an

? Is there something on my face?" Alina

nearly half the semester, they weren't exactly friendly with one another. They alwa

decide if she should confirm that there was nothing on

ave that haughty look to them like the other studen

ike I'm weird?" Alina moved clos

mind the attention, she would want to know if there was somethin

nd inched farther away from Alin

at her and sh

her question. There was a twenty-minute morning reading period be

ered into the classroom with

with themselves. Alina glanced at

it or not, but she was certain that

ings. Maybe this boy

seats and found two vacant seats in the s

self for jumpin

simple for her to understand since she had already graduated from university. However, sh

ardest this time around and pick up

began to take down notes when she

slowly turned around. Wasn't

trands that draped over one eyebrow, and he had a silver stud in one ear.

tention. They were all excited

oy and asked in a calm v

ment but quickly regained his composure. He took out a light blue envelope from his pock

to hear. A commotion broke out in the classroom. Yana's gaze f

done nothing wrong, she reminded herself that she was living

d a small smile and muttered a

d do in this scenario. It would be worse if s

this love letter thousands of times in his head,

res. There was no hint of embarrassment, humiliation, sadness, or even irritation on her f

her, then tu

and even run out of the classroom sobbin

eerily quiet. Soon enough, the studen

s was the second bell for morning reading. Whoever entere

t blue envelope. She quickly unfolded the letter and was abo

ck inside the envelope and

e smiled and looked around the classroom. After clearing his throat, he greeted, "Good morning, boys and girls. There's a little more than a w

sh graduate, and a new member of the faculty. Cl

dn't take his w

omplain about the ex

the front of the classroom continu

according to their grades. The students were seated according to their academic performanc

s far as she knew, seats had alway

week before the exams, Alina concentrat

g but stopped herself on second thought. Yana could tell that Alina wasn't int

ly invested in her book and barely noticed the be

meant that their firs

a man in his fifties man who wore glas

traordinary, but he managed to exp

the formulas anymore, she remembered

ained, the students had to d

?" The class was silent. "If there are no volunteers, I'll call at random." Mr

avoided eye contact. They prayed desperat

ad learned today. Alina wrote them down an

. Su glanced at the class li

of dread passed over her face. She too

he wall, so Alina had to

iately inched her chair forwa

the three questions written on it. Alina had solved two of the problems a

irst. She wrote out the steps and the final an

in the middle. After pondering it over f

looked helpless. He had no i

d their questions, Mr. Su glanced at the boy thr

ckly tossed the chalk aside and ran

you think they answered it correctly?" Mr. Su knocke

lmed her. She didn't know whether the answer

, Yana, but there were some steps skipped. I'm afraid some won't

was correct, some gaped at Yan

how she would react. Alina responded with a co

s were correct, but there was a mistake made

third que

hile, the

The clas

uld be a ten-minute brea

out to get some fresh air. Alina didn't move from her

me fresh air, but she hesitated to leave whe

e same grades in school. Yana didn't understand much of the lesson, but A

tter back, she was so composed, as

de a long face when she had to scoot over so Yana could pass. Now, not only did she call h

ned her head to look at Yana. She smiled and said, "Yana, if you

ed at her words. "Don't pla

the slightest bit of teasing. Alina raised

at happened during morning reading. They whispered amongs

o Alina wouldn't notice that

, Yana! Come out! I have something to tell you!

let her pass while she co

d managed to sq

s got together to chat in front w

ed voice, "When Leo gave Alaina's love letter back, wa

ed, but she didn't want to spoil Mandy's go

ks down on us. Who does she think she is? It's funny to watch her make a foo

Yana asked, "Mandy, do you notice so

125 to find Lily today. There must be something wrong wi

at's true or not. D

about it! Why would everyone t

o, you're too mean! You returned her love letter in fro

point! Many girls dream about Leo! A lot

ter say? Did you get a chance to

nd the sun gently passing over him, Leo replied in a sm

'Dear Leo, I fell for you

oup of boys bur