Entangled Strings (Under-revision)

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"Am I? Well, I can't help it, I'm just telling facts." Laarni's cheeks burned even more.

"Ms. Lim? Ms. Feliciano? Are you listening?" hearing him this serious bothered me, it's word-for-word far from his attitude earlier. That may be because he is trying to be professional inside the classroom.

"Yes, sir," we responded quickly.

So, her last name was Lim. F and L is definitely far from each other, but because Lady switched places with an empty armchair, Laarni was seated next to me.

"Then can you give the meaning of Psychology following what I said? Ms. Lim?"

"It is simply the scientific study of the human mind and its functions, especially those affecting behavior in a given context." Ah—this girl gives me the creeps. She was not even listening.

"How about you, Ms. Feliciano? Can you give me a definition of Psychology?"

"Well, according to Ph.D. Timothy J. Legg, of CRNP—please do correct me if I pronounced that wrong— from the year 2018, Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior, as stated by APA or also known as the American Psychological Association. It is the study of the mind, wherein it tackles how it works, and how it affects human behavior."

"Very well said, Ms. Lim and Feliciano. You may now sit." He commanded, still with a firm voice.

"That was lit! That answer was awesome, Nory!" she exclaimed joyfully.

"Look who's talking, Laarni? You were not even listening to him. And that only came from advance studying unlike your answer! Those were Mr. Sollano's words! Gosh, what are you?" I shushed her as my blood rose to my cheeks.

She just laughed shyly. "That was not as good as yours, though. You were like According to... blah blah. Like Oh, my goosebumps, you have a citation ready!" she said mimicking my voice then laughed gracefully. "By the way, you can call me Arnie, if you'd like."

She would be a good friend. I know that she will be.

After a while, two subjects ended. Our teaching unit is up! One of my favorites despite taking a course that does not specialize in it.

"The next subject will be bloody for sure," Arnie said.

"You hate teaching?" I interrogated suspiciously.

"Not really, but it's kinda boring, too easy."

"Hmm? That's the point, it's hella easy. That's why I like it."

She just groaned in disagreement.

"Hey, can't you feel his stares?" she suddenly opened up.

"Whose?"

"Mr. Sollano?" Now that she mentioned it, yes. But why would he?

"Don't mind him, maybe he's a bit, you know? Cuckoo?" I mocked a bit.

She laughed at that. " You little brat~"

"What?" I asked still laughing.

"You two!" his voice boomed the classroom. "Still not listening?".

"We were listening." She pointed out, could not even hide her chuckle.

"Are you kidding me? Of course, you're listening," he sarcastically let out. "Starting the day, answer pages 4 to 10, submissions will be today."

"Sir, why are we being punished? Is it because of them?" a nerdy boy asked because of the abrupt task.

"If you don't want to answer then drop out of my class."

That was ice cold, I tell you! His eyes were dark and were hooded with more dusk. I did not see that coming.

I grabbed my pad then boom! I'm done.

It was full of questions that I have asked Mr. Googly Eyes. I was born curious, okay? I can't help it. The fourth to fifth pages were crammed with personal questions that point to one's current mental as well as physical state. Sheets six and seven had concerns about our motivation in taking this course. While the rest were a bit technical but as I've said, I was advance in studying for the first semester.

"Are you sure, Ms. Feliciano? The time did not even pass 5 minutes. Do you find playing with fire, amusing? Are you sure that you'd want an F on your grading sheet? Or you're just being too conceited, aren't you?"

Heat gushed within me. " Pardon? I am not, Dr. Sollano," I said matter of factly. "I just studied in advance so that I'll have more time for more essential stuff like correcting what I already know," I then again explained, still with respect.

"Ooh? A newbie is being vain, huh?" a random classmate mentioned that made me even more embarrassed. If I remember it correctly, that was the other transfer student.

More murmurs bombarded my ears and that made my heart sank as if it was a part of the walls of Titanic.

"Am I also conceited, if I pass my work now?" Arnie's voice asked softly while Mr. Sollano did not reply hence he took mine and her papers in his hand.

What a lifesaver! How can she be that smart and thoughtful at the same time? And to think that she is also finished with her work, I can say that she also did some background searching for the said course.

I mouthed my thanks to her and she just smiled in return. She motioned her head, telling me to go back to our seats. I almost ran in her direction but stopped myself midway.

The class became quiet at some time after Lady, the third finisher of the given task. Our classmates just continued answering as I clean my desk and waited for further allegations.

I left the tickler and the pen on my armchair when Arnie spoke up, "Don't worry about those people. They are just insecure that you did faster and better than them. By the way, you really were fast. That surprised me for a second." She laughed genuinely after whispering that to me.

Moments passed and a lot of them already gave their answers to Mr. Sollano. When there were at most five students still settling their papers, he instructed us to fall in line according to our passing time.

"Ms. Feliciano, here's your syllabus for the week. Please do fill-up the form on the back so that we would know who each syllabus belongs to." I bid my thank you and goodbye then turned around, however, stopped when, "And also, I'm so sorry for my rudeness earlier. I was just stunned to know that you finalized so early. Therefore, I deeply apologize for my misconduct."

I faced him again. "That's fine, Mr. Sollano, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't a bit hurt with what happened." I said my goodbye and walk towards the exit and waited for Arnie with her syllabus.

The door creaked open and slowly closed back to its original position. "Wanna eat?" Arnie asked with a wide grin.

"MORE AND MORE personalities are sprouting that may lead to additional threads that may intertwine with the original bind," the unheard voice of kismet asserted.