Teens N Life: Asrama( Boarding School)

UPSR (Primary School Test)

    I sat at the back of the hall, merely waiting for what I would call as a miracle. I looked beside me, every once a minute, seeing that my friends with just the same expression as me.
Worried.
Scared.
Confused.
I guess, well a little - excited.

    As parents seem to fill up the hall, getting their seats, the teacher finally announced the word-

   "Attention to all parents and students, it is now time to announce the results for the UPSR test," said teacher Aida, our emcee for that day, as well as my beloved english teacher.

   I sat at the end of my seat, waiting for my name to be called up on stage. I turned to my friend Husna who sat beside me.
I guess talking might relieve me a bit.

   "Hey Husna, wonder what our results will be huh?" I asked her. She looked at me, and and answered, "Yeah, I know, but I guess you shouldn't worry much huh? I mean, you're like totally smart." she said, with a smile at the corner of her lips.

   I smiled back at her. Sure, what she said was true. I am a smart student, not to brag. Since I was in year one, I was always at the top of my class. Never did I recall getting number 4 in my whole year. But, even so, when I was in year 3, my maths started to decrease.

   And it stayed  like that until I was in year 6. My maths teacher that time, Cikgu Jalita, was a strict but very kind teacher. It was like a blessing, in my March test, I got 80 marks. Since then, my marks increased. In trial UPSR, I got 89 or 93 - I don't clearly remember - marks. And got straight A's that time.

   So simply said, I was the smartest kid in my batch that time. And everyone had high hopes on me. And I guess, I did too.

   Back to reality. I watched as one by one, students walking up the stage to get their results from the headmaster in front. I sat their quietly, hoping for the best.
I guess you could say that UPSR is REALLY important for us primary students. It's the biggest event every year.

   If you got excellent results, which is 6 As, including Malay writing and comprehension, Maths, Science, and English, also in writing and comprehension,
you'll get to go to a prestigious boarding school, and get scholarships from many sponsors. Simply put, just get 6As, IT TOTALLY MATTERS.

   Just as I was worrying and wondering, my friend jerked me.
I turned and smiled. She said to me with a smile at her face,

   "Well, I guess one of us shouldn't worry much eh? After all, you'll TOTALLY get 6As," she said. I just smiled, and answered, "well, we can't be sure enough can we?" , and turned away and continued to think on my own.

   I don't know if I should take her words as a compliment or an annoying statement, but I couldn't care much. I just went on to listen to one by one, the names that went out from teacher Aida's mouth.

   Once a while, I peeked at front to see my parents who were sitting in front, guessing that they totally had high hopes for me, especially my mom, who cares for my academic performance.

   Suddenly, my crush's name was announced, and I peeked at him, who walked outside of the hall and proceeded up to the stage. He go 4As, and 2Bs, if I am not mistaken. I could see that he looked calm, although I could sense a feeling of sadness in his eyes.

   I could remember the day I started falling for him. Before, I was a totally non-loving girl, I hated and felt like it was a gross feeling. I hated it. And it all changed at year 6.

   I was transferred to class 6 Ibnu Sina, or I would call it the class of popular students, because of my outstanding academic results. Then, there I saw him, accompanied with a strange feeling I've never had before. A feeling I used to hate. Love.

   I soon knew that he was a popular guy,  being admired by a lot of other girls. And soon I knew he liked someone else. And totally not me, you could say I was very nooby during those days. But, I still peeked him once in a while.

   And today, I did felt a little pity for him for not getting 6As. But, the nervous feeling of getting my own result overcome that feeling. Then, as the clocked ticked, and the names of students being called up increased, the nervousness got worse.

   5As, I could see that the head prefect's name being called up, and a few names also went out, including the assistant head prefect's name as well, at which we all 'shipped' with the head prefect. How sweet.

   Then, the names continued, and I could feel like my heart is thumping so loudly, I could hear it. I started to pray in my heart,

   ' Oh god, please, oh please give me 6As, oh god. If there would be a miracle, please let it be now. Please, oh god,' my heart repeated it again and again,with my eyes feeling like I wanted to cry out of too much worry. Then, the word finally came out,

   "Now, it is time to announce the names of the 6As students," teacher Aida said. I closed my eyes, when suddenly my ears heard,

   "Nur Jannah! Please come up to stage to get your results, Jannah," and I could feel so relieved, and a few parents and friends cheered for me, as I stepped up. And, there I was, proudly standing on the stage with two other students.

   And, the funny thing was, both of them cried, but I didn't. 'Why am I the only one who is not crying?' I thought. I guess I'm not much of a crybaby, I guess. Anyhow, I couldn't care much, while feeling happy, looking at the proud faces of my parents.

   And that's where it all began.