Carolle smirked when the students of Class 2-F were cleaning diligently now. Her question was simple. Can they recite any poem by Emily Dickinson completely? If they manage to recite, they would be exempted from cleaning. And of course, none of them would be able to do so. Since no student in honesty would memorize such things unless maybe they were in a class full of smart students.

“That’s not fair,” one of the students muttered.

“You didn’t analyze and think of the approach to the question I’ll ask,” Carolle said with a smirk. “Just go on with your cleaning now. And make it like a decent classroom of students like you at the very least. We, teachers, are going to stay in your classroom for just one to two hours per day. You are the ones who stay in your classroom the most. How can you stomach in such a place.” Carolle leaned on the wall, as she watched the students cleaning here and there.

“Now then, Ms. President, can I have a word with you outside the classroom?” 

Jannah simply nodded her head as she followed Carolle behind. When they reached the outside of the classroom, Jannah didn’t raise her head while she waited patiently and nervously at what Carolle would tell her.

Would she get scolded for the behavior of their classmates?

She, and Melissa, the president, always got scolded. Jannah couldn’t count anymore how many times the other teachers told them that even if they were the class officers, they couldn’t control their classmates.

“Why is half of the class not here?”

Carolle saw how Jannah became tense. “They said, they have other important things to do.” 

“I see,” Carolle simply walked towards the window then gestured for Jannah to follow her. The girl heed and followed behind her. Carolle leaned casually on the windowsill while she faced the classroom. “How long has it been like this?”

“Since the second quarter of the school year.”

“How’s Melissa?”

“They said that she was resting in the hospital right now. But she will be discharged tomorrow.”

“I see,” Carolle said. While Jannah still didn’t dare to look at her. “Both of you seem to be close friends to even know her condition. You were also at that rooftop last Friday. Did those things happen frequently here?”

Jannah remained silent which made Carolle sigh inwardly.

“Do you want your class and the bullying to stop?”

This time Jannah raised her head and at the same time, Carolle was looking at her as well. “I really want Melissa to be happy. If the class becomes better and the bullying stops, she will be happy.”

“What a good friend you are,” Carolle said. “But it’s hurtful that there is nothing much you can do about her situation right? You’re a good friend since you always stay by her side. If I were a good teacher, I would tell you that being at her side is already enough. But you know more than anyone that it is not enough.”

“Then is there something I can do to help her? She always wanted to help others, but in the end, she was the one who ended up suffering from everything. But she always just replied with a smile as if everything is going to be ok. But nothing becomes ok. Things are circulating for the worst as each day passes. I hate myself for not being able to do anything!”

Tears started to stream down Jannah’s eyes. As if a heavy feeling was inside her all along. Too ashamed to even show her crying face to Carolle, she immediately covered her face with both her hands. “I will go to the comfort room first, please excuse me, Ms. Carolle.” 

Jannah ran away while Carolle just watched her away in silence.

“To make a student cry, what do you mean of you,” Carolle didn’t turn her head since that voice was very familiar.

“I’m starting to feel that you are following me when you have the chance. How about your class?”

Oliver chuckled lightly. “I have given them a task that would take them until the time for my class is up. I just told them to hand everything to their class president and submit it to me to the faculty.”

“A very like you to do.” 

Oliver just chuckled once again. “I’m truly learning a lot of things. Especially in the world that Hyun Jae grew up with. The education here is pretty interesting as well. Kids of any age have their own levels of studies. It’s such a fascinating world that I understand something now.”

“Understand what?”

“Why you, Hyun Jae, and even Lady Iris, can stand out too much. This world is too advanced and peaceful no matter where I look. Well for the most part and some sides.” Oliver said. “It seems as well, there is a show I’m going to see soon. Wherever you are, there are always interesting shows that are happening.” He grinned and Carolle just let out a small smile as well.

“You are right,” Carolle moved away from the window and put both her hands in her pocket. “I kinda accept that part of myself now.”

At the same time, she said that the bell for the first period finally ended. Carolle entered the classroom and smiled. The classroom was now clean compared to before.

“Good work everyone.” 

But she only received growls as a response. “I’ll see you again before the dismissal time. If you need something from me, just visit me on the faculty. It’s nice to meet you, everyone.” Carolle said, then walked out of the classroom. 

When she came out, Oliver was already a distance away from the classroom. He was probably heading to the next class. Carolle smiled wryly. Somehow, seeing Oliver retreating back, gave her reassurance. Reassurance that the world of Illahayah was not just a mere dream.

She didn’t want to voice it out. But she was thankful that Oliver was with her. She turned her back and headed in the opposite direction. The direction towards Ms. Gina’s office. However, she paused when she was in front of the comfort room for the girls. With a long sigh, she entered and saw that Jannah was not there. However, she could sniffling sounds. Only one stall was closed.

Carolle thought first about what she was going to say, but in the end, she just stood there and waited for her to come out herself.  To Jannah’s surprise, when she came out, Carolle was outside. And from the looks of it, she was waiting for her.

“You ask me, what can you do? If I call you, just come to my side, no matter what,” Carolle smiled then reached for her hands. She gave the same chocolate candy to Jannah. “I’ll look forward to what action you take. I know you can make the right choice.”

Carolle said then headed out of the comfort room. Before she could completely leave, she paused. “Ah, one more thing, I will come back to the class before dismissal time. If you need something, just call me out on the faculty or at Ms. Gina’s office. See you later, Ms. President.”

As Carolle started to walk, somehow she found the corridors to be very a long way to tread. She couldn’t help but start wondering herself, why would she do such things? Why she was involving herself in some things again? When she could just live her life. She simply chuckled to herself. 

‘I guess that is the only way I always take. What a nosy person I am.’

***

Meanwhile, in one of the richest families in the city, a girl was kept punching the punching bag in her room. There was the face of Carolle on it.

She heard a soft knock on the door.

“Who is it?”

“Ms. Sabrina, your mother and father has returned home.” 

An evil grin formed her lips. “Perfect, now, you can pay for stopping me, new sub teacher. I will show you, what will happen to anyone who will go against me.”

***

Meanwhile back to school.

Carolle sneezed. ‘Ah, my haters must be thinking of me right now. It’s really hard to be so popular.’ Carolle finally reached the office of Ms. Gina. She knocked three times first.

“Ms. Gina, it’s me Carolle.” However, no one answered her. When she held the doorknob, it was not locked so she decided to enter without waiting for Ms. Gina’s confirmation. When she entered, Ms. Gina was not inside. 

‘Maybe she went somewhere.’ Carolle decided to take a seat on the sofa. So far, other than being in the advisory class of Class 2-F, she really doesn’t have anything to do right now.

‘Maybe I can go to the library?’ But the softness of the sofa and the soft-looking pillow was tempting. Somehow, Carolle’s eyes were starting to get heavy. Well, she woke up very early today. And she was not really a morning person.

‘Having a little nap, would not hurt right?’ She laid her body on the sofa and soon she let her eyes close.