My Four Years of High School Went Like This

10: Obstacle

"Good morning Sha!" TJ greeted me as soon as I walked in the room. "Congratulations to us for finishing the plot!"

"Yeah." I replied and took my seat. "But it's probably not the final plot yet. There will be plot holes while making the script."

"That's right." He smiled. "I knew you'd be a good playwright!"

I just shook my head

"By the way, I want to do the script alone." I changed the subject

"No problem with me. I'll just be with you in the auditorium."

"No. I wanna do it at my house."

"Oh." He paused. "Did you got scolded for going home late consecutively?"

That's what he was thinking? My only reason is because I don't want mom to see him again, but I don't think I should tell him that.

"Uh, well- yeah." I lied

"Okay. That's fine with me too." He gave me thumbs up and a tight smile. "But can I still text you about the script?"

"Of course."

"And we're still going home together, right?"

"Yes."

He then gave me another thumbs up with more excitement and bigger smile. I just looked at him weirdly.

Not long after, Sir Joseph arrived. He greeted us and we greeted back.

"Class, I just finished checking the work you did when I was absent." He said, holding our papers in his right hand. "I wasn't expecting you guys to do that great since our subject is math, but I also didn't expect you to be so bad."

The whole class was silent. I know I didn't do that bad on the seatwork, but even I feel bad listening to Sir.

"And I'm specially disappointed in you, Tracy."

When he said that, heads started turning to TJ. Not me. I just sighed because I know he didn't put any effort on his answers.

"The seatwork is ten items and it's five points each. Guess what your score is." Sir Joseph continued

"I just hope it's not zero Sir." TJ answered

"It's not, and that's only because I give one point for solution. You got ten out of fifty. Are you happy with that?"

"No Sir."

"Then why didn't you take the seatwork seriously? Why did you choose to finish it quickly so that you can go out?"

TJ's eyes automatically went to Sheanne.

"Oh, don't look at your class president. It's her task to report to me." Sir said, making TJ look at him again. "If we're gonna blame, why don't we blame your drama club? It's the reason why you rushed on answering the seatwork, isn't it?"

At the mention of the drama club, TJ slightly panicked.

"I- I don't blame anyone, Sir." He stuttered

"See, what disappoints me is not your score. It's the lack of effort." Sir started explaining his side. "You gave me an impression that you're a person who's full of effort. I mean, you made your own drama club."

"I understand Sir."

"But I still haven't sign as your club adviser. That means drama club isn't official yet. It's still pending."

TJ didn't respond. Or more like, he couldn't respond anything.

"It seems like your club is really important to you, but your neglecting my subject because of it." Sir crossed his arms. "Why don't we make a deal?"

"What deal Sir?"

"I'm gonna make everyone who flunked the seatwork have a retake tomorrow. If I see your effort on your answers, then I'll sign as the drama club adviser. But if not, then I guess drama club won't officially form."

TJ totally lost his composure at that deal.

"But Sir, we already have complete officers and members! We have everything we need! We're all set. In fact, we're already preparing for our first performance!"

"Then what should you do?" Sir asked with a poker face

He seems really cold-hearted right now, but it's just reasonable because of what Tracy did.

Again, TJ couldn't respond.

"Okay. Let's now start our lecture."

I like it when TJ is silent, but I don't like it that he's silent now. He's not thinking of anything negative, is he?

Ugh, why do I even care? Is it because of the best friend thingy? Must be.

I couldn't stay still so I decided to write "Are you okay?" on a piece of paper and place it on his table.

He then accepted it and just after several seconds, he gave it back with a respond.

"This is just one of our club's obstacles. We've already crushed some obstacles, so I'm gonna crush this one too." I read silently

TJ doesn't give up. I shouldn't be worried.

I was about give my focus on the lecture, when he suddenly gave me another piece of paper.

"Though can I ask for a favor? Can I come with you while you write your script? I'll just borrow and read your math notes. Then if I have questions, I'll just ask you. Please?"

Nope. Nuh-uh. Well, at least not in my place.

I was just about write my reply, but he gave me a new note.

"While I continued to walk home after we went our ways yesterday, I passed by an ice cream place. It's a new place. Why don't we do our tasks there? My treat."

Knowing TJ, he must've considered that it'll be weird if I let him enter my house, or that I don't want to have him over.

"I can't think of any more reason for you say no." He whispered

I just secretly gave him thumbs-up as my answer.

His suggestion benefits me as well, excluding the free ice cream. We'll get out of the school's premise as soon as the class gets dismissed and go to the ice cream place that he was talking about. That means we'll pass by my place early, when mom is still as her job.

And then, when it'll be time to go home, I'll just walk back alone so that she won't have the chance to see him. It's a win for me!