‘what did you say?’

‘I’m staying your place tonight.’

‘you don’t even know me. And…’ well, I can guess what my mother is going to think when she’s going to see us together.

‘It’s not like I don’t know you at all. No matter how little we know each other. You helped me. So, I need to pay you back too. After that we can go back to being strangers. Okay?’

This girl can say some nice stuff after all. I looked at her and asked, ‘how do you intend to pay me back?’

‘well, but before, where do you live anyway? I guessed you live nearby, but where exactly?’

‘from here straight 5 minutes.’

‘wow. That’s neat. Its way too close to college.’ She paused for a second, then asked, ‘then why are you absent all the time?’

I didn’t expect her to remember me. I thought everyone forgot me as I skipped classes for a month. And I don’t remember talking to her before that.

‘none of your business. Give me back my phone. I need to call my mother to inform about you.’

‘I was curious about you a little nothing else.’

‘are you interested in me or what? For your information. I have no interest in you. I don’t even know your name.’

‘that really hurt. At least know your classmates. I’m Emilia (due to this Emilia girl’s threat, I’m not using any real name here. Obviously, he name is something else. But for now, lets pretend she is Emilia). And I’m not interested in you. At least not the way you’re pointing.’

‘then what?’

‘you got the highest marks in the entrance exam. So, as I consider myself somewhat studious, I wanted to beat you.’

‘then you probably beaten me already. I scored 58% on the last semester. And I’m planning to give up on next week’s exams too’

‘I got 92% on the last semester…’

‘don’t show off your numbers. They are just numbers.’

‘I’m not showing off. I’m asking what happened that we have 34% difference between us. And you won’t take the tests anymore? And you do skip classes a lot.’

‘what are you, my mother?’

‘I’m going to ask your mother too. She didn’t ask you?’

This girl way too much annoying. Oh, I just realized. My high school friends were saying the same thing too about me, that I’m way too much annoying. Listening to this girl’s blabbering made me sympathetic to my old friends who tolerated me.

I used my right to remain silent as she continued, ‘if I had done something like that, my mom would’ve killed me by now. And I’m now more curious about the incident happened just now. Why did you get punched in the middle of the night? What were you doing in the college at this hour? You didn’t even know my name. its hard to take that you came to save me. That was accident I can tell how you reacted when you first time saw me. You…’

‘SHUT UP!!! Give back my phone. I have to call mom.’

‘I won’t.’

‘Why?’

‘you can make a run after getting your phone back. You’re not trust worthy at all.’

‘if I’m not trust worthy then why are you coming with me?’

‘it’s just because your mother invited me.’

That’s news to me. ‘my mother, what?’

‘when you were dying…’

‘I wasn’t really dying.’

‘whatever. When you were intentionally lying on the road, your mother called. i picked up, because, well then things were pretty scary for me. A body in front me and two people could attack me again from anywhere. So, for help I answered your phone. I told your mother that we were studying for the exam and we lost the track of time. its quite late to return home. So, you offered me to stay at your place for the night. Your mother is very much understandable as she welcomed to your house.’

‘LIE!!!’

‘why would I lie?’

‘I live alone.’

‘don’t bluff now. Your mother did really call. Look.’ She opened the call history from the phone and showed me. Okay mom really called. still I said, ‘mom didn’t ask why you answering the phone?’

‘of course. I said you’re paying.’

‘For what?’

‘well we are studying since…well when did you leave your home today?’

‘about 4.’

‘that’s great then. We were studying since 5 to 11. So off course we need some snacks. So, you were paying for the foods in the cafeteria.’

‘mom bought that? And what kind of cafeteria is open till midnight’

‘I guess. She didn’t say anything. If not then it’s obvious that something going on between us and you’re bringing me home for something else. Well that’s pretty much the outcome will be’

‘that’s a pretty bad outcome for me don’t you think?’

‘well. You’re the one who asked me to stay in your home as we are studying late. you’re the one who want to force yourself to me. I’m in a helpless situation right now. I have to consider myself to you. I don’t want to stay outside in this chilly weather.’

‘what is your inspiration for these stories?’

‘well that’s pretty much you’re going to be accused for.’

‘give me my phone.’

‘as I said, I don’t trust you. Can’t give you. If you can, then take it. I’m not going to give you. And you’re not telling me about everything happened tonight. Like you know those people who attacked you. As was there with you, now I’m part of that too. It better not affects me later, okay? You’re not telling me that means you’re going to take care of that right?’

‘I intend to.’

‘And it’s not only for staying tonight. I now intend to stay tomorrow too. I seriously mean that I’ll stay with you tomorrow too. Forcing you to study. I think that will make me even for saving me.’

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

I wanted to say ‘that won’t help me. Go teach someone who want to pass the exam.’ But even I don’t know why I didn’t said anything else. Maybe because I can’t really snatch a phone from a girl’s pocket. Or maybe the more I’ll say the more she’ll ask me questions. For now, I’ll trust her. I gave up on calling home. in any case, she doesn’t have a place to go right now. She kept insulting me all the way but now she’s showing appreciation. Inside the cover of her insults, she’s a really nice girl.

SHE DID LIE AFTER ALL!!! When mom opened the door, if she was unaware of the situation, first natural question comes to her mind is, ‘who is she?’

I looked at her. Why that damn girl is smiling that brightly? For the first time I really wanted to kill someone. Mom asked again, ‘is this some kind of girlfriend situation? Do I really need to handle this now? elope?’

I had to stop her, ‘don’t get carried away now mother. Its not like that.’ Yeah, I need to handle the situation rather than getting angry. But nothing came to mind so I pointed at Emilia, ‘say what you have to say.’

‘why can’t you say?’

‘he’s kind of embarrassed about the whole thing. He’s always like that.’ What is she saying again?

‘he’s embarrassed?’

‘well it was hard for him to even ask me to help him study.’ She’s going with the study excuse again. ‘so, it took all day to point out the important parts to pass the exam. But then I realize he’s too dumb to study on his own. So, I offered him to teach him.’

‘your family is aware of that right? Can you call them? I need to confirm that.’

‘oh, off course. But one request.’

‘go on.’

‘I didn’t tell them my friend is a boy. I didn’t lie to them either. I just didn’t mention the gender. Is it possible…’

‘hmm…’

My mom isn’t going to drive her off or anything. That I know. She’s not going to scold or warn me anything either I think. And Emilia didn’t explain anything much either.

‘can I go inside? If you have any confusion about the situation ask her. She’s all yours. I’m going to sleep on the hammock, give her my room and please show her around our house.’

‘if you two are lying, then you’re going to drop her to her place then you can go inside. Till then stay here.’

‘if I could drop her then I would’ve done that. And Emilia, you called your house, right?’

‘yes. Trust me.’

You’re in position to say that. Mom’s already speaking with her parents. The way she’s speaking probably its her mother. After a minute of confirmation. It looked like she did call her home after all. And mom didn’t mention either that it’s a boy’s place. So, all looked like green signal.

‘last question, why was your phone was in her pocket?’

‘he wasn’t concentrating on study, checking texts etc. so I took it.’

‘I have no problem letting you stay here if its only for study related problem. But still, he asked you to teach him? Right after exam?’

‘ma’am exam isn’t over yet. Its tomorrow as its twelve past by now.’

‘no, I’m not talking about that.’ My mom looks a lot relieved. Well I can understand why. She must be thinking I am not confident enough about the entrance exam so I have now decided to fix this exam. But she doesn’t know. I’ve wasted one month to get into the college. There’s no way I’m going get rejected.

‘so, can I go now?’

‘not hungry?’

‘not really.’

‘I’m hungry.’ That shameless girl said by raising her hand.

‘that’s perfect. I only made for one person after all.’

Half an hour later……….

‘what’s with this awkward family of yours?’

‘what?’

‘already asleep?’

‘I thought I would be.’

‘get up. We’re going to study.’

So that’s how it happened. I couldn’t go to sleep. About a half hour later after having supper she came and dragged me to study.

‘if you want to prepare for exam then you can study on your own or else you can go to sleep. You really don’t have to bother with me.’

‘what are you talking about? From your mother’s perspective I’m your girlfriend and I need to take care of you.’

‘what are you talking about?’

‘well your mother and I bonded well. You don’t have to worry when I’m going to marry you.’

‘oh, good luck. What else you talked about?’

‘wanna know?’

‘no leave it, its going to be a joke anyway.’

‘you know intelligence isn’t a gift.’

‘oh…’

‘so, what was that exam your mother was talking about?’

‘not your concern.’

‘haven’t saw your father.’

‘not your concern.’

‘my father is dead though.’

‘please don’t joke about that.’

‘err… I was telling the truth though.’

After entering my room, I looked at her first time. her expression looks unchanged. I said, ‘my father is alive though.’

‘I didn’t mean that. Okay next question. Will you answer that?’

I gave up. ‘what?’

‘do you have any problem with your mother?’

‘not really?’

‘her son came home with his girlfriend yet she didn’t ask anything.’

‘that means she believes in me.’

‘believe? In you? Not at all. She kept asking me questions yet didn’t ask you at all. I don’t like this partiality.’

‘what did she ask you?’

‘how we met, my academics, about us.’

‘how long you’re going to put the girlfriend act.’

‘okay then teacher act. Let’s see. How much you’ve covered your study material so far?’

‘oh, let’s see, nothing.’

‘nothing means really nothing?’

‘don’t know what’s in the test.’

‘oh, I understand. That’s why you gave up. Understandable. Okay you can sleep now. and let me sleep. It was my fault for trying to help you.’

Wow this went better than I expected to be. I thought it would take a lot more time to convince her to give up. I was headed to the hammock in the corridor but then again she said, ‘how did you got into our college anyway? If you’re that dumb?’

‘I’m not dumb.’

‘how did you get that much more than me in the entrance exam?’

‘I got lucky.’

‘impossible. It’s the best college in the state. You can’t get accepted by being lucky.’

‘why are you so stuck up on beating me anyway? And heck you already did

Beat me. Is getting better grade is that much fun?’

‘I just want to beat you fair and square. That’s it.’

‘and if you can’t?’

She kept staring after me. Well that’s natural. Both of us didn’t expected that. What the hell am I doing. Why I’m getting worked up?

Finally, she answered, ‘if you beat me in this semester, I’ll do anything.’

Well exam’s tomorrow. I can see where’s that confidence coming from. Its obvious that she’s going to get more marks. Again, why I’m going along with this game. ‘how can you believe that I haven’t studied anything? I could’ve lied to you about that.’

‘your mother confirmed that info. She said that you wasted your whole six months by playing computer games.’

‘okay. I can ask anything from you right? Including your body?’

‘eh… you’re going to ask my body? Really?’

‘I dunno.’

‘okay.’

‘Then…good night.’

‘you’re not going to study?’

‘oh, I need my laptop though.’

‘I’m telling you I’m not taking this bet as a joke though.’

‘hmm’ I left.

Monday morning…..

‘aaahhh…’

‘why are you sighing?’

‘your mother was great too. It feels sad to leave like that.’

‘I know.’ Did you wanted to stay here forever?

‘we’re going to college together. How’s that from your point of view?’

‘haven’t thought about that yet. But more important is that how I’m going to handle my mother? Have any idea?’

‘just say her we love each other. But was too scared to act both night. That will….’

‘any decent idea?’

‘I don’t know. You’re not a girl. Shouldn’t be a problem, why are you asking me.’

‘and you still want to beat me?’

‘yes, I am, but man, you really want my body. You guys…’

‘you won’t understand like I don’t understand what you’ll get y scoring more marks than me. It’s a very big deal. A huge deal to order a girl to anything for me.’

‘wow.’

‘you won’t understand the grief of people like us. Who spent their most of the live being a shut in.’

She smiled a little. ‘you always talk that much?’

‘not really.’

‘have you studied at all? Why are you smiling? Where does our confidence come from anyway?’

‘I don’t know I can beat you or not. But I’ll try for sure.’

That’s enough then. So, lets part our ways here. I don’t want to be seen by others with you.’

‘I don’t care. I have no friends.’

‘why are you laughing proudly?’ okay I may have laughed a little.

As she went ahead. I started to think about what will be the after effect of the stealing. Well I expected there’s some after effect going to hit me about what I did that day. Buti didn’t expected the turns of events now going to happen from now on. She was really great at motivating me, her procedure was somewhat silly though. I even felt that I can score over eighty on todays exam. And I felt too that I can make her a friend. Who doesn’t care about others. Says what she likes. She literally abused me for two days but she always made that up with her slight sweetness. And on Monday, at 10:45, fifteen minutes before of the exam. We will probably be going to be just classmates anyway after the exam if I don’t get more marks than her. That I don’t want to happen. First time someone wished me luck before exam. And that’s when it happened….

HOD and couple of teacher and that lame guard from that night entered the room. Surprisingly they know my name, and that bastard identified me quite easily. I’m sure not cut out for a criminal. I was prepared for something to happen but not before the exam. They called me out of the room. And before I knew anything. I was suspended for unlimited time. If I tell them the girls identity who was with me that night, they’ll allow me to come to college after having suspended for the week. That means the whole semester exam.

There’s no way I could do that right? She said we are parting ways. And I said I will take care of these problems. The moment they dragged me out from the exam hall, I saw her face, she was so shocked which I ant even explain. That moment, everything just went south.