Marigold — Chapter 24

Mari’s POV

A yawn escaped my lips as I try my best to keep myself awake but every time I try to open my eyes, they automatically close too as if they have their own brain.

It is Friday today and I have my exams. I reviewed my lessons all night but I am no superhero. I’m not like Z who can remember everything, probably memorize the whole book. Besides, I have multiple lessons I need to study for different subjects. You can’t expect me to remember all of them.

"Hey Kate, have you reviewed your notes on this subject?" I asked my seatmate. She looked taken a back for a moment, probably confused how I actually know her name. Some of the students here are aloof. Scratch that. Well most of them. It’s either they are scared to approach us due to our social status or they hate us because of the same reason. That’s just it.

“I did,” she smiled timidly after she was able to regain her focus. She was smiling at me so shyly I felt a little bad that I am only talking to her because I needed some help.

"Do you have your notes with you?" I asked her again. She nodded too eagerly which made me sigh in relief.

"Yes. Do you need it?" she answered.

"If possible and only if you are done reviewing,” I said, not wanting to impose. “I haven't reviewed much about our lessons last night because I reviewed the other subject" I said reluctantly.

"Ohh, here is my notes" she said and handed me her notes. I smiled at her and which she returned, I only have, roughly five minutes to scan her notes. I hope this will make a difference though especially since I am too sleepy to even focus.

Before I could even open her notes, our teacher already went inside our classroom. All of my classmates stood up and greeted her.

"Good morning! Okay, now prepare your papers. Let us now start our exam" she said that made me nervous.

“Shit,” I whispered. Kate looked at me apologetically but I just smiled at her. It wasn’t her fault. I don't know if I can answer our exams. It's my first time not reviewing carefully. She started walking and handed out our exam papers.

Mom and dad will not kill me if I fail this exam but I will never hear the end of it from Latch.

When she gave us the cue to answer, I immediately looked at the questions and I grimace when I realized that most of the questions there is something I haven’t really studied. I did not get to review these items. I don't know what to answer. I already know some of these but many of these are unfamiliar to me. I just answered all the questions that I know and just guessed the others, hoping for my own luck.

"Time is up!" Our professor said and she started getting our papers. She then started handing the papers randomly to us so we can check it and she started dictating the answers.

When we're all finished checking, I saw my score. Not even half of the total score. I failed.

"Hey Marigold, what's your score?" Kate asked me but I was too ashamed to say my score so I just changed our topic, "Are you going home after this?"

We finished all of our exams in our other subjects this morning and I got a high score there but I'm still bothered of my failed exam. It's my first failed exam. When it's time for lunch, I said goodbye to Kate

It was just a tiring morning a while ago and I am now heading to the school cafe. I wonder if the guys are there. I saw how the other students were looking at my direction because I was alone but it did not even take that long. On my peripheral vision, I saw Z walking towards me but I didn't bother looking. For some reason, I was afraid to tell him what happened on my exams.

He sat in front of me and looked at me. I think he already knew that I have a problem. I bit my lower lip in embarrassment and hated the fact that Z can easily read my thoughts.

"Hey, are you okay?" He asked, but I just nodded. Z wasn't convinced so he asked again, "Are you sure? You look like you have a problem".

He went beside me and hugged me. It gave me butterflies on my stomach but I did not let him notice it. I was sure I heard someone squealing and that made me blush even more.

Damn Z for being able to make me feel like this.

"Mari," He whispered which made me smile a bit and blush.

A long sigh escaped my lips. I know I won’t be able to hide it anyways. This is Z. I can’t and I don’t hide anything from Z. Even when I was just treating him as my best friend.

"I failed my exam" I answered honestly. I saw how his expression changed. He’s probably upset or disappointed because I have never failed an exam before.

"You failed your exam?" He asked again to clarify it and I nodded.

"I’m stupid, I know" I said and it made me upset even more. I should have tried my best. It was simply my fault. I don’t even know why I am this upset right now when I’m not usually like this. “Mom and Dad will go crazy about it and I will never hear the end of it if latch finds out,” I told him.

Z hugged me again and said "No, they won't, you're their daughter, you're their princess. They'll be disappointed but they won't be mad. You see Marigold, I also don't like the fact that you failed your exam. I know you can do better than that. People makes mistakes sometimes, take that mistake as a motivation to study harder and don’t mind Latch. I can handle your brother," I can still see disappointment in his eyes so I just nodded and hugged him back.

"Thank you Z, you made me feel at ease somehow. Don’t you think this is the best opportunity for you to tutor me?" I said and I bit my lower lip as I try my best not to laugh and Z replied, teasing me, "Why do I feel like you intentionally failed your exam for this reason?"

I slightly hit Z's chest and we both laugh at the current situation. I’ve been seeing Z laugh openly now.

"Fine, I’ll help you study. But we have to do it in your house, on the living room because your dad will probably kill me,” he stated and just thinking about it makes me laugh once again. If I tell dad I will be studying in Z’s house, despite the fact that Uncle Sky and Aunt Max is there, he’ll probably flip. He’s been even more protective of me the past few weeks.

“Hey, guys!” my smile automatically faded the moment I saw Heron. The grin plastered in his face tells me he’s up to no good once again. I saw Atlantis following him. She was smiling at me so I did the same.

“You know, sometimes I hate the way your face openly shows how you are judging me, Gold,” he teased and I just rolled my eyes.

“Shut up. Just go and buy us something, I’m starving,”

Z and Y stood up to grab something to eat. Atlantis looked at me and raised her eyebrow.

“What’s up?”

A long sigh escaped my lips.

“I failed one exam,” I told her and she just patted my back. At least Atlantis won’t laugh at me for it. I put a mental note and reminded myself to ensure that Y never finds out.

My eyes drifted to where the twins are and then solely to Z.

I’m just glad I have him.

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