It was a Thursday, five weeks since the students had resumed school, and Rita's class was buzzing with energy. The sun was shining brightly through the windows, casting a warm glow over the room. Everyone was seated, ready for the next lesson. Today was Computer Science, and Mr. Ifawole, the computer teacher, stood at the front of the class with an eager smile.
"Alright, class," Mr. Ifawole began, adjusting his glasses, "today we'll be talking about something very important. Computer viruses! These are like the little gremlins of the digital world. They sneak into your system and cause all sorts of havoc."
The class immediately quieted down, ready to pay attention. Mr. Ifawole wrote the definition of a computer virus on the board with his usual dramatic flair:
*"A computer virus is a piece of software that replicates itself and corrupts data and files."*
He turned to the class, the chalk still in his hand. "Alright, I'll give you five minutes to memorize this. Make it count."
Rita, as always, was on top of her game. She quickly jotted down the definition in her notebook, her mind already grasping the key points. She wasn't the type to let any lesson slip by. Her focus was unshakable. She knew she was going to ace this.
Five minutes passed in the blink of an eye, and Mr. Ifawole wiped the board clean, leaving only the chalk dust hanging in the air. "Now, who can define 'computer virus' for us?" he asked.
The room fell into a hush, the sound of pencils scratching paper the only noise. Suddenly, Rita's hand shot up, almost like a reflex. She was the only one who dared raise her hand. Mr. Ifawole's eyes lit up as he called on her.
"Rita, go ahead."
With a deep breath, Rita stood up from her seat, her back straight and her head held high. She cleared her throat and, with surprising boldness, recited, "A computer virus is a piece of software that replicates itself and corrupts data and files."
The class went silent for a brief moment before erupting into applause. The sound of clapping filled the room, with students praising her sharp memory. But not everyone was happy.
Anne, sitting in the back of the class, remained still. Her hands were firmly crossed over her chest, her expression unreadable. She didn't clap. She didn't even smile. The jealousy was written all over her face.
Rita, unaware of Anne's sour mood, sat back down with a satisfied smile. She had nailed it. But she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. It wasn't like Anne to not join in the applause.
As the bell rang for break time, everyone rushed out of the class. Rita gathered her things slowly, thinking about the lesson and wondering if she had missed anything. She had no idea that Anne was still holding onto a grudge.
As she headed towards the door, she was met by Evelyn, who had popped by to check on her. "Hey, novel lover!" Evelyn teased with a playful grin as she saw Rita reading a book.
Rita rolled her eyes, laughing. "Yeah, yeah, I know. I can't resist a good novel."
Evelyn glanced around, spotting Anne sitting at a desk by herself, her back turned to Rita. "What's going on with your neighbor? She looks like she swallowed a lemon. You two were practically best friends last week."
Rita sighed, her tone slightly frustrated. "Oh, that one? She's just jealous. She can't handle that I nailed that definition. She's been backing me up all day. I guess my intelligence intimidates her."
Evelyn raised her eyebrows, trying to process what Rita was saying. "Wait… you mean, she's mad because you got the answer right? That doesn't make any sense! I thought you two were cool."
Rita shook her head. "Honestly, I don't get it either. I just wish she'd stop being so... well, petty. She acts like she's the only smart one around here, but that's just not the case."
Evelyn chuckled. "Look at you, Rita. So humble. You should teach her some humility!"
Rita grinned at Evelyn's joke. "I'm not going to argue with her. I have bigger things to worry about, like finishing this novel before the next class."
The conversation shifted, and Evelyn excused herself, walking out of the class. "Alright, alright, I'll leave you to your book. But don't get too comfortable! Break's almost over."
As Evelyn left, Rita felt a little lighter. At least she had Evelyn to talk to. With a sigh, Rita closed her novel and began to pack up her things. She wasn't going to let Anne's behavior ruin her day.