Chapter 16

Alina's POV
I'm thinking to myself right now. Lamenting that my efforts have yielded no results at all. Even though at the beginning I felt like I had hope, now all that hope is no longer available to me at all. I started to put both hands to support my forehead. Head down to the ground. I sat barefoot and felt like I had failed the math test which I could no longer attempt. Hope that there will be a follow-up exam later. I just remain silent and resigned to the situation I now find. Previously, almost the entire school had laughed at me because I failed a field test. I even received abuse and insults and never-ending bullying. Now I have to deal with the teacher who will certainly spread the problem. Friends in class will certainly find out and spread new gossip about me not being able to take the math test.
Until I won't graduate and will be stuck in being able to move up to a higher class. I can't imagine if the teacher didn't give me the opportunity to take a supplementary exam. Then he won't give me a grade. So I will definitely stay in class and stay in the old class that I am still in now. I can't imagine in any way that if that really happened, my friends would really laugh at me and make fun of me many times for the rest of my life, maybe at least until they graduated from school before me. When they want to continue their studies and choose their favorite campuses, I can only bite my finger. Hmmm... My fate is very unfortunate. Alina, why were you born like this? I felt angry with myself and protested with repeated regrets in my life. I now feel sluggish and lackluster, which has crept into the dark and increasingly gloomy recesses of my soul.
"Don't despair! Come!"
Suddenly I saw an outstretched hand above my head right up to where my eyes were facing each other and I immediately looked up to find out who dared to ask me to get up.
"Michael? You?"
"Yes, it's me, Michael, your friend. Your best friend!"
I felt that there was hope that I could radiate from the look in my eyes that had almost withered before. Feel like you have friends and are no longer alone. I started to get up and warmly welcomed Michael's hand.
"You overslept too?"
"Hehe yeah." He even giggled and laughed.
We are friends in the same club but in different classes.
Suddenly a figure came that I also recognized.
"Hey, what are you doing there?" Waving your hands happily. It's like you've found a treasure. His eyes also radiated hope.
"Emily? You too?" Simultaneously, Michael and I were shocked when Emily arrived, who was also our friend in the same club.
"Yeah, I thought I was the only one who was late. It turns out you guys were too, huh? Hehe... Finally."
"Finally what?"
"Yes, finally there are friends too."
"Hmmm..." Michael and I melted hearing Emily say that.
"See, is that really Jessica? Did I see it correctly?" Michael said while pointing in the direction he meant Jessica was there.
"Ah, maybe you saw something wrong. You're short-sighted, Michael." Emily said to Michael that he underestimated his eyesight because Michael was nearsighted and wore glasses with a round shape and looked geeky.
"Where?" I want to know if Jessica really likes what Michael thought.
Yes, it turns out that Jessica is true. It's a shame that Jessica overslept. Usually she is never late and is even listed as the most exemplary student at our school. She has a multitude of achievements. But seeing now that she was late for school was a bit confusing and very surprising.
Jessica walked towards us as Michael tried to shout at her by waving his hands.
"Jessica.”
Jessica turned and started looking at us. She walked towards the three of us. Finally she arrived in front of us.
"You're late too?" The three of us asked in unison and then looked at each other because we didn't expect to be asked the same thing at the same time.
Jessica answered calmly and easily.
"Yeah, I woke up late." While scratching the back of his head.
"Why? Why did you oversleep?" Emily asked curiously about this model student.
"After last night I played billiards too late." The answer is short and carefree.
"Huh, billiards?" Suddenly the three of us asked again at the same time. It's as if you can't believe that a child as diligent as Jessica also likes hanging out at bars and playing billiards too.
"Yes, billiards. Why? Is there something wrong with playing billiards?"
"You drink too?" Michael asked innocently.
"No, I don't like drinking. Not interested."
"Ohh..." The three of us said with a sigh of relief. If it's true that Jessica drinks too, then we will feel broken by our previous assumption that high-achieving children are not naughty like us who are stupid and have limited brains.
"Jessica, I can't believe it's you. Is it really you, Jessica?"
"Yes, of course, haha... why are you talking like that, Alina? Is there something wrong with me being here with you?"
I really can't answer the reality of what I just heard from Jessica's question just now. Then Jessica continued her words again by saying the wisest thing that I have only heard in my entire life in living this life.
"Why Alina? Listen to Alina, Michael and Emily. I am a human being, yes an ordinary human being just like you. I have several tendencies in my life. Including doing things that are wrong and right. So am I not allowed to make mistakes or show my shortcomings right now?"
We can only remain silent because Jessica's words are true. We cannot judge someone on one personality alone. There are many tendencies that humans will carry out during their lifetime, including doing wrong and right. Because right and wrong are inevitable. Everyone even has the right to do so without any exception at all. So it's very natural that now we see Jessica among us who are both late for school and the school gates are tightly closed. Now we are starting to look for solutions so that we can enter the school area smoothly without any obstacles. We want to enter according to each of our own goals. If we were naughty children with no purpose in life then we would just go play outside happily without having to go back to school and think about the bad possibilities that would happen if we didn't go back to school. Of course we are still thinking about our future fate.