Caught Red-handed

By Sya22,



Tick Tock Tick Tock. The clock was ticking and time was nearly up. Sweat rolled down my forhead as I racked my brains for the steps to solve the problem. I was in my classroom, having the Mathematics exam. The atmosphere in there was really tensed. Being a weak student in Mathematics, I was having problems with the questions in there. After a few minutes of recalling every single thing my teacher had taught my class, I finally got the solution and scribbled furiously onto the paper. I was getting more and more frustrated as time flew and the end of the paper drew near. I turned the page and stopped to read the question. I tried to focus but my mind was blank. "Concentrate!!!" A small voice at the back of my head commanded. I clenched my fists and furrowed my eyebrows. I read the question a few times. I drew models to help myself, but found that I was probably getting the wrong concept.

I dug into my pencil case for my eraser. Suddenly, my hand touched something soft. I glanced into the pencil case. There, in my hands, was a piece of folded paper, all scrunched up. I wondered when I had put it in. I finally recalled sliding it into my pencil case after I wrote down the notes on what Ms Tan was teaching a few days ago. I stared at the paper for a while.

Then it hit me. Was it possible for me to use this piece of paper to solve the problems? I wonder if anyone was going to catch me. What if they managed to do so? I was having second thoughts about doing it. Should I? I wondered. I looked at the clock - only 10 minutes left! "Just do it!" I told myself. Since I was sitting at the back corner of the classroom, the chance of anyone seeing me was very low. I hid the paper under the table and unfolded it. I glanced around and looked at the notes. "Ahah!" I whispered to myself, scribbling away. I took another glance at the paper, then continued to finish solving the problem sum. I put the paper under my table.

Unfortunately for me, the fan above me made the paper fly onto the floor. Obviously, the invigilator, Mdm Lim, had noticed as she was already pacing towards me. Mdm Lim was looking at me with suspicious-looking eyes. She crouched over the paper and picked it up, then walking towards me and asking, "Is this paper yours, Syakirah?" I opened my mouth but not a sound came out. I felt as if there was a lump in my throat. After getting my voice, I stammered, "Y-y-yes..." I finally got a severe scolding and punishment and my parents were informed. I was caned and grounded for two weeks.

Now, a few days after that incident, I am looking out of the window, green with envy of the children playing outside, under the hot burning sun. "Well, I guess it's my fault too," I said, sighing. I really regretted what I had done and wished that I had never even thought of it.