Chapter Text
“Renz Enriquez,” the boy repeats in his mind as he glances at the new teacher’s face. He swears the name sounded so oddly familiar and feels like he something he once adored. A name he had forgotten.
The young boy’s thoughts were cut off as the man spoke, “Since you are the top section, I expect great things. Having fun is alright as long as nagagawa nyo yung mga activities and homework nyo.” Right after that the teacher glanced at Nyel, as if to warn him that his tomfooleries will not be excused.
...
He spent the whole class still thinking about the name. Where and when did he hear that name? Why did it feel so close to the heart?
One of his friends bumped his shoulder, “Hey, bat lutang ka? May pre-test tayo boi.”
Nyel looked at his paper and noticed that he was still in the process of writing his name. No answers, no numbers. Just his first name and his pen bleeding through the paper.
“Ay put-”, he cursed under his breath. He was so preoccupied with the name thing that he forgot that this was a class.
Because he didn't have any answers, and the test is progressing without him ever realizing, he could only think of one possible thing to do.
Cheat.
He looks around to copy answers from his seatmates, hoping that maybe his friends let him copy some answers. One of them notices and casually shows him the answers, hoping Nyel would be writing down the said answers without the teacher noticing.
But with how close he was staring at the paper and restless the boy was taking down answers, that hope was bound to end quickly.
Renz clears his throat, making Nyel glance at him.
The man proceeded to walk in the student’s direction, grabbing his paper and keeping it away.
“Focus on your own paper, class. Walang titingin sa katabi.” And walked back to the his desk.
Nyel slumped in his chair. At least he didn’t punish him, right?
But he was still unable to answer the quiz—thus giving him an empty grade, which meant his parents will be the one punishing him.
He could feel the teacher’s glare at him, and he looks away in shame.
This is the worst.