Find your faith

Chapter 13: First test results? Already?!

John's POV
"3 Faith, you guys are meant to be part of the best class," Mrs Raine our English teacher told us. "And apart from the Chinese New Year concert round the corner, I can say there's hardly any other after school activity. Only half of you got distinctions, so after I passed you the papers from highest to lowest mark, we will go through the questions and some essay writing skills. John."

Applause filled the room as I got my marks. Mrs Raine gave me a reassuring smile as she passed me a sweet snack and my paper. Thanking her, I realised I had clinched a 26/30! Who told me this would happen? I proudly showed my paper off, and then Mrs Raine called Crystal's name next. She got the same mark too! I knew she had writing capabilities, but I didn't think she'd be that great. But at that moment, I knew what we had to do—hold hands and bounce around in circles.
Ethan's POV
Mrs Raine's previous smile vanished. "After this, there's no distinction," Mrs Raine boomed, and I felt a sense of doom there and then. "Ethan." Alright, being called first in no distinction isn't that bad. Just a 20/30. I studied through my test paper to see where I could improve after that.

And how can I forgot this all happened in the informal 3 Faith chat video call? I thankfully didn't get a cheer but everyone who got 19/30 and below got them. Chloe got 18/30, and the infamous cheer began again.

You're in 3 Faith
The best class
You should always get the highest grade
Don't settle for no.2
Because it'll be a habit
That'll break your f*king life

Anika and Nicole got 25, YZ got 24 and Lucas got 23. And despite everyone passing, I already felt a gap between all our capabilities. Crystal claimed that was why she formed her group: to excel as one in studies and behind. It was like we were an idol group with bodyguards and constant surveillance.
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Shenhe: honestly what's Chloe's problem? This test just needs you to write a few pages about your life.

Anika: maybe she didn't fully understand the topic. I mean, it was tough.

John: yea Anika, it was tough.

Keqing: it's not as deep as you think it is. Chloe just needs to stop watching her anime and she will be as smart as Crystal is
-
John's POV
While behind Anika and YZ with Nicole, Crystal and Lucas, Ethan screamed, "Mrs Raine."

"Yes Ethan, did I miscalculate your marks?" Mrs Raine asked out of concern. "Did I have a slip in the tongue to say it was on the dot 20 distinctions?" Everyone giggled at Mrs Raine's extra remarks. 

"It's not that." Ethan showed the paper, and I knew what that meant. Chloe:
1. tampered her mark
2. forged her parents' signature

"She changed the first digit of her mark? Chloe, come with me."

After being pulled out of class, Crystal sighed. "It's always been like this. We were compared over even 1 mark of difference. Like I was a mark better than her in math before and my parents started comparing the f*k out of her," she explained. "And she stayed up until 3 am last year to study so that she could end the comparisons. They didn't, they were comparing me with her because of company leader sh/t."

"Wow, I didn't know," I admitted. "Good thing you started this group. It'll help Chloe. Hey, how about we meet her after school so we can give her tips on how to improve her essay writing?"

"Why not? Anyway, I have some free time before I have an EXCO meeting with my exco members and Girl Guides ICs."