Unfortunately, things weren't going to pick up speed just because he hoped it to.

Time would go on with the same usual pace that it always has.

Even though it's with a different set of classmates and a different set of teachers but it still feels like the same old 5th grade.

The same old subjects, the same old class length, the same old lunchtime, and the same old bells will ring.

Some stuff has changed from here and there but it's still the same old same old for Alexander.

He may find some stuff boring. He may find some stuff interesting. However, he finds this monotonous school life to be a sort of anchor to the ever-changing world that his special existence is meddling around with.

If someone were to know of his true circumstance and wonder why he hasn't just home-schooled or quit school already... he would respond would be about how the structured-ness of education felt right.

At first, he likened this re-life experience as akin to 'Prison School' or tedious, however, it would seem that he had a change of heart. Now, it was comfort in tedious monotony.

Granted, that change of heart will change again. After all, you never know what to expect when it comes to the unpredictable twists in life.

Even more so when it's your re-life.

------

Of course, somehow... a way unexpected thing had become a constant in Alexander's life- the Jovovich.

"Today was fun." Milla commented as she waved goodbye to the plentiful of friends that she got acquainted with today.

"Which part?" Alexander questioned while they waited for Miss Galina to pick them up.

"Did you not notice what that Brian fellow do today or you just didn't think that it was funny?" Milla wondered if they were even seated side-by-side with each other when it happened.

Alexander had to read that scenario in context. "Whatever truth he identifies himself with... he's bound to be in an uphill battle for it."

In this context, this was the 80s and not the future, so being part of the rainbow isn't that tolerable as of yet.

"Well, I also happen to think that his earlier stint was humorous as well." Sensitive issues aside, the Brian duo's actions were an example of misunderstandings and ‘jumping the gun’ could go horribly wrong.

"Serves him right for thinking that my achievement is nothing special." Milla said with haughtiness.

"Mind you, you were the one who said that it was nothing special.” He reminded. "The Brian fellow was just echoing it albeit with questionable and dubious intentions."

"Isn't it fine if I say it and bad if others do it?" Milla defended herself.

"I think that's hypocrisy?"

"What does a hippo have to do with it?"

It's probably going to take a while if he checks the nuances of things, so he just went with it. "When a hippo swims about, it thinks it's fine. When other animals swim around too, the hippo attacks the swimming animal because it thinks that hippos are the only ones allowed to do so."

"I don't understand." Milla was confused. Probably because she knows that animals were territorial.

Not exactly the best hypocrisy lesson but Alexander thought it was fine but he had other ways. "Just think of hypocrisy as privilege, pride, ego, selfishness, and a bit of jealousy combined. A recipe that makes a scorn-filled villain like the Evil Queen from Snow White."

Milla shivered from being thought of being evil. "I don't want that."

"Frankly, I think having such traits is just being human, so it's not as bad as you think." Alexander interjected out of nowhere.

"So, is hypocrisy good or bad?" Milla could only ask from the sudden loop de loop of a concept.

"That depends. Like any good or bad thing... moderation and balance are key." As he said that, he realized that he was not exactly the right guy for this job, so he didn't say anything more.

Milica just shook her head at that. There are times that Alex makes sense, especially with business and whatnot.

There are also times that he doesn't and she could count this as one of them.

Eventually, Miss Galina's car was in view and the two of them hopped on when it stopped.

-----

Of course, this was the new constant that Alexander found in his life.

Heading home from class, there's Milla beside him.

Heading home from school, there's Miss Galina to drive them.

The same could be said the other way around... from home to class and home to school.

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

Even at home, the Jovovich were set to stay and help out for an indefinite amount of time.

Stuffy and weird as it may be... this was kind of the norm that Alexander has gotten himself into.

Old Sullivan was busy now more than ever and Miss Galina kind of just stuck it out with continuing this stop-gap babysitting or nanny job.

From what he could hypothesize, Alexander believed that Miss Galina was initially interested in this job to try and fish out something from a lead that she found.

A film production company owner was looking for somebody to keep an eye on his grandson and that was that.

She was in to make a mark and form career connections... but one thing led to another and here they are.

Suffice to say, this was an absurd and grey outlook of things but Alexander wouldn't discount this hypothesis as being paranoid.

Like Cocky Cox, Miss Galina was going for a tactical and rational plan for herself and her daughter.

If that's distasteful and disgusting for some people, then those people don't know what it's like to be yoinked out of their homeland and adapt to a completely different country.

Miss Galina's trick had been seen through by Alexander and so did his grandfather.

However, given the parallel between Old Sullivan's journey and their's... it made sense that the homeland-kicked old man is quite catering and even treat Milla very well.

Of course, these were all old news that Alexander covered in his passing contemplations.

What bothered him now is the fact that Miss Galina is okay with continuing this kind of job description the second time around.

With Milla's considerable career foundation being set, Miss Galina had already taken up the mantle of being her daughter's agent and manager.

He kind of thought that she'd go all in with that by now.

A likelihood in comic book character Charlie, a minor role in Back to the Future II, voice acting work, a back-to-school apparel model, and then a song under her credit.

These were considerably strong embellishments to a resume already and Milla should have a greater fighting chance in Hollywood than before.

Alexander kind of thought that he'd have a new caretaker by now and even Milla was probably off to a specialized curriculum for aspiring child stars.

Then again, by seeing it from Miss Galina's perspective... she could do all that but she could also continue with the unconventional but effective route that they had now.

They had a fighting chance now... but didn't they have their own steps to the stage already.

Alexander kind of put himself on a superior pedestal in this one... but, if he was in their shoes, he'll probably also do what Miss Galina is going for.

Since there are no complaints from all parties involved, it's just good that he had a full context of the dynamic that they had.

He didn't want to jump to the wrong conclusions and embarrass himself like his new classmate Brian.

Taking a step back and being open-minded to every aspect of a situation would do you a lot of good in the long run.

------

In the living room, Milla suddenly interjected. "Alex, what are you thinking so hard about?"

"Just putting my perspective in a scenario." Alexander answered while answering the assignments he has as well.

"It's just good it's not about our assignment." Milla was relieved. "I thought that we were given an extremely difficult problem that even you can't answer."

"Even if you say that, I'm still not going to share my answers with you." Alexander hummed as he just answered a trick question that would most likely stump her.

"Come on. It's fun that we're finally classmates this year." Milla grinned. "At least, teach me how to answer some of them."

"Fortunately for you, I can. After all, I'm not too busy this month."

"I noticed since you haven't bribed our teachers and our principal to let you have a lot of absences." Milla always found it enviable that the school lets Alex in and out without much trouble.

"By the way, if you're not so busy, what do you call this month." Somehow, she also knew of his weird ways to describe the month. "Is it not-so-busy September?"

"I'm not sure yet but it's most probably going to be Stuffed September." Alexander just eased her curiosity with that.

It only made her curious though. "Why call it 'stuffed' when you just said that you weren’t going to be busy?"

"You'll find out eventually." It’s September already so it’s only a matter of time.