The next lecture was Professor Marcus’s history class, known for his calm demeanor and genuine interest in his students. Unlike Adrian Blackwood, whose strict and cold presence made students nervous, Marcus brought a sense of comfort to the room.
Elena walked in quietly, her mind still clouded by the humiliation she had faced in Adrian’s class earlier. Gabriel and Andrew flanked her, offering silent support. They chose a bench near the middle, close enough to focus but far enough from the front to avoid drawing unnecessary attention.
“Let’s sit together,” Gabriel suggested, patting the seat next to him.
Elena nodded, taking the middle spot, with Andrew on her other side. She tried to push the earlier events out of her mind, determined to focus on the present.
As the students settled in, Professor Marcus entered the room with his usual warm smile. He adjusted his glasses and scanned the class. His eyes briefly landed on Elena, and he nodded approvingly.
“Good morning, everyone,” he began, his tone friendly yet professional. “I hope you’ve all come prepared for today’s discussion.”
The students murmured their greetings, and Marcus began writing the day’s topic on the board: “The Evolution of Political Systems in Medieval Europe.”
Gabriel leaned toward Elena and whispered, “This guy’s a breeze compared to Blackwood. You might actually enjoy this class.”
Elena offered him a faint smile. “I’ll try.”
—
The lecture began, and Marcus effortlessly guided the class through complex historical events, simplifying them in a way that made them engaging. He asked questions occasionally, encouraging participation.
“Elena,” Marcus called out, his tone kind but firm, “can you tell me what triggered the Magna Carta’s creation in 1215?”
Elena blinked, momentarily caught off guard. She had read about it in her textbook but struggled to recall the exact details amidst her distracted thoughts.
“Uh… was it due to King John’s heavy taxation policies?” she ventured hesitantly.
Marcus nodded, pleased. “That’s correct. The barons were dissatisfied with King John’s excessive taxation and his arbitrary rule. Well done.”
Gabriel nudged her lightly. “Look at you, impressing the professor.”
Andrew smirked. “Maybe Marcus will give you a gold star.”
Elena rolled her eyes but couldn’t help feeling a small sense of pride.
About halfway through the lecture, Marcus paused and glanced at his notes. Then he turned his attention back to the class.
“Before we continue,” he began, “I’d like to acknowledge a student who performed exceptionally well in last week’s surprise test.”
The room grew quiet as the students exchanged curious glances.
“Elena Harper,” Marcus announced, his voice full of admiration. “Your answers were very thoughtful and written in a deep understanding of the subject. Well done.”
Elena froze, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink. She wasn’t used to being praised publicly, especially not in front of her peers.
Gabriel grinned and leaned closer. “Look at you, star pupil.”
Andrew gave her a mock salute. “All hail Elena, queen of history.”
“Stop it,” Elena whispered, trying to hide her embarrassment.
But Marcus wasn’t done. “Elena, could you come up here for a moment?”
Her heart sank. She hated being the center of attention, but there was no polite way to decline. With a deep breath, she stood and made her way to the front of the class.
Marcus smiled warmly as she approached. “I want the class to know that hard work and focus can lead to results like these.” He handed her a paper with her test score at the top-an impressive 95%.
“Thank you, Professor,” Elena said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
As she returned to her seat, Mia, sitting a few rows away, shot her a glare. “Of course, the golden girl gets all the praise,” Mia muttered under her breath, loud enough for a few students to hear.
Gabriel, catching the comment, turned and shot Mia a warning look. “Jealousy doesn’t look good on you, Mia.”
Mia scoffed but didn’t respond.
Back at her seat, Elena placed the test paper in her notebook, trying to focus on the lecture again. But her mind wandered as she thought about how proud her parents would have been if they’d known. The reminder of her family’s struggles brought a bittersweet feeling, and she sighed softly.
“Hey,” Andrew whispered, nudging her arm. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” she lied, offering him a small smile.
Gabriel leaned closer, his brow furrowed with concern. “If you need anything, you know we’re here, right?”
“Thanks,” she replied, grateful for their support but unwilling to burden them with her problems.
As the lecture continued, Marcus maintained his engaging style, encouraging discussions and asking thought-provoking questions. At one point, he divided the class into small groups for a brief activity.
Gabriel, Andrew, and Elena naturally formed a group, their bench becoming a hub of whispered ideas and occasional laughter.
“Elena, you explain this,” Andrew said, sliding the textbook toward her. “You’re the history expert now.”
“Hardly,” she said, rolling her eyes but taking the book anyway.
Gabriel smirked. “Don’t be modest. We’re relying on you.”
Their banter drew a few amused glances from nearby students, and even Marcus noticed the camaraderie in their group. He smiled to himself, pleased to see his students working well together.
As the class neared its end, Marcus asked each group to share their thoughts and do team work. Elena, despite her earlier reluctance, spoke confidently, her voice steady as she presented her group’s conclusions.
“Excellent work,” Marcus said when she finished. “Your group’s analysis was thorough and well-articulated.”
When the class finally ended, students began packing their bags and heading out.
“See?” Gabriel said as they walked toward the door. “Marcus loves you. You’ve got this.”
Andrew nodded. “Yeah, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
Elena smiled, feeling a little lighter despite the weight of her family’s troubles still lingering in the back of her mind. For now, she allowed herself to enjoy the small victories.
But as they left the classroom, she couldn’t shake the feeling that her troubles were not over yet.