The shadow twisted, as if considering her question. Then, a voice, deep and resonant, but not like the spirit that had spoken through Lucas-it was older, darker, like something from the depths of the hellish earth-echoed through the room.
"I am Ago...
"I can't stand you, why are you so darn annoying?"
"Calamansi?"
Your face only a mother could love...
"Well, Chad!"
You're not exactly a handsome stud! If you find me offensive that's your problem. "That's enough of that," said the teacher. I'll not have disruptions within my class. "Yeah, remarked Fatima, "Everyone knows you're the class clown!" "Ok, knock it off, everyone, barked the teacher."
"I can't stand you either!" My mutt is more handsome than you. Calamansi practically spat the words at Chad, her eyes flashing with irritation.
"Calamansi? Really?" Chad leaned back in his chair, smirking. "Listen, your face-your body, your very posture-offends me."
"Well," Calamansi shot back, voice dripping with sarcasm, "You're an ugly too!"
The classroom buzzed with the tension that was building between the two. Fatima, sitting nearby, egged them on with a wide grin, her eyes darting between Chad and Calamansi. "Ooooh! Look at you two. It's like watching a bad television show or telenovela."
The teacher, Mrs. Marques, a sharp Brazilian woman in her mid-forties with a tired yet authoritative air, slammed her hand on the desk. "That's enough of that!" she exclaimed, her voice cutting through the heated exchange. "I will not have any further disruptions in my classroom."
Fatima, always quick to stir the pot, chimed in with a laugh. "Yeah, everyone knows Chad's the dummy. Why stop now?"
"Fatima," Mrs. Marques said, narrowing her eyes. "I said, that's enough." She paused, drawing in a breath before addressing the class. "Turn your page to-"
A loud scraping noise interrupted her, as Lucas, one of the quieter students, shifted his chair awkwardly. His eyes darted nervously toward the front of the room, avoiding the brewing conflict between Chad and Calamansi. No one ever really paid much attention to Lucas, except when something went wrong.
"You got a problem too, Lucas?" Chad sneered, turning his attention toward the boy, sensing an easier target now that Mrs. Marques had tried to shut down the argument with Calamansi.
Lucas, startled, shook his head quickly. "No, no problem," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
Mrs. Marques crossed her arms, her patience clearly wearing thin. "We're here to discuss Brazilian history, not whatever nonsense is going on between you all. Can we please get back to the lesson? Now, as I was saying, we're going to talk about the significance of the Proclamação da República."
