I walked towards the office. There is a bench outside the room for students, if needed.
"Mm, hey, Morrigan." The usual buffoon with long white hair said, coming towards me.
"What is it, Rover? Don't you have a class to teach now?" I asked, as my gaze remained on him.
"Um, well, the principal said today that students can go home early. I came to inform you of that," he said, looking at me.
"Huh? Um, why? I haven't been informed about it yet, I think," I said, looking at him.
"...Um, to be honest, yeah, it was a sudden decision. Even so, I heard about it in the office." He whispered, looking around at students going to classes aimlessly.
Why whisper, though? It's not like this is a horror movie or something, haha. Don't break character. I thought, holding back my laughter.
"Anyway, that's about it. I'll go to class. You really have it easy, Morrigan, haha." He said, waving his hand as he went towards his class.
I rolled my eyes at that as I went inside the office. I took my bag out and put the picture on the table.
Mm... that buffoon also forgot to mention how long school runs today, though. I thought, as I took my phone out to check messages.
"Um, oh — there is a post. Mm, classes today are only up to 1 PM, after which students can go home. According to today's news, there are chances of homeschooling again due to pollution rates, so there may be online classes in the coming days. — Principal Giol Mavingsten."
That checks out. It appears that he posted the announcement on the school's phone. I guess I should have checked that in the morning. Well, I was sleeping outside the home, so it is what it is.
Whatever, though — it's not my problem. It's just leaving early. And it looks like, by his message, the state government has finally made it homeschooling or online classes again...
Tch... Again. I just hope it won't end like the past pandemic.
I thought, sinking into the steel chair before the desk with a computer and books in front of me.
The sound of the bell echoed throughout the school as the metallic ring filled my ears.
...Um, alright — class has started. I'll be teaching in the second period, so I have some free time.
Time passed as I went through my phone messages.
"Aunt, please come back. Just take care of yourself, alright though." It read. Ignored. Mm, though I did raise him well, I guess. I thought, smiling — then put on a frowning face again.
"Please. At least reply to my messages, Aunt." Ignoring it again, I thought, as I brushed past it.
"I am checking it, as always. Don't bother me, brat." I replied to WhatsApp.
I put my phone back down on the table and moved closer to the computer, turning it on as a bunch of emails started popping up on the screen.
I. Should. Have. Changed. My. Fucking. Email. I thought, annoyed, and dismissed the unimportant emails from the screen.
"Ma'am, is it possible to come to the company if possible?... Nephew."
...Why can't they just come to my home? It's not like I'll go elsewhere for some time. I sighed at the thought of it — especially since the pollution here is much lower than in other places.
...........
"And that's why the ball is spinning in a curved rotation," Rover said as it rotated. "It's called the Magnus Effect." He slowly put the ball on the table.
"Sir, isn't that basically how a football spins?" Leon asked, his eyes lighting up with curiosity, as Zack just looked at him blankly at his sudden interest. What's gotten into him being curious about this? Oh — sports. No wonder.
"Well, yes — that's one of the better examples. It works because the rotation interrupts the airflow." He said, watching the students' faces with a slight curl of a smile. "Basically, it's how fast you kick the ball, and how the kick forces the ball to rotate multiple times, depending on where the ball is struck," Rover said, simplifying things to make it more engaging.
"Damn... isn't most ball sport like that, then?" a student asked.
"Um, well, kind of — in cricket, for instance, we use arm strength to make the ball travel faster. Without force, it would simply fall to the ground, due to the lack of air resistance when you throw or kick the ball slowly."
"Mm, I see — makes sense, sir," Vinoth said, pushing up his glasses. "Also, sir, you may have forgotten to mark attendance."
"Mm, yes, I did forget. Right then — say your names." He took a black file in his hand and pulled a pen out of his shirt pocket.
"Vinoth," he called, looking down at the attendance file.
"Present." Vinoth stood up in a formal, disciplined manner. Other students murmured, some rolling their eyes.
"Noted." Rover marked a plus sign beside his name.
Vinoth gave a weird little chuckle and sat back down. Man, this dude is strange, the student next to him thought, scooting away.
Rover glanced over. Ha — children are like that. He thought, while continuing to mark attendance.
"Luna," he called, looking at a space next to a student who looked like he hadn't slept.
"Present, sir," Luna said from her bench in a near-whisper that almost everyone missed.
"Luna, try to say it more loudly next time, okay?" He said, marking her as present.
"Yes, sir." She said, almost shouting, her voice cracking as she sat back down.
Some students laughed when they looked at her — until Rover looked back at them.
Being annoying is funny now, or something? What in the world, haha... Leon thought, annoyed, looking back at the others.
"Leon," Rover said, looking at the student.
"Present, sir." He stood up slightly, glancing around.
"Good. So the only absences today are Lana and Daniyal, right?" Rover said, placing the file on the table.
"Yes, sir. They are the only two absent today." A student said, standing up and looking at the benches.
"I also have an announcement to make," Rover said, rubbing the back of his neck.
"What is it, sir?" Zachary asked, looking attentively at his professor.
"You'll all be having online classes from now on — not offline." He said with a sad chuckle, sitting on the edge of the table.
"What?!" The students shouted, looking at their friends in panic — some in excitement.
"Hell yeah — free time!" a student shouted, looking toward his friend.
"...I'm not going to comment on that excitement. I'm just asking everyone to study at least in their free time." Rover said, sighing.
"I will study, sir," Vinoth said seriously, glancing at Zack and Leon. "And I'll also make sure my friends do too."
"Well, good luck," Rover said, picking up the file. This kid would be a nightmare if I'd known him in my younger days. He thought.
"Also, school today will end at lunchtime, so don't wander around — head home straight after." He said, walking towards the door while checking his watch.
"And I'm stepping outside for a moment. Don't wander — there are still teachers in this building." He said, rubbing the back of his neck, his mask slightly lowering his voice.
"Okay, okay, sir! Don't worry!" The students said excitedly, delighted that their professor was gone.
"Still... online class. Will it be like 2020? I heard students got a free pass because of that," a student muttered to his friend.
"Nah, dude — that's not possible. The free pass was because of the virus, not online classes," the friend said flatly, putting his textbook into his bag.
"Well, the situation is more serious now, right? I mean, we already have the pollution — so there's not much difference." Another student said, getting out of his seat and glancing at everyone's masks.
"I don't know... maybe, maybe not. If the situation gets worse, they'll obviously give a free pass, I guess." The student said, glancing at the door.
"Everyone, go sit on the bench — next class is about to start," Vinoth said, standing at the front of the class and motioning for everyone to sit.
"Fine, fine, class leader — soda putti." A student said as some glanced at him, puzzled.
"Dude, if you're going to give nicknames, at least do it in English — I didn't understand a word of that." Vinoth said as everyone sat down.
"...Mr. Class Leader, go sit in your own place. What's the point of telling us to sit when you're standing in front of the class?" Zack said from the front bench, placing the next period's book on his desk.
He moved back to his bench, glancing back at Zack. There — happy?
Zack chuckled. "Yep, very much. Class leader — remember to come to the ground today, though."
Leon's eyes lit up, then dropped. "Nah, we don't have a match or game today because of the pollution — my parents won't let me go," he muttered to Zack.
"Eh, yeah, there is that. So no match today, I guess." Zack said.
Vinoth rolled his eyes and muttered to himself. What is wrong with these idiots? When did I ever say I'd attend? Maybe as a ref... no way am I actually playing.
A female student with a white mask over her face glanced around and sat next to Luna on the bench, turning to face her.
"Luna, is there a problem? You've been awkward since class started."
"I— I—" Luna stuttered in embarrassment, looking away. "No, there's no problem, Sneha."
"Ha. You think I don't know you?" Sneha muttered. "If it's something embarrassing, just say it in my ear quietly — I won't tell anyone." She whispered to Luna.
Luna's eyes lit up with relief. "Really? You promise?"
"Promise," Sneha said.
Luna leaned in and whispered to Sneha. "I have my period."
Sneha's eyes widened in surprise — she almost shouted. "Huh? How did your parents let you come to school?" She asked blankly, in disbelief.
"Um, well, I told them we had a test today, so they let me go... even if reluctantly," Luna whispered back.
"...Shh. I don't understand people like you, who take the hard way just to study — there isn't even a test today." Sneha said, sighing and looking at her.
"Next class is Mrs. Morrigan's, so you can go home after — I don't really think you should have come to school like this." Sneha muttered as quietly as possible.
Luna nodded thoughtfully, already regretting coming to school.
"Um, okay — but you have to come with me when I go to say that."
"Okay, sure — I'll come with you. But you have to say it yourself, though." Sneha said, walking back to her own bench in a hushed voice.