Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Aubrey’s Pov:

I woke up with my alarm loudly ringing beside my ear. I forgot to put it back on the side table last night. I slowly opened my eyes, adjusting to the bright light coming inside my window. I stared at the ceiling for a few minutes and grabbed my phone to check the time. I have an hour to spare before my class starts. It is 7 am in the morning and I really don’t want to go out of my bed.

I rolled to the other side of the bed and scrolled thru my phone, checking my messages and social media. As if I have any other friends who checks up on me. I rolled my eyes with my undeniably real thought. I wonder what life would be for me if I wasn’t really shy and just befriended everyone. Like James, he is loved by everyone. Though I am glad he never changed the way he treated me after he got popular.

I checked my facebook and saw James tagging me in one of our childhood pictures where I looked so different and ugly and I even have a—ugh, James! I quickly got up on my feet and walked out of my bedroom and dialed James number. It took a lot of ringing before he finally picked up his phone.

“Yeah?” he said in a hoarse voice. I might’ve woken him up but nevertheless, I do not care.

“Why did you post that picture of us with a snout on my face?!” I angrily told him.

If he wasn’t my childhood friend, I would’ve thought he did this out of spite! But I know him, its one of his silly pranks.

I heard his laugher on the other line which annoyed me more.

“Did you get a lot of likes already?” he said trying to annoy me more.

“I hate you,” I mouthed in a disappointed manner. He seemed to have caught the difference on my tone so he stopped laughing.

“Aright, I will delete it now, okay?” he said.

“Whatever, a lot of people saw that picture already anyway.” I said and put my phone on the kitchen table and put it on loud speaker. I made my way to the refrigerator and took out the box of milk that I probably had forgotten that I have.

I sat on the high chair and grabbed the cereal next to me and poured into my bowl.

“Well, it matters not, I will protect you from bullies,” he said on the other line. I rolled my eyes with what he said.

“Except, you are the bully,” I retorted.

“Alright, alright, jeez relax brii. I’m sorry,” he said as I heard him chuckle.

“I’m hanging up,” I answered still pissed at him.

“Wait no—” and before he could utter another word, I dropped the call. Serves him right for bullying me.

I finished my cereal and got ready for my bath. I hurriedly prepared my things after bathing because I totally forgot we have an exam today. I wasted my time calling James. I ran out of my building like a mad woman because I cannot miss this exam because my professor doesn’t allow second retakers, unless you have a valid reason like… you are dying. I’m kidding. I brushed off the thought and hurriedly went to the parking lot and started my car.

“Bri! You barely made it in time!” James uttered with his feet on the table. He really thinks he is the boss here. I rolled my eyes at him and sat in front. A few minutes later, our professor came in and closed the door and locked it. Good thing there was no traffic on my way to the university.

“Good morning class, please remove everything on your desk and leave only your pens.” He announced.

We all did as we were told.

He prepared the papers for the exam and it made me nervous. I did study last week, I just hope I retained all that knowledge. I looked back and checked on James. He was smiling and he glanced at me and winked. I just rolled my eyes. He really is a moron. But believe it or not, James is actually a smart guy. We are always competing on the top 1 rank here in our school and I always go on second. He doesn’t seem to study that much since his life is quite active in a lot of things, like an example would be, his love life, game life, party life, annoying me to death life and much more. He doesn’t have a time to read a book, or so I thought.

I sat properly and played on my pen while waiting for the papers to be distributed. My hands were sweating even though the place is an air-conditioned room. The professor handed us the exam sheets and spoke.

“You have 1 hour to finish the 100-item exam. You may begin,” he said and sat on his table. Cheating here is not an option. This professor’s eyes are like a hawk, no one can get past him. The table and chairs aren’t leveled too and so he can see every nook and cranny, every move you make. Although, I never resorted to cheating.

The questions are the same ones I studied last week. I was answering like a machine and answers were all in my mind! I remember the answers! I think I can beat James this time around.

I was more than halfway when I heard footsteps going down the stairs, and headed to the professor’s table. It was James! How can he be done already!

I looked up to him as he passed his papers.

“Thank you, James you may go.” The professor spoke. I was watching him and he turned around only to make faces. He is teasing me that I am about to lose, again.

I hate this guy, why is he even my childhood friend? My forehead creased as I continue to take the exam and he headed out.

Is soon as I finished, I stood up and passed my paper and went out.

“As I figured, my competition is still second,” he said when I saw him leaning against the wall with his arms crossed on his chest.

“We don’t have our grades yet, don’t be too confident.” I walked past him and I could feel him following me.

“Oh, you see, I am always confident.” He teased.

“Whatever James, stop following me,” I said and turned around to face him. He stopped on his tracks and looked at me.

“Now you are the confident one. I am not following you,” he said and grinned. This man really knows how to get on my nerves!

I just continued walking away from him and noticed he was no longer following me. Don’t get me wrong, James is a good friend… well sometimes, just when you really need him most, you can count on him. But mostly, he is just a jerk and a thorn in my life and in my academic life.

He is my competition and I will surely surpass that jerk to wipe his grin on his face!