Find your faith

Chapter 111: Support during heartbreak 🟰

This chapter parallels Chapter 50 and references Chapter 52 indirectly. I recommend you read that after you finish reading this chapter to have a better appreciation of this book!
-
Anika's POV
"Crystal, significant improvement too. Keep it up!" My biology teacher told her. I turned around, and she gasped at her paper, tears welling up in her eyes. She told Ethan about how she had acquired an A2 when she thought she was going to fail, but Ethan was assuring her that she had been doing her best so it was a fair A2.

My reverie ended when the teacher passed the paper to YZ. "YZ, decent effort. Anika, what happened?" He gave YZ my paper, and YZ passed it to me. I could feel my own jaw drop when I saw the score. 20/35?! How could this have happened?
YZ's POV
Anika frowned for a moment as she kept mum, so I wrecked my brains on how to comfort her. I could tell her that her grades don't define her, but doesn't she understand that? She's been reiterating this to so many people. Or maybe I could say it's ok...I shouldn't; Anika is clearly distraught by what happened. She's known to be a star student, so getting a C is definitely a major shock for someone like her. Maybe I should show some concern for her after she got a shock...

"Anika, are you ok?" I asked, trying to control my usually varying tone to fit the gravity of the situation. Yet Anika ended up dashing out of the classroom without much of a care, leaving me in shock. I was trying to check on her; reassure her that I would always be there for her. Why can't she understand that?
Chloe's POV
Flashback
Daphne: Chloe?

Chloe: Daphne?

Daphne: are the comparisons getting out of hand? I hear that you and Crystal are always being compared.

Chloe: even at home! Like you know how Crystal's the lead for our school musical? Daphne nods When my parents heard, they called all their friends to boast about it and then they talked about how the visual arts are useless! I mean, I won a number of competitions recently and they called it useless!
Present day
I saw my past self run out when Anika ran out. For a moment, I wondered if I should catch up to her, but then remembered: since my life has been getting better and better every day, I should start giving back to the society that has helped me to get here! Without a care, I ran off to find Anika. I need to give her a reason to try once more, just like how that busker made me realise trying would give me a better future.
Ambiguous corridor in school
Chloe: Anika?

Anika: Chloe? Shouldn't you be in class?

Chloe: Not when you run out of there.

Anika: I don't even know what I did to deserve this. People running out of class to check on me. I'm supposed to be a disappointment to everyone. You don't need me.

Chloe: I'm not going anywhere, unless you come along. You have done everything you could, and that's all that matters. That was the best score you could have produced at that time, so now, I guess just try and make the conditions better for a better tomorrow.

Anika: You're right, thanks.