For some people, when it comes to math and science exams, it's already quite impressive if they can just fill up the entire paper with writing, regardless of whether the answers are right or wrong.
Half an hour later, Hannah was the only person left in the classroom still working on the problems.
Behind her, the rustling sound of a pen tip touching the exam paper was especially clear in Arnold's ears.
He closed his eyes but couldn't sleep; it felt like an ant was crawling on his ear, an itching sensation burrowing deep into his bones.
A few minutes later, he sat up irritably and finally picked up his pen upon seeing his own completely blank paper.
It wasn't that he didn't know how to write; he was just too lazy to bother, to avoid causing trouble for himself.
That feeling of being oppressed, enveloped in darkness, forced into a resigned debasement, was like waves churning on the sea surface, effortlessly pushing a desperately struggling person underwater again and again.
