Chapter 7: Math Problems Can Go Solve Themselves

It was so quiet.

Awkwardness was what I felt as we walked. Our footsteps could be heard as we were headed to Mr. Wilson’s classroom. The rooms that we passed by were closed, and even though I wanted to at least say something, I know I just can’t.

Walking the quiet corridors alongside Amelia was never what I wanted. I had always been the confident gay among our friend group, but being with Amelia who now thinks that I might be interested in men too is so suffocating. Especially the fact that she might think I’m actually interested in Mr. Wilson is so disgusting.

Whatever happened back with the administrator was just not what I had planned to happen. It was never in the plan to have Amelia inside the room to hear me plead just to have that predator as my freaking professor! If only I knew Amelia would be there, I would’ve just rescheduled what I was planning. It was so humiliating, and I never want to go back to that situation ever again.

 “So, you like Mr. Wilson?” Amelia asked, as she was still looking in front as we were walking. I bit my lower lip after what she said sank into my brain. I fought all the courage to act like I was going to throw up, before giving her an answer that wouldn’t really blow my plan off.

“Of course not!” I answered, before giving out a laugh that sounded like a cry for help. Amelia looked at me, but went back to staring at what’s in front of us as we were walking. I gulped. This is crazy, why do I feel like Amelia is actually reading me? Damn, my plan can’t go to waste!

“I never knew you fancy men, Victoria.”

Her voice. How come someone can say my name so perfectly? It was so pleasing to my ears as I listened to her talk. But all of it stopped when I realized what she just said. I fancy men? What in the bloody hell? Where did that lie come from?

If I fancy men, then it means Mr. Wilson is innocent. Both are lies.

As I was about to defend myself, I stopped. If I tell Amelia that I’m only attracted to girls, then my plan won’t work the way I wanted it to be. So, I had to lie in order for it to work properly the way I wanted it to be. Mistakes shouldn’t be made.

“Whatever you say, Amelia.”

I gave Amelia a smile, before thanking all the gods out there for saving me from more questions from her since it was as if destiny was on my side, we’re now finally in front of Mr. Wilson’s room. But then again, this time it would be another challenge. I need to control myself from acting out based on my emotion once I see Mr. Wilson’s face.

I knocked on the door a few times, then it opened revealing a man who was smiling at me and Amelia. He looked friendly, and he was wearing something that really made him look like a fine young man. I wanted to tell him that what he did was something unforgivable, but I knew I can’t do that, not when other girls are watching, glaring even, and maybe the reason why they were glaring was because their favorite teacher had to stop talking in order to open the door for me and Amelia.

From what I heard from the administrator, all the girls inside in this class are known to be the ones who actually have such a huge crush on Mr. Wilson. They would give him gifts, act cute in front of him and even do everything they can just to get his attention. But of course, the only girl who actually caught his attention was no other than Nova.

Because according to the file, Nova actually didn’t care about Mr. Wilson and that was what made Mr. Wilson attracted to her, since she was different. And guess what? That’s what I’m about to do too.

“Good morning, girls.” Mr. Wilson was smiling from ear to ear when he greeted us, but I just looked at him blankly, while Amelia greeted him politely, who's now beside me. Other girls who caught sight of Amelia stood and greeted her too, making me amazed just at how powerful Amelia really is in this school.

“Can we go inside now?” I asked him with my left eyebrow raised, acting as if I was already irritated from standing too long. Amelia even elbowed me when she heard the tone I used to the respected teacher in this school.

“Don’t use that tone on our teacher,” a student who was near the door hissed after she heard how I talked to their beloved teacher, and it make me feel so sick to think that they were all so blinded by this teacher’s so called looks, and not even caring the fact that it was quite known that him and Nova were actually in a relationship before she died.

It was no secret that she was with him, and maybe that was the reason they wanted to still have him. Since they thought they actually had a chance with this man. Almost all the girls here thought that Nova cheated on this man with a younger guy, not knowing that the guy in the scandal was him.

It’s sick to think that they let this thing happen. I can’t believe these girls really fell for this man’s charm.

Mr. Wilson finally lets us in, he even gave me an apologetic smile before he went in front and told the class of the latecomers. He even heard that I was a transferee, so he made me introduce myself.

“Do I really have to? I’m sure they know me already, besides we’re all here to just listen to what you teach us, right? No need for introductions since I’m sure all their attention would be solely on yours,” I reasoned out, and I heard him chuckling at my whining. God! I hate how I’m acting now, but I really need to do this.

“That’s fine, but I don’t know you, so please?” he requested, a smile still on his face, and it makes me want to annoy him even more just so he would stop giving me that smile of his. It’s so irritating to think that he’s living such a good life, when he actually ruined a young girl's life not too long ago.

I let out a deep sigh, when even the other girls told me to just introduce myself so that Mr. Wilson can finally start teaching them. I wet my lower lip before looking at the male teacher who was by my side. I look at him, before giving him a smirk and proceeding to finally introduce myself to my classmates who might probably know who I was since my coming here was quite popular.

“My name is Victoria Olivia Kingstein.”

After saying that, I looked at the male teacher once more, looking as if I was asking him what I’ll have to do next. He eyed me with full curiosity, and I knew there and then that my plan was actually working.

“Thank you, Ms. Kingstein. You can now sit beside Ms. Bartley,” he said before motioning to the blonde girl who’s sitting on the last row near the window. And I fought the urge to go and just scream because of happiness once I realized who Ms. Bartley was.

It was no other than the girl who’s also an officer who was also behind what happened to Nova. I smiled innocently before walking towards her. She also smiled at me before clearing the desk beside her.

“Who was the one sitting here before?” I asked, trying to start a conversation as soon as I sat down, since it was weird to see that this seat was the only available. It was always full inside a classroom, and the situation whenever there’s a new student, the school would always provide a new table just for that transferee.

“Oh, it’s no one. Just a student who dropped out. I’m Georgia by the way,” she introduced herself before offering me her hand. I accepted it and told her my name once more.

“I know you, because if you don’t know, your mom is actually famous here. She’s quite the type whom the school has a love and hate relationship with. Did you know that the school has been waiting for you all this time?” she asked, and this time it made me curious as to what she’s talking about.

“What do you mean?” I asked, this time clearly intrigued.

“The school was very amazed by your mum’s leadership. They loved her, but it fell apart when they knew she married an Asian. You see, there’s this invisible rule in our school that makes the white ones have the privilege of earning a spot on the student council.” She was busy looking at our teacher, and if only you don’t know what she’s talking about, you’ll think she’s just innocently listening to our teacher, but it was a lie since she’s actually talking to me, making me wonder how she even does that.

“And everybody was just sad that there was no one who’ll actually be like your mum, you know? Not even the great Amelia can ever be like her.”

“She doesn’t have to be like my mum though? She can be herself, and from what I see, everybody respects Amelia.” I tried to reason out, but still acted as if I wasn’t too defensive of Amelia. I knew my mum was loved by all, and was even what they call the standard, but there’s no need to bring Amelia down.

Georgia gave me a smile, before saying, “You’re still really new, still so much to learn.”

“I’m willing to learn everything,” I assured her, but she just covered her face as she chuckled quietly.

“And what do you mean only the white ones are allowed to be officers? That’s unfair,” I told her, but she just shrugged her shoulders, as if it was not the first time someone told her that, and she doesn’t really care anyways.

“I’m just a representative at the bottom, lovely. I really can’t do anything. Why not go and ask the Chairman about it? I mean the president. Dang, all these switched up names make my head hurt.” Georgia was now slumped on her desk after she said those words, and this time I knew the school really has its unfair treatment.

I frowned while I tried to listen to whatever Mr. Wilson was discussing at the front, but all I could understand were some letters he kept on saying and some numbers. I don’t even know how this works since I’m not really a huge fan of math. Even though my parents both excel at it, I would always find myself being so slow with understanding all the math formulas that are given.

Even the tutors they had for me for Math left, because they said I was a helpless case. They said that I can learn math, and that I can actually be good at it, but it’s just that it was me who just doesn’t want to. And after hearing all that, my parents just stopped hiring Math Tutors and just trusted their intelligence to actually pass down to me just so I can pass my Math exams.

I pouted when I saw Amelia raising her hand to answer whatever Mr. Wilson asked her. How come she’s so good at everything? That’s just so unfair. Her parents must be so proud and happy to have her as their daughter.

I tried to listen to her explanation, and I really loved the way she talks. It was so soothing yet authoritative. It was no wonder why she’s meant to become the school’s president. She was just so confident in whatever she did.

Well, except for flirting. I can still remember how flushed her face was that one summer night…

I shook my head when I realized that my mind was slowly going back to that memory of me and Amelia. It was supposed to be forgotten, why can’t I just forget that scene and just go on with my life now?

And besides, I need to get rid of everything that distracts me from accomplishing this task. I let out a deep sigh, before trying to listen and understand what’s happening now.

From what I remember, Mr. Wilson loved those who actually can actually do Math, even Nova was actually great in this subject, making me have a plan in mind.

Even though I hate Math with so much passion, I need to study it in order to get this man’s attention. And, yes. I’m planning to act out all the traits that he liked on Nova to have his attention on me, and one of them is being a bitch in class, which I’ll be doing now.

“Mr. Wilson!” I called, and I fought the urge to grimace when almost everybody’s attention was now on me. All for the plan, Tori. You can do this.

“What is it, Ms. Kingstein?” he asked, and he looked genuinely worried, so I gave him a pout before batting my eyelashes. I almost threw up because of what I did, but I had to remind myself that it’s all part of a plan.

“My head’s hurting from all the Math formulas. Can you kiss it better?”

The other girls groaned at what I said, while some cheered. I even heard Georgia muttering something under her breath while looking at me amusingly. I looked at her too before smiling innocently.

“What?” I asked once more, acting innocent just so his attention would still be on me. Mr. Wilson chuckled at my action before coming near me. I heard some of my classmates cheering, and as much as I wanted to stop myself from looking at Amelia, I still did, and I wish I didn’t because I never really cared if someone is disappointed at me ever since, but now.

But I stopped myself from worrying too much about what she’ll think of me. She’s just a petty crush. She shouldn’t affect my plan. I was back to present when Mr. Wilson called for me.

“Stay after class, okay? I’ll try to explain it to you,” he said before giving that infamous smile of his again. I gave him a smile too and that made our classroom go wild because of what they saw, making my smile grow wider because everything seems to be going so well according to my plan.

Well, there’s a tiny bit of a problem. Since there wasn’t something that’s in my plan that would make me handle a disappointed roommate who actually looks like a cute kitten when frowning.

I bit my lower lip before looking away from Amelia’s gaze. I know what I did was just so not me, and it was actually disrespectful, but I really can’t do anything about it. It was all just part of a plan. I just hope one day, she’ll be able to understand.

Or maybe Amelia wouldn’t. She’s part of them too, even the strongest and most powerful among them, she was their president. So how will she be able to understand the others’ pain when it looks like she’s choosing to just ignore them?

It was like giving a toddler who just learned how to count one to ten a freaking hard math problem. I knew Amelia knew what’s going on, I have a feeling she knew that this can’t be fixed by the toddler, but she still believes that it will someday, and that’s wrong. Why wait when you can do it now? I really don’t know if she’s really aware of everything, but too bad for her, since that toddler would only just make the math problem solve itself, which will never happen if she wouldn’t guide the toddler like how she should guide the student council as it grows in order to answer the math problem correctly.