(English Class. Ms. Shelly teaches Class D.)
SHELLY
Okay, what's a noun. Who can tell me what a noun is.
(No hands up as the rest of the class apart from Juwon, Hanna, and Lisa are paying attention. The rest are on the phone. Some reading manga, webtoons. Another is watching anime. Another one is watching K dramas. Some are even playing games.)
SUKINI
Hehehee! We're almost beating the final boss. Let's lock in guys.
BOYS
Roger that!
TOP
Who the hell made you leader? The leader is me.
(Ms. Shelly rolls her eyes and continues to teach.)
JUWON
Looks like no one is paying attention.
LISA
This class is nothing but a bunch of idiots. They haven't noticed that the other classes are looking down on us.
JUWON
So, you have noticed the class ranking system huh.
LISA
You knew?
JUWON
Yeah, I knew.
LISA
Should you tell the class about it? This way maybe they can take things seriously.
JUWON
No. Let them have a reality check. Look, Ms. Shelly hasn't warned them, yet. She continues to teach. And so the rest of the teachers.
LISA
…
(The bell rings.)
SHELLY
There goes the bell. Okay, here's the assignment…
(She finds everyone has gone apart from Lisa and Hanna.)
HANNA
We'll take the assignment.
SHELLY
Okay. [At least, there are 2 serious students. But where's the other one? I believe his name was Kim Juwon.] Okay. Here's your assignment. Make sure you send it to your peers.
HANNA
Sure.
LISA
…
(In the staffroom. Ms. Shelly sits on her desk.)
SHELLY
Sigh! Those kids are unbelievable. They haven't paid attention to any of my classes.
(A Math teacher by the name of Mrs. Song heads to her.)
MRS. SONG
You mean your Class. Class D.
(Another teacher named Mr. Alex also gets in the conversation.)
ALEX
Don't you know that in the history of this school, Class D is always the worst class.
KEN
That's right.
SHELLY
Should I just tell them about the class ranking system?
MRS. SONG
No!
JACK
That would be against the Principal's orders.
KEN
That's right. Mrs. Saraj has forbidden us not to mention the ranking system until they get a reality check.
ALEX
They should have found out about it by now.
GLASS
Yeah! They should've gotten a hint on how the other students are looking down on them. I guess they're blind.
TEACHERS
Hahahahahaha!
(The PE teacher, Mr. Made arrives.)
MADE
You wouldn't believe it. That Class D skipped PE class after I told them it was optional.
KEN
Of course they would skip it. PE is always optional and being a PE teacher is not a real job.
MADE
What?!
JACK
Yeah. And you're not a real teacher.
MADE
I'm a real teacher! I have experience in sports science.
MRS. SONG
Still… being a PE teacher is not being a real teacher or even a job.
MADE
No wonder why your husband left you.
MRS. SONG
What did you just say?
(She's about to throw her heels at him.)
SHELLY
Calm down. Everyone! We're teachers. We're supposed to be professionals.
(The principal Mrs. Saraj enters the staffroom. Everyone is at their seats.)
MRS. SARAJ
Do I hear noise coming from the staffroom?
TEACHERS
…
MRS. SARAJ
Good. I don't want to hear any noise from the staffroom. Teachers should be disciplined and set a good example to the students. And Shelly.
SHELLY
Yes, Madam Saraj.
MRS. SARAJ
I want Class D by next month to be a well-polished class. And also don't give them any credits next month. It's high time they get a reality check of what happens if they don't pay attention to the school and its rules.
SHELLY
Yes, Madam Saraj.
MRS. SARAJ
And also since we're doing the ranking system amongst the 1st years. The class that leads the top and becomes Class A , the class teacher will get a bonus. Mrs. Song. I hope Class 1A will retain their position as Class A. That's because they automatically become Class A by the school system that doesn't mean they start to slack off like Class 1D.
MRS. SONG
Yes, I make sure that my class, Class 1A will retain their position as Class A.
MRS. SARAJ
That's good to hear.
(She takes her leave.)
MRS. SONG
You better polish your class, Ms. Shelly. Because my daughter Tiffany is in that class.
MRS. SHELLY
I will. And I will be needing your help.
MRS. SONG
Don't worry. I will whip that class into shape. After all, I'm their math teacher. Let me find out that they haven't done my math assignment.
(She whacks her desk with a ruler.)
(whack!)
MRS. SONG
They're dead meat.
[To be continued]