Chapter 16 - The Problem

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — RENN — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

School again… This time I'm fully concentrated. There's a quiz today and I cannot afford to mess it up.

"Renn, can you teach me how to solve this?" A fellow classmate of mine showed me her notebook.

Things seemed to have calmed down now, apparently the girls have confessed that they weren't struggling. They wanted to see me teach just for the sake of it.

If only they could have told me that earlier… Then I won't suffer a headache.

"It's in the formula. You memorized it, didn't you? Here, I'll give you a demonstration." I grabbed a piece of paper and explained how to solve the problem she had.

"Whoa, I didn't actually know that… Thank you!" I smiled, happy to help as she went back to her seat. I felt that her confusion is genuine, unlike before where everyone is rambling to me about it.

I'm more at peace today. In fact, I feel like having hot cocoa today.

I went downstairs to the school lobby and walked to the vending machines. I inserted two nickels and I selected the hot cocoa option. You can get iced cocoa or iced coffee by inserting 3 nickels instead, but I feel more chill today so I'll go for a hot one.

I waited for the hot cocoa to get ready.

"Renn Alrose."

Oh no… That voice again. I calmed down and refused to turn around and focused on my hot cocoa. It was ready.

"Ignoring me? You're no fun now."

"Please go away…" I carefully grabbed my hot cocoa. I then slowly walked towards the stairway and walked back to my classroom without spilling.

But then somehow as I was at the stairway… I slipped. It felt like the floor suddenly became wet, and I wasn't aware of it. It was too late when I realized it, and the hot cocoa was spilling.

And by unfortunate timing…

"AAAAAAHHH!!!"

I accidentally burned a girl with it, she's now shrieking from the pain. I tried to help her up.

"What was that scream?!"

But before I could, I saw eyes looking at me and the cocoa spilled on her. This can end in two ways.

One: Everyone acknowledges that this was an accident.

Two: I get falsely blamed for INTENTIONALLY burning her.

Wonder which one the world will pick for me.

"Someone please bring her to the clinic!" Several students helped her to the clinic, and I was still standing there with eyes darting on me.

"Honestly, he should be careful. He almost killed someone with hot cocoa."

"He's holding a hot object, what is he thinking?"

And by some stroke of luck, the world picked the latter.

"This? The genius that tried to make us think we need to change is now burning people!"

"Now I don't feel like being taught by him."

But damn… That really hurts… I felt attacked and getting frustrated.

"But it was an accident! I was walking slowly and slipped on a wet area!" I tried to defend myself.

"But they just mopped the floor this morning, no one's spilled any water down here from what I can remember." How the freak do they even know?! They are literally not paying attention to the floor!

"You're not even looking at the floor!" And then I realized I walked right into that one.

"Back at you! You're not looking at the floor too! So what? Doesn't change the fact you weren't being careful!" But I was…

Being careful…

Shit… I'm beginning to feel anger and fear at the same time… As much as I want to keep shouting at them, I'll tarnish my picture in my section even more…

So I ended up taking a deep breath.

"I'll apologize to her. Even if I don't feel like that's enough, I'll make up for my mistake." I calmly told them all.

"Be lucky it's a small amount and it didn't cause her any major issues." As that comment was made, everyone went back to what they were doing.

"Good boy."

Oh boy, to add insult to injury…

Behind me is the Disciplinary Committee of the school. He must have seen the girl on the way there.

"Mr. Alrose, why don't you come with me? Maybe we can talk this out." I had no choice but to go, as disobeying the committee will make my punishment even bigger.

Man, I feel like today is not my day again…

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — SYRRA — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

The morning bell just rang, but my math teacher is absent. Some problems were left to us, and I began solving them.

"I hope my head won't hurt from doing this…" I focused on my work. Like I keep saying, I CANNOT SCREW UP MY CHANCE TO GET A SCHOLARSHIP THIS YEAR!

"Syrra, we got this. Renn taught you so much, and now it's your turn to prove that your hard work now will not be wasted!" Jessie brought some enlightenment in me, and we both started doing the problem.

Renn, I hope you can see me now…

"I heard from downstairs just now while we were walking upstairs… Alrose just burned a person with hot cocoa."

Wait… What?!

That made me stop and look out in shock. Are they for real?!

"I heard it too. Let's take a listen." Jessie understood the situation and we both took a listen.

"He's not that kind of person to burn people…"

"But look at what happened, he sent a young girl to the clinic."

"He's now getting what he deserves. He said it was an accident, but accident or not… He could be dealing with much worse. He should have been more careful."

Are they talking shit about him? No way…

"He should apologize properly. I don't think a careless guy like him should teach if he'll be making another mistake like that…"

"You guys are already acting shit over someone who just unintentionally burned someone…"

"If ever I had to choose between a careless teacher or a cautious teacher, I'd go for the cautious one."

They went straight to their classroom. To think Renn would get suddenly treated like this for an accident…

"They have a point but it's not something to dwell on so much…" I looked and Jessie and nodded in agreement. Jessie's right. The girl is still alive.

"Let's see him right now." I suggested.

"He's being disciplined, most likely. Let's go." She went ahead as I followed behind her.

I hope his punishment is not too severe…

As we were approaching the door to the Discipline Office, Renn went out of there. He's in distress.

"Renn!" He noticed us.

"Oh, hey. I'm punished with 4 hours of school duties. He acknowledged it was an accident, but it was harmful regardless." He showed us a piece of paper indicating his punishment duties for the day. 2 hours of library duty and 2 hours of cleaning duty after class.

"I'm so sorry… You're now in this mess." I bowed and apologized. I should have gone downstairs with him…

"We should have tried and defended your side, partner." Jessie also felt bad too, scratching her head, feeling regretful.

"Don't be, you two. This is all about me, I'll do my duties so that I won't have anything to worry about. Now if you will excuse me, I have library duties to work with." Renn walked to the library with a smile. I sure hope his day will be fine…

I'm worried…

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — RENN — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

2 hours later…

After all the book sorting, library cleaning, computer room management…

Obviously my day is getting worse and worse by the minute. But despite that, My library duties were done and I walked back to the classroom. I felt like a thousand bullets just hit my skull.

The classroom felt quieter than ever. Everyone's silent, but I felt uneasy in this silence. I felt everyone distance themselves from me they paid further attention to the lecture.

But I paid them no mind, I just went back to my seat and I focused on the lecture as well. But as I reached for my bag to get my textbook, I felt a piece of paper in there. A paper airplane?

"(Odd… Why is there a paper airplane here?)" I pulled out the paper airplane and unfolded it. It reads:

"Hey, pay the people no mind. They're just messing with your head. By the way, I have a request for you. Turn this paper around if you accept the request."

Turn this around? Well, I decided to turn the paper around and see what it is.

"Oh, you accepted it! Okay, so I want you to tutor me and a friend of mine. After class ends, I'll meet up with you outside the school.

— Ari —"

This Ari girl again… Well, if she needs help with something, I guess I'll help her out. She seems to be nice to me as she gave me advice on the front side of the paper.

"(But I'll be here all day.)" This is my problem, unfortunately. Cleaning duty is gonna get me late for that tutor… I sighed, feeling disappointed.

I was thinking we can move it tomorrow, but how am I gonna find this Ari AND give her a message?

Well, I guess I'll have to tell Vance I'm out for some overtime tonight. I let time pass and the lecture be finished before going out. Then, as I went out to the stairway on the other side, I pulled out my phone and called Vance.

"Mr. Alrose? You're lucky I have no school today, why'd you call?" He answered and asked me why I called him so suddenly.

"I'll be home late for a quick tutor session. Someone really needed it." I told him.

"Late at night?! Well, I'm a little concerned since the news… Please just tell me you'll be back before 9 pm…" The news traumatized him to the point he doesn't want me to stay too long out.

"I promise I will come back before 10 pm. I'll ensure that I will make it back home safely." I made a promise to him. Vance knew that every promise I made couldn't be broken because I always fulfill them.

"Alright… If you need help, just give me a call." He advised and hung up.

I went back to the classroom. I looked out the window to the view outside. It's sunny outside, yet I don't feel as bright as the sun. I sigh and just use the remaining free time and fell asleep.

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

*8 hours later…*

"Thank god, PE only took one hour… I managed to finish cleaning duty under the watchful eyes of the Disciplinary Committee…" This was very nice for me because I don't have to be 2 hours late to meet Ari.

"(She told me to meet near the school…)" I went to the sidewalk, hoping I could see Ari and her friend.

It's weird I am one hour late, and they're later than me though…

But I did eventually see them walking towards me. It's a girl my age and… Wait, is that Cassandra?

"My friend told me that you were that Renn person, who will gave me aid today to tutor me tonight! I appreciate the gratitude so much!" I was slightly confused at her. Friend? Wait, if Cassandra is Ari… Then who's this?

"I'm Angelica. You've already met my friend, Ari. So nice to meet you today!" She's strangely energetic.

"Since you know about me… Call me Renn." I bowed. The introduction doesn't have to be that long.

"Anyway, I'll treat you to dinner first before we proceed to the tutor thing! Follow me!" Angelica and Ari led the way, while I followed them both.

While following them, I feel a sense of relief as I'm away from basically everyone who held their own grudges against me.

But at the same time… Why am I feeling uneasy? As if I'm walking to a danger zone?

"You're a fool… Hehe…"

I heard that voice and looked around to see who said that. It felt close, yet I still didn't see anyone behind me.

Jesus… I'm now getting scared…

But as I was shivering right now, I felt Angelica cling onto my arm.

"I can see you're feeling scared… Don't worry, we're here to keep you safe!" But I guess I'm not alone here, but did Angelica and Ari hear the voice? I'm pretty sure I heard it, strange they seem to not react to it.

Have they mastered themselves on how to avoid the voice? Wish I could do that, it's hard to do that with the uneasy feeling lingering around earlier.

Anyway, I'm hungry…

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