Badboy for a Boyfriend

Chapter 9.1

I knew I had to do something. I did nothing wrong. But as seconds passed by, I knew I was letting myself be part of it; to commit a sin—a grave sin to my father's eyes.

Mikaya was able to finish her papers before break. Upon checking the questions I left unanswered, I realized she was smart. I had no idea why I thought her answers were all correct when I had a hard time answering them. I just knew they were.

We were the last one to pass our papers. We didn't change. We simply handed it to the instructors who were more than busy congratulating the students than checking their papers.

"Are you okay, Miss Roswell?" the instructor in an eyeglasses asked as I stayed in front of him and all while blankly staring at the papers being handed to them. "You look pale!"

His co-worker who was arranging papers on the table heard it and walked to us. He looked worriedly at me but nonetheless smiled with assurance. "You're doing well. I'm sure you'll pass the test. No need for you to worry."

They smiled at each other. They had been kindly telling everyone they did a good job. I wondered if they were being extra warm to me because of my name.

Mikaya San Pedro and I met outside the building. She had a warm, cheerful smile on her face when I strode towards her. Either she failed to see the warning on my face or believed it was best to ignore it.

"Why did you do that?"

The tone broke her delight. The smile instantly fell. Although I felt bad, it did not show as what just happened was slowly and completely registering on me. Guilt was crawling all over me.

I kept my silence. I silently participated in this cheating.

"I thought—don't worry, I studied hard for this exam. I'm sure of all of my answers!"

"No! Honestly, why did you do that? We don't know each other and even if we do, you shouldn't have done that!"

This had been the loudest my voice had become since I could remember but still not loud enough to get the dagger and the heavy weight off my chest. I had to be discreet, too. I was afraid someone could clearly make out the topic of the conversation.

I was gritting my teeth with my hands clenched tightly on my sides.

Mikaya mindlessly took a step back to study my reaction. Her lips parted and closed several times. She blinked rapidly before speaking in an undertone, "We... We did it together. You never complain. You could have but you said not a word to tell everyone you're not agreeing with it. You wanted it, too."

"What?" I stared in disbelief.

She looked everywhere but me in panic.

Is she throwing the blame on me now? She took me off guard. Never in my life had I saw this ever happening to me. Not even in my countless nightmares!

I had my part, yes. I had to be true with that thing. But I was asking her to know why. I wanted to know why she did that! I wanted to be clear on this! I didn't ask her to. She did it on her own, so why?

"Tell me why you... resorted to this," my voice subdued.

"I heard you failed your finals last school year. I saw you earlier. You looked..." she stared at me with her eyes clouded with sympathy. "I really just wanted to help."

It took my seconds to breathe, "why?" It was no surprising that students would hear the rumors. But frankly, it wasn't a failing grade. I was among the highest rankers. It was just, my family had their own standards and that was how I knew I failed.

She shrugged. "I want a friend. You look... kind and nice to be friends with."

I frowned. "You cannot gain friendship with such wrongdoings." Besides, I did not think I would be a better friend for her.

"I thank you for taking notice of my distress and taking the initiative to help. But what we did was wrong. I will see what I can do to fix this before the result comes out—"

"No!" she exclaimed as her hands grabbed mine and held onto it tightly. Her eyes widened with desperate pleas. "I'm a scholar. I don't want to lose my credentials please, I'm begging you. I was only thinking of helping. I wasn't thinking. I was stupid to forget all my sacrifices to get here. P-Please, don't tell anyone." Her voice broke.

I pursed my lips together. My eyes closely watched her and her hands repeatedly squeezing mine out of despair.

Her round glass was falling to her nose.

"But we need to do something. If my parents learn about this—"

"I will not tell a soul, I swear!" She raised a hand to the air for a promise gesture. Her voice came out a little louder and desperate. The anxiety grew within me as curious eyes stuck to us like muds on a rainy day.

In the end, we agreed not to tell anyone. I was still hesitant about it but was glad to see the worry in her eyes fade the moment I agreed it would be our secret.

We moved to the bench behind the building overlooking the cross field of the seniors. She left me for a while. Two different flavors of ice cream were in her hands when she came back. I had a lot of time in my hands then. Enough to wait for her, and to worry about the test's results. It would be announced in two weeks.

"I'm allergic to nuts," I said as she first handed me the one with it. She quickly muttered her apologize.

Hers was strawberry flavored. I was not particularly a fan of it, but having no other choice, I politely accepted it.

"I only have either of these two flavors for ice cream. I should have asked you before buying. I actually thought you would decline." She smiled before situating herself next to me.

Her smile was indeed warm and welcoming. A question lingered on the tip of my tongue as I peeled the ice cream cone open, like: why did she choose me to be someone she could be friends with? Was it really because I was kind and nice like she said? But how was she able to have that judgment on me when we didn't personally know each other?

Or was it my name? I was sure she knew me well. She heard of my grades, she certainly knew my friends, too, and how I only had them around my circle. I don't often make friends randomly. If we met each other in a different situation, I knew I wouldn't think about being friends with her. The only reason I was giving myself a chance for a new friendship was our secret. And I was trying real hard. Though the fear of this secret being revealed sooner than I expected was also taking its toll on me. It was hindering a chance for new friendship.

With all of these memories running wild in my head while I was taking the exam, I failed the long quiz.

"Come on, George! You must be kidding us!" Jean said as we were walking down the hallway. They were planning to go shopping to the mall after everyone passed the test but I was not having it.

Tanner elbowed me on the shoulder. "Cheer up, George! You've got the highest grade in our class! You should be proud! We are!"

"She got three wrong answers to the last two subjects. She wants it perfect," Sue answered for me. It distorted my face. My steps faltered. They noticed and stopped as well.

"I'm grateful for my scores. It's just that... I liked them to be perfect."

"For your dad," Jean added. "She stepped in front of me and crossed her arms across her chest. She lifted a brow. "We all wished for them to be perfect. We all worked hard for it. We passed. That should be more than enough. You did well, George! Don't be too hard on yourself. Be proud of your achievements, no matter how little they are, or how people believe they are nothing."

For that moment, I believed they truly understood. I felt the sincerity with her words. As my best friends, they had witnessed the best and worst of me. Sometimes, they knew me better than I thought I knew myself.