54 Dog-Eat-Dog-World

Cynthia Thompson had been teaching at Saint Claire Academy for five years. She was currently thirty four years old and specialized in teaching Math Classes. Being an academy teacher, Cynthia's reputation was second to none. Her friends and acquaintances envied her for being able to land a job at the most prestigious school in the country.

Her parents were very proud of her and would often boast about her accomplishments to their circle of friends. A few years ago, Cynthia had been the role model for the teachers in the academy. Unfortunately, people change, especially those that were able to experience a position with power.

As a teacher, there were many students who asked "favors" from her. Since the majority of the children studying in Saint Claire Academy came from influential families, she was able to profit a lot from these transactions.

She firmly believed that she was no longer that naive teacher who just started her career five years ago. Now, she had authority and was not afraid to use it to pressure others who had a lower standing than her.

The exam started ten minutes ago and the examinees were busy answering their test questions. Cynthia knew that all of these aspiring students were commoners just like her who were trying their luck to win the lottery.

Frankly, she didn't look down on them, but knew how hard the exam was. Out of the thousands that took the test, not more than fifty people pass every year. You can say that only the "cream of the crop" had the right to study at this academy.

As she was observing the examinees, the door abruptly opened. A girl with reddish-brown hair looked anxiously inside the room. Cynthia frowned when she saw the girl. She had a feeling that this was another examinee who was supposed to take the test. However, there was one thing that Cynthia hated the most, and that was being late.

"Yes? What can I do for you?" Cynthia asked. She already knew the answer to her question, but she asked just in case she was wrong in her assumption.

"I'm here to take the test," Kate answered apologetically. "Sorry for being late, Ma'am."

Cynthia walked up to Kate and examined the girl from head to toe. She noticed that the girl's clothes were drenched with sweat. It was very obvious that she ran all the way here to take her exam.

This was not the first time that Cynthia experienced this scenario. There had been a few others like Kate who came late in taking the exam under her supervision. All of them suffered the same fate, and this time was no exception.

"Sorry, late comers are not allowed to take the exam," Cynthia said as she looked down on the younger girl in front of her. "This is Saint Claire Academy and not a public school where you can just take the exam whenever you want to take it."

"Instructor, there was a reason for this," Kate replied anxiously. Although she knew that the examiner might get a bad impression due to her being late, she never thought that she would find one of the most notorious teachers in the school. "On the way here I saw an examinee who was lying on the ground. He fainted due to anemia and I took him to the infirmary to get medical treatment."

"Oh? Is that so?" The side of Cynthia's lips curled up. Each and every year, she would hear different kinds of excuses from these late examinees. She could still vividly remember the hopeful look in their faces as they waited for her mercy. This gave Cynthia a feeling of superiority because she had the authority to decide their fate.

"Such a touching story. Truly remarkable. A model student for sure," Cynthia sneered. "However, can't you come up with a better excuse? That line had been used more times than I can count."

"But, it's the truth!"

"So what if it's the truth? You're still late."

Cynthia wasn't wrong. There was an unspoken rule among examiners that late comers would not be allowed to take the exam. Only a handful of teachers in each grade were more forgiving and allowed these late students to still take the exam. Unfortunately, Cynthia wasn't one of them.

"Can you please reconsider? It was not really my fault," Kate pleaded. "I can't just ignore a person in need."

The examinees who were taking the test heard her words and felt sorry for her. They too hoped that the instructor would show leniency towards her. Cynthia felt their stare, but she didn't care. Her attention was focused on the pretty girl in front of her.

"Sorry, but better luck next year."

"Please, I was telling the truth. If you don't believe me, you can come with me to the infirmary!"

"Why would I come with you to the infirmary? Are you stupid?" Cynthia asked, mockingly. "If I leave this room, then who will supervise these examinees? Do you know that I can lose my job if I leave this room during the exam?"

Cynthia glanced at the examinees behind her. "These children are able to take the exam because they came here at the designated time." She then returned her gaze at Kate. "You can take the exam next year and make sure you don't repeat the same mistake that you did today. Learn your lesson!"

After saying her words, Cynthia closed the door not bothering to hear Kate's reply. Although she seemed heartless, she sincerely believed that in this dog-eat-dog-world, important lessons in life should be learned at an early age. This was just one of them.

-----

Kate stared at the closed door in front of her. She was doing her best to hold off Stella from breaking the door down with her fist. She held her split personality back with all her might, until the latter gave up. Stella kicked a fuss inside their shared mindscape, but she didn't utter a word. A teardrop slid down the side of Kate's face, followed by another. She felt sad, she felt wronged, but there was nothing she could do about it.

Her mind was a mess. She could already foresee her Mama Andrea's disappointed face, Ciel's frown, Chloe's narrowed gaze, and Heinz shaking his head.

She let them down, she let all of them down. Kate didn't know what to do, or where to go. However, there was one thing that she needed to do. She needed to get out of that place.

Kate left the building without any destination in mind. She let her feet wander freely as she tried to organize the thoughts on her head. When she snapped out of her daze, she found herself in a garden filled with beautiful flowers in full bloom. Their fragrance assailed her nose and calmed her inner turmoil.

For the time being, Kate decided to stay here until the exam ended.

-----

"Yes, Stephen is safe," Charlotte, Stephen's older sister, and the one who helped Chloe and Kate earlier, reported to her father using the phone in the infirmary. "He collapsed due to anemia, and is currently recuperating here in the infirmary."

"Good," a deep and confident voice of a man replied from the other side of the line. "Tell me everything from the start."

Charlotte explained to her father that she didn't meet her brother at the gates despite waiting until the last minute. She concluded that her little brother might have gone inside the academy at an earlier time and they missed each other.

With these thoughts in mind, she hurried to the examination room that was assigned to him. However, her little brother was not there and the seat he was supposed to occupy was empty. She decided to ask some of the children inside the room and described her brother's characteristics, but none of them had seen him.

This was when she felt that something terribly wrong had happened and rushed to the infirmary. It was then that she saw Kate dragging her unconscious brother. Her father, Noah, listened to her narration without saying anything. Charlotte only heard a sigh from the other end of the line after she finished her tale.

"You said her name was Kate Williams, correct?" Noah asked.

"Yes, father," Charlotte answered. "I'm sure I heard her say that her name was Kate Williams and she will be taking the test at the Edelweiss Building, Room 3B."

There was a slight pause on the other end. Charlotte knew that her father was deep in thought. She knew that he would do something so she waited patiently for his instructions.

"Stay with your brother, I'm going somewhere."

"Where are you going father?

"Edelweiss Building, Room 3B," Noah answered. He wanted to see the girl who saved his son in his time of need.

'The Malfoys do not shy away from their saviors,' Noah smiled bitterly as he left the Dean's room. 'To think that our family's creed would be used in this manner, how ironic.'

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While waiting for the next chapter of YWCMS, feel free to read my other story "Go! Go! Summons!".

[Fantasy Romance, Female Lead, Comedy, Slice of Life, Adventure]

Warning: This story might give you diabetes! You have been warned!