
"I forgot to tell you what topic I picked for our class assignment tomorrow. I've decided that we should do our project about the national bird."
Mieal was really confused when Chail's tone suddenly changed, but then something clicked in his mind and his eyes lit up, like a lightbulb turning on.
He realized what Chail was up to, and a smirk appeared on his face. He played along with Chail's game by saying"Sounds great! I might not be the smartest person, but I know that together we can finish it by tomorrow."
"Sounds great! I might not be the smartest person, but I know that together we can finish it by tomorrow." Mieal looked at Chail with a mischievous smile, showing that he was very happy.
Chail felt really happy and excited, not just because of his plan, but because he could share his knowledge with someone else and impress him.
His eyes look into the distance, but his thoughts are in another place. Even though he's daydreaming, he keeps talking like he's telling a story without even knowing it. "Did you know that a naturalist and zoologist named John Frederick Miller described the Amazona versicolor in 1776? Even though he mentioned it in some of his writing, there isn't a specific book just about it. The Amazona versicolor is a type of parrot in the Psittacidae fami-"
His words were abruptly interrupted by a loud noise as a book slammed shut. Mia noticed Mieal, who was getting sleepy because of Chail's long speech time. She felt annoyed by Chail because he was like a worn-out eneylopdia, sharing random facts and information that nobody asked for or wanted to know.
Feeling irritated, she said out, "Can you shut up already?" Everyone in the classroom turned to look at Mia because she was shouting at Chail and woke up Mieal, making it seem like there might be a fight.
Even though he was sleeping, Mieal still heard what Mia said, and it made him really mad. He got up and spoke to her angrily, rubbing his right eye over and over, like he was trying to wake himself up. "Why don't you shut up already! Yelling in here like you own the class."
Mia stared at Mieal with anger, her gaze feeling as powerful as Medusa's eyes, which could turn people to stone.
She yelled at Mieal, "Why should I listen to someone who enjoys bullying people who are weaker than him?"
Chail felt confused and wanted to explain, but Mieal suddenly stood up in a flash, like a powerful storm in the room.
Mieal felt really angry when he heard what Mia said. It was like a big loud noise that made his ears shake.
He yelled at Mia. He said, "I don't like to pick on others. We just wanted to talk about our assignment and tell you that he wasn't the one who hit you in the auditorium so can you please stop being mean to him for no reason? He just wants to say sorry for what I did, but you're being really grumpy and not giving him a chance to speak!"
Mia shouted back at him even louder. "Why should I listen to you after what you did? Now you're acting like a hero. I hope you got what you deserved for what you did to him."
Chail didn't understand what Mia was saying, but Mieal knew exactly what she meant because he was so mad at her. He wanted to intervene, but the air felt tense and full of energy, like a fire ready to ignite.
Miss Riley quickly opened the classroom door and looked upset. She called out Mieal and Mia's names loudly, as if her words were very important and needed everyone's attention.
As a punishment for the chaos in her classroom, she told both Mieal and Mia to leave the class and stand in the hallway. They are not allowed to talk or else their parents will be called to the school.
As the sun goes down and school ends, everyone feels relieved and excited, knowing they can finally relax and look forward to a fresh start tomorrow.
Mieal and Chail had already left the school gate and were now walking towards the Chail bus stop. They leisurely strolled along the streets, enjoying the refreshing smell of freshly cut grass and the delightful fragrance of blooming flowers in the nearby gardens.
Mieal was feeling sad and annoyed, but he let it all out with a big sigh. "I'm sorry you had to see me like that," Mieal said calmly as he walked beside Chail.
Chail started feeling worried about what happened because of the things Mia said, but he still talked to Mieal. "Yeah, don't worry about it. But can yo-" But before he could finish, Mieal interrupted him by speaking.
"What's wrong with her? She's really grumpy and gets upset when I try to explain what happened. She even tells you to be quiet just because I don't understand how Lisa expects us to be friendly with someone like that."
Mieal felt upset when he thought about what happened between him and her, but he started to feel better when he saw Chail looking worried.
With a happy grin, he said to Chail, "Remember, you promised we could go to the game shop together. Shall we go now?" Chail felt surprised because he completely forgot.
He replied quietly, saying, "Yeah, I forgot completely; we should go now."
He couldn't stop thinking about what Mia said, and it made his mind feel cluttered and overwhelmed, He call out to Mieal.
Mieal looked at him with confusion; he wasn't sure why Chail called out to him, but suddenly he asked him a question.
"What did she mean when she said she hoped you would get what you deserved for what you did to him?"
Mieal quickly answered his question, saying, "Don't worry about it. You don't need to be concerned."
Chail asked again, this time with even more intensity, "What did she mean when she said she hoped you would get what you deserved for what you did to him?" The air around them felt heavy, like a secret wall that made talking harder and stopped anyone from saying anything out loud.
The air around them felt heavy, like a secret wall that made talking harder and stopped anyone from saying anything out loud.
Mieal spoke to Chail with a sad voice, like his happiness had disappeared.
"I don't like to talk about it, but I got lost for a while. But then, I made a chan-." Suddenly, someone hit Mieal really hard and it interrupted their conversation.
Chail was very surprised and wanted to go to him quickly, but some people stopped him. They were holding him in a way that felt tight and uncomfortable, with his arms and shoulders locked behind his back.
A boy with brown skin and a cool black fade haircut was standing next to Mieal. He had shiny tin foil wrapped around his upper ears and was wearing the same uniform as the other individuals.245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkh0NSZwl8
The boy with tin foil wrapped around his ears spoke to Mieal, who was on the ground because of the pain from the attack. The boy's words felt empty and uncaring, like he didn't really care about Mieal's pain.
"Hello friend."245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQftd2vdQk
