Chapter 57: The Day of the Exams
(Jay Jay's POV)
Monday morning arrived far too quickly.
One second it was Friday and everyone was panicking.
The next second…
It was exam day.
The school hallways were strangely quiet.
Which was terrifying.
Because normally the corridors were loud, chaotic, and filled with Section E nonsense.
Today?
Everyone looked like they were walking toward their execution.
Keifer and I walked through the gates together.
Students sat on the stairs.
Some were reading notes.
Some were whispering formulas.
Some looked like they were praying.
Jay:
"I hate this atmosphere."
Keifer looked calm.
Too calm.
Like exams were just another ordinary Monday.
Keifer:
"You studied."
Jay:
"I studied with emotional support."
Keifer smirked slightly.
Keifer:
"That still counts."
We reached the classroom.
And inside…
Section E looked traumatized.
Blaster was lying face down on his desk.
Blaster:
"I regret every decision I made this year."
Felix was flipping through notes frantically.
Felix:
"Why are there so many English rules?"
Calix was staring into space.
Calix:
"I don't remember anything."
Eman grabbed his head dramatically.
Eman:
"Why didn't I study earlier?!"
Eran nodded.
Eran:
"I told you to study."
Eman pointed at him.
Eman:
"You said that yesterday!"
Meanwhile David sat quietly reading his book.
Calm.
Prepared.
Denzel leaned toward him.
Denzel:
"Are you confident?"
David closed his book.
David:
"Yes."
Denzel looked offended.
Denzel:
"Show off."
Ci N suddenly turned toward us.
Ci N:
"Jay Jay."
Jay:
"What."
Ci N:
"Did you study?"
Jay:
"Yes."
Blaster slowly lifted his head.
Blaster:
"If Jay Jay studied…"
He looked around dramatically.
Blaster:
"Then we're doomed."
Keifer sighed.
Keifer:
"You people are unbelievable."
At that moment the teacher entered.
Everyone straightened instantly.
Teacher:
"Good morning."
The class responded weakly.
Class:
"Good morning ma'am…"
She placed a stack of papers on the desk.
Teacher:
"This is your English final exam."
The entire room went quiet.
The kind of silence that feels heavy.
Teacher:
"You have two hours."
She looked around.
Teacher:
"No talking."
She began distributing the papers.
One by one.
Each desk.
Each student.
Finally…
The paper landed in front of me.
My heart beat a little faster.
I glanced at Keifer beside me.
He looked relaxed.
Like this was nothing.
Teacher:
"You may begin."
Pages flipped instantly.
Pens started moving.
For the first five minutes…
Everyone looked nervous.
Reading the questions carefully.
Then something surprising happened.
The exam wasn't impossible.
Actually…
It was manageable.
Essay questions.
Grammar corrections.
Reading comprehension.
Things we had studied.
I started writing.
Sentence after sentence.
Answer after answer.
And slowly…
My confidence grew.
A few seats away Felix whispered to himself.
Felix:
"Okay… okay… I remember this."
Blaster sat up properly for the first time.
Blaster:
"Wait…"
He whispered.
Blaster:
"I know this answer."
Ci N blinked.
Ci N:
"…Me too."
David calmly wrote page after page.
Eman looked shocked.
Eman:
"This is actually possible."
Even Calix looked less terrified.
Calix:
"I studied this yesterday."
Meanwhile Keifer was writing steadily beside me.
Focused.
Calm.
Confident.
At one point he glanced at me.
Keifer:
(whispering softly)
"You're doing fine."
I nodded slightly.
And kept writing.
Time passed quickly.
Thirty minutes.
Then an hour.
Students who looked terrified earlier were now concentrated.
Working seriously.
For once…
Section E looked like a normal class.
After nearly two hours…
The teacher spoke again.
Teacher:
"Five minutes remaining."
Pens started moving faster.
Students finishing essays.
Checking answers.
I reread my paper once more.
Fixed a few sentences.
Then placed my pen down.
Keifer finished a moment later.
Teacher:
"Time's up."
Groans filled the room.
But they weren't panicked groans.
More like relieved groans.
The teacher collected the papers.
Desk by desk.
Once the last paper was taken…
Blaster leaned back dramatically.
Blaster:
"I SURVIVED."
Felix raised his arms.
Felix:
"I ACTUALLY ANSWERED EVERYTHING."
Ci N pointed at David.
Ci N:
"THIS WAS YOUR FAULT."
David blinked.
David:
"…For studying?"
Denzel laughed.
Denzel:
"I think we all did okay."
Eman nodded slowly.
Eman:
"That was… surprisingly fair."
Calix looked shocked.
Calix:
"I might actually pass."
The entire class stared at each other.
Processing the same realization.
Section E…
Had actually done well.
Blaster stood dramatically on his chair again.
Blaster:
"SECTION E LIVES!"
Teacher:
"GET DOWN."
He sat immediately.
I looked at Keifer.
Jay:
"That went well."
He smiled slightly.
Keifer:
"I told you."
Jay:
"You were right."
Keifer leaned closer slightly.
Whispering softly.
Keifer:
"See?"
He smirked.
Keifer:
"My studying method works."
I rolled my eyes.
Jay:
"Your studying method includes kissing."
Keifer shrugged.
Keifer:
"Very effective motivation."
Behind us Ci N shouted again.
Ci N:
"SNACK CELEBRATION!"
The classroom burst into laughter.
And for the first time since exams were announced…
Section E looked relieved.
Because somehow…
Against all expectations…
They had actually done their exam neatly and successfully.
But this was only the first exam.
And everyone knew…
More chaos was definitely coming.