Chapter 17:

Lots of days passed and the final exams week has come to an end. While looking at the window from my table, I saw bunches of students with smiles on their faces while walking home. A lot of them are also talking to other about who knows what. 

I miss being a student.

For the students, the week after the final exams is their week for rest. They can do whatever they want, may it be going shopping, playing online games with their other classmates, or just chilling inside their houses while eating their favorite foods and watching their favorite movie. 

However, for teachers like me, it is a hell week. There are a lot of paperworks to finish. Aside from checking their exams, we need to find the frequency of correct answers and make a report about it. After that, we need to finish computing our students' grades, which is not only about encoding scores, but also sending follow-ups and conducting remedial classes.

"My back hurts like hell," Dhaile complained while standing up and stretching her back. 

Unah replied to her without even looking at Dhaile and focusing her sight on her laptop. "We've been working here for almost 8 hours and we haven't even stood up for a while. Plus, you posture sucks. So don't wonder why your back hurts like that," Unah said while the sound of keyboard typing mixes with her voice.

Dhaile didn't reply. Instead, she started stretching more while making her joints pop.

"There's only 15 minutes left before our dismissal. We haven't even finished half of our work," Kate reminded the three of us. "The deadline is already tomorrow."

I massaged my temple. This is so much stress for me. 

I looked at my to-do list. There are still three paperworks that I need to do. I can't finish them all for 15 minutes. 

"How about an overnight stay? With that, we can finish our work until tomorrow," I suggested while I continue on encoding the grades of my students.

Dhaile clapped her hands because of excitement, "I agree! That will be fun!" she exclaimed while looking like a child who was given a good promise.

"What's fun with that, huh, Dhaile? We're not going to do an overnight stay to watch some movies and talk about our lives. We're having an overnight stay to finish these piled up works," Unah commented on Dhaile.

"You're so kill joy, Unah. Don't you know that we can still do those enjoyablle things while finishing our works?" Dhaile asked Unah while moving her eyebrows up and down.

Kate stood up, walked a few steps towards Dhaile, and pinched my best friend's cheek while chuckling, making me feel uneasy. "Dhaile, if we watch movies while doing our tasks, we won't be able to finish it on time."

Dhaile pouted for a few seconds,  but after that, her face brigthened up like she thought of a brilliant idea. 

"Aha! I know, I know," Dhaile exclaimed and put her hand on Kate's shoulder.

Why do they need to be that close? 

"Let's finish our work before we watch movies. But, there's a twist. We are going to have a race in finishing the work. The last one to finish will be the one who will pay for the food we're going to eat while watching!" Dhaile explained her idea. 

From my peripheral vision, I saw Kate smiled at Dhaile, so as Unah. "That's actually a good idea. Atleast now, we have a motivation to finish our works," Kate said with a huge smug on her face saying "I will not be the one who will pay for the food later".

"So, it's a deal then?" Dhaile asked. 

Kate and Unah nodded while I didn't answer. I focused on continuing my work since there is only a little time left before the dismissal. Also, I feel like I do not want to answer Dhaile. I feel like I am annoyed at her. 

Unfortunately, Dhaile noticed it.

"Casy, you look mad," Dhaile said while walking towards me. I didn't give a glance at her.

"Casy, hey," Dhaile started to shake my shoulder.

"Don't disturb me, Dhaile. I still have a lot of work to do," I answered her while still typing on my keyboard.

Dhaile gave me a questioning look. It looks like she is guessing why I am annoyed, since I don't get annoyed easily.

After seconds of staring at me, Dhaile looked back at Kate and Unah. "Casy might have her period today," she said.

Kate and Unah just chuckled for they know that Dhaile has a point. But that's not true because my period just finished almost a week ago. 

"By the way, whose house are we going to stay?" Kate asked as she starts on putting back her things inside her bag.

Unah raised her hand. "I volunteer," she said.

Dhaile clapped. "Yey! Now that everything is already settled, let's see each other at Unah's house later at 7 PM. Sharp," she said before the bell that signifies the dismissal rang.

The four of us part ways and waved goodbye to each other. While walking to the gate of our school, Dhaile won't stop reminding us about the overnight stay on Unah's house. Among the four of us, she's the most excited. Of course, it is her idead after all.

HOURS passed and I'm now standing outside Unah's house with Dhaile, who for some reason, brought pillows, blanket, and her whole skincare set. We didn't wait long before Unah opened the gate and invited us inside her house.

I noticed that Kate is already inside the house. She's sitting in a long table that I think is where we are going to do our paper works. Her laptop is already infront of her and I see a loading screen on it. There are also piles of paper beside her laptop.

"Come on. Sit here. And just a reminder, no one is allowed to start working until I say so. This is my house so better follow my rules," Unah said before opening her laptop. 

Dhaile and I did the same. Of course, no one among us wants to lose. I have a bad feeling that the winners will surely buy a lot of foods and drinks in order to punish the loser. 

Why do I know that? Because that's also what I will do when I win.

When all of us are ready to start, Unah spoke. "When the long hand of the clock strikes 12, that's the signal for us to start."

The four of us have our eyes stick to the hand of th clock. And finally, when the hand strikes 12, loud tapping of keyboard filled the whole house. No one is talking. All of us are very focused on our work and we didn't let any distraction to hinder us. Our minds only have one thing: we can't lose this bet.

After some hours of nonstop working, my breathing became heavier as I see that I'm already on the last part of my task. Just a few words and I'm fi-

"I'M DONE!" Kate's voice filled the whole house. She was jumping up and down in the air while shouting. 

Her face shows happiness and she looks very lively while I was watching her. My world suddenly feels slow and the only thing I can see is her smile.

"Casy! Work now or you'll lose!" 

Dhaile's voice pulled be back to my senses. I was sidetracked for some moments. 

After lots of typing and wiping my sweat even if it is cold, I finally finished my work. 

"Yes! I won!" I shouted in happiness 

While I was so happy by the fact that I will not pay for our food tonight, I felt someone hug me from the back. I looked at it and I saw Kate. She was smilling at me like she was proud. 

Suddenly, my breathing stopped. I don't know why but Kate being this close to me makes me happy and uneasy at the same time. 

I didn't bother removing her hand from hugging me. I love it anyways.

The both of us watched Dhaile and Unah battle as they speed up their typing speed. The sound of keyboard clicking became louder as the time passed. I can also see that their hands are shaking while typing. No one really wants to lose.

"Done!" someone shouted with a smug face for the loser.

The loser stumpped her feet on the ground, looking very annoyed. 

Guess who the loser is?

Dhaile.

Unah didn't say anything but her face says it all. It looks like she's teasing Dhaile for losing.

While waiting for Dhaile to finish, the three of us are already choosing what food we should buy. 

"Let's order a pizza. The one with bacon. I'm really craving it these past weeks," Kate said as she clicked the 'add to cart' button. 

Unah snatched the phone and typed something. I saw that she ordered steak and iced coffee. 

"Dhaile, the total is $129.99. Your order is not included yet," I said while laughing at Dhaile's frowning face.

She looked at me and the suddenly, she raised her middle finger. We just laughed at her and watched the TV while waiting for her to finish.

We didn't wait long for Dhaile to finish her works. She snatched the phone from me and ordered for herself.

"I will not forget this day," she said as she clicked the word 'check out'.

THE food is delicious. It's been 3 hours since we finished working and we are here, ready to sleep to have energy for tomorrow. We are all sleeping in Unah's bed which is suprisingly huge enough for the four of us. 

"I can't believe I lose the bet," Dhaile muttered while staring at the ceiling of the room.

Kate chuckled. "It's very ironic that Dhaile paid for the food when in fact, she's the one who suggested the bet."

We laughed and Dhaile keeps on frowning at us. She really can't move on from the happenings earlier. 

"I'll just go to the comfort room," I said while standing up to move down from the bed. 

Unah gave an 'okay sign' to me. "Just walk to the left from the door. There's a black door with mat on the ground in front of it. That's the comfort room."

I nodded and walked to go to the comform room. I drank a lot of iced coffee and milktea earlier so I feel like I have a lot of fluids to let go.

After doing what needs to be done, I washed my hand. I stiffed when I feel that there is someone behind me. I looked back and I saw Kate looking at me.

"Hey," I said, "Did you just came here?"

She nodded in agreement. "Yeah. I think I drank a lot earlier."

"Oh, okay. You can use the toilet now. Do you want me to wait for you?" I asked while washing my hand.

"Nah. I'm fine," she said. "By the way, I just want to ask something."

I felt nervous because of her words. "What is it?"

Her next words stunned me. I don't know how to answer it.

"Are you lesbian?"