Coincidences

Act XIII

The exams were stacked like a mountain. No, there are a mountain. As the teacher brought them to his desk, we couldn't even see his grumpy ol' face. I bet he was smiling behind those papers. I'll give him a good beating with my score.

We reviewed everything last night and almost had no sleep. Unlike the rest, we were packed with our knowledge and energy bars. The others who didn't study were also drowsy, probably because they spent their time in front of monitors and controllers. Despite that, one thing is for sure, and that is that we were all nervous and too lousy to put our exhausted minds into it.

I let out a yawn as the teacher gave me an answer sheet. I was a multiple choice, piece of cake.

I turned to Zoey, who, behind the deep black eyesockets, was beaming with determination.

I grabbed my pen, and, at the teacher's signal, colored the little circles with ink. Time was endless as we did these. Some already have stopped at the middle of the exam and stared into whatever their eyes can meet. The teacher was alert, as if he was willing to chop someone's head off with his bare hands. It was known to everyone that cheating was not a option here. I licked the ballpoint to make it run again, and tried to keep my cool. It started to sweat, thinking to myself what was the atomic number of Tungsten.

After 40 minutes, I neatly shuffled my papers and wrote my name. I glanced over Zoey. She also finished it, too. It keeps on happening. I bet we'll have the score. I don't care if that happens, though; I want a reasonable score. Period.

We gave our papers contemporaneously and fell back into our chairs. After the bell rang, we repeated the same process over and over again, till our brains were cooked enough for a zombie to eat.

At lunchtime, we took out our meals. We both had hotdogs, surprise. She said, "Seriously, are you spying on me, or something?"

"Nope. I seriously decided to make these." I said.

"You made them? By yourself?" she laughed. "I made mine, too."

"Well, what a coincidence," I replied, sarcastically.

She took a bite out of hers. "Do you like mustard on yours? I always put some."

I showed her the trail of yellow, tracing it with my finger. I said, "See this?"

"Totally spying on me."

I defended myself, "No, I'm not." I suddenly recall that time I did spy in her, you know, with the binoculars. I gulped in guilt.

Lucky for me, she changed the topic. "How are you dealing with the exams?" she asked.

I did a so-so with my hands. I admitted, "Pretty well, if it weren't for the pressure and the teacher looking at your answers from behind."

She nodded in agreement. "It does give you shivers." She took the last bite.

Having already devoured our food, we strolled around the playground. Everyone was relaxing in their own way. A couple of boys were playing soccer, others were sitting under the shade, some girls were gossiping, and the staff was chilling with cold drinks.

I thought to myself. It's been a while since the accident, and Zoey's attitude has completely changed. Before, she was a timid girl, wanting no direct interaction with other people. Now, she made some friends, me included. She's more active, more cheerful. Her old self was no more and her old worries were gone. This was the real her.

"Hey."

"Hey!"

I came back to my senses. She was talking to me.

"This number is currently unavailable. Please try again later," she jested. "What's on your mind, exactly?"

I responded, "Sorry. It's nothing." She gave me a nugde.

"The exam? The stress?" she guessed. "Or, maybe, your crush?"

"I don't have one."

"Of course you don't," she said, as if I spoiled the mood.

The bell rang, and we hurried upstairs.