Chapter 66 : The result
Eiden felt his gut twist into a knot even before the professor began the announcement. He already felt no, knew what the results of the group project would be, and he was certain it wasn’t anything to be proud of. His entire posture drooped under the invisible weight of preemptive disappointment. His face bore the kind of gloom usually reserved for funerals or failed exams, and not even his usual passive mask could hide it. If he was the sole effected person he wasn’t going to be this sad but since it included evryone else in the project and that it was his fault made him guilty.
And yet, the moment had arrived. The professor, an older man with a stern gaze and a reputation for being ruthless when it came to grading, stood at the front of the class, expression unreadable as he held the result sheet in his hand. "We will now begin announcing the group project evaluations," he said with a measured tone. "Results will be shared in order of group numbers."
The class collectively tensed. Some whispered nervously. Others sat upright, their eyes trained on the professor like anxious prey watching a predator. Eiden didn’t even bother pretending to hope. His group was number 12, so they still had some time. The announcements began. "Group one: C-plus." Murmurs. Some disappointment, some shrugs. "Group two: C."
The air remained still, except for the occasional nervous tap of a pen or rustle of shifting students. One by one, the grades trickled out mostly C and C-plus. A few Bs sprinkled in, but nothing stellar. The highest so far was group eleven, which had received a clean B. That alone had earned a small ripple of surprised applause.
Eiden barely listened. He stared at his desk, eyes glassy. This was exactly what he expected if they managed a C-plus, he’d call it a miracle. Then came the dreaded moment.
"Group twelve," the professor said, pausing.
Eiden flinched. His stomach dropped. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Harry leaning forward eagerly, lips curved into a confident smile. Linda, calm as always, sat with her hands neatly folded. A couple of the others were visibly nervous but trying to appear indifferent.
The professor looked at the paper. Then he looked up. And for the first time in what felt like forever, a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "A-plus." Silence. The entire room froze. The moment hung suspended in the air like a glitch in reality.
Eiden blinked once. Twice. Did I just hallucinate that? He furrowed his brows and turned slightly to glance at the others. Even Linda looked mildly surprised. One of the group members gasped softly. Harry, meanwhile, was grinning like he expected it all along, nodding proudly as if the A-plus had been the inevitable outcome of his ’great contributions.’ Still, the room remained largely silent, unsure if they had heard right.
The professor, noticing the confusion, repeated: "Yes, group twelve has received an A-plus. That is correct." Shock registered on faces across the classroom. Someone actually whispered, "No way..."