The next day, Iyana sat by the library window. Her fingers tapped the keyboard now and then, her eyes flicking between the white screen and a thick stack of papers.
"Miss Jiran."
Iyana's eyes lifted.
Danica Ang was approaching her table.
She took a seat opposite Iyana who said nothing.
"I want to talk to you. Really, sorry about yesterday. It was a bad joke," she added, her voice cool.
"Too bad. I'd prefer it to be a bad joke," Iyana replied with a blank face.
Danica's brow creased, her lips curving.
"Well, I want to pass it."
"Oh?" Iyana said, typing on the keyboard.
"I said I want to pass it," Danica repeated, with a harder voice.
"I don't have time for the lessons—"
"You'll take the exam for me, right?" Danica said, cutting Iyana.
Iyana's eyes flew to Danica.
Danica leaned closer, a slow smirk on her lips.
"You don't know? The remedial exam will be held in Prof. Frias's classroom this time," she whispered. "He'll be there."
When Iyana said nothing, she pressed. "Don't worry," she said, folding her arms on the desk. "Mother said she'll pay more."
Iyana smiled wryly.
"What do you mean?"
"Ah, don't be," Danica said, smiling. "Why do you think some of us are able to graduate? It's because the smart ones take the exams for them. Prof. Frias always does this. There's no need to worry."
Iyana's gaze drifted to the window before returning to Danica.
Something like this was going on?
No wonder...
"I see," she said.
She had tried to hide it, but there was that rough edge in her voice, though just a flash.
"I was just teasing Lyron last time," Danica smirked. "You were never meant to teach me lessons. Gosh, that's impossible, right? The remedial is less than a month away."
"Well, I can't," Iyana said dryly.
The corner of her eyes turned sharp.
"Believe me, it's not because of my conscience," she continued. "It's because talentless people should be discarded."
Danica rolled her eyes, the rose.
"It's not like I can't find someone else. Actually, it's Mother who wants to help you. She has a weakness for good-looking ones. Arrogant ones, of course," Danica said, then walked out.
When Danica finally left, Iyana stopped typing.
Prof. Frias...
She remembered that moment in his office when he couldn't meet her eyes. No wonder the offer came with a huge amount of funding for her paper. It was far too generous for a remedial exam. Because it was risky.
...
IYANA WATCHED Prof. Frias with a group of students in the hallway, just outside his office. He was signing. He looked much thinner now, his face more haggard. A few of the male students glanced at Iyana as she passed by.
"Professor," she called.
He was about to enter his office. He turned.
"Miss Jiran?"
Then he stepped inside. She followed.
"Prof, Danica Ang—"
"Miss Jiran."
He stopped, adjusting his spectacles. Then he paced back and forth, glancing at the phone in his hand.
"Forget about it. I've already spoken to Madam Ang. It's not… " he paused. "I'll find someone else."
Her eyes fluttered. "So it's true?"
He looked at her.
"Whoever told you—don't tell anyone. Just…"
"Really, Prof? About the remedial exams, are they—"
His phone rang.
He quickly took it, with a trembling hand.
"Miss Jiran, please forget about it already," he said, in a frantic voice.
He turned and walked to the window. His figure merged with the dark curtain, as if it swallowed him whole. The room was dim, only a shallow light overhead. True light came only when the door opened, and even the streak from the curtain touched only the bookshelves along the wall.
Iyana slipped quietly out of his office and hurried down the hallway until she reached her dorm. There, lying on her bed, her mind stayed blank for a while.
She stared at the ceiling.
She couldn't believe that Prof. Frias…
She couldn't…
He was supposed to—
He was supposed to what?
He was a minion all!
He was…
But her eyes shut closed.
When she woke, it was nine in the evening.
"Iya, thank goodness you're awake!"
It was Solen's frantic voice.
Still lying on the bed, Iyana turned to the side and saw Solen's bed across the room. "Why?" she asked, sheepishly.
"Prof. Frias was arrested for embezzlement and forgery. It just happened tonight!"
No words came from Iyana's lips.
She just froze.
*