Different Worlds: The School For The Rich

The Exams

Everyone is relieved that Stellan has returned. His friends hugged me, expressing how much they missed him and even thought he was gone for good. As I walked past them, our eyes met, and I nodded at him in greeting. He smiled back while focusing on his friends. We chatted about how it was fine to talk but not too much, as I dislike the spotlight. I was grateful that Stellan understood where I was coming from.

With exams approaching, our instructors went over what would be covered, and I diligently noted it down in my notebook to prepare for studying in the dorm later.

The bell rang, signaling the start of other classes, and it was time for P.E.

My classmates and I made our way to the changing area to switch into our P.E. uniforms. After changing, I headed to the field and began stretching to warm up. Students in nearby classrooms curiously opened their windows to watch us.

"Hey," I looked up to see Stellan leaning against the window with a smile. "Hello, Stellan," I replied, waving before moving closer to my classmates at the instructor's call.

We played a few physical games and exercised for an hour. I was worn out but kept pushing through for the grades. When it was finally over, I sighed in relief and leaned against the school building, panting from exhaustion.

"You did really well earlier," Stellan said, making me chuckle softly.

"Were you watching?" I teased, and he playfully stuck his tongue out. "How could I not? You looked great!" His compliment made me blush slightly, but I managed to stay composed.

"Thanks for thinking I look cool!" I replied with a big smile. "Do you need water?" he asked, and I considered it for a moment. "Yes, I'll get some from the canteen." Just as I was about to walk away, he stopped me.

"No, stay here. I'll take care of it." Without waiting for my response, he headed off.

I rolled my eyes and turned to see Beatrice and her friends grinning at me. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was up, or maybe my fatigue was making me overly suspicious.

"Hi, Aisha! You look tired. Are you thirsty?" Beatrice said sweetly as one of her friends held out a water bottle. I swallowed hard, aware of how parched I felt from all the activity.

"Yes, I am," I admitted, and the tomboyish girl signaled for me to come closer. I hesitated.

"We're not going to do anything bad, Aisha. I promise. We already talked about it yesterday," Beatrice said with a sigh. "I want to make amends, alright?" Her expression shifted, turning sad.

After a moment, I walked over to where they were on the second floor. "I trust you three this time." I raised my hand, ready to catch the water bottle.

However, the three girls, who had seemed sweet, took on a mischievous demeanor that made me uneasy.

"Aisha, here’s your water!" Stellan arrived with a bottle in one hand and a bag of chips in the other, just as the girls revealed a bucket from above and splashed it all over me.

Stellan's eyes widened in shock, as did mine. The girls burst into laughter but gasped when they realized Stellan was there. They quickly tried to hide, but he noticed them. He almost yelled at them but quickly redirected his attention to me.

He approached with concern as I looked down to see that I was completely drenched, and to make matters worse, I smelled like fish. The water must have been dirty canal water. I felt a wave of anger and sadness surge through me, leaving my emotions in turmoil.

“Aisha, oh my... You’re completely soaked, and what is that smell?” Stellan wrinkled his nose in distaste, realizing that my energy felt different. He set the items aside and took my hand, disregarding the odor that would linger on his skin.

“There’s a shower nearby, stocked with soap and shampoo. And don’t worry about the clothes; I always bring extras since I tend to get sweaty from playing,” he said, trying to reassure me. I stayed silent and allowed him to lead me.

Once we reached the shower, I stepped in while Stellan waited outside. After washing off, the unpleasant smell faded, bringing me some relief. I slipped into his oversized shirt and adjustable pants.

When I emerged from the shower, he turned to face me, his eyes widening in surprise at the sight of me in his clothes. “You look adorable,” he whispered, stepping closer and gently holding my arms. “I saw what happened, Aisha. Don’t worry, I’ll make them stop.” His voice held a firm promise.

“It’s fine, I can take care of it,” I replied softly, avoiding his gaze. Stellan gently lifted my chin so I would look at him, and we locked eyes. “Let me handle this for once, okay?” His tone was gentle, and it touched my heart, but I was determined to manage this on my own.

I calmly lowered his hand, appreciating his concern. “I really appreciate your support, Stellan. But this is my issue, and I’ll deal with it.”

Stellan sensed my determination and hesitated for a moment before conceding. “Whatever you say, Aisha. Just remember, I’m here for you,” he reassured me.

The events of the day left me feeling incredibly frustrated, but fortunately, Stellan had helped me find some calm, even if only momentarily. I had already decided to confront them after the exams, which were approaching quickly. I needed to focus on studying, especially with finals next week.

Once classes were over, I returned to the dorm and shared my experience with Mia. She got upset, but I urged her to prioritize studying over acting recklessly, and she agreed. As a result, Mia and I spent the night studying in our room, chatting and snacking together.