Homeroom is a unique subject that differs from others. It doesn't follow the same typical structure of a traditional subject, as it doesn't rely heavily on lectures, activities, or tests. Instead, the subject purpose is to guide students in their career paths and help resolve class disputes. It functions more like a consultation than a typical academic subject.
The advisor is the one who handles the homeroom, making them the homeroom teacher, and their duties include the tasks mentioned earlier. But does Ma’am Miranda follow through with these responsibilities? Is she good at helping students with their problems, or bad at it? Or does she even care? Ultimately, it depends on how Ma’am Miranda demonstrates her spirit as a teacher, and it's up to her students to judge.
Homeroom is supposed to be held once a week, yet Ma'am Miranda showed up yesterday. She wasn't supposed to because they already had one the day before. And what happened to the teacher who was supposed to be teaching during that period? Ma'am Miranda likely asked this teacher to lend their time for a reason. It could be due to discussions about seating arrangements and class officers, but that would be unusual for the first week.
But now, what could it be? After the break, is homeroom still going to be the next subject? Did Ma'am Miranda borrow time from another teacher again? This question will be answered once the break ends and a teacher enters the room.
“Hello everyone.”
This teacher was a woman, apparently not Ma'am Miranda.
“I believe this is the first time we’re meeting, right? We were supposed to meet yesterday, but unfortunately, some circumstances caused our first meeting to be canceled.”
Some circumstances she said, and didn't spill what the reason was. She also didn’t indicate that Ma'am Miranda was involved at all. So, it’s safe to assume that they’re not connected. That’s what others want to believe, but it’s hard to ignore the timing from yesterday.
“Since this is our first meeting, I'll introduce myself. I'm Alayna Arevalo, and I'll be your teacher for the Personal Development subject. Nice to meet you all,” she said casually and continued, “Now that I’ve introduced myself, I’d like each of you to do the same.”
Like any other subject on the first day, she followed the usual routine of first time.
“However, there’s a twist. I want you to share three things you like and three things you dislike. First, write these details on a quarter-sheet of paper: your name, age, birthday, and your likes and dislikes. Then hand it to me, and we’ll draw names to decide the order of the sharer.”
Here’s how the procedure will go: After collecting the papers, Ma'am Arevalo will shuffle them thoroughly. The person whose paper ends up on top will introduce themselves first.
Then the student who got called will stand to the front and introduce themselves using the details they wrote on their paper. After their introduction, the student will pick a paper from the teacher’s hand that is spread like a deck of cards, to determine the next student. And so on, the process will then repeat.
It's just a simple introduction with a twist, just the usual in the class. The twist has been used too often for introductions; since it's not the first time. What else is, it’s already a common activity that many teachers use with their students.
So, it’s just a normal self-introduction, sharing information that others might not listen to. Nothing makes changes and nothing harms. However, this type of twist is often underestimated. The information shared such as likes and dislikes doesn’t affect others much. Who cares what you like or dislike? Most people wouldn’t mind. While likes and dislikes may seem trivial, once they align among students, it could impact future relationships in the class and possibly establish a hierarchy. And there might be ups and downs to navigating this social dynamic within the class.
So, without further ado, they started the student self-introductions. They followed the same procedure: shuffle, introduce, and pick. Once a student is chosen, the teacher calls them.
“Okay, the first one to introduce is… Batungbakal.”
Hearing his name, Jose stood up. “I'm Jose Batungbakal, 17 years old. My birthday is on March 20. And the three things I like are games, spicy foods, and movies. Then my three dislikes were sweets, losing in a game, and spoilers.”
“So those are your likes and dislikes, but can you be more specific? For example, which games do you like? What types of sweets do you dislike?”
“Okay, ma’am. The games I usually play are; League of Legends and sometimes MMORPGs like Albion Online. And, as you might guess, I dislike losing in a game,” Jose said naturally. Although it might sound like a joke, his serious expression suggested otherwise. Without pausing, he continued sharing, “For food, I like anything spicy. I also dislike sweets for the same reason. As for movies, I enjoy all genres… well, except for romance. I’m not fond of that genre. I want to enjoy the movie in first experience, so I avoid spoilers.”
“Okay, Batungbakal, thank you for sharing more about your likes and dislikes. You mentioned you dislike losing in a game. Does that mean you take gaming seriously, like a professional, and do whatever it takes to win?”
“Um… no, ma’am. I’m neither a pro nor do I take it that seriously. I just really hate the feeling of losing. But it could be said that I'm trying my best to win somehow.”
“Oh, is that so? Then, if you treated academics like a game, would you try your best not to lose or get lower grades?”
“I don’t think my mindset in gaming can apply to academics, because those two are different. But, I guess, I’ll try my best to be serious about my studies.”
“Oh, I'm hoping to see that, okay?”
“Haha, right…”
Expectation fell to Jose's back, regret already weighed on him as he realized what he had said. He’d just followed the mood without thinking twice about his words. Now, he could only hope the teacher wouldn’t take him seriously.
“Alright, we've spent enough time on this. Let's move on to the next student. So Batungbakal, pick a paper.”
Jose doing so picked a paper from the teacher’s hand. Unexpectedly, the next person was someone he knew, causing him to smirk as he returned to his seat.
“Okay, the next student to share is... Cabanas.”
When Adrian was called, he stood up and introduced himself as Jose did.
Name: Adrian Cabanas
Age: 16 years old
Birthday: September 20
He followed the procedure, starting with basic information and adding the twist afterward.
Things Adrian like #1: Games
Things Adrian like #2: Books
Things Adrian like #3: Music's
Those were Adrian's three likes. They weren't anything special—just pretty normal. Even though this was all about Adrian, someone was unsatisfied and reacted with, “Huh?!” And that reaction came from Jose.
“Is something wrong, Batungbakal?” Despite Jose's voice not being very loud, the teacher still caught on to what Jose said.
“Nothing, ma'am. I just coughed.”
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“Really? Now that I think about it, do you two know each other? I noticed earlier that when Batungbakal picked a paper and happened to choose Cabanas's, he smirked at you.”
The teacher also noticed it, even though it was just a moment.
“Yes, ma’am. We were classmates back in junior high,” Adrian confirmed the teacher’s suspicion.
“So, technically, are you friends or not?”
“We're friends.”
“No wonder you have similar interests. You both like games. Wait, don’t tell me you dislike losing too?”
The teacher guessed correctly. Adrian and Jose share a common trait: not only do they like gaming, but they also hate losing, whether in a team or against each other.
The teacher wanted to confirm something, “What types of games do you play together? Are they cooperative, or do you compete against each other?” she asked.
“Oh, we play both.”
“Wait, you both hate losing, right? How does that play out?”
“I don’t understand, ma’am. What do you mean?”
“Well, I mean, if you both hate losing, how do you handle it when one of you loses or is defeated?”
“Ah, that’s…”
“We simply just trash talk,” Jose the one who answered the teacher's question. “Whether we're on the same team or competing against each other, we always trash talk.”
“Oh, that sounds a bit harsh. Don’t you think? It’s a kind of toxic relationship between friends.”
“It might be toxic, but that’s how our friendship works. Most of us in this classroom can relate.”
“Everyone, do you agree with his statement?”
The teacher asked the other students, but it was met with a silent stare. It was evident, no one wanted to agree with what Jose had said.
“Looks like your classmates aren’t siding with you at all.”
“It’s okay, I understand the situation. They probably don’t want to admit they have the same attitude, wouldn’t they? As it might give a bad impression.”
“Oh? So you’re aware of that. Then why did you still say something like that?”
“Heh that trait is limited only to gaming, so sharing it isn’t a big deal. Besides, I’ve already said it, there’s nothing I can do about it now. And actually, I’m a nice person.”
“Proclaiming yourself to be a nice guy, but a decent person wouldn’t need to say that. It’s like a stranger claiming they’re not suspicious—wouldn’t you feel doubtful?”
“It depends on the person whether they believe it or not. Nevertheless, nothing has been proven yet.”
“Yes, that’s right. Now, that statement contradicts what you said earlier. It doesn’t confirm that you’re a nice person.”
“Well, it’s better to trust someone to be good than to assume the worst, right? I can guarantee that I am nice.”
“Hmm, let’s see if that’s true this school year.”
The students in the classroom are new faces; so nothing can be certain yet. Senior High lasts 2 years, which is more than enough time to get to know someone or for their personalities to show. And the teacher believes that Jose, or most students at first, is very cautious around others. They are shy about revealing their true selves, or at least that's what the teacher thinks.
“Wait a minute, why are we talking about you again? It should be Cabanas' turn by now,” the teacher suddenly realized. “Sorry about that, Cabanas.”
“It’s okay, ma’am,” Adrian replied, unfazed.
“But tell me, do you agree with what Batungbakal said?”
“Well, for me, it's different. Yes, I said I hate losing, but I’m pretty chill about it. I’m not toxic to anyone, not even my friends, even if it’s just a game.”
“What? You’re talking nonsense,” Jose interrupted again. “You disagree with me? How so? The two of us are the same—talking trash while playing games. What's else, when did you start liking books and music?”
“That? Just recently.”
“Recently? It’s hard to develop a genuine interest in something in such a short time. I’d say you’re just putting on a front.”
“I just want to try new things. Is that so bad?”
“Well… there’s nothing wrong with it, but…”
“Okay, stop right there, you two,” the teacher interrupted them. “Please, Cabanas, continue your sharing. We’ve already wasted enough time.”
“Okay, ma’am,” Adrian said, ending the quarrel with Jose and resuming his introduction.
After covering the three things he likes, he effortlessly transitioned to sharing his three dislikes.
As for Adrian's three dislikes, one of them was mentioned earlier: his dislike of losing in a game. It was the same with Jose. Also, having a similar attitude, probably because they play games together frequently.
Then, as for the other two dislikes, they’re not significant. However, Adrian's list contrasts with Jose’s, as Adrian dislikes both spicy and sweet foods, which doesn’t align with or significantly differ from Jose’s preferences. Since Adrian hated spicy food, he would immediately decline whenever Jose brought something spicy food to share. That's where their food preference stands to differ.
Ending his introduction with a cough, this concluded Adrian’s turn.
“Okay, thank you Cabanas for sharing. Now, pick a paper for the next student.”
Not wasting any further time, Adrian quickly picked a paper and soon called on the next student. At this point, the activity proceeded smoothly. They reduced the amount of commenting to avoid wasting time on unnecessary discussion, which had been the issue earlier.
The sharing of likes and dislikes had returned to normal. The preferences they shared were quite ordinary. Some liked reading but differed in format—some preferred physical books, while others read online, likely on Wattpad. Additionally, their genre preferences varied. Each has its genre preferences. The same goes with students who enjoyed watching TV series or movies that also had their favorite genres or were not interested in them.
Music is also one of the student's interests, including specific types of music and particular singers or bands. While a few discuss genres, most focus on individual artists or groups they like, such as singers such as Taylor Swift or the band Ben&Ben.
Some students also like to play games, and their preferences vary widely. Since they shared a similar interest as Jose, the teacher asked them if they agreed with what Jose had said. Reluctant to answer, they could only reply to the teacher with a scratch on their head. But in the end, it was just a joke on the teacher’s part, so she didn't press them any further.
Then, when it comes to their dislikes, they are very cautious with what they say. To avoid offending others, they usually opt for the least controversial options, which is the safest option is to be food-related. Spice, sweets, vegetables, Spices, sweets, vegetables, and other foods they perhaps genuinely dislike. Aside from food, another common dislike, especially among girls, is insects. Many females find insects disgusting due to their strange appearance, movement, or body structure—like having too many legs or a hideous look. A prime example is the cockroach, a tiny creature that can make any girl scream, especially when it starts to fly.
The activity is lively, but what Jose and Adrian did was intriguing, even though the content of their conversation was quite something. But the boldness they showed is daring, and the teacher likes that. She hoped others would also share their true thoughts without any worry. Being wishful about it, someone unexpectedly mustered the courage to speak, but not in the way the teacher had hoped.
“I hate BTS.” Someone boldly claimed.
With this simple sentence, the majority of the class focused on the speaker, and some showed irritation on their faces.
“Excuse me, why?” asked the teacher.
“Because they’re cringe. Their dance and songs aren’t even that good. Moreover, their fan base is the worst.” This male student expressed his feelings candidly, showing his genuine hatred for BTS.
Some students found his statement a bit frustrating, and the majority affected by it were girls, who were likely BTS fans.
BTS is a boy band that made a name in the K-pop world; popularizing themselves and captivating millions of fans worldwide. And it seems like there are also fans within the classroom.
It's understandable why they would feel upset. After all, who wouldn't be bothered if someone started dissing their favorite band? Exactly no one would like that. However, these fans in the class are surprisingly holding back from causing a scene, even though their expressions clearly show their frustration. Anyone could notice it, even the teacher.
“Alright, stop right there,” the teacher urged the student. “You must hate BTS that much, don’t you?”
“Yes, down to my bones.”
“... Okay, thanks for sharing.”
Once that student finished his turn, the introductions continued as if nothing had happened, and the activity ended without any issues.
The teacher felt relieved that nothing bad had happened regarding what happened in the introductions of the three students. Overall, the activity went well.
“Alright, this concludes our activity. Thank you all for participating and sharing about yourselves. And with there, I hope this encourages you to treat each other kindly and find common interests to talk about.”
The activity served its purpose, as the teacher had intended. She wanted the students to connect as friends rather than just classmates, hoping they would naturally form groups or circles. While it wouldn't happen instantly, it likely wouldn’t be long before groups form here and there.
And that’s likely to happen sooner than she expects. However, she did not anticipate that a hierarchy would already be established right at this moment.