Sarah jumped down from the cab, and quickly paid the driver, thrill rising in her veins. She couldn't wait to attend the party. Her friends were inside waiting for her. As she stepped into the small room, the garish neon lights illuminated the place, then, the scents of alcohol filled the air. And, the music from the speakers drummed on her ear drum as she passed through the crowd of college students, busy dancing to whatever song was being played. Some of them were already too drunk and wasted, and the party had barely even begun. Spilled cups were littered everywhere as she walked around, looking for where her friends were.
It was the last party on campus before the semester ended. She couldn't miss it. She had told herself over and over again throughout the walk down here. However, her conscience couldn't help but scream at her for being there when she was supposed to be reviewing for her final chemistry exam, which was scheduled for tomorrow at 8am, which was apparently today, only a few hours away. And here she was, partying.
“Sarah! "Come here”, her friend Anna waved at her, indicating for her to come over.
She turned to the source, to see Anna and her other friends seated at a small table near the window. They smiled widely at her and gestured for her to come over. She took a step forward towards them and her conscience screamed at her for the fifth time that night.
“I’ll just stay for two hours" she said to herself as she continued walking to go meet her friends.
As she approached them, they cheered and hailed her on.
“Finally decided to out of your study cave, huh!” Anna teased her.
" I couldn't allow you guys to have all the fun now”, she fired back.
And soon, the night went on with Sarah partying with her friends, drinking, dancing, laughing and enjoying herself like never before. Gradually, two hours turned into three and then four, and before she knew it she was drunk and wasted.
Staggering back and forth, she finally arrived at her hostel door. She fumbled with her bag, trying to get the key to her room out of her bag. With shaky hands, she struggled to unzip the bag, all the while swaying from side to side, lest anytime she could fall down. She finally got the door open, and collapsed immediately on her bed, very exhausted. and had almost drifted off to sleep when she suddenly remembered she hadn't studied for her chemistry final exam.
With a loud groan, she struggled out of bed. After many tried attempts, she finally got off the bed, putting her hands on her head in an attempt to stop the room from spinning. With a heavy sigh, she k sat down on the chair, close to her study table. The moment she opened her book to review for a bit, she fell asleep.
The beeping of her alarm woke her up, and she jumped up from bed realizing, she was ten minutes late to her chemistry exam. She quickly splashed water on her face, snatched her pen from the table, put on some socks and shoes and ran straight to the exam venue.
“Miss Denvers! "You're late”, Mr Brandon, the notorious strict lecturer said sternly as she walked in.
“I’m sorry sir, it won't happen again”, she quickly apologized.
His scrutinizing eyes scanned her sternly, taking in her appearance. She was a mess. She had bags under her eyes. The pounding in her head did nothing to help her situation. Her hair was scattered, she smelled of alcohol, and she was still in her clothes from last night.
"And why do you look like that?" he asked her, his expressionless face staring her down as usual.
Sarah's face went red with embarrassment, she looked to the ground, unable to meet his eye nor speak a word.
“What's wrong, or have you suddenly become dumb?” He continued, taunting her.
Sarah suddenly went mute, feeling very embarrassed. After standing in front of the class for a long time, he finally let her in to seat for the exam
“ You just have thirty minutes left, Miss Denvers, you will be submitting along with the others”, he said flatly as he sat behind his desk, his eyes engrossed in his laptop.
After the exam was over, Sarah couldn't help but stomp out angrily. Heaving with frustration, she ranted on and on to her best friend Lisa about Mr Brandon.
“Lisa, that man is a miserable excuse of a human being. What kind of person gives you just thirty minutes for a two-hour exam, after he kept me standing for about forty minutes?
“Not to mention the embarrassment. I’m sure he derives pleasure in disgracing and condescending people. He's probably a lonely, bitter old man with marital issues. I hope he ends up alone and dies a miserable death.”
“ Uhm Sarah!" her best friend said, breaking her from her ranting.
“What?” She snapped at her.
“I think you're on speaker, in the student lounge “
There was silence.
“ And Mr Brandon is standing right next to you" she continued.
There was silence.
Sarahs face shook with fear. She felt mortified knowing she had just got caught. Fidgeting with her hands, she slowly turned around with an apologetic face to see Mr Brandon, staring right at her, with an eyebrow raised questioninly. Around her, she spotted students with their phones, recording the scene. Hurriedly, she began apologizing.
"I thought I was on mute" she gasped
“I’m so sorry sir, I was just frustrated, I've been having a bad day, I really didn't mean to say all that", she kept on ranting again.
" Miss Denvers,” he said, cutting her short.
" I look forward to your appeal," he said at last, walking away.
For Sarah, the day couldn't get any worse than it already was. Within minutes, her video had gone viral all over the campus. Her heart sank to her stomach. She never missed an exam again.
