The Last Paper – A Sense of Relief
The soft rustling of papers and the scratching of pens echoed through the large exam hall as the final paper of the term commenced. Spiritual Leadership and Public Speaking—the last subject on the schedule—was one of the more anticipated exams, as it allowed students to demonstrate both their knowledge and articulation skills.
Maria sat at her desk, her hand moving swiftly over the paper. The questions were challenging but manageable, and she felt confident in her responses. Across the room, she noticed Kate glancing at her paper with an intense look of focus, while Emily, seated two rows ahead, was scribbling with determination.
As the exam neared its final fifteen minutes, Maria quickly reviewed her answers, ensuring that everything was written clearly and concisely. She let out a small sigh of relief, realizing that this was the last hurdle before a well-deserved break.
When the examiner called, "Time's up! Pens down, please," a wave of exhales and stretching rippled through the room.
The students gathered their belongings and made their way toward the cafeteria, their moods lighter and more relaxed than they had been in weeks.
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Celebration at Lunch
The cafeteria was buzzing with excitement as students celebrated the end of their exams. Maria's group found their usual table, their plates piled with fresh bread, fruit, and warm tea.
Kate: (grinning as she took a sip of tea) "I can't believe it's finally over. I feel like I've been studying for months!"
Emily: (laughing) "That's because we actually have! But it was worth it."
Rachel: (leaning back in her chair, sighing with relief) "No more late-night study sessions, no more memorizing theological concepts… at least for a while."
Maria smiled, listening to her friends talk. It felt good to see everyone so happy and relaxed. Even Catherine, who had been particularly nervous about the exams, looked content.
Just as the group was about to start eating, Rachel came in last, looking visibly troubled. She sat down without greeting anyone, her expression a mix of shock and concern.
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The Shocking News
Emily: (noticing Rachel's expression) "Hey… what's wrong?"
Rachel hesitated for a moment before leaning in and lowering her voice.
Rachel: "Have you heard about Tara from first-year?"
Everyone exchanged confused glances before shaking their heads.
Catherine: (frowning) "No… what happened?"
Rachel sighed deeply before speaking.
Rachel: "She was caught cheating in the exam today. Sister Melissa was supervising her section and noticed something suspicious. When she checked Tara, she found several small notes hidden under her scarf and even more under her dress."
A heavy silence fell over the table.
Kate: (in disbelief) "No… that can't be true! Tara wouldn't do something like that, would she?"
Rachel: (shaking her head) "I don't know, Kate. But the truth is, she was caught red-handed. Sister Melissa confronted her in front of everyone, and when they checked further, they found even more notes hidden on her. There's no way she can deny it now."
Emily: (looking shocked) "What will happen to her?"
Rachel hesitated before answering.
Rachel: "Most likely, she'll fail her exams. And if the higher authorities decide to take strict action… she could even be expelled."
A hushed silence followed her words.
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Conflicted Feelings
Catherine looked particularly disturbed. She glanced around at her friends before speaking.
Catherine: (softly) "Should we go meet her?"
Maria, who had been quietly listening until now, shook her head firmly.
Maria: "No, Catherine. This is not our matter."
Catherine turned to her, surprised.
Catherine: "But she must be feeling awful right now. Don't you think we should at least talk to her?"
Maria sighed and placed her cup of tea down.
Maria: "I understand how you feel, but we need to let the administration handle this. We don't know the full story, and honestly, this is something Tara has to face on her own."
Emily nodded in agreement.
Emily: "Maria's right. If we interfere, it might seem like we're taking sides. Plus, if the school is already deciding on a punishment, there's not much we can do."
Kate, who had been quiet all this time, suddenly spoke.
Kate: (muttering) "I just… I just feel bad for her. It must be horrible to get caught like that."
Rachel sighed.
Rachel: "I know. But at the same time, cheating is a serious matter. We all worked so hard for this, and it's unfair to those who followed the rules."
A somber mood settled over the table. Even though none of them had personally witnessed the incident, the idea of one of their fellow students being caught in such a serious act was deeply unsettling.
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A Lesson Learned
After a few moments of silence, Maria took a deep breath and spoke.
Maria: "This should serve as a lesson to all of us. No matter how hard things get, shortcuts aren't the answer. We studied, we struggled, and we made it through honestly. If Tara had just put in the effort like the rest of us, she wouldn't be in this situation."
Everyone nodded slowly, absorbing her words.
Emily: (softly) "You're right, Maria. Integrity is more important than getting good marks."
Catherine: (sighing) "I suppose there's nothing we can do for her now."
Maria offered her a small smile.
Maria: "The best thing we can do is learn from this and make sure we never end up in a situation like that ourselves."
The group fell into a thoughtful silence as they finished their lunch.
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Moving Forward
Despite the unfortunate news, the atmosphere in the cafeteria remained mostly cheerful as students celebrated the end of exams.
Maria's group decided to focus on the positive—they had made it through the toughest part of their journey, and now, they could finally breathe.
As they left the cafeteria, Catherine walked beside Maria, still deep in thought.
Catherine: (softly) "You're really wise, Maria. I guess that's why you won the debate competition."
Maria chuckled.
Maria: "No, Catherine. I just try to look at things as they are. And right now, what matters most is that we did our best, and we stayed true to ourselves."
With that, the group walked out of the cafeteria together, leaving behind the tension of exams and the unfortunate scandal of the day, ready to embrace whatever came next in their journey.