"Year 5 class b, Sakura!"
"Present," I answered as our homeroom teacher called my name.
I started to make my way through the columns of seats to our teacher who was waiting for me in front of our class, he welcomed me with a smile as he handed me a piece of paper and said something that I barely heard since the classroom was full of noises, coming from my classmates. It made me wondered how I ended up being in this class.
To tell you the truth, or what was in my mind, I could say that I was a bit matured than the other kids. Instead of playing in the break time, I preferred reading books and studying for our next subject. Sometimes I tried to answer the question from my big sister's textbook that I secretly took last night. Of course, I gave it back to her later the same day I finished answering it.
I didn't feel bad whenever I took her module since I knew that it would help me in the future, my sister also knew that thus, she recommended that I should answer on a different paper rather on her textbook. Which made me felt stupid whenever I remembered that I used to write on her textbook instead in my notes.
Looking at the other kids in my class, I sighed and went back to my seat without looking at the piece of paper in my hand. It was the test paper we answered last week and I don't have to look at what my score would be, since I already knew it the time I took the exam.
I really felt disappointed that I'd been assigned to this sort of environment. I thought if I study harder than the other kids, I'd be assigned to a class with more mature children. But It seems schools don't work that way.
I opened my textbook as soon as I sat in my seat, I read the first line only to be confused about what Fe2O3 means. Today's textbook was science, I specifically took it from my sister's desk because it took my interest.
"Hum..."
I considered asking it from our teacher because I couldn't figure out what it means even I scratched my temple many times, but I decided to thought about it myself.
"Fe2O3?... is that some kind of animal? or a fish maybe," I mumbled.
With all my attention on the question, I hadn't noticed one of my classmates gazing at the textbook over my shoulder.
"Wua! Teacher, Sakura brought weird books again!"
I turned around as heard someone yelled from my back. A kid from our class with spiky hair as though he was struck by lightning, was grinning at my back. Certainly, he was the one who yelled earlier.
"What was it? let see, let see..."
Our teacher responded and worked his feet towards my seat. He bent his body and looked at my textbook intently, he emitted a 'hmm...' sound while reading each paragraph and looking at the illustrations.
"Oh, is it the science textbook from junior high? how nostalgic, I remembered scribbling each face back when I was in that EdStage," he said with a voice as though he saw his old friend.
EdStage? Is Education Stage what he meant to say? I guess adults could be lazy sometimes.
"Eh, Teacher, in times like this, you should reprimand her for bringing weird stuff!"
"It's not weird, you know. It's just complicated but I'm sure after you grow a bit older you'll understand it too." Our teacher put his hand on the boy's head. "Then, you should go to your seat. Wait, yours was in the front right? how did you end up here at the back? don't tell me..."
"Sh-shut up, I'm going to my seat!"
I didn't understand some of their conversations or why did the boy's face flush since my mind was fixated on what Fe2O3 was. He then stormed to his seat without looking at us, our teacher just shrugged his absurd attitude with a small laugh. Our teacher noticed me and patted my shoulder.
"What is it, teacher?"
"It's nothing," he said. "Just continue reading but don't forget to enjoy your childhood since once you notice it, you'd miss all your chance when you're a kid," he added, but I didn't understand what was he meant.
After a few minutes, he got bored watching me reading the textbook and headed back to the teacher's table. Then again, I realized that I missed my chance to asked him what Fe2O3 was.