Sunny did not want to fall in love at this moment. She only wanted to focus on her studies. But even though she felt this way, there were still many boys who bravely expressed their feelings for her. Sunny experienced a great deal of internal friction—she didn't know how to politely decline their advances. So most of the time, she chose to ignore them. She pretended not to understand their romantic words, hoping they would eventually lose interest.
Lisa noticed Sunny's discomfort and told her not to worry. "If you need help, just tell me," Lisa said. "I'll definitely help you deal with these troublesome guys."
Lisa had a hot temper and was not afraid of anyone. No matter who bothered or disturbed her, she would make sure they regretted it. As a result, many of the boys in their class saw her as a fierce tiger and tried to stay out of her way. Her recent quarrel with Billy had also left a dark, memorable impression on everyone who witnessed it.
Addy once tried to warn her. "Lisa, please don't be so hot-tempered," he said gently. "People are afraid of you. They might stop talking to you altogether."
Lisa shrugged, completely unconcerned. "I don't care. If that's how they feel, so be it. I'm not going to change for them."
Joe laughed. "If you keep acting like this, I doubt you'll ever have a boyfriend. Any guy who dates you would probably get beaten up."
Lisa shot him a sharp look. "If you keep talking like that, I'll show you exactly what I'm made of." She paused, letting the threat hang in the air.
Joe raised his hands in mock surrender. "I'm just saying—you should try to be warmer, more polite. Believe me, no guy wants to fall in love with a tiger-type girl."
Lisa tossed her head back with pride. "Stop it. Why do I even need a boyfriend? I am a queen. No one is good enough for me. I am the best. In the entire world, nobody can match me. Understand?" She thought for a moment, then continued, "And don't bring up men again. I hate them. I dislike them. What are men anyway? I can do perfectly fine without them. Men would only hold me back."
Lily stepped in to calm the conversation. "Okay, let's not talk about this anymore. We're young. We don't need to fall in love right now. Everything will change eventually, won't it?"
Sunny nodded in agreement. She had no interest in romance, and avoiding the topic altogether seemed like the best way to focus on herself.
Meanwhile, the pressure of school was building. Recently, there had been a flood of assignments after every class. The midterm exams were approaching, and most students were worried—except for the usual few: Hanky, Billy, Lucas, and others who didn't seem to care at all.
Ketto, on the other hand, was intelligent and serious. He spent his time reviewing the notes he had written every day, reciting them and repeating the material in his mind until he knew it cold. He desperately hoped to get a good grade. If he didn't, he would be sad for a long time. There was no other option for him—success was the only acceptable outcome.
Addy, by contrast, complained every single day. "I'm so tired. I'm so busy. I'm going to die," he would say dramatically. He didn't even want to attend class anymore, because attending class meant more homework. The cycle felt endless.
The subject teachers tried their best to encourage the students. They would say things like, "Persistence leads to success! Never give up! Cheer up!" But the students had heard these phrases too many times. The words had become boring and dull. To them, the teachers sounded hypocritical and pretentious. No one really took the encouragement to heart.
Ketto, however, remained focused on his studies. He barely even talked to Addy anymore. Addy was shocked by the transformation. Sometimes he thought Ketto had gone crazy—obsessed with studying to the point of losing touch with reality. Addy didn't want to follow that path. He just wanted to play games.
"Curse these exams," Addy muttered under his breath.
But despite his hatred for tests, Addy couldn't afford to ignore them the way Hanky did. He disliked exams, yes, but he didn't want to fail. He still wanted his scores to improve. He just couldn't bring himself to focus the way Ketto did.
To be honest, sometimes Ketto could be annoying. His relentless dedication made Addy feel guilty about his own lack of discipline. But Addy had developed his own strategies. He would cheer himself up and tell himself not to give up. He would give himself small hints: There are only this many days left until exams are over. If I get good grades, I can buy whatever I want.
That was his secret. That was how he found the energy and momentum to keep going—not through love of learning, but through the promise of reward at the end.
As the days passed, the classroom dynamic shifted. The pressure of exams made everyone more irritable, but it also brought some students closer together. Sunny continued to avoid romantic entanglements, and Lisa continued to scare off anyone who came too close. Lily remained the calm, steady presence who mediated arguments and kept the peace.
Ketto buried himself in his books. Addy complained but persisted. Hanky slept through classes and played basketball during breaks. Billy and Lucas stirred up trouble whenever they could.
And somewhere in the middle of it all, life went on—messy, exhausting, and full of unexpected moments.
One afternoon, as the sun streamed through the classroom windows and the teacher droned on about exam strategies, Ketto glanced across the room. Hanky was asleep at his desk, his head resting on his folded arms. For a moment, Ketto remembered the fight they'd had, the harsh words he'd spoken, the way Hanky had walked away without looking back.
He still hadn't apologized.
But maybe, he thought, there would be time for that later. After the exams. After everything settled down.
For now, he turned back to his notes and kept studying.