Checkmate ⚢

Chapter 7 Deal

With bated breath, Hana turned around, yelping at the sight of British Mean Girls. "Geh! I thought I lost you two!"

"You didn't lose us, silly!" the redhead peered through the Professor's right arm.

"Yeah, Madeline and I know where you're headed!" Heather peered through the left.

"How dare you disregard a professor?" The imposing figure had long curly brown hair which she had perfectly tied in a French bun, her thin lips curled into a snarl and her prim and proper uniform added, even more, superiority to her appearance. "This is such an unbecoming of a student of Neos Athens! Disrespecting authority, disruption of classes, and practical exams; never in my entire life had I had the chance to witness such a vulgar and barbaric act of a student. What can you say for yourself?"

"Ummm..." Hana was at loss for words. If this old woman thought she was worse, wait till she meets Samantha, her redhead American friend. She clutched her upper arm, hoping her voice circumvented a bit of self-assurance. "I... w-was in a hurry to find Althea Lancaster?"

"For what purposes could be that extreme for you to run amok these halls like a tornado?"

Hana answered apprehensively, "Ehh... to save my life?"

"Listen," she sighed as if to control her volcanic temper. "If you're just going to keep giving useless excuses, I might ask you to give me your name and department so I can call your Dean to deal with your punishment."

"Professor Faulkner, I can vouch for her." The blonde said coolly.

"Ehhhh?" Madeline and Heather gasped. "You know her?" But the professor was still sporting an incredulous look and needed convincing.

"Really Miss Lancaster?" she asked.

"Yes, actually we had met only yesterday. Long story short, I took hold of her medicines, and it just so happened that she has no other means to contact me. She must take it on time."

"Oh, is that so?" she drawled before facing the Japanese, "You troublesome girl, why wouldn't you just say so?

"Umm..." Hana gulped, still stunned to witness such events wherein a person she barely knew—someone who had grown to dislike her—a cover-up for her.

"With all due respect, she might have been too intimidated by you, Professor. She has reasons for her behavior. She has ADHD and selective hearing as well, which explains her behavior."

Those were terms that Hana hadn't heard of a long time. She tried her best not to cause trouble around here, but sometimes her impulsiveness and refusal to listen to certain speakers always get her in trouble. Sometimes they let her off the hook, sometimes the punishment was even worse.

"Ah, I see. Well then, I should leave you to care for this undergrad." She then turned to Hana. "Next time, please try not to disrupt classes."

"She won't, Professor I guarantee that," Althea said quickly, never giving Hana the chance to speak, less she does more damage than repair. "She'll have various means to contact me."

Hana shot a transitory glance at Madeline and Heather who was not at all pleased with how the events were unfolding.

"Very well then," Professor Faulkner said, although positive that she'll see more of the Japanese in the next upcoming days. "Good day Miss Lancaster. And a good day to you too, Miss Yoshida." she gave stress to Hana's last name before leaving.