From The Perspective Of A Player

IV: Failing a test and loosing a friend

The previous week, Alex tried searching for Rachel in the school but couldn't find her. He realized they never exchanged numbers or any social media account.

He decided to wait in front of the gym after school. He doubted she was going to practice since the tests started last week. His reading paid off as he has seen some of the results of the test.

He had no idea how she was coping with the tests, practice, and the community services she volunteered for.

Right now, he was waiting for the results of his biology test, Biology was not a big deal to him, it was one of the easiest subjects he knew, maybe because he was curious about living things or because it was easy to understand. Either way, it was his favorite subject when he was reading it alone. The theory class was boring, the teacher always tried to crack jokes which was infuriating to him.

He sat on his seat nervously, he knew he shouldn't be, he had studied hard for the test. He glanced back at Rachel, she looked really tired but waved at him with the most enthusiastic smile she could muster. The teacher called the students name as he shared the test papers, Alex took a deep breath and looked at his test sheet.

He saw a red marker with a capital D on the sheet. He placed the sheet on his table again, took another deep breath and checked his grade again. He continued this sequence until he decided to check his notes thinking he probably made a mistake. He checked his notes, reviewing the mistakes. The teacher probably made a mistake he thought.

Standing from his seat, he approached the teacher who was sitting at the back of his desk looking at the students' reaction to the test results.

"Good morning sir, I think you made a mistake in some of the questions. I checked my notes and the answers are similar." He said in a very low voice.

"Alexandre. Right?" The teacher asked looking at his paper to which he nodded.

"I'm not like other teachers, I don't judge based on written tests only. Your grade depends on your participation in in-class activities and interaction with other students during practical classes. Then I'll judge your written test." He said placing his hands under his chin and his elbows on the table with a smile.

"So I failed because I don't interact in your classes?" He said with a straight face masking his bubbling anger.

" I understand you want to be a neurosurgeon, even if you're not sure yet. You're going to be a doctor Alexandre, you need to learn how to talk to people, you need to know how to approach people. It's like a training process." He slid the paper back to him.

"You're really good, judging from your answers. I'll use Rachel as an example." He gestured at Rachel, she was resting her head on the table tiredly as she was talking to a girl and a boy.

"She's just as good as you are but she interacts in class and is easy to approach. She's the kind of doctor patients would want to approach because they feel like they can share their problems with her comfortably. Do you see where I'm going with this?" The teacher continued raising his brows.

"Oh that's bullshit!" He said suddenly.

"Alexandre, you need to calm down." The teacher said calmly as if he was used to students outburst.

"No! I don't think a doctor should be judged based on interactions with patients, I want to be a Neurosurgeon not a pediatrician!" He was losing it slowly, he was attracting the class's attention. He couldn't control his anger, he tried not to react to most things but right now, nothing was fine.

"It doesn't matter what kind of doctor you want to be Alexandre, you still need to learn how to talk to your patients. Maybe you'll surprise yourself in the next test. Take your seat." He said in a still calm tone, standing up probably to address the class which infuriated Alex more.