Episode 5

I stood there, still fuming as the woman’s car disappeared from view. A mix of anger and disbelief swirled inside me. I couldn’t believe she’d just brushed it off like that, acting as if my brand-new car didn’t even matter.

Shaking my head, I walked back to my car, my hands still clenched around the steering wheel. I needed to calm down. There was no point in letting her ruin my day.

I walked into school, still irritated, but tried to shake off the frustration. I was late, and it seemed like the first subject had already wrapped up, so I headed straight to my second class, hoping I wasn’t too far behind.

As I entered the classroom, I noticed that most of the seats were already filled, but I managed to find an empty one near the back. I quietly slid into the chair, trying to blend in and not draw too much attention to my late arrival.

The professor glanced over at me but didn't say anything. Maybe it was because it was already a few minutes past the bell, and everyone else had settled in. I quickly unpacked my things, pulling out my notebook and preparing for the lecture.

The class went by uneventfully, and my mind kept drifting back to that woman and the scratch on my car. It was hard not to think about it. Every time I tried to focus on what the professor was saying, my frustration would bubble back up. I kept telling myself it wasn’t a big deal, that I could fix the scratch, but it still nagged at me.

As soon as the class ended, I quickly packed my stuff and left the classroom, still in a semi-bad mood but determined to move on. I hurriedly made my way down the hall towards my next class, hoping the rest of the day would pass by quickly.

I walked down the hallway, my steps quick and purposeful, but the lingering frustration from the morning still weighed heavily on me. My next subject was the one from yesterday, where the professor had been a no-show. I wasn’t really looking forward to it, but I figured at least it would pass the time until I could finally head back to the dorm.

I checked my phone as I walked, still no word from Jenna. She was probably already in class, which meant I’d be flying solo for the next hour or so.

As I made my way to the classroom, I couldn’t help but feel a bit of dread. It wasn’t that the subject itself was boring—it was just the kind of class where I tended to zone out. Plus, sitting through a lecture alone after everything that happened earlier didn’t exactly seem appealing.

I sat down in one of the seats and just waited for the professor to show up, hoping they wouldn’t arrive again so I could finally get some rest.

But of course, my luck was running out. The door suddenly opened, and in walked the professor. My jaw dropped.

It was Dr. Celeste Alarcon. The same woman I had clashed with earlier that morning.

As she entered, our eyes met, and we froze for a moment, caught in an awkward staring contest. I was mortified. I felt heat rush to my face, wishing I could just disappear.

Dr. Alarcon was unfazed, her expression unchanged as she calmly walked to the front of the class, as if nothing had happened. Meanwhile, I was stuck sitting there, my mind racing.

I quickly turned my gaze down, focusing on my desk, hoping the ground would swallow me whole. This was going to be a long class.

She placed her things down on the desk and glanced at the roster, her voice cool and professional as she addressed the class.

"Good afternoon, everyone," she greeted us, her eyes scanning the room. "I hope everyone's doing well."

She looked around, her gaze eventually drifting towards the back of the class, stopping on me. I could feel her eyes linger, and a wave of embarrassment washed over me. I kept my head down, not daring to meet her gaze again.

I sat there, my face burning with embarrassment, as Dr. Alarcon began the lecture. I couldn't believe this was happening - that the same woman who had just scratched my car and brushed off my concerns was now standing in front of the class, acting as if everything was normal.

As she spoke, I found it hard to focus on her words, my mind still reeling from the morning's events. I kept my eyes glued to my notebook, scribbling down notes in a daze, hoping she wouldn't call on me or ask me a question.

Dr. Alarcon's voice was calm and steady, but I couldn't shake the feeling that she was watching me, her gaze lingering on the back of the classroom where I sat. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, wishing I could disappear.

As I quickly packed my things and prepared to leave, the rest of my blockmates were already heading out. But just as I stood up, Dr. Alarcon called my name.

"Alexis," she said, her voice smooth and calm, yet I couldn’t help but feel the tension building in my chest.

My heart skipped a beat as I turned to face her, unsure of what to expect. I hesitated for a second, then walked toward her desk, anxiety rising with each step. Was she going to bring up what happened earlier with the car?

"Yes, ma’am?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady, but I could feel my hands trembling.

Dr. Alarcon didn't smile, but her demeanor remained professional. Her eyes fixed on me, studying me.

"I'd like to speak with you for a moment," she said, her tone firm but not unkind.

My heart raced. There was no doubt in my mind that this conversation was going to be uncomfortable.

"Here, answer this," she said, handing me a paper. What the hell? Why is she giving me this while no one else is getting one? Is she getting back at me?

I stared at the paper, trying to process what was happening. Why was she singling me out? My mind raced with suspicion as I took it from her, still unsure of what to make of it. Was this some kind of test or punishment?

Dr. Alarcon watched me for a moment, her expression unreadable.

"You're not paying attention to my lecture, so this will be your punishment. Pass it to me tomorrow," she said. Wow, does she have rules like that? Seriously? I can't believe this. Should I report this woman?

I stared at the paper in disbelief, my frustration boiling over. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. She was seriously treating me like this over a simple lapse in attention during class? Was this even allowed? My mind raced with thoughts of complaining, of telling someone about her unfair treatment. I could feel my blood boiling, the unfairness of it all making my heart race.

"Okay," I said quietly, forcing my voice to sound calm despite the anger bubbling inside me. I quickly stuffed the paper into my bag, not wanting to keep holding it.

Dr. Alarcon didn’t say anything else, just turned away and leave the classroom.

:))

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***