Chapter 7

• "II did..." I breathe deep. "I didn't mean to offend you."
• Rogie wanted me to follow him. I did not want to, but he insisted. He even tried to take a hold of me, and I was thankful that a teacher approached us and asked what's happening. I got a chance to escape from his grip on me.
• The varsity team flew even before the teacher came close to us. Of course, they would not want to involve in any acts that will violate the school rules because doing so will blacklist them in school's varsity.
• "That boy," I hissed and checked my wrist.
• It was reddish because of Rogie's tight grip. I sighed and walked hurriedly. I did not want to be caught again by Rogie, knowing that he was looking for me.
• "Sydnee!"
• My breath hitched, but I immediately recognized the familiar voice. It was the Math Teacher, Anthony. I turned around to face him.
• "Sir," I greeted.
• It was weird that I felt relieved upon seeing him. Just this morning, I did not want to see him again, but I was happy that it was he who found me and not that notorious Rogie. It will be disaster if the latter had found me.
• He stepped closer. "I see that you're going home."
• "Yeah." I showed him my smile. "The school has ended."
• "Hmm." He stopped just meters away from me. "Did you forget something?"
• My eyebrows met at his question. I shook my head. "I don't think I forgot something, Sir. I've finished the classes for today, and it is past four in the afternoon."
• "No, it's not that." He laughed a bit. "We had an agreement, aren't we?"
• I blinked. Agreement?
• Just as I thought that I did not forget something, there came to my mind a distant voice that told me that the teacher asked to meet him after class.
• "Y-Yes," I breathed. "But it is nothing now, Sir. Don't make me overthink again for that small incident."
• He smiled. "As much as I want to talk with you about that, but I have one important matter to discuss with you."
• "What is it, Sir?"
• His smile faded. "Mister Ramirez had given me the class records before I take his position. And it came to me that you have a low performance in Mathematics."
• I blinked. What did he say?
• "Sir, I really don't like Math. But why do you bring it up to me?"
• "All the students in your section performed well in Math except you, Sydnee. You almost got a failing mark."
• I gulped hard as my cheeks went red. Why would he say it to me face to face? That's embarrassing! I looked away. I dare not even to stare at his eyes.
• "Sydnee," he called again.
• I heaved a sigh and looked at him. "Sir, I know that I suck at Math, but please keep it to yourself, okay?"
• He stared at me for a few seconds and then burst out a laugh. He even held up his stomach and his eyes were wet after he laughed at me. I pouted. He was really mean. He laughed at my performance.
• That was a secret between me and the former Math teacher, Sir Ramirez. I did ask Sir Ramirez to not tell it to anyone, not even my own classmates, because I might end up being ridiculed by them. I did not even tell it to my own Mother because I know that she will get mad real quick.
• But this new teacher discovered our secret, and he could not help himself but to mock me. "Sir," I said in a low tone. "I will go home."
• I turned around to leave, but he called me again. "I'm sorry if I laughed, but it is not about you. I laughed because it is ridiculous for you to say that you suck at Math."
• I stopped and looked behind. "Sir?"
• "You're actually doing good at Math. You could keep up with the school's retention. You don't suck at Math, you just had a bad teacher."
• I reflected for a moment at what he just said. But then I sheepishly smiled at him. "I know what I can do, Sir. I know that I really suck at Math."
• "Uhh." He smiled again at me, that made me flustered. What's with that smile? Nobody did smile at me like that!
• "Please, I want to go ---"
• "The people around you has been your constant pressure. They excelled in fields that you could not, so you think that you were not good enough. And what you do to cope up with that pressure is to think that you will not excel in those fields, making you perform lowly in every field you're in."
• I was dumbfounded by his words. How did he come up with such an idea?
• Out of respect, I just showed him my smile and bowed slightly to him. "Thank you for your concern, Sir. But I really need to go."
• "Sydnee, do you want me to tutor you?"
• I thought that he was kidding, so I just smiled and shrugged my shoulders. "I don't have the money, Sir."
• "You won't pay me anything. I just need you to be my assistant in faculty for a month."
• I coughed when the dust slapped me in the face when the wind blew. "Sir?" My face went sour. "You're just kidding, right?"