“Hey, what’s wrong? Why is your face wrinkled?” Instead of answering him I threw the crumpled paper on the table.

When I came out of the deans office, I immediately cringed because I was annoyed.

“Failed? You failed your exam?”

I rolled my eyes. “Isn’t it obvious Toci?”

“Chill babe, I’m just asking. Why are you having a problem? Sir isn’t that bad. Mr. Tamor is your teacher here right? Aren’t you kidding that old man?”

“That’s the problem. Ms. Satan is no longer our teacher!”

“Really? I didn’t know that.”

“How do you know if every time we’re together our lips do the talking.” Toci grinned.

“Why? Kissing is way better than talking, Celiza.” It looked down at my lips.

“And this conversation is boring me.” He leaned forward.

“Can you stop? I can’t alright? I’m stressed because of that exam. Did you know that Mrs Satan threatened me that if I didn’t pass her quizzes and exams she would drop me and I wouldn’t be able to graduate!”

Ugh!

“And you believe her?”

“Duh?! Of course I believe that bitter teacher! She dropped a lot of students who are former repeaters now!”

“It’s a good thing we’re not Ms. Satan’s teacher!”

“That bitter teacher is really annoying! I’m sure the reason is more than that. She’s probably jealous because I’m better than her! Prettier than her! It’s really hard to be beautiful!”

“It’s hard because you’re not using your beauty correctly.” Toci said. My forehead furrowed.

“What do you mean?” My gaze remained on a smiling Toci. He was busy with their basketball practice, so how did he become top in their class? To my knowledge there is no time for that. Also, Toci is very lazy so how can he be on top?

“Didn’t you even wonder why my grades are so high even though I don’t love studying?”

“I did, just before you said that. So what’s the secret? Do you have a cheat code or something else? Are you bribing teachers—”

“Is that how you look down on me, Celiza?” I rolled my eyes.

“Don’t make me laugh, Toci. We both know you’ve done that and it’s definitely not the only two of you who broke school rules.”

“You know me well babe,” he said, then kissed the side of my lip.

“Stop fooling around, Toci. Tell me how I can pass my exams? I don’t need to be in the rank. I just want to pass so that Mrs. Satan can keep quiet!” His friend laughed louder.

“That’s why Mrs. Satan is heating up!” Hero said.

“It’s true that she’s Satan’s wife because she’s really bad! How many dreams has she blocked? Teachers are supposed to support they’re students, not pull them down. Like what she’s doing . It’s falling apart!” .
I can feel my blood boiling every time I step into that classroom. It’s like my teacher has a personal vendetta against me and can’t wait to catch me in the act of doing something wrong. Every little mistake or slip-up is met with a harsh scolding, and it’s starting to wear on me.

I know I’m not perfect, but it feels like my teacher expects me to be. Every time I make a mistake, it’s like I’ve committed some kind of crime. And it’s not just me – my teacher seems to have it out for the whole class. We’re always being reprimanded for something, whether it’s talking too much or not paying attention.

What really gets me is the tone of voice my teacher uses when scolding us. It’s like we’re a bunch of disobedient children who need to be put in our place. And the worst part is that my teacher doesn’t seem to realize how demoralizing it is. Every time I’m scolded, I feel smaller and smaller, like I’m not good enough.

It’s not like I’m intentionally trying to disrupt the class or cause trouble. Sometimes I just get bored or distracted, like any other teenager. But instead of trying to engage us or make the class more interesting, my teacher just focuses on catching us doing something wrong.

I know that teachers have a tough job, and that they need to maintain order in the classroom. But there’s a difference between discipline and constant scolding. It’s like my teacher doesn’t trust us to make our own decisions or learn from our mistakes. Instead, we’re constantly being reminded of how we’ve fallen short.

I wish my teacher could see how much this constant scolding is affecting me. It’s hard enough to get through the day without feeling like a failure at every turn. I don’t know what I’m going to do if this keeps up – I can’t take the constant pressure and negativity.
“How are you going to pass if you’re always together with Toci ---”

“Will you shut up, Hero? You’re not helping so zip your mouth.”

“Alright!” he said, then stood up.

“Babe calm down.” Toci massages my shoulders.

“How can I calm down ?! I’m going to fail Toci! I can’t graduate!”

“Remember what I told you a while ago?”

“You said a lot before, which one was it?”

“Use your beauty.”

“What ?! Didn’t you understand that Sir Tamor is no longer our teacher? My simple smile and make -up won’t work! This time I can’t use my pretty face. Because of this pretty face she failed me! It’s the main reason, so how can I use it more?”

Toci shook his head.

He gently touched my chin and mimicked in the right direction.

“Use your beauty on them.” My forehead furrowed.

The nerds lined up in the canteen.

“Why would I use my beauty on them?”

“Look at me, Celiza.”

“Oh what do you have?”

“I’m handsome right?”

“So?”

“Girls would do anything just to be noticed by me. Especially nerds like them. Just a smile from me, they will answer my assignments.” I opened my mouth. That’s why his grades are so high! Because of that nerd!

“See that girl over there?” I stared at a nerd.

“I know I’m better than that nerd Toci. Is that what you’re trying to say? Where’s the connection between my grades and that nerd? I don’t get it.”

“She does my homework and projects.”

“What?”

“She’s the one who answers my exams and quizzes.” Why didn’t I notice that?”
I’ve been with my boyfriend for a few months now, and I have to admit, I’m a bit confused about how he’s doing so well in school. I mean, don’t get me wrong, he’s a smart guy, but he’s not exactly the type to hit the books all the time. Yet somehow, he manages to get higher grades than me, even though I study hard and put in a lot of effort.

At first, I thought maybe he was just naturally gifted or had some kind of photographic memory. But the more I observe him, the more I realize that he’s just not as invested in school as I am. He barely takes notes in class and hardly ever does homework, and yet he still manages to ace exams.

It’s frustrating, to say the least. Here I am, putting in all this work and stress just to keep up, and he’s seemingly breezing through with ease. I’ve even tried asking him how he does it, but he just shrugs and says that he’s “got it covered.”

I can’t help but wonder if there’s something I’m missing. Maybe he’s secretly studying on his own, or maybe he’s just better at retaining information than I am. But part of me can’t help but feel like he’s not playing fair. It’s like he’s got some kind of unfair advantage that I don’t have.

On the other hand, maybe I’m just overthinking things. Maybe he really is just that naturally gifted, and I should be happy for him. After all, it’s not a competition, and as long as we’re both doing well in school, that’s what matters.

But still, I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something going on behind the scenes. Maybe I’ll just have to keep a closer eye on him and see if I can figure out his secret. Either way, it’s frustrating to feel like I’m working so hard just to keep up with someone who doesn’t seem to be putting in the same effort.
“Just a smile for her. She will do everything I want. I want you to do it like that Celiza. That’s the power of beauty. Anyone will do anything you want just to please the most handsome guy in this school, Celiza. I’m sure they’ll do the same thing to the most gorgeous and sexy girl in this school. Those nerds will do anything for you.”
I’ve always had my doubts about nerds and their supposed intelligence. Sure, they may be book smart and know a lot about computers or science, but can they really handle anything beyond that? I mean, just because they’re good at memorizing facts and figures doesn’t necessarily mean they can apply that knowledge to real-world situations.
And now I know why.
Whenever I see a nerd trying to take charge or solve a problem, I can’t help but feel skeptical. Are they really capable of handling this? Or are they just going to get in over their heads and make a mess of things?

It’s not that I don’t respect their intelligence or their interests, but when it comes to practical skills and common sense, I have my doubts. Maybe it’s just my own bias or insecurity talking, but I can’t help but feel like nerds are sometimes more focused on impressing others with their knowledge than actually putting it to good use.
I couldn’t get my mind off what Toci said before we left the table.

Bea and Ann arrived just in time. Until after we ate, what he said didn’t disappear from my mind.

They’ll be willing to do anything I want because I’m pretty and I already knew that but I don’t want to do anything with those nerds.

“Bitch, you’ve been thinking deeply? Infairness, you’re thinking now!”

I sighed.

“Not now Bea, I’m in trouble.”

“What’s your problem ba? Financial? You know my wallet is always here for you if you need money.”

“Nope, I don’t need your money now. But I do have a question.”

“Spill it out!”

“Do you know any nerdy man?”

“Seriously, Celiza? Do I look like I’m part of a group of smart people who lack fashion sense?”

“I’m just asking Bea.” You may also be asked to do an assignment. But in fact, she didn’t do the assignment because his essay only had three sentences each in the introduction, body and conclusion.

“I don’t know anyone alright.”

I sighed.
I know I need help with this math assignment, but I don’t want to bother my friends. They’re all busy with their own work, and besides, I don’t want them to think I’m dumb or struggling. So I guess that leaves me with one option: ask a nerd.

But how do I do that without coming across as needy or desperate? I don’t want to just walk up to some random guy and be like, “Hey, can you help me with math?” That’s just awkward.

Maybe I can find a way to casually bring up the assignment and see if they offer to help. Or maybe I can ask for their opinion on a math-related topic and gauge their reaction. If they seem knowledgeable and willing to help, then I can ask for their assistance.

But what if they say no? What if they’re too busy or don’t want to help me? That would be embarrassing and disappointing. I don’t want to put myself out there and then get rejected.

On the other hand, what if they say yes? What if they’re actually really helpful and make me understand the assignment better? That would be a huge relief and a weight off my shoulders.

I guess the key is to approach it with confidence and not be afraid to ask for help. After all, there’s nothing wrong with needing assistance and seeking it out. And who knows, maybe I’ll even learn something new and become a bit of a math nerd myself.
I looked around. Where else can I find a nerd who is willing to answer my assignments?

I don’t like to choose a random nerd.

Because what if he’s not really smart?

Then we will fail both!

I need someone who’s gullible enough to fool.

Who is easily attracted by my smile.

I need a virgin nerd. My gaze landed on the man who passed by Bea and me who immediately avoided my eyes.

“Bea.”

“Oh why again?”

“Who’s that?” I mouthed his direction.

“Where?”

“Oh Magnus Morisson.”

“Magnus …” his name sounds sexy but it’s honestly the opposite. I scanned him fully. He’s wearing thick round glasses and his polo shirt is tucked in his baggy square pants. It doesn’t look old but he is out of style.

“Yes Magnus, that is him.”

“It’s like I heard his name before.”

“I don’t know about you Celiza, this is the first time you are interested in nerds.”

“Tell me more about him.”