She's an A

Chapter 1 - Not Your Typical School Setting

    "Lenette, make it fast! The professor is already here at the faculty room." Lenette closed her cellphone after reading the text message and put it on her bag. She has to run to her classroom today or else she will be late. If that happens, she will be screwed. The moment the taxi stopped on the gate of her school, she immediately paid the fare and got out through the door without waiting for her change. Then she sprinted to her classroom. She was panting. Luckily, she entered a minute before her professor came in. 

    "Good afternoon, class," the short but powerful man said upon entering the door.

    "Good afternoon, sir!" the students answered in unison. Nervousness can be felt in the air as the students bowed their heads on the table, making it appear that they are busy reading cases that the professor assigned to read the night before.

    The professor sat down on the chair infront of the class and brought out the index cards containing his students' names. He shuffled them and pulled one from the middle. Lifting his hand with the index card, the students held their breath, fearing that their card is the one picked. 

    The professor sneered. Then he looked at the name written on the card. He paused and then looked at the students again. 

    "Mr. Lee Bin, recite the case of Republic versus Cardoso, G.R. No. 12345," he said with a stern face. 

    Mr. Lee Bin blushed and slowly stood up. "The facts of the case are as follows..." he started and continued to narrate what happened in the case. 

    "What is the plate number of the getaway vehicle?" the professor asked after Mr. Lee Bin narrated the facts of the case.

    Mr. Lee Bin's eyes grew bigger than usual. Of all the details in the case, he was not able to remember such particular detail. 

    "A...a...."

    "Mr. Warr Lito, what is the plate number of the getaway vehicle, the vehicle that the suspects used in getting away from the crime scene?" the professor asked another student.

    Mr. Warr Lito blushed and tried to stand up slowly. 

    "A...a....sorry sir, I can't remember the plate number," he answered, shaking.

    "Ms. Charri So, what is the plate number?" the professor asked again while shuffling the index cards.

    "Sir...." she shivered.

    "Next. Tell me the plate number, Ms. Mary Kno," the professor said impatiently.

    "Sirrrrr...." Ms. Mary Kno said with a trembling voice. This would be her fifth time to get a failing mark on her recitation if she is not able to give the right answer. If that happens, then she will have no hope to pass the subject anymore.

    "Ms. Lenette Ludvig, plate number?" the professor asked when the last student failed to give the right answer. Ms. Mary Kno just sat down on her armchair, crying. The professor did not mind her reaction at all.

    "The plate number is AVR 852, sir," Lynette answered with confidence. It's a good thing that she just read the case in the taxi while coming to school. If not, she would get a failing mark as well.

    "What is the issue in the case?" was the professor's follow up question without confirming if her answer in the first question is right or wrong.

    "Whether or not Mr. Cardoso is guilty of the crime of murder," she answered again.

    "How did the Supreme Court rule on the case?" the professor asked again.

    "The Supreme Court ruled that Mr. Cardoso is guilty because all of the elements of the crime of murder are present in the case..." She went on summarizing the Supreme Court's decision in the case. After she summarised it, the professor's pen was seen as marking the card with a '1' which means that she got the highest mark by answering the questions accurately. 

    When she sat dawn, the man sitting next to her gave her a wink. She smiled at him. He is her bestfriend, Nicholas Buiten. He was the one who sent the text message to her earlier regarding the professor's presence in the faculty room.

    This is Lenette's typical class at law school. It is a literal survival of the fittest. Not only the professors are strict, they are good at insulting students if they are unable to answer the questions they throw at them. Some professors even say words that can hurt student's feelings. The rationale is that the students are being prepared for the court setting where the judge may shame them infront of their clients and strangers. 

    Lenette has been used to this kind of atmosphere already as she is in her third year. She has survived all the difficulties inspite of being a working student. You see, it is difficult to study law while working in the morning. This is because the law is said to be like a jealous mistress, demanding all of the student's time to read and read and read. Otherwise, he would fail. Lenette was able to manage her time, sacrificing her sleeping hours. Her maximum sleeping period is four hours just so that she can cope with her reading assignments. 

    Unlike other law students, she cannot give her work up because she is the one sending herself to school. She came from a poor family in the province and she cannot oblige her relatives to pay for her school fees because they are not able to. What they earn is just enough for their survival everyday. This is the reason why she has to work hard in the morning and study at night. It is a good thing that all law classes in this school is held at night.

    Ring, ring! The buzzer sounded loudly. 

    "Read cases number 15-50 for recitation next meeting," the professor said before standing up from his chair and leaving the room.

    Everybody let out a loud sigh after the professor left. They were saved by the bell. Some students even shouted for joy. Some shouted to release the pressure that they have been feeling inside. 

    "Shall we go?" Nicholas said and offered his hand to her.

    "Yes," she said and took his hand. Hand in hand, they left the school that night.