Ketto wanted this exam week to end as soon as possible.
After the history exam ended, it was time for lunch. Everyone rushed to the school canteen as soon as they handed in their papers. Ketto, Addy, Lisa, and Lily walked together.
On the way to the canteen, Addy complained, "The exam was so tough. The things I reviewed didn't show up at all. But the things I didn't prepare for? They were all over the sheet."
Lily nodded in agreement. "Same here. I think I'm going to get a bad score. I wasn't prepared."
Lisa gave a bitter smile. "Don't overthink it. I did badly too."
Then they all looked at Ketto at the same time.
Ketto immediately shrugged. "Not me either. I'm not sure how I did. You know history isn't my strong subject."
Addy raised an eyebrow. "You're too modest. I'm sure you did better than all of us."
Lisa sighed. "I feel like the homeroom teacher is going to curse me. My score is going to be terrible."
Lily tried to cheer her up. "Don't think too much. Remember what you said before? There are always some people in our class who perform badly."
Lisa's expression turned disdainful. "Who cares about them? Does the teacher even see them as students?" Then she paused, as if remembering something. Her face flushed with anger. "You know what?"
They all looked at her curiously.
Lisa continued, her voice sharp. "That dead man—Billy. He is so disgusting and awful. He actually called me ugly."
Lily's mouth fell open. "When? How dare he say that to you?"
Lisa replied, "Right before the history exam. He, Lucas, and Hanky were leaning on the railing in the hallway. I just walked past, and he said I was ugly. I was so angry."
Lily shook her head in disbelief. "Does he own a mirror? Has he looked at himself? You should have punched him right there."
Lisa nodded. "You're right. That was my mistake. I should have fought back."
Ketto spoke up quietly. "Don't let it get to you. They're that kind of people. I mean... very rude."
Lisa laughed, seemingly reassured. "You're right. I am above them. They are beneath me. I won't keep them in my mind. In my view, they're just a pile of rubbish." She continued, "I won't associate with them. I won't go near them. When I look at them, I can smell something odd—and that's not something I like."
Lily smiled widely. "Yes! We are the queens. And they are slaves."
Lisa shook her head. "No, you're wrong. We are queens—that's absolutely correct, and it's the truth. But as for them? They're not even human. They're not even living things. They're just a pile of garbage. Haha."
Addy chuckled. "You two have very strong imaginations."
Lisa flipped her hair confidently. "Thank you."
Addy hadn't meant it as a compliment.
When they arrived at the canteen, the queue was very long. Fortunately, no one was cutting in line. Most students obeyed the rules and behaved well.
But Lisa and Lily kept complaining.
"Have you guys smelled something strange?" Lisa asked.
Ketto sniffed the air. "What smell? I don't notice anything."
Lisa wrinkled her nose. "I feel like this smell is not okay. It's making me sick."
Suddenly, three boys walked past them. Lisa and Lily looked up.
Lily said, "I thought those people walking by us weren't human. I thought it was just the wind."
Lisa added, "You're right. They're not human. And that's the answer to why we smell something odd."
Lily nodded. "We are so unfortunate."
To be honest, there wasn't any particularly strange smell. The canteen was just crowded, and the mix of food and bodies created a normal lunchtime odor. But Lisa and Lily were convinced the smell came from Billy—simply because they hated him.
---
Because it was midterm exam day, the canteen was offering a variety of special meals. When it was Lisa and Lily's turn to order, they stared at the many dishes and desserts, overwhelmed by the choices. They hesitated, unable to decide what to pick.
The students behind them started to complain.
"Come on! Hurry up!"
Lisa and Lily quickly grabbed a few items and moved on.
The four of them—Lisa, Lily, Addy, and Ketto—sat down together at a long kitchen table that could easily seat eight people. They spread out their trays and began to eat.
The exam week was only half over. But for now, surrounded by friends, the pressure felt a little lighter.