Serena after thinking things through was looking fresh on that early Monday morning. One could never tell that she has been wallowing in self-pity that weekend for she looked like nothing was weighing down on her. She even looked like she was glowing.

Well, she indeed was feeling good and brand new. Last night, her friends went to visit her only to inform her that Charlton was lurking around their dormitory like a love-sick puppy since Saturday. They also said that it seems like he lost some weight. She was not a sadistic person, but she still felt some satisfaction from that knowledge.

After deciding that she will forgive her lover, she thought of how to make him suffer, well not too much but it should still be a lesson he will never forget. Lest he thinks that he can just do anything, and she will just forgive him. So even when she knew that Charlton was still outside the dorm, she did not go out.

--

Charlton, who was looking worse for wear, was up early in the morning. He took a shower and shaved his growing stubble as he did notice that Serena didn't appreciate it.

At 7 in the morning, he was already outside the ladies' dormitory, hiding at the spot beside the building behind a century old tree that the girls pass by on their way to the main building. The spot was perfect as he can still see people passing without him being seen.

It was quarter to nine when he saw Serena with her friends. She was even more beautiful than he remembers, and the rays of the morning sun made her glow. She was all smiles, and Charlton didn't know why, but he felt even worse. The thought of her being hurt with what he did was more comforting than seeing her smiling like nothing was wrong because it made him feel like, well, like he didn't matter. It was like she already put everything between them behind her and he was not even worth mentioning anymore.

--

Serena and her friends were actually trying hard not to laugh. They already saw Charlton behind the tree 30 minutes ago when they met in the lobby. They saw where he came out last time and already knew where he has been hiding since Saturday. So, this morning, they tried to see if he was there through the glass window. And there he was, hiding and looking at the passing people like an idiot.

"I think I left something in my room. Please go ahead. You'll be late if you still wait for me." Serena, thinking that Charlton was too pitiful, told her friends.

The girls nodded in understanding as they left.

Serena, who was still pretending, turned to go back to the dorm.

Of course, Charlton won't let go of this God given chance, so he went out of hiding to call her.

"Serena…"

Serena turned to look at him, trying hard not to smile and just forgive him then and there. She observed that he did look like he lost some weight, while under his eyes were dark eyebags that made him look like someone who haven't been sleeping for days. Well, good for him.

"Lord Daniel. What are you doing here?" She said, trying to sound indifferent.

Charlton was tongue tied. It looked like she didn't want to hear anything he has to say. But he wants to say them anyway. He had to explain.

"Please, listen to me… It was never my purpose to go there, I…" but his brain was not working with his mouth. He didn't know what excuse he can make. He had been thinking of this moment for the last 3 days, something like Serena slapping him again and all the drama. But in front of him was his calm girlfriend, or should he say ex-girlfriend, like she doesn't even have the time of the day to listen to his lousy excuses.

"And then?"

"I… I know I have no excuse for what I did. Whatever I say, in the end I still chose to go. But please Serena, just this once, please give me another chance. I would never let something like that happen again. I…"

"Is that all you have to say? I'm about to be late for my classes so…"

Charlton quickly stopped, feeling like he was just punched in the gut that he had to wince.

Serena finally took pity on him. He did look sincere and it looks like he truly was suffering. "Let's talk about it later."

Charlton who finally felt like the sun was again shining quickly nodded his head while eagerly saying "yes… yes... You're right. When can we… have this talk?"

Seeing him all eager, Serena could not help the tilting of her lips, so she quickly turned around, so as not to let him see it.

"Why? Do you think that you have suffered enough?" she asked.

"no, no… I don't think so. You may do with me as you see fit…" Charlton quickly replied, he was afraid that she might change her mind.

"Hmpft, I'll see if I have time later. If not, you wait tomorrow. By the way, stop hiding behind that tree, you look like a stalker with some sinister plans." Serena said as she walked to the main building. Though she really wanted to spend more time with him to have their much-needed heart to heart talk, she didn't want to be late.

When Serena said those words, Charlton felt that everything in the world was beautiful again. She haven't forgiven him just yet, but he felt like her forgiveness was not out of reach. So, with renewed hope and vigor, he followed behind her on their way to their respective classes.

--

When Serena arrived in class, everyone was looking at her like she was some alien who came in from planet Mars.

"What's going on?" Serena asked her friends.

"I'm not so sure, but I guess it has something to do with the results of the preliminary exam. That was all they were talking about since we arrived." Milly answered.

"I heard that the results were posted at the assembly hall this morning. I wanted to go and see, but we didn't have time to go out and look at it anymore. Perhaps, we should look at it later during lunch." Via continued.

Serena felt her heart throb. Did she excel too much that she topped the exam? No, really, she did consider that she might outperform all the students here. So, is this the part where she gets to be the smartest student around, finding her golden thumb? Hehe… well, it's too early to say.

Apparently, Serena was not too far off the mark.

--

Their first subject for the day was reading.

"Good morning everyone. Here with me are your exam papers. The first three people to be called are the top performer for this class. The rest of the papers are randomly arranged. First let me call on Ms. Via Gonzalez who got the score of 88."

There was an applause as Via went to get her paper from their teacher.

"Second, let me call on Ms. Emily Evans who got a score of 91."

Again, people clapped, but not too enthusiastically. Like they were just going through the motions.

"And lastly, may I call on the most outstanding student for this subject, who did not only get the highest score from this class, but from the whole batch. She perfected this exam. Please Ms. Serena Maxwell, come to the front."

Serena blushed as she went to the front to get her paper while the students of their class applauded her thunderously.

"Thank you, Sir, this was only possible because of your guidance." She said humbly as she smiled at their teacher and to everyone in class.

When she got back to her seat, Milly said, "Wow Serena! You're too awesome! A perfect score!? Really?"

"Guys, look at Emily, she's about to cry. I didn't even see her clap for Serena earlier." Gizel whispered.

"Ha! She sure fell off her high horse. I bet everyone in our class were so satisfied with you getting a higher score than her." Milly replied as she laughed.

Soon, the two stopped laughing as they received their paper with the scores of well, 63 and 64 respectively. Oh well, it's still higher than what they expected.

After distributing all the exam papers, their teacher started discussing the answers.

--

Their second subject was Mathematics.

"I should say that I'm not surprised that Miss Serena here got the highest score from the whole batch. A perfect score in mathematics! Please everyone, give her a round of applause." Mr. Sullivan said proudly.

Serena was his favorite student since the last time she solved that problem and told him that it was his brilliant teaching that helped her get the correct answer.

Everyone started clapping. After the class settled, their teacher started discussing the answers.

--

TBC