May 1st came and went, and before we knew it, the school week was over. Leo and the others had started listening to the teacher. Only Donald kept unashamedly falling asleep in the class, but no one tried to reprimand him. Because nobody had yet found a method to increase our points, he had apparently decided not to fix his habits. However, many students in our class grew to disdain him.
And about Amanda, she was just silent, as usual. She did what she was good at; minding her own business.
After the discussion with Miss Elena, she just went into silent mode. She didn't even look at me. Neither she neither asked about my results nor spoke anything about how she was planning to reach Class A. Perhaps she would do it on her own.
Well, this was better for me, fewer things to worry about if I just did not get involved. And honestly, I was quite happy with Class D, because that meant I could not go any lower.
Miss Elena had just done something that I never expected. She just told Amanda my results, which I was sure only the school authority would know. But, what was she planning by showing the results to her? I really had to investigate this incident further. Things had gotten pretty complicated from the very first day of this month.
"Hey Philip, are you free after class?"
"Yes."
Deep in my thoughts, without realizing who I was speaking with, I had said yes. And when I looked towards the direction of the voice it was no other than Amanda herself, but what she needed from me.
"Very well. I will come to your room at 5." She said.
What? What did she want to do in my room?
"Wait…why?"
"Because I have some things to discuss with you."
"Ok, but why my room? Would not it be better, if we just go to the café or somewhere else?"
"No, those cafes are too crowded & the discussion is too personal for somebody else to hear."
"O..ok then," I said hesitantly.
"Thank you."
After that discussion everything went, as usual, classes continued till the end of the day & finally I was free for the day.
Exiting the school building, I went towards the dormitory, having nothing better to do.
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Opening the door, I was greeted by my empty room. Removing, my tie, I threw myself onto the bed.
Lying down alone in an empty room, was not something new for me. I was used to it.
This school was good really good, but certainly, you had to fight with other classes for the title of Class A, cause only that class received everything. I always thought, there would be a catch, but not something like this. It was really unexpected for me.
And the fight was not to be fought alone, but with the whole class. If they had told me to do it alone, I would have done it in just a few weeks, but now everything had to be done, with this bunch of good for nothing.
Though I hated trouble. But if something or someone tried to play with my peace, I would not just stand there and watch. That's why I was not trying to get involved with anyone, cause it would directly cause more problems for me.
All these things were really tiring.
With these thoughts, I covered my eyes with my arms and fell asleep.
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A loud bell rang, throughout my room & woke me up. Rubbing my eyes, I looked at the clock which showed the time at 5:05 pm.
Someone was outside my room.
Then again the bell rung. I jumped from my bed & ran towards the door.
Opening the door, I found Amanda with her casual clothes, looking at me with a surprised look on her face.
"Oh. It's you."
"Yes, it's me. Should I come in or not?"
"Yes yes, come in."
After guiding her to the room, I washed my face and went towards, where she was.
Amanda was sitting on my bed, looking all over my room. I could not say if she was particularly looking for something or not, but she really was looking everywhere.
"Were you sleeping?" she asked.
"Yeah, kind of," I said with a little yawn.
"So, you like coffee or tea," I asked, cause it would be rude of me, not to treat my guests properly.
"Tea would be fine."
The kitchen and the bed were placed in the same room, so in the process of making tea, I asked.
"So Amanda, what's the reason for meeting us like this?"
"Nothing much, I just wanted to discuss some things with you."
"And what are those things? Care to explain?"
"So Philip, was your score...really just a coincidence?" Amanda asked.
Not again. I had told thousands of times, that it was just a coincidence, but she was not buying it.
"I already told you, didn't I, that it was just a pure coincidence. Or do you have any proof that I got that score on purpose?"
"I don't, but...I also don't understand. You said that you hated trouble, but you don't seem to be interested in Class A in the slightest." said Amanda.
Placing the two teacups on the table, I pulled a chair and sat.
"Amanda, do you mind explaining, what's the relationship between my hating trouble & Class A?"
"Of course, it's rather simple, than you think."
"How?"
"Because, if you don't try to move upwards, eventually this class or Class D will be expelled and with that, your peaceful like this will end & you will get trouble wouldn't you?."
Amanda had a point. After thinking about this a bit, I realized some things. If the school guaranteed success for only Class A, then what about the other classes. How were they going to survive?
"You are right, it will cause more trouble. But Amanda, why do you have an extraordinary fixation on Class A?"
"Should I not? I am simply striving to improve my future prospects."
"Oh, absolutely. You should. It's perfectly natural."
"When I entered this school, I thought graduation was my only goal. But the reality is different. I am not even at the starting line." Amanda said.
"So, why are you aiming for Class A?" I asked.
"First, I want to find out this school's true motives. Why was I put into Class D? Miss Elena said, I had been deemed a class D student, but why? When I discover that answer, I will aim for Class A. No, I will definitely make it to Class A"
"That's going to be difficult. First, you will have to fix the problem children. You have Donald's continued tardiness and class cutting, everyone else talking in class, and of course the upcoming mid-term exam test scores. Even if you manage all that, you are still at zero points."
"I know that. But I still think the school made a mistake with my placement."
Anxiety had replaced Amanda's previously overflowing confidence. Did she really know that was the case? The only conclusion I could draw from today was that "despair" was a two-syllable word. If you followed the fundamental school rules, you could avoid losing points. However, it was still unclear how to turn those losses into gains.
Class A only had a small number of points subtracted. Even if Class D somehow found an efficient way to increase their points, the other classes might also find a way and do the same.
Since we had started out with such a staggering difference in points, we would have to compete hard against the other, in a limited amount of time.
"I can understand your thoughts, but I don't think the school will continue supervising us so carefully. If they did then, there would be no meaning in competition." Amanda said.
"I see. I suppose you could think like that. So, you will try to take care of this situation by yourself?" I asked.
"Yes."
As expected from Amanda.
"Don't act so proud."
Amanda glared at me.
"Look, I understand how you feel, but you can't solve this by yourself. Think about Donald. Even if you improve, the rest of the class will drag you down."
"No. You are right that no lone individual can solve this problem. We won't even make it to the starting line without everyone's help."
"Sounds like we or rather say you have got a huge problem on your hands."
"We have three major issues. Tardiness and talking during class are the first two. Third, we must make sure that no one fails in the upcoming mid-term exam."
"I think we can manage those first issues, but about the mid-terms..."
Honestly, most of the students were probably going to fail. Students like Leo, John, Donald were the first contestant on the failing list.
"Philip, I need your help."
"What's that?"
"I said, I need your help," Amanda said glaringly.