The Genius

Chapter Seven

"Okay then, we should be all done marking papers," Miss Jones said, clapping her hands together as she looked from one student in the classroom to the next. We'd just finished taken a revision test and had passed our papers around so that someone else could do the marking.

"You can pass the answer sheets back to their owners now," she said with a small smile as she used the remote in her hand to turn off the projector. The class soon became noisy as people left their tables for others, and muttered among themselves about their scores as they passed answer sheets back and forth.

"I'm with yours Wyatt," Jameson, a smallish lean boy in dark-rimmed glasses said as he waved what I presumed was my answer sheet above his head. I sighed, rolling my eyes as I got up from my seat to get it. I'd already given the answer sheet I'd mark to its owner already, and had been looking for who had mine.

"Ten out of ten," Jameson announced with a cheeky smile as he handed me my answer sheet.

"Thanks..." I trailed, taking it from him. A small smile formed on my lips when I spotted the bright ten written in green at the uppermost right of the answer sheet.

"If you've gotten your answer sheet, please sit down." Miss Jones' voice echoed through the classroom. The loud muttering in the classroom soon calmed down as people diffused from the tables they'd been crowding about and returned to their own seats. I left Jameson's desk to return to mine, before looking over to Miss Jones who was presently flipping through her class notes.

"Did anyone get a ten out of ten?" she asked, raising her eyes to look at us. I raised my hand, watching as a knowing smile formed on her lips.

"So, two," she said with a curt nod. I looked about to find who the second person was, and wasn't surprised to spot Ji-Hun at the other end of the room with one of his hands up as he scribbled into his note with the other.

"Okay, did anyone get a nine out of ten?" I dropped my hand as I watched a few hands go up - Ben's being one of them.

Miss Jones continued asking for overall marks before given the correction.

The class ended soon after and, I was packing up my things with the rest of the class when Miss Jones started talking. "Don't forget to do your assignments. I'm not accepting any excuses! Oh, Wyatt and Ji-Hun please stay behind."

I looked over at Miss Jones with a confused frown, but she didn't pay me any attention as she sorted out the books on her desk and tried to keep her curls in place at the same time. I turned to Ji-Hun who seemed to be just as confused. What exactly could Miss Jones want to talk to us about?

When the class completely emptied out and the bell for the next period went, Miss Jones, beckoned to us to come up to her desk.

"I guess you're wondering why I asked you guys to stay back," Miss Jones said with a small smile, folding her hands over her chest as she looked from me to Ji-Hun. "I wanted to talk to you guys about something. Well, Wyatt already knows what it is."

I raised a brow in confusion. "No, I actually don't?"

Miss Jones laughed, adjusting the collar of her pink work shirt as she cleared her throat. "I wanted to talk to you guys about the UNICEF world education games. Wyatt, you participated last year, didn't you?"

"Oh, that..." I trailed, running a hand through my hair. I could see where this was going. The school only allowed students at the top of their classes to participate so that they'd have a good average score.

"Ji-Hun, have you heard of it before?" Miss Jones asked, making Ji-Hun shake his head.

"Well, you have now," she said before resting her back on her chair. "It's a twenty-four-hour intellectual competition over the internet that tests you on science, math and English literature. The schools with the best average scores get trophies and certificates, students in the hall of fame- basically the top hundred students with the best personal scores get medals. It's a very big worldwide contest. Wyatt placed fifteenth overall last year in his category."

I could feel my face heat up as Ji-Hun turned to look at me. I wasn't sure if it was because I was embarrassed or proud. I couldn't dwell on the feeling for too long though because Miss Jones soon started chattering away again.

"I've talked to your other teachers Ji-Hun, and we agreed that you should be part of it this year even though we don't have official test scores to base you of, but we will in a couple of weeks. Its two months from now, right after your tests. The platform is already up and running for practice. We'll be practicing as a school a week to the contest, but I was hoping that Wyatt could show you how to use the platform before we give you your details."

"Ah, okay," Ji-Hun muttered. He seemed rather stunned by all the information. Miss Jones smiled at him, idly clicking the end of her ball pen. "Do I have to write you two a note?"

"No, it's fine. We have a free period now," I chipped in, making Miss Jones respond with a nod. She dismissed us soon after, and we left the classroom for the study room.

"I'm a little confused. So you're going to show me how to use the platform?" Ji-Hun asked in a hushed tone as we stepped into the study room. I looked about for any sign of Ben since he was the only other person we shared this period with. I raised a brow when I spotted him sitting with an unfamiliar group of people. I never got around to apologizing for leaving with Ji-Hun, and having Miss Jones call us today must have annoyed Ben further. He hated being left out of anything. I made a mental note to find him later and apologize, before following Ji-Hun to an empty table at the corner.

"Hey, you didn't answer my question," Ji-Hun said as I pulled out my books from my backpack. I muttered a small apology, zipping up my bag before turning my full attention to him.

"Of course I'll help you. We'll just have to make out time for that," I answered, watching Ji-Hun nod.

We worked in silence for a while, Ji-Hun occasionally kicking me playfully under the table. I threw glares at him, but he just pretended not to notice. I didn't know what to do when his sudden chuckling gave him away. I just started laughing too, rolling my eyes at his foolishness. That was a problem I was starting to realize I had. I couldn't stay mad at Ji-Hun for too long.

We continued doing our individual study when I heard someone call my name. I looked up from my note to find Caleb staring down at me with a desperate look on his face.

"Didn't you hear me?" he asked, a deep frown forming on his face as I shook my head. I only recently heard him calling my name, and nothing before that.

He sighed, using his hand to rub his creased forehead. "Can I borrow your phone? I need to call mum."

"Sure," I said, gesturing to my backpack that was sitting on the tiled floor next to my chair. Caleb nodded, squatting down before unzipping the bag and going through it.

I looked over at Ji-Hun, noticing the stunned look on his face. A small gasp left my lips at the realization that he'd put one and two together. Caleb and I were identical twins and there was no way Ji-Hun didn't already pin him as my brother. I felt my heart fall a little. I didn't want Ji-Hun to know about Caleb. Well, at least not yet.

"Found it," Caleb sighed in relief, bringing me out of my thoughts. I looked over to find that he'd gotten up from his squatting position and was now going through my phone.

"Thanks," he said, pocketing the phone before moving his gaze to Ji-Hun. "Hey."

"Hey..." Ji-Hun trailed, looking at Caleb with clear interest. We both had the same signature Wilson combination of brown hair, brown eyes, thick brows and a small nose.

"Okay. I'll be off then. Thanks again Wyatt," Caleb muttered in a low tone probably confused by Ji-Hun's behavior. He left soon after, making Ji-Hun turn his full concentration to me.

"You have a twin brother?" Ji-Hun said in a part question part statement. I sighed, nodding in reply.

"Weird, he's not in any of our classes, why's that?" Ji-Hun asked. I bit my bottom lip in irritation. I wasn't willing to explain Caleb's complex schedule that was a result of him having to focus on art. He wasn't going to college like me and was just going through high school for basic education. He was going to be an apprentice under an artist that was a good friend of my mom's to further improve his craft after graduation.

"I don't know..." I lied, earning a confused look from Ji-Hun.

"How can't you know? He's your brother. At least you know some of his subjects. What's his name by the way—"

"Drop it," I found myself saying in a firm tone. Ji-Hun's words halted as he focused a look of confusion on me.

"What? I was just asking questions. I mean, I'm just seeing your brother for the first time..." he trailed, looking straight at me. I turned my gaze downward to the book in front of me, trying to focus my eyes on the notes I'd taken.

"You're ignoring me?" I heard him ask. I could hear the confusion in his voice. It made me feel slightly guilty, but I wasn't in the mood to talk.

"I don't want to talk about my brother, okay?" I finally admitted, flipping the page of my note without looking at him. To be honest, I wasn't really paying attention to the words scribbled on down in blue ink. I was irritated, annoyed and a whole lot of other emotions that naturally messed with anyone's concentration.

I heard Ji-Hun sigh from the other side of the roundtable. "Fine then, be like that. I won't ask."

There was clear irritation in his tone, and maybe a hint of hurt. It made me feel uncomfortable. I've only ever seen Ji-Hun happy. I've never seen him angry before. I ignored his words still, pretending to study until I could escape the tense atmosphere when the bell for the next period went.

As I walked to my next class, I started thinking that maybe I shouldn't have acted the way I did. I sighed as I walked into my biology class, deciding to make out time to apologize.

I've had to apologize so much lately. It didn't feel good. I didn't feel good.