The broken ones

Let's celebrate

❀

A brand new week has started, and Bea finally had the courage to come to school. But she wasn't prepared for the stares and whispers she was getting. She walked down the crowded hallway but stops midway when Jack pops out from the crowd. " You came! " He says, happy to see her again. " I was about to visit you after school if you were still absent. "

" That's sweet but I doubt my mom would let you in the house. " Bea tells him, trying to avoid the judge mental stares around her. Jack notices the uncomfortable expression on her face and eventually looks around to see everyone staring at them. His face tense a bit in anger, but Bea pulls him away before he could cause a scene. They walk further away from the crowd, and settled down on an empty bench, secluded from everyone.

" Have you eaten breakfast ? " Jack asked her.

" I don't feel like eating anymore..." Bea sighs, feeling a bit sick in her tummy. After what happened and being on a temporary hiatus, her anxiety escalated even more. Being at the center of attention just makes it worse.

" Are you okay ? You don't look good. " Jack says, placing his hand on her forehead to test her temperature.

" I'm fine... I'm just scared that's all. " Bea assures him. Jack pats the back of her shoulder and averts his attention to the students crowding around the bulletin board.

" What is that ? Are they putting up the exam results ?! " Jack watches as Mr.Edgar and Ms.Polly tapes a long piece of paper on the board while students watch from behind.

" they haven't posted it up yet ? It's been 2 weeks already. " Bea says, worried about her own results.

" They delayed it. I thought they'll be posting it up next month. " Jack says, still watching the crowd.

" Exam results are out! Students! Exam results are out! " Mr.Edgar shouts through his megaphone. Something he'd always do to gather all the students attention. He'd always be the one in charge to announce things every morning through that annoying megaphone of his.

" Let's go. " Jack says as he walks back down the hallway to check his exam results, and Bea follows along. This time, no one paid much attention to her, since their eyes were glued on the list of names in front of them. Some students were jumping in excitement while others were groaning in disappointment after seeing their results, and Jack and Bea push through the crowd. At the other end, Edna and Jenny who just arrived to school, made their way to the front as well. The four of them stood there, their eyes examining the list of names in front of them. There's exactly 250 students on the list, and they scanned each row to look for their names.

" Edna, rank #27, 87% overall. " Edna says under breath after seeing her name.

" Jenny, rank #29, 82% overall. " Jenny was pleased by her result. She expected it to be a bit lower than that, due to the lack of knowledge she had during testing time.

" Bea, rank #34, 72% overall. " Bea expected it. The fact that she slept during half of testing time, it's pretty obvious she wouldn't get a high grade. But at least she didn't fail. " Jack what about where are you ? " Bea and the two girls scanned for his name but Jack immediately blocks them from seeing his result.

" I don't think you should see it. " Jack says, embarrassed by what he got. The three girls tried to look over his shoulder to see his result but Jack was too tall for them to see. Edna pushed him away and scanned the list of names on the last row. Her index finger traces the list of names and stops at the very end.