"Are you feeling better today?" I asked Ivy, preparing my books for today's class.

She rolled on her side, hiding under the comforters, and slowly peeked with an eye, "I'm tired. I need some more rest."

I rolled my eyes at her, "Seriously? Some more rest? That's what you did yesterday! " I heard her groan as she detached herself from the bed and walked inside the bathroom.

Huh, this girl!

"SOPHRONIA FREAKING JASPER!" I shut my ears to save them from the impact of her ear-blasting screams. She hurriedly came to my side with her phone.

"You need to see this. Gosh dang, you are famous everywhere on the forum. People are talking about you... " Her rambling continued as I checked her phone.

What the! It was me shouting at Senior Xavier and all of them. "Tch! Listen there, instead of ogling at me, I guess you've got better things to do. Why not do that? Moreover, this freaking tension of you hormonal guys is very frustrating to the point of suffocation. So, if you excuse me, I have Mr. Air waiting for me outside. You guys keep on with your egoistic hormones! "

"You! Next time you come to start a fight, being all macho, then make sure you don't look like a fangirl of Blackpink. Stupid college dramas! Bloody hormonal men! "

Their remarks made me roll my eyes. These people have no other job, but to record other people's videos. They simply needed some juicy drama in their life. I returned the phone to Ivy, who immediately began reading the comments.

'Xavier needed to hear such shits.' Agreed!

'Wow! She looked damn hot while shouting.' Pervert!

'It wasn't needed. She just over reacted. ' A little bit, perhaps!

'Attention seeker.' Dumbass!

'She has managed to get Aylwin's attention. Lucky bitch! ' Not that I ever wanted!

And the list went on and on! I stopped Ivy, "Listen girl, if you're interested in such nonsense, go ahead and read it, please don't damage my brain cells in the process. I'm going to fetch myself a coke. Meet you in class." She nodded, and went back to writing her comment.

Let's see what I have to face now!

I was greeted with looks and stares as I walked down the hallway. I maintained my composure, smiling at some or otherwise keeping my gaze fixed on my way. As soon as I walked into the café, I went straight for Ben.

"Hey Ben! Good morning!" He was busy with brewing a cup of coffee for someone. A cheeky grin appeared on his lips as he raised his head.

"Morning Soph! How may I help you?" His voice sounded drained. He looked worn out, with bags under his eyes.

"One coke, please. Are you alright? You look tired." I told him as I handed him my cafeteria card.

"Just peachy! Soph, could you please do me a favor?" He inquired as he handed me my coke. I smiled as I nodded.

"My seven-year-old daughter needs assistance with her study. Her math is a little rusty. Would you be willing to tutor her for a few weeks before she gets back on track?" With unshed tears, his eyes pleaded with me. Something was wrong with him. I was certain he was concealing something from me.

Either way, I agreed to tutor her. Furthermore, after my lectures, I didn't have much work to do. So, I thought, I would manage easily.

"Thank you so much, Sophronia. My shift ends at 3. Meet me here and we can go together." He said it with a grateful smile on his face. With a wave, I returned the gesture.

Classes went fine, with just a few sideways looks that I blatantly overlooked. Since that night, things have been a little uncomfortable for both me and Winter. I had no idea what was going on with them, and it wasn't my place to ask. Instead, I told her that I would keep it a secret, but she was still embarrassed. After a long conversation, we eventually figured it out.

It was time for lunch, so we went to the cafeteria. We occupied ourselves with our daily chit chats while sitting.

"You saw the video, dang girl! "

"Look guys, please don't talk about it now!" I cut Damy off. "Let's talk about something else for a moment." No one pushed me, but they all exchanged glances.

"Someone's grumpy today! " Felix murmured, grinning.

I was unable to respond as Ivy nudged me, causing me to glare at her. "What was that for?" I demanded, irritated and on the verge of strangling her to death. She made a gesture with her eyes towards my back. I tracked her gaze only to be met with puzzled looks from them.

"What does she want now?" Saphy grumbled under his breath.

Faith and Claire, along with their friends, stood by our table. "Yes?" I inquired, unsure about what to do.

She sat in the vacant chair next to mine. Her fingers intertwined as she bent forward, "Last night, I saw you. I like your charisma and audacity. I have a proposition for you." She flashed a dazzling grin, revealing her pearly white teeth.

I didn't know what to say in response to her words, so I just let her go on, "What kind of offer?"

Her arms were crossed, "So, we're looking for a couple candidates from the freshman year for the student council, and I think you'll be fine for it. So, what do you say?"

Serving with the student council entails engaging with good students and knowing a lot of new stuff, so it wasn't a bad deal. I was greeted with shocked looks from my friends, who motioned me to say 'yes.' Nodding, I inhaled deeply. "Thank you for your offer; I'll join."

She smiled as she stood up "Thought so! On Saturday, at precisely 5 p.m., meet me in the student's club office. There, I'll explain more to you." She and her friends then walked away. I sighed, realizing that the day couldn't really get any better.

Ben and I went to his house together after my lessons. Ben's home was close to the campus. We came to a halt in front of a white two-story house with a small lawn. It was a pleasant neighborhood. As Ben knocked, we waited outside the front entrance.

A lady in her late forties or so was the one who opened the doors. Her complexion was caramel and she was a slender lady with light brown eyes. Her black tresses were neatly tucked up in a bun. Despite her tired appearance, she continued to smile softly at us.

"You're home! And who might this young lady be?" With a raised brow and a grin on her face, she inquired.

Ben motioned me inside, saying, "Soph, come inside." I was too preoccupied staring at anything to notice when he went inside. I stepped inside, hesitantly.

"Soph, meet my wife Grace Cyrus, and Grace, she is Sophronia. She is the one who will tutor our Lily. By the way, where is Lily?" He said, taking off his shoes and putting them on the shoe rack.

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Cyrus." I said as she handed me a glass of water and grinned.

"Ah, please call me Grace, and thank you very much for agreeing to tutor our Lily." I smiled as I nodded.

"Daddy! Daddy!" Within, a little girl dashed out and attacked Ben with a hug, making him laugh. They pulled apart, and I was taken aback. "How's it going for my princess?"

She just had one hand. Her other hand was just till shoulder. When I saw her condition, my heart sunk. Those people have a special spot in my heart. They aren't disabled, but they are differently abled, whom I appreciate a lot.

She tugged on Ben's dress while looking at me with wide doe eyes. Ben sat on his knees, crouched beside her. "Who is she?" I smiled as she whispered softly in his ear.

"Princess, she'll be your tutor from now on. Go ahead and introduce yourself. She's a nice person." She paused for a moment before taking tentative steps forward and reaching for me.

"Hello! I'm Sophronia, but you can call me Soph." I greeted her by holding out my hands for a handshake. Before shaking my hands, she took a good look at them. "Hi! My name is Lily." Her pigtails were dangling a little, she said shyly.

"She won't taunt me like those boys, because I just have one hand. Right, daddy?" She said as she rushed up to Ben. He wiped off a single tear from her eye with his thumb.

Grace approached her and held her closely, her eyes glassy, "No sweetheart, of course not! She'd never tease you, and you're our princess, remember!?"

"Lily genius? Come here!" I called. Her parents nodded, and she smiled at them. "Do you know about Helen Keller?" I asked, holding her hand. She shook her head in denial.

"Helen Keller was an American author, disability rights activist, political activist, and lecturer," I said with a smile.

"However, do you know, she was mocked and taunted by others, much like you?" She listened to me intently.

"She lost her sight and hearing at the age of nineteen months after a bout of illness," I continued, kissing her palm. Her mouth gaped wide. I smiled as I gently closed it.

"She can't see or hear? What was her life like? I feel so bad for her." Her soft voice rang out. "There's no need to apologize," I said softly, caressing her cheek.

"Despite the fact that she couldn't see or hear, she astounded the whole world with her skills and talents. Similarly, sweetheart, if you just have one hand, no problem! You can also do things that a person with two hands can't. If you just have one hand, it doesn't mean you're disabled; rather, it means you're so close to God, because he believes you're capable of doing too much with one hand that you don't need the other. Understood genius? " I tickled her while ruffling her pigtails. She chuckled softly, her tiny arm encircling my neck.

I cradled her closely in my arms, facing the other two pairs of teary-eyed eyes that gazed lovingly at us. They greeted me with smiles, and I gave them a reassuring smile in return. Their emotions were expressed without the use of words. It was a blissful moment as I brushed away my tears. I pulled apart and I saw her grin at me.

"Come on, genius, let's get to work!" I said, trying to cheer her up.

We entered her room, which was clean and well-kept. I discovered she was born with a disability. Lily Cyrus was a really bright student! Teaching her wasn't difficult at all. She grasped the ideas quickly and effortlessly. She quickly rose to the top of my list of people I admire.

After all, who doesn't like children!

Two freaking days! I hadn't heard back from Senior Aylwin after two days of texting. I wasn't expecting it, though!

My phone vibrated when I was halfway into my last class. Half of me tried to look at it to see if it was from him, while the other half told me to ignore it. I'd gone for the latter choice.

After classes, I found myself sitting in the cafeteria once more. I eventually got my phone out of my pocket and looked at my messages. My fingertips came to a halt over a single message that read:

"I have my reasons and situations."