NOVEL NEXT Chapter 24: Funny Joke of the Year I
When Xanthia returned to her seat in the classroom, she unexpectedly received an apology from Jimmy.
She was surprised because she knew Jimmy was a boy with low emotional intelligence. He was rather immature, rebellious, and stubborn. When discussing politics with Dematero, he often spouted extreme and childish views, which were laughable upon reflection.
Sometimes, his temper would get the best of him, and in a fit of impulsiveness, he'd do things that left others speechless.
A boy like him was certainly prideful and immature. Even if he knew he was wrong, it was hard for him to apologize to a girl, especially one like Xanthia, whom he viewed as a "poor student."
This was the culture in top high schools dominated by a "meritocracy."
Some top students with broader perspectives might be more open-minded and not care about others' grades, mingling with all kinds of classmates.
Take Dionysios El Papadopoulos, for instance. With his wealthy background and excellent grades, he was charming and respected by everyone. Even the rebellious students at the bottom of Class 1-3 called him "Brother Dionysios" and jokingly referred to him as "Emperor Dionysios," as he was at the top of the school's social hierarchy.
But some students, who did well but weren't top-tier, might puff up with pride in front of "poor students," even if they were inferior in other aspects.
Clearly, Jimmy was one of those students.
He was enthusiastic with Dematero, who ranked 7th in the class. He managed to put away some of his arrogance when dealing with his seatmate Crissante, whose grades were slightly worse than his.
But when it came to Xanthia, he only put on a facade for Dematero's sake, inherently looking down on her and fearing that associating with her would drag him down.
"Xanthia, I'm really sorry. I was too impulsive when teacher reprimanded us. I did something wrong to you; please don't take it to heart," Jimmy said stiffly.
His apology wasn't for Xanthia but to avoid damaging his relationship with Dematero. It was all for his sake.
As for his seatmate Crissante, she was plain-looking and not as good as him academically, so it didn't matter if their relationship was good or not.
He actually preferred having a male seatmate, especially one with good grades, for a more comfortable and motivating environment.
Xanthia saw through Jimmy's insincerity immediately. She smiled faintly and responded, "It's nothing. You were just speaking the truth. Teacher Emmanuel did treat us differently. It's frustrating when double standards affect you."
Jimmy disliked Xanthia's indifferent attitude, feeling like a fool whether he apologized or not.
Unable to hold back, he advised, "Xanthia, don't you know teacher has completely given up on you? Why can't you straighten up and strive for the top? Since you became friends with Luciel La Labrador, you should learn from her virtues. Although her grades aren't great, her diligence and seriousness are admirable."
Xanthia was genuinely annoyed now. She replied expressionlessly, "None of your business."
Then she turned away and continued reading her manga, completely ignoring Jimmy.
When the system notified her that she had gained "pain points" from Jimmy's negative emotions, she smiled slightly, feeling pleased again.
Jimmy, with his low emotional intelligence, became anxious after being blatantly ignored and humiliated. He thought he was doing Xanthia a favor, but why didn't this ungrateful girl listen?
He couldn't help but continue, "I understand why he gave up on you. A student like you doesn't deserve to be at Thessaloniki First High School! He said you had a bright future, but I didn't get it at first. Now I see, you just have a pretty face and think you can rely on it. You like to act cute in front of Dematero, but he doesn't fall for it at all..."
"Enough! Jimmy, are you apologizing or just picking a fight?" Dematero interrupted him angrily, unusually furious.
Dematero had initially thought Jimmy was a good chat buddy who could satisfy his urge to talk. He hadn't expected Jimmy's emotional intelligence to be so low!
Although Dematero also wished Xanthia would take her studies seriously, he had a strong sense of boundaries and propriety. He would never offer such "parental" advice filled with condescension. After all, who are you to lecture her as if you were her parents?
Jimmy, already worked up, couldn't resist trying to argue a bit more, but just then, the class bell rang. He could only say in a low voice, "Dematero, stop pretending to be a good guy protecting her. You don't even like her; you just pity her!"
This time, Dematero was truly furious. The more mild-mannered a person is, the more intense their reaction when angered!
He was about to slam his desk, risking the ire of their homeroom teacher, Emmanuel El Alcantara, who was supervising from the podium, to give Jimmy a "chokehold"...
However, at that critical moment, Xanthia gently restrained him and said softly, "Fighting is pointless. When the time comes, just let the grades speak for themselves."
Interrupted by Xanthia, Dematero calmed down. Seeing the expression on her face, he inexplicably felt confident in her.
What happened next, however, left the whole class both amused and appalled.
Crissante suddenly exclaimed, "Ahh! Jimmy, are you peeing in the classroom?! How disgusting!!"
Xanthia could have made Jimmy turn into a "spray warrior" on the spot, but since he was just diagonally behind her, she would also have to endure the stench. So, she opted for a milder prank, making him urinate instead. Earning fewer "pain points" was still worthwhile.
Jimmy was stunned, unable to control his bladder but fully aware that he was peeing!
The weather hadn't cooled down yet, so he was only wearing thin shorts and underwear underneath. The torrent of urine soaked through both layers, spilling onto the floor and spreading a foul smell.
His seatmate and the student behind him were unlucky. The classroom floor wasn’t entirely level, causing the urine to flow freely everywhere.
"Ahhhh!!!"
Crissante, who had a slight obsession with cleanliness, first noticed something was wrong. When she looked down, she almost jumped up in disgust, shouting involuntarily.
And so, the entire class learned that Jimmy, neglecting an urgent need, had peed himself during the class!
