บท 18: Mothers, why don't we look alike ?
"Are you ready for the exams? Because we are about to begin," Mrs. Pauline announced, her smile a cryptic curve that hinted at secrets hidden beneath the surface.
The embarrassing moment I had just endured was now a memory I desperately wished to erase. Within minutes, Mrs. Pauline began distributing the exam papers, starting with mathematics. As she handed out the tests, I glanced around the room. The students' reactions varied, but a common thread of panic stitched their expressions together. Turning to Raven, I couldn't discern her thoughts; her face was a stoic mask, betraying no hint of the anxiety that seemed to grip everyone else.
I lowered my gaze to the exam sheet. The problems weren't particularly challenging for me, even though the difficulty had seemingly increased slightly. It wasn't an issue for me. An hour slipped by, and the evaluation came to an end. As Mrs. Pauline collected the papers, some students were still scribbling frantically, begging for more time. But Mrs. Pauline was unyielding, plucking the sheets from their hands with a firm declaration.
"The time is up. Hand in your papers now," she stated with unwavering seriousness.
Mrs. Pauline swiftly gathered the remaining papers, granting us a 20-minute respite before the next evaluation. Seizing the opportunity, I decided to confront Raven about the bracelet. I moved my chair to sit beside her, but she spoke before I could broach the subject.
"So, Jade, how did the math evaluation go for you?" she asked, her gaze deliberately avoiding mine.
"Don't try to dodge the topic, Raven. You know exactly what I want to talk about," I said sternly.
"Fine, but not here. There are too many prying eyes, and I don't want them to overhear us. Let's discuss it during the lunch break," she conceded.
"Alright. Besides, the evaluation went well for me. How about you, Raven?" I asked with a smile.
"It was rather easy, I thought," she replied with an arrogant grin.
"Are you sure about that, Raven? Just a few days ago, you didn't seem so confident. I even saw you trembling with dread at the announcement of the exams," I teased her.
In response, she gave me a light tap on the shoulder, and I pretended it hurt, eliciting a small chuckle from her.
The brief respite was a welcome interlude in the otherwise tense atmosphere of the exam day. Raven and I exchanged a knowing look, an unspoken agreement to table our discussion about the bracelet until a more opportune moment.
As the second evaluation commenced, the collective tension in the room rose like a palpable fog. This time, it was history. Mrs. Pauline, with her usual flair for the dramatic, distributed the papers with a flourish, her eyes scanning the room as if she were a general inspecting her troops before battle.
I glanced at the questions, which were very simple, asking things like "What year is it?" and "What is the name of our world?" The minutes ticked by, each one heavy with the scratch of pens against paper and the occasional sigh of frustration. When the time was up, Mrs. Pauline collected the papers with the same efficiency as before, her heels clicking against the floor like a metronome marking the end of our ordeal.
The lunch break arrived, and the classroom emptied quickly as students sought refuge from the academic battlefield. Raven and I retreated to our usual secluded spot, where no one else ventured. We took out our lunches and began to eat, then I broke the silence.
"Alright, Raven, let's talk about the bracelet," I said, my voice low but firm.
She fidgeted with her own bracelet, the metal glinting under the fluorescent lights. "Actually, you might not believe me, but I didn't know it was a couple's bracelet. I found out at the same time as you. I bought it for its effectiveness," she said, blushing.
I pondered her words. "It is invasive," I admitted. "But it's also... thoughtful. You cared enough to want to know if I was safe, but I'm not sure if I can keep the bracelet."
Raven's eyes met mine, and for a moment, the world around us seemed to still. "Actually, I really wanted to give it to you because you've been the kindest person to me, and you're my first friend. So, it would mean a lot if you kept the bracelet," she said, her cheeks reddening with anticipation.
"Okay, I agree to keep the bracelet. Besides, I wanted to thank you for it; it has helped me a lot," I said, scratching my head.
The bell rang, signaling the end of our break. As we returned to the classroom for the final evaluation, I felt a strange connection with Raven. We were no longer just classmates; now, I think we can truly say that we are friends.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of questions and answers, but my mind kept returning to the bracelet on my wrist, warm against my skin.
Mrs. Pauline collected the papers, and with that, the exams were concluded. She informed us that we would receive our results next week. Raven and I stepped out of the classroom, relieved that the ordeal was over. In just a few strides, we found ourselves in the schoolyard, and as usual, my mother was already there. However, this time, she was not alone; beside her stood another figure.
A dragon woman stood there, her very presence commanding attention. Her hair was as white as the first snowfall of winter, cascading down her back in a waterfall of silken strands that shimmered with an ethereal glow. It was a stark contrast to the fiery intensity of her eyes, which burned with a deep crimson hue, like twin rubies set within her alabaster face. She was dressed simply, in a white shirt and pants, the attire doing nothing to diminish her imposing aura.
Seeing her, I assumed she must be my other mother, as she was supposed to visit today. Raven and I approached her, and as usual, Lily hugged me and then embraced Raven. The dragon woman merely patted my head with a smile on her face, her touch surprisingly gentle .
"So, the exams went well?" Lily asked with a hopeful smile.
"They did," Raven and I said in unison.
The dragon woman approached Raven, her presence commanding yet graceful.
"Good day. I am Jade's second mother, Irene," she introduced herself with a firm handshake that seemed to test Raven's mettle. "Delighted to meet you. You're Jade's friend, aren't you?" Her gaze was piercing, as if trying to discern the nature of Raven's soul.
"Yes, that's right. I'm a friend of your daughter. Pleased to make your acquaintance. My name is Raven," she replied, her smile genuine but tinged with a hint of nervousness.
"I won't keep you any longer. I have pressing matters to attend to today, but we shall meet again tomorrow," Raven said, excusing herself with a smile before departing to join her butler.
"Oh, it's a pity she had to leave so soon. I wanted to invite her over," Lily said, her voice laced with disappointment.
"There will be another time. But she's truly charming and kind. Jade, you have exquisite taste in friends," Irene commented, her words making me smile. It was true; so far, Raven had been nothing but kind to me, unlike the character from the book.
After our farewells, we made our way home. Within twenty minutes, we arrived. As we entered the house, a question that had been lingering in my mind finally found its voice.
"Mothers, why don't we look alike?"
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