Chapter 9.1: SCHOOL VIOLENCE

Today our class has a surprise Math test. Anyway, this is my forte subject so I'm not too worried, besides, since last night I've been studying very hard. But the person sitting next to me, that obnoxious man named David, and the others, aren't like that. As soon as the teacher announces that there is going to be a test today, they all get into a commotion, very disorderly, they turn left and right again just to complain about the problem. It is only when the teacher mentions it for the third time that they are silent for a while.

“You guys need to keep order. Why do you make such noise every time you take a test? No matter what, you have to study well before going to school, right?” – says the teacher, taking a stack of papers from the bag. Call Milan – the class monitor of my class to hand out the test papers to everyone.

Before that, some of my classmates asked me why I'm always at the top of the grade but I don't hold any position. It’s largely because my mother forbade me to do those 'superfluous' things, partly because of myself. I don't like being entangled in school and class work like that. Having to be friendly and kind to everyone all the time, I just can't.

Milan hands out the test papers with a fresh face, she walks along the rows of tables, giving the test papers with a happy smile. Because of her gentleness and lovely face, Milan easily receives admiration and love from everyone, including friends, and teachers. It's only natural that she gets the attention of a lot of guys.

“Hey Daisy, do you learn anything?” – Suddenly, David asks, I don't have time to answer, he immediately rambles on - "Oh my god, last night I stayed up late to play games. But my question just now must be superfluous, right?! You are always hard at work.”

I don't reply, just receive the test paper. For a moment, I see the strange expression on the class rep's face as she looks at me. Something a little dark and scary. But then, she smiles again as usual. I must look it wrong!

“Do your best, David!” – Milan says words of encouragement to him. Looks like he also has a crush on her, so he looks happy when he says thanks.

After Milan returns to his seat, the time will start to count. I unfold the proposal, skim it for a while, then pick up the pen to do it right away.

“This exam will be a test of your abilities, so do your best! This test is important, so it will be harder than usual. You must complete it all in 1 hour. Good luck to all of you!”

All in all, the Math question this time is indeed a bit harder and longer than usual, but it's still within my grasp. The test has a total of 50 multiple-choice questions, ranging from understanding to highly. I make it to the 32nd sentence, then check when it will end, when I look up, I realize that quite a few people are staring at me stealthily. Being looked at like that makes me uncomfortable, so I avoid their gazes by lowering my head and continuing to focus on my test.

“Hey, Daisy. Daisy!!!”

“Daisy! Help me!!”

Screams are heard from all over the classroom. Maybe because they can't do the test, they ask me for help. I look at one of my classmates, she sees that and quickly asks:

“Can you give me all the answers to topic 2 please!”

"I do topic 1," I reply.

Hearing my answer, another female friend sitting behind me urged me to write all 50 answers on a piece of paper and give it to her. Those of me who are subject 1 like me all ask me to help them like that. I feel extremely uncomfortable, but because I don't want to make a fuss, I reply as usual:

"I'm not done yet"

They are like a swarm of bees breaking their nests, arguing with each other, and complaining to me:

"What? You are lying to me"

“Hurry up! Time is running out!"

"Hurry up and help Milan do topic 2"

The teacher knocks the ruler on the table for a moment to cut off the noise.

“You have to do it yourself to see how good you are! In everything we do, we need to be fair.”

When she says that, I am both amused and a little helpless. Because she's also obviously a very biased person, she likes beautiful people like Milan or Anna - the beauty queen of my school, and also those who like to flatter. She also likes expensive gifts that my classmates’ parents give her. The brand bag she is wearing today seems to be one of the most expensive gifts she has received. Her bias is so evident that she even goes to Milan's place to point out when she sees Milan hesitate. But that's okay, I don't need this.

"Hey! Don't you hear that?" – The girl sitting behind me stabs me in the back with the end of the pen, causing me pain, I immediately grimace and grip the pen in my hand. Don't pay any attention to her.

With my indifference, she and her friends lost their patience. She stammers, and then insinuates about me:

“There are people who think they are the center of the universe or something, act terrible. God, tell you, (You here is me) a good person must be both talented and virtuous. How can it be equal to Milan?” She says as she clears her throat, her attitude extremely haughty.

But no matter what she says, I don't want to care. What I need to do right now is to finish this test as soon as possible.

“Hey!”

A male friend looks at me and speaks up.

"Huh?" I reply in a very low voice, perhaps he can't hear.

“Pass your post up for me to see! We're all friends."

What friends? It sounds funny. Maybe it's only when they don't know how to take the test that they consider me a friend. So funny! It's crazy and stupid. I don't answer, pretend I don't listen and continue.

Finally, at 56 minutes, I finish it all. When the teacher comes down to collect the tests, I try to glance at David and see that he is deleting the answers from his test. I am quite surprised by this action, looking at him with suspicious eyes. It seems as if David senses my gaze as soon as it comes out, he stops his hand and turns to look at me with an expressionless face.

“Are you going to do the same thing again today, David?” - The teacher just takes his and my tests and asks helplessly.

He scratches his head, grinning.

“The course I give is always difficult, how can I do it!”

“In that case, you need to learn from Daisy!”

As she speaks, the whispers behind me grow louder. They are talking about me, but I don't care, just take out the subjects in the next period and review the knowledge.

"Yes, I will try!” – He replies.

After the teacher leaves, I ask him:

“Why did you delete the answer?”

Facing my question, David pretends not to know anything, with his usual attitude answers me:

“What is the answer? Ah, that's because I chose it randomly. There's no point anyway, I'll delete it anyway!" – He says very excitedly.

I wonder if he's an idiot. No one can’t do the test but is as happy and optimistic as he. One is a fool, the other is someone who doesn't care about his future. If he was me, he would probably be kicked out of the house with only 2 bad scores on the test.

“You are lying. I've seen you get it right a while ago, why did you delete it?"

"What?" – David widens his eyes and asks loudly, making me extremely annoyed – “Did I do it right? Oh my gosh, I wouldn't have deleted it if I knew it… going home like this…”

“Do your parents care about you?”

David is silent for a moment and then says:

“Don't care at all! That's also why no one scolds me whether I have bad grades or not."

Hearing David's reply, I suddenly feel as though I am being comforted. Turns out he's quite similar to me… I think so. This is also the first time he has told me about his family.

“But how can you tell if I'm doing right or wrong with just one glance?”

I don't answer, rather, I don't know how to answer properly.

"Oh well, it doesn't have to be said. Anyway, you're really good, you're the only one who can do all 50 Math questions!"

I am about to answer, but Stella – the mean girl who keeps nagging at me for the whole hour of the test because I refuse to show the answer, quickly says:

“Such a talented person is so selfish! They are also friends in the same class, but they still show such a condescending attitude. She overestimates herself."

"Come on, Stella," David replies. He and Milan usually be the only two out of the 30 members of the class who speak up for me. I'm a little appreciative too, but honestly, this isn't necessary – “Daisy hasn't finished her test when you ask!”

"Come on!! You're so close to her, David. If she wasn't selfish, she would have helped everyone! She always wants to compete for first place in the school” – The girl spoke freely as if I was not there. But, that's okay, I soon get used to things like this.

David replies cheerfully:

"Why don't you ask me?"

"Stop it! You haven't made it to question 20 yet, have you?"

The two talk and laugh a lot. Usually, I don't care about such bland, often offensive stories. But suddenly I see David gripping his hand. His face is still very fresh, but his hands are starting to swell. Instinctively, I grab his wrist tightly. He and I look at each other. As soon as I realize the problem, I immediately let go and apologize.

David doesn't answer, still smiling, then returns to the conversation with his group of friends.

I don't notice Stella's bullet-shaped eyes fix on me.

At recess time, my class monitor - Milan asks me to go down to the library room to get books.

“Need my help, Daisy?” David asks me.

Milan replies cheerfully:

"Don't worry, I won't let her hold a stack of very heavy books!"

I don't want to leave the classroom, but it is okay. If I don't agree, they will all say that I bully Milan.

Standing in front of the library room, I am surprised because there are more books than I expected. There are a total of 30 thick books, the librarian sees that I am the only one down and asks:

“Are you going to carry all these books up to the first floor?” (Library room is on the ground floor, our class is on the 1st floor) – Then she advises me – “Or you can ask a male friend to help you out, you can't bring it all at once!”

"Then I'll go many times, it's okay!" ' I reply, and then hug a bunch of heavy books in my lap. Say goodbye to my teacher and back. On the way from the library to the classroom, I have to pass through the restroom. Suddenly, I see Stella and some of my female classmates standing nearby. Although I have a bad feeling, I just have to keep going. Unfortunately, my hunch is correct. A foot blocking my path sends me toppling over. Fortunately, there is a stack of books to help me, otherwise, my chin would be bleeding by now. My hands are press by the stack of books along with the weight of my body, causing me pain. I scramble to my feet, then quickly pick up the books for fear they will step on them.

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