Chapter 2: Friend

PATRICE MAURICIO ‘s P.O.V.

My smile is so very wide, I feel like my lips will be…

“Maybe your lips will be torn up,” Brena whispered to me. “Also, is this how you like math? And that makes you smile that wide?” Brena whispered, laughing at me.

“No. I don’t like math. I’m even weaker when it comes to math.” I whispered back to Brena.

“Then why is that? Why are you so wide with your smile?”

I smiled up to my ears. No. maybe, beyond my ear.

How can I not smile widely? I just found out that the future fiancé I’m looking for and, my Prince Charming, is one!!

“Patrice!”

I touched my cheeks. It’s heated. I’m not in pain. The steam from the aircon isn’t hot, but I feel like my cheeks are red just thinking of my future fiancé.

“Miss Patrice!”

I want to calm down. But how? Just behind me sat John Andrew Cabrera.

“Miss Patrice Mauricio!”

I jumped slightly in my seat when I heard my full name out loud.

“Ma ... Ma’am.” At once, I smiled slightly.

Have I ever been called to mention my name in full?

“Stand up!” Our teacher shouted.

I innocently pointed to myself. “Is it me, Ma’am?”

“Who else am I looking at?”

“To me, Ma’am?” I answer as a question.

I’m not sure if she’s looking at me. What if our teacher is cockeyed, and she didn’t look at me? I would be embarrassed when I stood up?

“Correct.”

“Ah, thank you?” My answer is questionable again.

“Now, what are you going to do?” Ma’am calmly asked me, but why did I feel like she wanted to scold me?

“Uhmm...” What to do after the Math subject teacher shouts your full name?

“Patrice, what’s that next to do?” Our teacher asked me.

“Hmm ...” I thought. What should I do next? “Perform? Like, dance? Sing? Is that so, Ma’am?” I innocently ask.

All my classmates laughed except for the two behind us, John Andrew and the Antipathetic-arrogant, Alex.

Our teacher got on his forehead.

I don’t know what to do next after the math subject teacher shouts the full name of his student.

“Stand up!” Suddenly our teacher shouted and the laughing students earlier suddenly fell silent.

Who is our teacher referring to stand up?

“I said, stand up, Miss Patrice Mauricio!”

“Me? Me?”

I immediately stood up when our teacher shouted that. If I’m the one she wants to stand up to, why not just say right away?

“Now.” Our teacher walked to the whiteboard and pointed to question number 3.

Omg! I think I will not like what our teacher will say next.

“This. What is the answer to this question?”

I knew it! How can I know the answer? I don’t even know our lesson for today.

“Uhmm ... Ma’am,” I didn’t know the answer. “May I go out? I need to pee.” Rather than say directly that I don’t know the answer.

My classmates laughed again. Is it my fault that I don’t know the answer and don’t know about math, except for the multiplication table.

“Silent!”

The whole class fell silent.

“And you, Miss Patrice Mauricio, go to the very back, bring your math book and notebook, then stand up. You will stand there until this class is over.”

“Ma’am!” I appeal. This math subject is still one and a half hours away.

“Will you stand there or, will you answer question number three to question number six? You will choose.”

I smiled.  I quickly picked up my pen, math notebook and thick math book then took a walk to the very back, then stood up. I’d rather just stand up at the back, than answer math problems. It’s the same because when I answer, I will just stand up. But, facing the whiteboard and thinking of an answer, I’m just here in the back while listening and trying to get this lesson into my brain.

I stood at the very back while carrying my book and notebook. I suddenly looked at the Antipathetic man, named Alex Shin.  He looked at me like your-stupid-look.

He’s annoying, especially because he thought his whole presence was annoying. As if he knows the answer to the math problems, I’m sure he doesn’t even know the answers to our Math Teacher’s question.

…

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“The one who got the highest score was none other than, John Andrew Cabrera.”

Most of my female classmates applauded after Andrew’s name was announced, others shouted how much they crushed Andrew.

On the other hand, I was applauded alone when I heard Andrew’s name at the highest in our surprise quiz. He’s not only handsome and gentlemanly, but he’s also smart in math. So it is not surprising that she was popular with my female classmates.

“The lowest scorer was none other than… Patrice Mauricio.”

I looked at our Teacher. She was also looking at me.

“I will have a higher score next time, Ma’am.” I’m embarrassed to say.

And, how can I not have gotten a lower score for our quiz today? One and a half hours I stood alone here in the very back, then all of a sudden we will have a quiz. How can I focus if I’m standing and my feet hurt?

“I will expect that.” Our math teacher said as she arranged her belongings.

But, I didn’t promise to you, Ma’am.

“Goodbye, class.”

“Goodbye, Ma’am.” We also say goodbye to our Teacher.

When our Teacher came out, I quickly ran to my seat. As I sat down I slightly raised my legs.

“Are your feet are okay?” Brena asked me.

This is another Brena. She is also good at Math. She is the only top3 highest in our surprise quiz today.

“A little bit? I don’t know, but it hurts.” I answer.

“What were you thinking before and you’re not focused on class? I thought you love math that’s why you smiled widely earlier.”

I innocently narrowed my eyes. I can’t tell her that Andrew is what I’m thinking, maybe what else is she will thinking.

“Nothing. I just don’t understand the lesson right now. You know, I’m not blessed with Math intelligence.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll help you with math. If you don’t understand anything just ask me. I’m not that good at Math, but I’ll share with you what I know.”

My eyes lit up at what Brena said.

“Brena?! Thanks! Thank you so much!” I’m happy to say.

I’m so lucky that Brena became my friend. She is so kind,  yet smart.