"Good morning, class," Mr. Gregory greeted as he entered the classroom, his deep voice cutting through the hum of students' chatter. His sharp gaze swept across the room, immediately silencing any lingering whispers.
"Good morning, sir," the students responded in unison, their voices echoing with a mix of anticipation and nervousness.
"As you are all aware," Mr. Gregory began, setting down his notes on the desk, "today is the day you present your projects. Remember the rules: each pair must explain the practical process alongside the essay. Both of you must participate equally. Be clear, loud, and organized in your explanations. I want everyone to hear you."
He leaned forward slightly, emphasizing his point. "Lastly, attendance is critical. Both partners being present adds 15 points to your score. If one of you is absent without a valid reason, points will be deducted."
A soft murmur ran through the class as some students exchanged anxious glances. Tara sat stiffly in her seat, her notebook open before her. Her green eyes darted nervously toward the door and then to the empty desk beside her.
'Where is he?' she wondered, frustration simmering beneath her calm exterior. Roman's absence was troubling. Not only was their project incomplete without him, but his lack of communication was making her question if he even cared about their grade.
"First up," Mr. Gregory announced, glancing at his checklist, "Ariel and Aries, come forward."
The two students shuffled to the front, their expressions a mix of determination and apprehension. As they began their presentation, Tara tried to focus, but her mind kept wandering. She tapped her pen against her notebook, her gaze returning to the door every few seconds.
Ariel and Aries finished their presentation, their voices faltering at times but managing to complete the task.
"Good job," Mr. Gregory said, nodding. "Though you didn't connect your essay to the practical as clearly as I'd like, you've earned a C."
The two students exchanged relieved smiles. For them, a C was a victory.
The presentations continued, with one pair after another stepping forward. Tara, however, could barely focus on what was happening. Her frustration grew with each passing minute. When Mr. Gregory finally called, "Tara and Roman," she froze.
Slowly standing, she spoke up, trying to keep her voice steady. "Um, sir, please…" She paused, clutching her notebook tightly. "My partner isn't here yet. Could we present last, please?"
Mr. Gregory raised an eyebrow, studying her for a moment. He knew Tara to be a responsible student who rarely asked for exceptions. After a brief pause, he nodded. "All right. Kara and Lucas, you're next."
Kara and Lucas stepped forward confidently. Kara's calm demeanor complemented Lucas's precision as they began their presentation. Lucas expertly explained the titration process, his voice firm and clear, while Kara elaborated on the real-world applications, her explanations engaging and thorough.
The class listened attentively, impressed by their teamwork. Even Mr. Gregory, who rarely showed emotion, smiled slightly as they wrapped up.
"Well, that was excellent," he said, marking something on his checklist. "You've earned an A."
Kara and Lucas exchanged a triumphant smile. "Yes!" Kara whispered excitedly, and Lucas chuckled, their pride evident as they returned to their seats.
The presentations continued, but Tara's patience was wearing thin. Out of the 28 pairs, only 10 had presented so far, but with each passing minute, her anxiety grew. She glanced at the clock, her thoughts racing. He better show up, she thought angrily, gripping her notes so tightly that the edges crumpled.
For now, all she could do was wait and hope Roman arrived before their turn came again.
********
Roman leaned back on his chair, his tall frame slouched lazily as he stared at the ceiling, his phone loosely gripped in one hand. The faint sound of music from his headphones filled the quiet room, but his mind wasn't focused on the rhythm or lyrics. On the table before him sat the notes Tara had practically shoved at him earlier. They were neatly written, her handwriting precise and organized, but Roman couldn't stop himself from scowling at them.
He picked up his glass of juice, taking a slow sip as he swiped aimlessly through his phone with his other hand. Despite his usual air of indifference, something was nagging at him, something that he couldn't shake.
"Ugh," Roman groaned, setting the glass down a little too hard. The clinking sound echoed in the quiet room. He rubbed his temple in frustration. "Why are her words stuck in my head?"
His jaw tightened as he remembered Tara's fiery determination earlier. 'I won't allow you to make me fail, do you hear me?' her voice replayed in his mind. He could still see the frustration in her green eyes, the way she had stood her ground, refusing to let him brush her off like he did with everyone else.
Roman glanced down at the notes again, his expression darkening. "Why do I even care?" he muttered under his breath. Picking up the papers, he flipped through them absentmindedly, his thumb tracing the edges of the neatly organized lines.
Deep down, Roman knew he wasn't the kind of guy who ignored responsibility. Sure, he had a reputation for being aloof, but it wasn't because he was lazy or incapable. In fact, he was incredibly smart, probably one of the brightest students in the class. He studied in his own time, learned quickly, and retained information with ease. But he had never been the type to go out of his way for others or to try to meet anyone else's expectations.
"I don't care about this stupid project," Roman muttered, though the tension in his voice betrayed him. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and ran a hand through his dark brown hair. "But… why is this bothering me so much?"
The memory of Tara's frustrated expression wouldn't leave him alone. It wasn't just her anger that had gotten to him it was the conviction in her words. She was determined not to fail, and for some reason, Roman felt a twinge of guilt at the thought of letting her down.
"This is ridiculous," Roman grumbled, tossing his phone onto the table. He picked up the notes again, flipping through them more deliberately this time. As much as he hated to admit it, Tara's words had stirred something inside him.
He clenched his jaw, staring at the notes for a moment before slumping back into his chair. "I don't care," he said again, but even he could hear the uncertainty in his voice. "Or at least…I shouldn't care."
Roman sat there in silence, the weight of the situation settling over him. For the first time in a long while, he felt conflicted. And he hated it.
After a long pause, he sighed heavily, muttering to himself, "Guess I should at least look at these notes." Picking up the papers, he scanned through Tara's work, his sharp mind absorbing the details effortlessly. He felt compelled to at least try.
*********
Tara stood frozen for a moment, the tension in the room palpable. Her fingers trembled slightly as she clutched the acid bottle, every pair of eyes in the class boring into her. Mr. Gregory's stern gaze was no help, and the absence of her partner only added to her growing frustration.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to steady herself, forcing her voice to remain calm. "Ehm... Hello, everyone," she began hesitantly, her voice shaky. Her eyes flickered to Kara, who gave her a small, encouraging nod. That was enough to push her to continue. "As we all know, this is hydrochloric acid," she said, holding up the bottle for everyone to see.
But before she could proceed further, Mr. Gregory's sharp voice cut through. "Tara, where is your partner? You know you also have to demonstrate the practical and present the essay simultaneously. This is a group assignment, after all."
Tara froze again, the weight of his words crushing her. She cursed Roman silently for not being there. Trying to multitask, she fumbled with the laptop, attempting to display the essay on the screen while simultaneously preparing the titration setup. But it was chaotic, and her efforts only earned a few stifled giggles from her classmates.
"I'm sorry, sir," Tara said, her voice barely audible, her face flushed with embarrassment. She set the acid bottle down and began to walk back to her seat, her shoulders slumped in defeat.
Just then, the classroom door creaked open, and in stepped Roman, his usual aloof expression plastered across his face. His dark brown hair was slightly tousled as if he'd hurried there, though his demeanor showed no sign of urgency.
Tara spun on her heel, glaring daggers at him. If she weren't so mortified already, she might have marched up to him and slapped him for making her endure this humiliation. Instead, she sent him a withering glare that could have burned a hole through him.
Roman met her eyes briefly before turning to Mr. Gregory. "Sir, I'd like to request another chance for our presentation," he said, his deep voice calm but firm.
Mr. Gregory studied him for a moment, his brow furrowing in thought. After a long pause, he sighed. "Alright," he said finally, "but only because Tara has proven herself to be responsible in the past. Make sure this doesn't happen again."
Roman nodded and strode confidently to the front, taking the laptop from Tara without a word. "I'll start with the essay," he said, his tone matter-of-fact. He connected the laptop to the projector, and within moments, the screen displayed a perfectly written and detailed essay.
Tara stood beside him, still fuming, but as Roman began presenting, she couldn't help but be impressed. His explanation was concise, eloquent, and thorough, highlighting every aspect of the essay with clarity. It was evident he had put genuine effort into it, which only annoyed Tara more he had the capability but chose to show up late, leaving her to suffer in the process.
When it was her turn, Tara stepped forward to demonstrate the practical. Despite her earlier embarrassment, she regained her composure, explaining each step with precision while Roman supported her by pointing out key points on the screen.
By the end of the presentation, the classroom was silent, and even Mr. Gregory looked impressed. "That was a very well-done practical and presentation," he said, his tone approving. "However..." He glanced at Roman, his face stern. "You both receive a B." "What?!" Tara blurted out, her disappointment clear. Her voice wasn't loud enough to disrupt the class, but those close to her heard the frustration in her tone.
"Why?" she asked quietly, though she already knew the answer. "Because your partner arrived late, and I allowed you a second chance," Mr. Gregory replied, closing his notebook. " A B is still a good grade. Learn from this experience."
Tara clenched her fists, swallowing her frustration as Mr. Gregory gathered his things. "That's all for today. See you next class," he said, and with that, he left the room.
As soon as the door closed behind him, the murmurs of the other students filled the air. Tara turned to Roman, her green eyes blazing. "Do you have any idea what I went through because of you?"
Roman, unfazed, shrugged casually. "We got a B. What's the big deal?"
"The big deal is that you showed up late, embarrassed me in front of everyone, and cost us an A!" she snapped.
Roman smirked, shoving his hands into his pockets. "You're welcome for the essay, by the way."
Tara let out a frustrated groan, turning on her heel and storming back to her seat. Kara, who had been waiting for her, tried to stifle a laugh. "Calm down, sis. At least you didn't fail."
Tara shot her a glare before slumping into her chair. "That boy is impossible," she muttered, pulling out her notebook and pretending to focus on the next task.
Roman, meanwhile, leaned back in his seat, his lips curling into a small, smug smile. This girl is way too serious, he thought to himself, though he couldn't deny a small part of him enjoyed seeing her fired up.