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"Supp-supplementary.....lessons....."
In the corner of class 1-4 lies the defeated figure of Ivan, one of the unfortunates (self-declared).
Just where did he went wrong this semester? Was it the all-nighters he pulled playing that game released a month ago? Was it all the times he copied Jack's homework? Or maybe it was when he gave up studying after 2 hours, the night before finals? No. That's not it. He tried his best, he believes. This is all just bad luck!
In the corner of class 1-2, lies another defeated figure, this time rocking back and forth with his knees pulled up to his chest, and deadpan eyes.
"My spring break.........my precious spring back......."
Another student pats his back reassuringly. Another unwraps a piece of candy, gently pops it into his mouth and closes his unhinged jaw. Another looks on at his pitiful friend, amused.
Axel......did not try his best. Honestly, he got passing marks on his midterms and took that as a sign that he has learned enough to pass the finals. Surely passing the midterms would mean you already know half of what you're supposed to learn? And knowing half would mean he only had to get lucky on a couple of questions to get above 50%.
EZ PZ, Axel thought.
He's always been lucky, the finals would be a breeze with his luck. That was Axel's logic walking into the exam hall.
I should've studied........shit, all I had to do was pick up one book and read it, Axel thought over and over again.
"You're an idiot." A haughty voice breaks Axel's train of thought.
It was Lee, sitting on top of his desk, grinning.
Suddenly something clicked in Axel's head. Why is Lee, who has almost always placed below him in class ranking, who is as much of an idiot as he is, calling him an idiot right now? And why is he the only one taking supplementary classes??
He sprang to his feet and in one swift movement, pulled Lee into a headlock.
"It was you!! You took all my luck away from me!"
Lee screamed at him to stop, high-pitched, flailing his arms around. Lee himself had no idea how he passed the finals, honestly he barely made it through, but the important thing is he made it!
"Give it back!!"
Lee continued half-screaming half-laughing, Axel was an idiot but at least he got his energy back.
Spring break came as quick as the Principal's morning speech. Which is to say, not quick at all. Eventhough it should be.
The first day for supplementary classes arrived, and Ivan looks on longingly at a group of kids his age boarding the bus for Heilim, an ocean town. In his (very light) backpack was one(1) notebook and a single pen. Gripping the straps of his backpack, almost begrudgingly, he continued his walk to the school.
On the opposite direction, someone is stepping on the cracks of the sidewalk on his way to school. Axel has his airpods on, his bagpack(filled with snacks) slung over one shoulder, and a packet of chips in one hand. He is locked and loaded to slack off in school.
"JOINT SUPPLEMENTARY CLASSES - CLASS 1-1"
Ivan opens the classroom door. There's fewer people than he expected inside the classroom, maybe this is why they decided to hold joint classes.
He scours the room for an empty seat. There's no determined seating so everyone's just sitting wherever they feel like sitting, but even so, the only empty seats left are next to someone else. And there's no one Ivan knows in this class.
In times like these, the seats at the back are the best choice, Ivan thought.
He's bound to fall asleep at some point in class anyway, might as well be somewhat hidden and maximise his sleeping time. It'd be great if he had that same attitude when it comes to studying but alas.
He picks the seat near the window, at the very back of the class, next to an unkempt brown-haired boy. Ivan pulls out the chair and sets his bag on the floor. The boy beside him nods at him, and he nods back. He has no idea what to do so he pulls out his phone and mindlessly scrolls through Twitter.
Which is a bad idea for someone who never got around to making a separate account for porn. Soon, a video of a woman giving a very animated blowjob starts autoplaying, Ivan quickly reaches for the off button, but it was too late.
The brown haired boy was already staring at him. All he could think of was that they had the same taste and he could be friends with this dude. As if a switch flipped in his mind, he grinned at Ivan, and introduced himself.
"I'm Axel."