DEUTERAGONIST

Chapter 3: Cookies

The night before, I had diligently prepared my school bag, ensuring that I had all my textbooks, notebooks, and most importantly, my meticulously organized class notes. My notes were my lifeline, a treasure trove of knowledge and insights that I relied on to excel in my studies. But as the morning sun painted the sky with shades of orange and pink, I awoke with a start, realizing that I had overslept. Panic coursed through my veins as I glanced at the clock; it was already 20 minutes behind schedule. With a flurry of activity, I rushed to get dressed, forgoing my usual morning routine without eating breakfast. I grabbed my school bag and bolted out the door. I knew that every second counted.

As the bus passed through the three-lined streets, I frantically searched my bag for my notes. My heart sank when she couldn't find them. I thought I had placed them securely in the front pocket, but they were nowhere to be seen. Anxiety gnawed at me, as I contemplated the consequences of arriving at school without my precious notes. Finally, I reached the school gates and hurried into the bustling hallways. Students were already settled in their classrooms, and I knew I was in for a scolding from my usually understanding teacher, Ms. Johnson. I took a deep breath and knocked on the classroom door. The class fell silent, and all eyes turned to me as Ms. Johnson opened the door. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Sorry I'm late," I stammered, my voice trembling. "I couldn't find my notes this morning." Ms. Johnson regarded me with a kind yet stern expression. "Take your seat, Ms Bailey. We'll talk after class." As I took my place, I felt a sense of unease settle in my stomach. Throughout the class, my anxiety grew as I struggled to keep up without my notes. I answered questions tentatively, feeling like my usually confident self had been replaced by a nervous wreck.

When it came to lunchtime, I faced a unique challenge. I preferred to spend my recess drawing and plotting for my webtoon, which often meant I sat alone at the lunch table. I saw Alex had entered the cafeteria, and his presence seemed to have transformed the room into a different world. My heart raced, and a strange sensation filled my chest. It was as if the air had suddenly become thin, making it difficult for me to breathe. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself as I clutched my sketches. Surprisingly, he approached my table, carrying his tray with a warm smile. "Hey, Layla," he said, "Mind if I join you for lunch today?" I looked up from my sketch book, slightly surprised but also pleased by Alex’s friendly gesture. I closed the book and smiled back. "Of course, Alex. You're welcome to sit with me." Alex pulled out a chair and his face turned a shade of red as he sat in front of me. He quickly reached into his backpack and pulled out the neatly organized notes, handing them to me with an apologetic expression. "I'm so sorry, Layla," Alex said. "I completely forgot to return them. I didn't mean to cause you any trouble or make you late." I accepted the notes with a small smile, grateful for Alex’s sincerity. "Thank you for returning them, Alex. It's alright; I’m the one who forgot that you burrowed this." He felt relieved that I was understanding. "I'll make sure to be more careful next time. I appreciate your understanding, Layla."

“Oh, before I forgot”, he unzipped his backpack again with a mischievous grin and reached inside. He felt around for a moment before pulling out a box wrapped in colorful paper. Alex carefully unwrapped the package and gave it to me. “Alex, what's all this?" I asked, my eyes twinkling with curiosity. “That’s a box of delicious chocolate chip cookies. These weren't just any cookies; they were my grandmother's secret recipe, the ones that had been our family favorite for generations. I just wanted to say thank you for always being an amazing person. Your kindness means the world to me. I know it's not much, but I hope you'll accept these cookies as a token of my appreciation." My heart melted as I accepted the box of cookies. "Alex, you didn't have to do this, but I really appreciate it. Thank you."

It was a sunny afternoon. The class continued but I had never seen Alex since after lunch. Mrs. Rodriguez, was in the middle of a history lesson. She was explaining the fascinating stories of ancient civilizations, and the students were captivated by her storytelling. But as she continued to speak, she noticed our class becoming increasingly distracted.

The classroom was located on the third floor of the school building, and it had large windows that provided a perfect view of the soccer field. Something outside seemed to have captured the students' attention. Mrs. Rodriguez paused her lecture and followed their gaze. To my surprise, I saw a crowd of my classmates gathered by one of the windows, their eyes fixed on something in the distance. Curious herself, Mrs. Rodriguez decided to investigate. She walked over to the window and joined the group of students, who were all eagerly pointing and whispering to each other. "What's going on here, everyone?" Mrs. Rodriguez asked. One of our classmates, named Sarah, excitedly explained, "Mrs. Rodriguez, Mister Scott is about to sprint. “Mr. Scott? Isn’t Alex?”, I tiptoed to the windows. As Alex took his position on the starting line, the students couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. They were eager to witness Alex's legendary speed in action. The students, feeling mischievous, couldn't resist the temptation to sneak a peek at Alex's sprint. As Alex crouched down in a sprinter's stance, the students watched with bated breath. When the signal was given, he exploded off the starting line like a rocket, his legs a blur as he sprinted across the field. The students were in awe, their eyes fixed on the breathtaking display of speed and athleticism. Alex's form was impeccable, and he seemed to glide effortlessly over the grass. However, their excitement soon turned to worry as they noticed Mrs. Rodriguez got back to her desk. Panicking, our classmates scrambled back to their seats, trying to act as though nothing had happened. Mrs. Rodriguez raised an eyebrow as she saw the guilty expressions on her students' faces. She asked, "Is there something you'd like to share with the class, or were you just enjoying the view from the window?" The students exchanged nervous glances, but no one spoke up. Mrs. Rodriguez sighed but couldn't help but smile. "I understand that Alex's sprint is quite impressive, but it's essential to listen attentively during the class. If you want to see more, come to the field after this class ends.

After the lesson ended, Ms. Johnson asked me to stay behind. I was bracing myself for a reprimand, but to my surprise, my teacher wore a sympathetic smile. "I understand that you had a difficult morning," Ms. Johnson said. "But I want you to remember something important, Lily. While notes and studying are crucial, they're not the only things that matter in life. What's more important is your determination and resilience. You managed to make it to school even when everything seemed to go wrong. That's a valuable lesson in itself." My heart swelled with gratitude. Mrs. Johnson’s kindness had always been a source of comfort for me. I knew I was lucky to have a teacher who understood that being late didn't mean I wasn't eager to learn.

Thinking about the cookies that Alex gave me and Miss Johnson’s kindness, my excitement was palpable as I made my way down the familiar path towards home. As I walked along the sidewalk, my mind filled with thoughts of being happy. Lost in happiness, I didn't notice the group of students from another school who were gathered nearby. In a moment of distraction, I accidentally bumped into one of the students, causing my books to scatter on the ground. I quickly turned to the girl I had bumped into, my eyes filled with genuine concern. "I'm so sorry," I said sincerely, kneeling down to help pick up her fallen books. She offered a warm smile, hoping to ease any frustration she might have caused. However, the response I received was far from what I expected. The group of students started to laugh, and I had bumped into sneered, "Look at her, she's so clumsy. Probably because she's a pork!" My heart sank as I heard the hurtful words. Come on Layla, you should be used to it. But no matter how hard I try to ignore the cruel comments, it still stung. The laughter continued, and I felt my eyes well up with tears. I gathered the girl's books and my eyes opened wide when I saw one of the book’s covers. No way, isn’t my webtoon? I handed them back the books. My voice was trembling. "I'm really sorry," I whispered, my excitement from earlier fading into sadness while being confused at the same time. But the group of girls didn't seem interested in my apology. They exchanged smirks and whispered among themselves. One of them spoke up with a sly grin, "Apologies won't cut it, sweetie. You've ruined my books, and they're not cheap." But how? I was sure my webtoon wasn’t published yet as a hard bound copy. The girls exchanged knowing glances, and the girl replied, "You know what? You can make it up to us right now. With her words, my fear intensified.