CHAPTER 10:
Honestly, I don't know where to start…so I'll just ramble.
As you all know I studied a full month before the entrance exam. I was told there would be math problems, vocabulary words, and essays on recent events, and with such broad subjects, I practically tried to cram what I could. I re-studied typical statistics and math word problems, actually got to 'DEVILISH' level in the 'How Strong Is Your Vocabulary Words' of Merriam- Webster App (everyone that had tried this knows how f*cking hard it is to get there), and studied important events from 2018 to May 2019 for 'recent events'.
And you know what? There are no math problems, there are no vocabulary words, just freaking essays. And that would have been fine but you know what they considered as 'recent events'? 2012-2017! F*CKING HILARIOUS!
I literally studied FOR NOTHING.
It's like studying quantum physics only to find out that the test was about inorganic chemicals. I FREAKING HATE CHEMISTRY.
In the last part of the exam, there's this 1000-word essay that was worth 40% and I only got about 250 words before the time was up.
I freaking cried on the bus home.
What happened in the month after was my work trying to drown me because they had 'relented' on giving me a 'light' load in view of my entrance exam.
And by drowning in work I meant 'I literally slept through the weekends out of exhaustion' type of drowning. I finally got a free weekend but I'll probably get avalanched by papers again next week.
Hope I survive it for a hopefully weekly chapter.
That's about it for my rant.
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ALSO, I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS STORY IS STILL ALIVE. I was almost afraid to look at it or any notifications in my e-mail from this site. You don't know how thankful I am that you're still reading this, my beloved readers.
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Disclaimer: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn
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Natsumi has a huge problem. Scratch that. Natsumi has huge problems.
It starts with an angry editor and ends with a missing cellphone.
Apparently being hospitalized meant you can't answer e-mails from frantic and demanding editors. Who knew? But thankfully, Editor-san was quite understanding of what happened to Natsumi and only ranted a bit about how Natsumi should notify relevant contacts when she goes and gets herself almost killed, subsequently going into an unplanned hiatus via hospital confinement, because you know, that's rather important and should not have been forgotten in the midst of the drama. (Uh-huh.)
Next was the homework and requirements that piled up so high you wouldn't think it was just the first week of school. Those she did not enjoy at all. (Not like she enjoyed getting chewed out by her editor either.)
The third was an albino named 'Gesso Byakuran'. Natsumi didn't even want either Tatsuya or Ara to know about her friendship (or is it best friendship? Hmm…) with the older teen but since when did the world ever give her what she wanted, eh? She would have gotten away with it if it wasn't for the darn wooden bed that peaked the two blackettes' interest in the white-haired teen. Natsumi had been successfully redirecting the conversations when Byakuran-san comes up but she knew it was only a matter of time before that conversation will finally happen. (It'll be the albino's fault too, she could feel it.)
And lastly was her still missing phone. All her contacts were there. She didn't make it a habit to memorize phone numbers because she reasoned she'll just check her phone if need be but too bad Natsumi, you're phone's gone. Boo-hoo to you. She has no idea where that phone of hers went off to now. Her only clue was Hibari Fon-san's lips twitching up minutely when he overheard her asking around for her phone. (Now what the heck does that even mean?)
And with that note, she's now cheerfully on her way to school. (Note the sarcasm.)
The only thing that had gotten her to part with her bed this morning is her brother's promise that they'll see Shazam after she got out of school.
Now she just had to finish the 'school' part of the deal.
Yay…
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Natsumi expected judgmental looks and snickers when she finally steps inside the Vongola High building.
She did not expect a gaggle of concerned first years asking her how she was.
After getting flustered for the first few seconds, Natsumi was able to at least answer their questions satisfactorily. Yes, she's fine now. No, it wasn't really that serious *cue awkward laugh*. Yes, the offer to answer any of their questions still stands. No, she did not get kidnapped, what a hilarious joke, right? Right? Yes, of course, they could ask her for help in their subjects as well if they needed it. She usually spends after school at the library even if she won't today. Just approach her anytime.
When the freshmen finally went their way, the brunette was left standing in front of her locker, still utterly confused about what happened.
"They imprinted on you," a familiar voice said and it jolted Natsumi out of her daze.
She turned and saw Gokudera-san standing with his customary slump, and his hands on his pockets.
"Like ducklings," the silver-haired teen continued but Natsumi was still confused. When Gokudera-san noted her lack of understanding, he clicked his tongue. He gritted his teeth for a while before sighing, some tension bleeding out of his shoulder.
"You're the first sempai they met and talked to. They're attached," he explained further.
Natsumi frowned at that, "By that logic, they should have 'imprinted' on you as well."
The silverette raised an eyebrow at that, sending the vibe that he was questioning Natsumi's intelligence and that kind of made Natsumi blush in embarrassment.
"I showed them I wasn't really above hitting an underclassman if I thought they deserve it, and frankly that impression is true, don't give a f*ck. You on the other hand showed that you'd stand up for them even against another peer," Gokudera-san irritatedly explained.
Natsumi was pretty sure her mouth formed an 'o' at that.
Gokudera-san clicked his tongue again before saying 'follow me' and walking away.
The female sophomore seemed to be rather slow today because she only watched his back before the silver-haired student stopped and glared at her to follow then stalked off much faster than before.
The female Emiya rushed to follow him while somewhere at the back of her mind she's screaming 'Why the heck am I even following him?'.
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Natsumi followed Gokudera-san all the way to the Music Room.
The male sophomore eventually sat down in front of the grand piano and the brunette settled into standing awkwardly at the side.
The silver-haired teen tested a few keys first before he finally started into a rhythm and then a song.
And it was beautiful. It was soothing but at the same time, it sounded so…heartbreakingly sad.
Natsumi didn't want to close her eyes and instead followed the movement of his fingers across the keys.
It ended (she'd like to say too soon but that sounded overused and cliché) with an echo of the last note lingering in the air.
Gokudera-san released a silent breath through his mouth and turned to Natsumi expectantly.
"Err…it's beautiful…?" the female Emiya said unsurely.
And then an awkward silence settled between them.
Natsumi eventually broke it, a blush creeping up her face, "I'm sorry but I don't know what you want me to say. I'm not really good at music. Heck, my knowledge is probably minimal at best so I can't really say anything other than 'It sounded beautiful' because that's all I can say about it."
The silverette snorted at that. He then sighed and faced her fully, "I was told what happened to you last week."
Natsumi was kind of expecting that but it didn't lessen the sting his words caused her. She bit her lip and looked away.
At the corner of her vision, the brunette saw Gokudera-san run a hand through his silver locks.
He groaned, "Look, I was told to apologize to you, okay?!"
The female Emiya couldn't help it, she snorted. That didn't sound like an apology, she thought surprisingly without bitterness. She was just…amused.
Still, the snort instantly earned her a glare.
"I'm not laughing at you Gokudera-san," Natsumi clarified, "In fact, it wasn't your fault. You have nothing to apologize for."
That earned her a skeptical look.
The brunette searched for the words to explain her thoughts, "Look, it wasn't you who told them to do it. So you held no responsibility for what they did." The male sophomore still looked unconvinced.
Maybe she should just use an example instead? "Uhmm…it's like back when I was in fifth grade. These fangirls of Tatsuya's, my brother, they threw me inside the incinerator because I didn't give a pair of Tatsuya's boxers." Gokudera-san's face went 'WTF' and Natsumi was happy someone finally understood what she felt. She continued, "I know, right? I really thought they were joking so I didn't even pay much mind to that 'request' of theirs until I was getting shoved inside the incinerator. I got exhausted calling for help and eventually fell asleep. If the janitor hadn't checked inside before leaving or heck using the thing I would have probably died. I didn't blame Tatsu-nii then. I still don't blame him now. So why the heck would I blame you? I blame those crazy fangirls. Heck, Tatsu-nii cringes at his and I'm pretty you cringe at yours too. There's no freaking way you and your fangirls are of the same mind when they did what they did."
There was silence as Gokudera-san let what Natsumi said sink in. In the meantime, the brunette was wiggling her toes inside her shoes just to pass time.
Natsumi only looked up again when she heard Gokudera-san snort.
"Let's go back. Bell's about to ring," he mumbled as he walked out of the door.
"Okay Gokudera-kun," she tested the new honorific.
The silver-haired student only paused for a bit but otherwise didn't comment.
Natsumi grinned. That has to be better than the glares he sends to the fangirls that tried to call him 'Gokudera-kun' or the yells when anyone was b*llsy enough to call him 'Hayato-kun'. Right?
(At least she could internally cackle on the horrified looks she'll receive from said fangirls when she could call him 'Gokudera-kun' without any protest. Who said she wasn't petty enough to enjoy that?)
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The two made it in time for the Homeroom to start.
Vongola-sensei just gave them a mildly reprimanding look before starting the class.
The barrage of questions after the class that Natsumi anticipated…didn't happen. She was tense for a whole minute there.
When she finally slumped back into her chair, a feminine voice startled her.
"Are you okay now, Emiya-san?" Sawada-san asked with a concerned look on her face that made her eyes a bit wider and her lower lip jutting out. And sparkles. There were sparkles.
Before Natsumi could even form a response, Sasagawa-san appeared in her field of vision and asked with concern and a tilt of her head, "It must be an awful sickness if you were absent for a whole week. Are you sure you got plenty of rest?"
DOUBLE SPARKS!
MAYDAY! MAYDAY! ZERO VISIBILITY! HIGH POSSIBILITY OF CRASHING!
"Uhmm…"
Error. Natsumi. exe has crashed. Rebooting.
Reboot successful.
"I feel fine now," Natsumi replied with a smile she hoped didn't look too weird.
Sasagawa-san clapped her hand lightly in delight, "That's great!"
Sawada-san had just opened her mouth, about to say something, when a cold voice reverberated throughout the room.
"Emiya."
Natsumi had an odd sense of déjà vu.
"With me. Now."
It was not a request. It's not like Natsumi could expect anything else but a commanding tone from Hibari Kyoya. Said sempai was standing by the door to their room, a scowl on his face as he glared at her.
Should she argue that the next class is literally starting in about 20 seconds according to the analog clock above the chalkboard?
With a resigned slump, the female Emiya was about to stand from her chair when another voice cut in.
"Remain in your seat, Emiya-san," Rossi-sensei countered blandly, entering the room without even glancing at the head prefect standing at the door he just entered.
It wasn't just Natsumi's jaw that dropped.
No one and she meant NO ONE, ever dared opposed the orders of the Demon Prefect, not even Vongola-sensei and he's the son of the Principal. Heck, not even Hibari-sensei (although that's probably a bit because Hibari-sensei only passingly cares about the affairs of the Disciplinary Committee and mostly because no one had been 'summoned' yet while in the presence of said sensei).
Hibari-sempai's hand twitched and he ground his teeth. He was just about to speak when Rossi-sensei cut him off.
"Whatever it is, it could wait until lunch," the pink−err red-haired teacher said.
This time a snarl appeared on the Demon Prefect's face and there was a low and barely audible growl.
Rossi-sensei finally looked at the youngest Hibari brother and the two had a silent staredown, everyone in the room anticipating the outcome.
They glared at each other for about five minutes and Natsumi was pretty sure she couldn't even last a minute without blinking.
The conclusion was unexpected.
Hibari-sempai scoffed, squinting at the science teacher before walking away, still not blinking.
Natsumi's brain short-circuited.
Rossi-sensei started class normally as if nothing happened.
(It was in the middle of the class when Natsumi suddenly had the epiphany that Sawada-san might have been about to invite her to lunch. It was Natsumi's long-awaited opportunity to finally graduate from a background character to a supporting character and she missed it. Frankly, with all the times she saw Sawada-san frustrated to near tears, she was glad she missed it. The girl has the patience of a saint.)
(On that note, Rossi-sensei does not appreciate wandering thoughts during his class. At least Natsumi knew what the powerhouse of the cell is, thank you memes.)
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Natsumi wants it in writing that she did not want to enter the infamous Disciplinary Committee's lair. In fact, she could happily graduate from Vongola High without knowing what the interior of said lair looks like.
Alas, the universe just had to grant her the honor of being one of the few beings (that isn't part of the committee) to know what it looks like. She didn't deserve such an honor. Maybe give it to someone more worthy instead?
Okay, now she's just delaying the inevitable.
Natsumi knocked on the door and was instantly answered with a curt 'in'. With a gulp, she opened the door to her doom.
The room is…nice. Nicer than Natsumi would have expected. It looked more like a reception room than anything. But then again, considering it's on the first floor it might have been a reception room before the Disciplinary Committee claimed it as their own.
She didn't get to inspect the room more as her eyes were instantly drawn to the figure sitting at a comfortable looking black-leather highback chair behind a sizable desk. Frankly, the sight of Hibari-sempai made Natsumi feel more like a lowly employee facing the CEO of the company she works in, the same man about to fire her for making a stupid mistake.
"Sit," he tilted his head towards the chair in front of the desk.
Natsumi hurriedly sat down, not wanting to further irritate the senior student.
There was silence. She didn't dare make eye contact and continued to stare at her hands clasped together on her lap. On the corner of her vision, she saw Hibari-sempai put something on the previously empty table. It's rectangular in shape and when she tried to focus on it without actually looking at it, she identified it as a phone.
And then she realized it was her phone.
She immediately looked up and gaped at it. She chanced a look at the Demon Prefect's face and saw him smirking at her with too many teeth showing.
"Stupid herbivore," Hibari-sempai's grin widened with bloodlust-filled glee, "I'll bite you to death."
Natsumi wouldn't even deny that she squeaked like a crushed mouse because it's Hibari-sempai who just declared her doom. Instead, she shrunk into herself and shut her eyes, hands now gripping her skirt like a lifeline.
There was a 'swoosh' of air somewhere near her left ear immediately followed by a loud 'thunk' that almost drowned the sound of something cracking. She didn't even need to open her eyes to know that the Demon Prefect must have thrown something that barely missed her.
She whimpered.
Something or rather somethings dropped on her lap, right on top of her hands, so when she jumped a little in shock, whatever it was scattered on the floor around her.
Natsumi opened her eyes involuntarily with the need to know what the heck that was.
It was…papers?
"Sort them. Remove the irrelevant ones then mark the pages I need to sign," Hibari-sempai instructed.
"W-what…?" the female Emiya stuttered out, quite a bit confused. She's not getting beaten up?
As a response, the older student pulled more papers out of nowhere and dumped them on the floor next to her feet, joining the previous ones she had spilled.
"Now."
Natsumi hurriedly sat on the floor to pick up the papers, lest the senior student adds more.
(It was while she was sorting the papers, trying to figure which goes with which, and stapling them together, that Natsumi realized she doesn't even know what is considered important or not. She chanced a glance at Hibari-sempai and when the prefect only glared back, she redirected her attention to the papers in front of her. She'll just have to take a guess then.)
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Natsumi stared at her lunch, utterly exasperated.
Really Tatsu-nii? Heart-shaped onigiris?
She was glad she didn't get invited to lunch. Natsumi wouldn't know whether she'd explain how her brother made the cute things or if she'd (very reluctantly, mind you) claim to be the one who made it just to save her brother's dignity and masculinity.
The female Emiya picked one and started chomping on it fast.
There were only about ten minutes left of lunch when Hibari-sempai finally dismissed her and told her to return after classes. Natsumi was pretty sure the youngest Hibari only dismissed her because her stomach protested about its empty state loudly.
She only managed to eat two of the four she has when the warning bells rang across the building. She repacked her lunch regretfully and was taking a few gulps from her water bottle when Asari-sensei entered.
Natsumi gave the teacher a guilty and apologetic smile and Asari-sensei returned it with his own reassuring one.
For the rest of the afternoon, Natsumi would sneak eating a few bites of her onigiris in between classes and was finally able to finish the fourth one before the last class.
It was History class.
More importantly, Hibari-sensei was the one teaching the class.
No one dared make noise while he was teaching. No one even dared to turn away from the board. No one dared to slump or put their head on their palms. No one sneakily yawned (though no one's probably feeling sleepy with how tense the room is). Heck, no one even dared to flip the pages of their books and notebooks loudly. The only noise was the scratching of the chalk across the board drowning out the scratching of pens on papers.
Even after the bell rang, the History teacher kept writing and no one dared to tell him that the class should be dismissed.
They could still remember the threats he gave everyone on their first year in Vongola High.
Anyone who will dare break the 'order' in his class will be cuffed to death…with detention.
Everyone was sure that the 'detention' part was an afterthought and the teacher really will kill them if they ever broke their sensei's precious 'laws'.
When Hibari-sensei finally stopped writing, everyone thought that he was going to pick up his things then leave without a word. It was what he had always done even way back last year.
No one predicted him opening his mouth.
"Emiya. Detention. One week."
Everyone's jaw dropped and stared either at either their History teacher or the poor unfortunate soul that is Emiya Natsumi. Both Hibari's in one day? What did she even do to warrant such bad luck?
Frankly, Natsumi didn't know either. Maybe in her previous life, she pillaged a village, or maybe sunk a ship. Or heck maybe she caused the sinking of the Atlantis or something.
(A certain white-haired man with glasses sneezed.)
The female Emiya sputtered something incoherent and Hibari-sensei blandly countered.
"Two weeks."
"W-why?!"
"One month."
"B-but−!"
"Two months."
Natsumi clamped her lips together and bit her lips. Talking would just get her to more trouble.
"Follow me. Now."
The History teacher then left.
Natsumi's one thought was 'they really are brothers.'
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Natsumi had just shoved the last of her things inside her school-issued bag when a concerned voice asked if she was alright. She would have snapped at said voice but when she turned and saw a genuinely concerned Sawada-san, all her anger left her and she just slumped in defeat.
No, Natsumi wasn't alright. She'd like to think it wasn't her fault she nearly froze to death but everyone else seems to think so and kept reminding her that it was. Why else would she keep getting reprimanded and punished? Maybe it was her fault and if the bullies had to clean, she has detention with Hibari-sempai and Hibari-sensei. Didn't seem like a good tradeoff for her.
The female Emiya thought said sensei was one of the teachers supervising the punishment? How was he going to supervise her detention and supervise the others?
Will…will they have to meet because of that? Will she be forced to interact with them?
Should she think up an opening line?
'Hey, I just met you but you've already tried to kill me once. A pleasure to make your acquaintance.'
A hand on her shoulder snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Maybe we could talk to Hibari-sensei about your detention? Maybe go to the Principal?" Sawada-san suggested.
Despite the amber-eyed girl suggesting this, the two brunettes exchanged doubtful looks.
Natsumi attempted a reassuring smile, "It's okay. I'll…I'll figure something out." She couldn't help but grimace because that meant she had to ask Hibari-sensei of all people to give her some leeway.
Good luck with that.
"Do you want us to wait for you?" the fluffy-haired brunette asked, tilting her head to Sasagawa-san, who gave Natsumi her own reassuring smile when their eyes met.
"It's okay, you don't have to," the female Emiya replied while waving her hands in front of her. She paused for a second when she remembered something, "Actually, could you instead tell my brother I'd be in detention? We were supposed to meet up by the school's main gate."
"Sure! No problem!"
"Thank you so much! He has black hair and eyes and he's about 6-foot tall. He usually carries a camera around and he's with his girlfriend. She's only a few inches shorter than him, black hair too and well-built."
Sawada-san nodded at the description, a determined expression on her face. At least until it turned into a confused one as she asked, "Why not just text him?"
"I lost my phone," Natsumi reflexively answered and that's when she realized she also has detention with the Demon Prefect that afternoon.
Oh gosh, what did she do to deserve this?
"Oh, that's unfortunate."
Natsumi slumped with a pained 'yeah'. Very unfortunate.
"I'll find your brother then. Promise! See you tomorrow!" Sawada-san said determinedly.
"If I live," the straight-haired brunette replied.
The amber-eyed girl laughed at that.
Natsumi wanted to say she wasn't joking but instead settled with saying her goodbyes to both Sawada-san and Sasagawa-san before she hurried to Hibari-sensei's faculty room.
Sorry Hibari-sempai but sensei's scarier than you, she apologized mentally, already knowing that said sempai would be furious anyway that she ditched him, whatever her reason may be.
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Natsumi resisted the urge to fidget.
It had been almost 30 minutes since she was allowed inside Hibari-sensei's office and she hadn't been told to sit down yet so she was still standing by the closed door.
She had run her gaze through the very neat and very minimalistic office (and by that she meant bland and impersonal) a few times already and had settled to just staring at the papers on the desk. The papers Hibari-sensei had been grading the whole time he was ignoring her presence.
How long was she supposed to stand there and do nothing? Or was she missing something that she was supposed to do before the History teacher even deign to talk to her? If she had missed something, what was it?
Wait, she didn't have an official detention slip. Oops. She should go get it now.
"Sorry sensei, I'll just go to the admin and get my detention slip really quickly then," she broke the silence.
Hibari-sensei still wasn't reacting. Is she being treated as an invisible ghost now? Okay then…
She was just about to turn and leave when the door slammed open. It nearly made her jump out of her skin.
"Alaude!" came Vongola-sensei's incensed voice, "what's this about two months' worth of detention?!"
"Sorry sensei!" Natsumi apologized automatically.
"It's not your fault Emiya-san," the Math teacher turned to her as he walked inside and closed the door behind him, thankfully much calmer, "You are dismissed for today. Leave us, I need to talk to your teacher." The Vongola heir glared at his friend but the History teacher blandly stared back.
"Emiya. Stay until I dismiss you," Hibari-sensei countered.
Natsumi froze. Whose instruction is she supposed to follow then?! She panicked as two sets of eyes fell on her and waited for her decision.
For the love chocolates, what did she do to deserve this?!
She first looked at her sunshine-blonde Math teacher then at her pale-blonde History teacher.
Frankly, she wanted to leave. But even Hibari-sensei's blank expression wouldn't fool her into thinking that leaving wouldn't have any consequences. She's already in trouble with one Hibari by just being here. Would she risk the wrath of another by leaving?
It wasn't even ten seconds in and she could already feel herself sweating.
When the door slammed open, she was thankful for a reason for delaying her decision. But when she turned to look at who it was, she took back her gratefulness.
It was Hibari-sempai.
"Emiya," the Demon Prefect growled out every syllable of her last name and it made Natsumi whimper, "You dare skip detention with me."
Natsumi wants to cry.
"No," the sunshine-blond teacher interjected with a firm voice, "Emiya-san's detentions are all nulled. Especially when she has two at the same time."
A savior. Vongola Giotto is Natsumi's beloved savior. If her Math teacher could get her out of this trouble intact, she'll give him a Christmas present and Valentine's chocolates.
But Natsumi already knew what the result of two Hibari's tag-teaming the Vongola heir would be. A hospital hallway is a testament to that. She's grateful he's standing up for her but…
"Uhmm…Vongola-sensei," she called out hesitantly.
The Math teacher flashed her a reassuring smile, "It's okay Emiya-san, you can leave now."
Natsumi's gaze flicked at both Hibaris before returning to the sunshine-blond. She really wanted to ask if he was sure about this.
As if sensing her thoughts, Vongola-sensei gave a confident and reassuring grin, "I can take them both, don't worry."
Natsumi very much doubted his words, at least until his eyes flashed orange for a second. She blinked, unsure of what she just saw but dismissed it as the sunset filtering through the faculty room's (rather large) window hitting her sensei's eyes just right.
Even though she dismissed it as nothing, somehow that flicker of orange made Natsumi believe in his words.
Very reluctantly, the female Emiya let herself be guided out by her Homeroom teacher, barely noticing the fact that both Hibari-sensei and Hibari-sempai looked tense and seemed to be considering Vongola-sensei warily.
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I'M ALIVE!
Thank you for all the views, reviews, follows, and favorites! I'll properly thank you my dears as well as answer the reviews in the next chapter!
I'm sorry this chapter had been delayed for waaaaayyyy over a month but I just couldn't get my inspiration to write back until I get the result.
Guess what?
A MIRACLE HAPPENED. I PASSED THE EXAM.
(I stared in disbelief at the e-mail sent to me for about ten seconds.)
Granted about 90 passed and they probably lowered their standards to admit that number. But whatever. A pass is a pass.
AND OH MY GOSH IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN TWO MONTHS.
The updates would probably be even more infrequent now that I'll become a working student but that wouldn't be until August so we have about a month of regular(ish) updates with us…?
I'm really, really, REALLY SORRY!
Anyway, here's another chapter!