Chapter 5

"Hey, you came to school early today." I heard a familiar voice say at my back. Jessica. I was seated at the back of the library. I just couldn't risk letting him pick on me again.

"Well Good morning to you too. What do you mean by that? I do come to school early FYI."

She kissed my cheeks as she sat down beside me. "Yes you do, but you came extra early".

"Well, I just needed a bit of my sanity before the exam starts. What do you have there in your bag? It smells nice from here." I asked carrying up the small bag she brought in with her school bag pack.

"Nothing. you're just a shameless foodie." She replied snatching the bag from me.

"I couldn't wait to eat. I was so scared one of them was going to wake up before I left. Couldn't handle another morning drama.' I explained to her. She's my best friend. Always had my back since the first day we met.

"How is preparation going? I have been having a hard time studying at home as usual." I asked changing the subject.

"Well, I have a slight problem with this multiple regression analysis in econometrics. Silly me, I thought I perfectly understood the topic when Mr Andrea taught us but I couldn't even solve a question when preparing for the exam." She said as she stretched forth her Introduction to Econometrics by Jeffrey M. Wooldridge.

"You don't have an understanding of the topic and the best decision to take is to wait a few hours until the exam time you tell me" I screamed forgetting we were in the library. Thank God they are only a few of us and the librarian is out to only God knows where, if not she would have had my tongue cut off.

I quickly apologized to everyone and faced her back, reducing my voice volume.

"Why do you always like waiting till the last minute Jess. You know how much I hate being under duress. How do you want us to cover everything? We have less than 2 hours."

"Just stop panicking, will you? It is okay if we don't cover everything. I thought I understood it. Maybe it's because I don't like the man. And it's not my fault. He stares at female students inappropriately, and I don't know how you haven't noticed it. Such a disgusting man."

"I wonder what is important now, passing your finals or emphasizing on this pervert of a man who is somewhat going to define your future".

"Nobody determines my future. I am just expressing my dislike for the man."

"Of course, no man or lecturer determines anyone's future. What I am trying to say my dear friend is that, this man knows how much you dislike him, what if he uses it against you? He has the upper hand here. You know how these lecturers can be. Instead of sitting here and arguing about this man, why don't you open your textbook and let's see what we can cover."

"Okayyyy"

"Let's start with the estimation aspect and then we move to inference, OLS asymptotic. I don't think we'll be able to treat Quantitative Information and Further Issues because we don't have much time on our side, but that should not be a problem since the man himself didn't buttress more on the topic."

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"Miss Thompson, I would like to see you. Could you wait behind?" That was Mr Andrea. We just finished writing his paper.

"Why does he want to see me?" Jess whispered

"I don't know."

"This man must be crazy. If he tries something funny, he's going to land in jail. I'll make sure of that."

" Why don't you calm down and talk to him in the calmest voice you can. Try to stay a little far from him. I'll give you five minutes, then call you. If you don't pick I'll barge in. Okay?"

"Okay, that's a good one".

"Just try to stay calm. See you in five". I gave her a small hug and walked out of the hall.

As soon as I walked into the corridor, I bumped into Jason 'again'.

"It's you 'again'.' he said

I didn't miss how he emphasized 'again'.

"Yes, it's me again. I don't know why we keep bumping into each other. It's a nightmare seeing your face." I answered as I rolled my eyes.

"Nightmare you say, so many girls are dying for this face you call a nightmare. I can see you have been avoiding me after our last encounter. Are you scared of me?."

"LMAO, scared of who exactly. I am just avoiding you for obvious reasons. I only get scared of monsters, except you are one, I don't see any reason to be scared of you. Please stay out of my way and I'll do the same. Let this be the last time we would ever converse. Thank you." I said and turned on my heels. I had just taken a few steps forward and then I felt someone pull me with my bag. Tf!!!!!!

"Hey, I am not done talking with you. Do you have this habit of running off after insulting someone?"

"Well, I .............."

"Aurora". Jess interrupted

"You're out. Let's go. I was just about to come get you."

We turned and walked towards the entrance of the door, making our way out of school.

"You promised you would call."

"Yes, I did. I am sorry. I was preoccupied and I forgot."

"Preoccupied with what? With Jason? What was it you two were talking about? I sensed you two were having a heated conversation."

"Nothing important. Just being his arrogant, cocky self. What is important now is you telling me what Mr Andrea called you aside for."

" For no other reason than to collect my phone number. I hesitated at first but I remembered what you said. I don't want to fail my finals because of a mere number I could easily block. The man is just so stupid. "

"Don't you think he should be reported?" I asked

"I don't have any evidence that he's tried something inappropriate. Nothing can be proved, at least not yet. I'll play along with anything he does."

"Just keep me updated, okay?"

"I will."

We went to her house for our study group reading with her other friends. During the exam period, we study at her place since it is more accommodating and not too far from our school.

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The week flew by fast. It was just a rollercoaster. Studying hard at Jess' place, trying hard to avoid my parents and sister and also Jason at school.

Ladies and gentlemen, guess who is now a graduate_____meeeeeeee. I am so grateful to be done with school. What I can't wait for is moving out of my parents' house. I have started checking up on jobs in L.A. That's where I want to move to. I want a new beginning, a fresh start, a place far away from my problems. My dad doesn't know of my plans, not that he cares or something, but I know he wouldn't be expecting me to stay home after school.

Some of you may be wondering what about my sister. All I know is that we wrote finals together and she has no plans of moving out. Right now, all I'm doing is, going to work, checking up on jobs and staying at home quietly while awaiting the graduation list.

I hope this chapter does not disappoint you. Please drop your comments. I am open to any suggestions. Thanks for reading. See you in the next Chapter.