I wouldn't set foot in a single exam room. Let them try to pin something on me then.
My decision came so suddenly
that Ms. Simmons didn't even have time to announce it in the class group chat.
The next morning, I picked up my phone. Not a single message. My mouth curved.
My mom was president of the Parent-Teacher Association,
so she'd been up since dawn getting things ready to help out at the exam center.
"Mom, I'll go with you and Dad."
I stuffed a steamed bun into my mouth and grabbed my things.
"Sweetheart, you're not even taking the exam. Why bother? You've worked hard for three years. Stay home and rest…"
"I want to go."
I took a handful of small fans from her and tucked them into my bag.
"We were classmates for three years. Least I can do is see them off."
Of course I was going. I wasn't about to miss the fallout I'd been waiting for.
Lucky for me, there wasn't a single classmate assigned to the same exam room as me this time around,
so none of them had any idea I'd withdrawn.
Outside the school, I spotted Molly and Ethan walking side by side.
They spotted me too.
The second they did, both of them turned their heads in unison and walked the other way, avoiding me.