By: May Triranto Maharini
I got my math exam result today. My friends were happy, but I was not. It was because they got better grades than I did. I only got a D. Bobby who sat next to me yelled, “Yaay I got a better grade than you..!” I was really sad and felt ashamed.
The bell rang, it was time to go home. I saw my friends smiling as they walked out of the classroom. I couldn’t smile. I felt that I was the most stupid student in the classroom. I just looked down as I walked leaving the school front yard.
I saw Mom’s car waiting for me in front of the school’s gate. I usually ran to get in the car. But today, my body felt heavier than before. So I walked slowly. I got in the car and sat next to Mom. Mom smiled and hugged me as usual, but I was not brave enough to look her in the eye.
On our way home, I didn’t speak at all. I was afraid to talk to Mom about my exam result.
“It’s weird.. I haven’t heard your voice since you entered the car..” Mom said. “Is there something that you want to tell me?”
I shook my head constantly. I really didn’t want her to know. What if she is angry and scold me after she knew it? What if she doesn’tlove me anymore? I was so worried.
When we arrived home, I went to my bedroom to change. After I changed, I took out the exam paper from inside my bag. I stared at it again. Then I took my previous exam paper from my drawer. I compared it with them. It was my first bad grade. At that moment, I felt my tears dropping on my cheek. I was so sad and confused. Mom always knew I always got good grades in exams and she was about to know that I was not that smart anymore.
Suddenly, I heard Mom knocking on my bedroom door. “Eric! Have you changed already?” she called me from behind the door. I immediately wiped my tears and stored all my exam paper back into the drawer. Right at that time, she opened the door.
“What are you doing, Eric?” she asked. Luckily I was done storing my exam paper in the drawer.
“Nothing, Mom,” I said.