EPISODE 4

Naomi stood outside the staff room door, her hand hovering over the handle.

For a second she didn’t move. She exhaled, then knocked.

“May… I come in, sir?”

A pause followed, not long. But long enough to make her regret asking.

“Come in.”

His voice was calm.

Naomi pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The room felt different, quieter than the classroom. the silence was killing her because she didn’t know why she was summoned to his office.

A few desks were scattered neatly across the room, papers stacked in order, a faint scent of coffee lingering in the air.

Elias sat at one of the desks, focused on his laptop, he didn’t look up.Naomi walked a few steps forward, glancing at his laptop.

Naomi (in mind): But the semester just started, Why is he making exam papers already…?

she cleared her throat to speak “ uhm ..Sir… you called me?”

No response.he turned a page on his screen.

Naomi blinked thinking "Is he ignoring me?"

She shifted her weight slightly.

“Sir—”

Elias : “Late.”

The word cut through the silence.

Naomi : “…what?”

Elias finally looked up.

“You were late yesterday,” he said calmly “And today also .”

Naomi frowned.

“I didn’t want to disturb your class—”

Elias : “You already did.”

That shut her up, a flicker of irritation crossed her face.

Naomi : “Excuse me?”

Elias leaned back slightly in his chair, his gaze steady. “Did you understand anything I taught today?”

Naomi hesitantly said “…I—”

Elias : “Exactly.”

“You couldn’t answer a single question. You weren’t even following.”

That hit her, Not because he was wrong but because he said it so plainly.

Naomi looked away, annoyed.

“I don’t like chemistry,” she muttered.

Elias : “Then why are you here?”

She frowned.

“Because it’s compulsory,” she replied.

Elias nodded once “Then treat it like it is.”

Naomi’s brows pulled together.

“What does that even mean?”

“It means,” he said, leaning slightly forward,

“you don’t get to choose which subjects deserve your effort.”

His tone remained calm.

Naomi stared at him. For a second she didn’t have a comeback. and that annoyed her more than anything.

“So what?” she said, lifting her chin slightly.

“You’re going to fail me if I don’t suddenly start loving it?”

Elias held her gaze. “I don’t fail students.”

Naomi’s expression shifted—just a little.

Elias : “They fail themselves."

Naomi looked away again. This time not out of attitude. But because she didn’t know what to say. Silence stretched between them.

Elias : “Sit.”

Naomi blinked. “…what?”

Elias : “Sit.”

She hesitantly asked “…why?”

Elias didn’t repeat himself. That was answer enough.

Naomi pulled the chair and sat down reluctantly.

Elias slid a sheet of paper toward her.

Naomi looked at it.

Then at him.

And Then back at the paper.

Naomi : “…what is this?”

Elias : “A basic assessment,”

“If you don’t understand the topic, prove it.”

Her grip tightened slightly.

Elias : “You have fifteen minutes.”

Naomi stared at the paper.

Naomi ( in mind) : "What is this… a surprise test?"

She picked up the pen.

Her brows furrowed.

"Why does this look so easy and still make no sense?" Naomi murmured.

Time passed, the ticking of the clock suddenly felt louder.

She tried again and again. By the time she placed the paper back on the table she already knew.

It wasn’t good.

Elias picked it up. His eyes scanned the page.

Elias : “Three out of ten.”

Naomi looked down Embarrassment crept in quietly.

Elias: “That’s your understanding level right now,”

She didn’t respond.

Elias : “From tomorrow,” he continued, “I expect you in class before I arrive.”

Naomi looked up, “…what?”

Elias : “If you’re late,” he added calmly, “ I’ll start deducting your internal marks.”

Her eyes widened slightly.

Naomi : “You can’t do that.”

Elias looked at her with a smirk and said

“You want to test that?”

Her confidence dropped just a little.

“…that’s unfair,” she muttered.

Elias : “Is it?” He didn’t wait for an answer.

“You don’t attend properly."

"You don’t understand the subject, And you’re late.” 💢

Each sentence landed heavier than the last.

Naomi clenched her fists slightly.

“…how much?” she asked quietly.

Elias : “Two marks.”

Naomi exhaled sharply.

“That’s too much..sirr 💢!”

A brief pause.

 Elias : “Four then.”

Her head snapped up. “…what?”

“You seem to argue a lot,” he said calmly, “So now it’s four.”

Naomi immediately shook her head.

“No—no, two is fine.”

Elias didn’t even blink. “Ok ..Six then.”

“Okay, fine!” she said quickly.

Then, under her breath “…two.”

Elias looked at her for a second. Then picked up his file again.

“Be there on time.”

That was it.

Naomi stood up, frustrated and embarrassed.

Naomi : “…yes, sir.”

She turned toward the door then paused for a second.

“…why only me?”

Elias looked at her, “You want the honest answer?”

She hesitated but said “…yes.”

Elais : “You were the only one who was late to my class,” he said, “And the only one who couldn’t answer a basic question.”

Naomi : "but how did you know I couldn’t answer any question in class??"

Elias : (chuckled slightly) your expressions. I can read you like a book .

Naomi looked away, annoyed.

“That doesn’t mean I’m the worst,” she muttered.

Elias: “I didn’t say you were.”

A brief pause, “I said you’re not trying.”

Naomi opened the door and walked out.

The moment it shut behind her she let out a long breath.

“…I hate him,” she whispered.

Inside the room Elias looked down at the paper again.

“She just doesn’t try,” he murmured.

he closed the file.

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