The break was almost over.
Students were still settling down, their chatter loud.
"He's coming!" someone shouted, bursting through the doorway before sprinting to his seat.
The room fell silent. Light footsteps echoed from the hallway.
Bags rustled, pages flipped—everyone was suddenly busy searching for something.
The teacher stepped in, a marker in his pocket and the "thick" math book tucked under his arm.
"The assignments— "the teacher's words were cut short by the bell marking the end of the break.
He went silent for a moment, the students watching him in anticipation.
With a soft sigh, he muttered,
"Guess I arrived early today? Anyway, the assignments…"
He paused for a moment and looked at Dexter.
"Place them on your desks—Dexter, you collect them and bring them to me by the end of the day."
"Roger, sir!" Dexter replied—his tone bland, expression unbothered.
Everyone pulled out their notebooks and placed them neatly on their desks.
Dexter stood to collect them when Julian lightly patted his shoulder with a notebook.
"Dexter, start from the front," the teacher said.
"I want to see how many didn't finish it. I'll have them finish it by—", the teacher stopped mid-sentence.
"Could you be the transfer student? You've already completed it? Let's take a look."
He took the notebook from Dexter and examined it.
Meanwhile Dexter continued collecting the assignments, sparing those who hadn't finished.
"Hmm… the methods are different but the solutions are correct. Well done."
The students gasped in surprise, hearing the teacher praise the new student.
Dexter looked up briefly before continuing his task.
As he reached for Rose's notebook, he could feel her glare pricking at him like a thorn.
He turned to Lily next—she averted her eyes as she handed her assignment over.
Dexter sighed quietly and moved on.
Next was the third row.
A strange feeling crept up his back—someone was staring.
He glanced toward Max, seated all the way in the back. Their eyes met; Max frowned.
Dexter was confused, "If it wasn't him, then who was it?"
The feeling persisted. He turned sharply and heard a sudden screech—Rena's desk scraping the floor.
She buried her head in her notebook.
He approached her, "Your assignment, please."
Another screech—she handed out her notebook in haste, her head dipping lower.
"Quiet down, will you?!", the teacher barked.
"We're sorry." Dexter said.
Dexter placed the collected notebooks in the back drawer and returned to his seat.
"Why's she like that today?", Dexter wondered, his mind lingering on Rena.
The lecture started and so did Julian's "routine".
It went much the same way as the first period.
"He sure knows how to take initiative… he could be a great leader…or— "
The bell rang, diverting Dexter's thought from Julian.
"Oh— it's time already, ok let's call it wraps for today."
The teacher said as he collected his belongings.
The door clicked shut.
A heartbeat of silence—
And then the classroom erupted.
Desks rattled. Whispers sharpened.
Everyone suddenly remembered the one thing that had been looming over the day.
The group project results.
The air thickened with nervous chatter.
Dexter packed away his things calmly.
Julian leaned over,
"What's got everyone so excited?"
Dexter looked at Julian and said, "It's about time… you will soon know."
Julian's left eyebrow twitched as he stared at Dexter.
The door slid open; the chatter cut clean in half.
A man stepped inside— fairly tall, composed, carrying a narrow folder held under one arm.
His hair neatly brushed back, a silver watch gleamed through his sleeve.
The room fell completely silent as his deep blue eyes swept across the entire room with practiced ease.
He adjusted his glasses, then spoke—voice firm but warm.
"Good afternoon class, I am Adrian Richter. I am an assistant under Miss Clara from the Ethics department."
A collective rustle of whispers followed.
"So, he's the one who graded us?"
"Is he strict?"
Mr. Richter followed,
"I've graded your results. Remember, your grade reflects your teamwork—and the cracks among you. I'll start from the top."
All eyes were glued to the folder— waiting for the results to be announced.
"Let's see… group 4, come forward."
Vanessa and Ken exchanged quick glances.
Ken turned to Dexter, only to find him showing a thumbs up.
Ken nudged Rena from behind.
"Let's go, he's calling us." Ken said as he rushed forward, Rena followed behind.
The four of them stood in front of the whole class.
Vanessa, Ken and Rena smiled as the class applauded them with claps.
But not Dexter. He stood there. His brows furrowed.
They returned to their seats and the teacher continued handing out the results.
"Group 2…Group 3… Group 5…" Mr. Richter continued.
At last, there was only one sheet left in the folder.
"Ok, so that's how it is— "
Mr. Richter paused, adjusted his glasses and continued.
"I don't think that you need to take a look to figure out your grade but I'll just say one thing… results aren't final. People are. Think about where you faltered— Group 9."
He took out the sheet, placed it on the desk and left the room with the empty folder in his hand.
The class was still, the bell ring followed and so did the chatter among students.
"I didn't know that you were at the top here."
Julian said to Dexter with a smile on his face.
"Well, t'was a group effort. Just what you'd expect from "mighty" Kensei and "Ice-cool" Dex."
Ken chimed in, patting both Dexter and Julian's shoulders.
Both Julian and Dexter gave Ken a drooped, concerned look which said, "Are you right in the head, dude?"
"Well, Vanessa and Rena also had major roles, especially Rena's borders and Vanessa artwork on the patterns." Ken tried to shift the subject.
Vanessa and Rena joined in with a smile.
They continued their discussion when they heard a loud screech from the corner.
Max got up from his seat and rushed to Lily.
"This grade is utter garbage, what should we do with this? If only you hadn't cut corners."
He spoke quickly in a fit of rage.
Rose stood in front of Lily, trying to put in a word for her.
"Maybe she did cut corner but it was you— "
"Oh, so we are doing this now, huh? Fine! … You can one up me all you want, but it doesn't change the fact that her work was subpar and so is our grade."
Max interrupted Rose's attempt at defending Lily.
"…do you think?", Lily whispered.
"What was that?" Max said loudly.
"Who do you think you are? If you wanted a grade so badly then you should have worked on the project instead of pulling off a prank like that."
Lily shouted as she burst into tears.
Max boiled with rage; his nerves tightened near the neck.
"You should stop blaming her and own up—"
Vanessa tried to stop Max's onslaught but was interrupted by Dexter's gentle pat to her arm.
"That's enough… the three of you. Max, do this when the three of you are alone and Lily… don't try to protect yourself as if you didn't do anything wrong either."
Dexter said in a calm yet firm voice.
"What are you trying to get to? Acting so high and mighty?"
Rose said, raising her voice.
Dexter turned to her— eyes wide open, staring coldly at her.
"You… don't get to escape either."
Rose felt a chill near her cheek, sweat rolling down. She took a step back.
Dexter turned to Max, "The three of you can discuss this when you have cooled down."
Max hissed and clicked his tongue as he passed Dexter, bumping shoulders.
Dexter didn't budge.
"Well, well… never thought I'd find a stray bull walk on two legs and talk."
Julian remarked in a sarcastic tone— his eyes pointing directly at Max.
"I'd better avoid red from now on." He added with a light smirk.
The class burst into light laughter.
Ken snorted. Vanessa hid a snicker behind her hand.
Dexter, however didn't even react.
"You've got some ner— ", Max growled— but Dexter interrupted before he could explode again.
"Julian… what is it that you're up to?"
"Nothing." Julian said rolling his eyes.
"That so." Dexter said flatly.
The laughter died instantly.
The teacher entered the room moments later, asking everyone to take their seats.
As Dexter took out his books, a single thought crossed his mind:
"Maybe, I went a little too far…"
The classes went on for the entire day—without a hitch, but there was tension dissolved in the air.
It was time to head home. The students packed their bags and made their way to the hallway.
Vanessa and Ken too left the room.
Dexter finished packing his and got up from his seat.
He then turned to close the windows and fans in the classroom.
He could still hear the sound of books and pencils cluttering under the desk.
It was Rena.
Dexter slowly put down all the windows and switched off the fans one-by-one, giving Rena time to catch up.
They left the room together; Dexter walked in front while Rena followed him.
"So… are you worried about something?" Dexter asked.
Rena stopped and whispered, Dexter couldn't hear.
He stepped closer to listen, "Could you say that again?"
Rena flustered, "It's just that… you should avoid being reckless. You don't have to carry everything by yourself."
"You're right. Even I thought that I shouldn't have approached them so recklessly." Dexter said.
That's when a hand thwacked Dexter's back.
It was Vanessa.
"What are you talking about? You should remind them from time to time that they can't do whatever they like."
She said as she twirled her hair.
"I admire how you confronted them today, without any fear. That assertiveness… I like that about you."
Dexter froze for half a second and muttered "… Right."
His ears flushed. He picked up his pace and caught up with Ken, leaving Rena with Vanessa.
Rena blinked at Vanessa.
Vanessa turned and looked at Rena.
"… What?" She said with a smile on her face.
Ken glanced at Dexter, "Why're you walking like you're being chased?"
"No reason." Dexter muttered.
Max saw the group from afar, watching them take the corner to the shoe stands.
Dexter changed his shoes and locked his locker, that's when he found Julian in the distance.
All others watched quietly as Dexter slowly limped to Julian and stood in front of him.
"Look— Julian, I don't know what you were up to but…"
Dexter took a deep breath, "It wasn't quite right of you to fling 'that' comment in front of the whole classroom. Try not to overdo it."
Julian stepped closer to Dexter's face— stared at him for a bit and sighed.
"Okay, got it. If that's what you wanted… I'll take my leave now. See you tomorrow, Vanessa."
Julian left as he waved his hand, his expression invisible at the distance.
Vanessa and Kensei watched, their mouths slightly opened.
When Dexter turned back to them, their open mouths shifted to warm, faint smiles.
"Ahh… that was kind of nerve wracking. I'd be happy if days like these never occurred again."
Dexter said— crouching down, sighing heavily.
"You did well." Kensei said as he patted Dexter's back.
Max heard and saw everything from the shoe stands behind them.
He closed his locker and fell to his knees, covering his head with the small bag in his hand.
No one saw the expression on his face.
But the silence that followed was heavy enough for tomorrow to feel different.