"Good morning, kids!" A deep voice cut through the classroom's commotion. "I'm Mr. Seno, your homeroom teacher."
The middle-aged man smiled warmly. "Let's start with introductions and the election of your class officers."
One by one, the students introduced themselves. Tommy only mumbled lazily when his turn came.
"All right," said Mr. Seno. "Now for the election of class president. Anyone interested?"
Jerryana raised her hand high. "Me, sir! Jerryana."
"Great!" Mr. Seno nodded. "Anyone else?"
Silence. Tommy snorted softly. Not a single other student raised a hand, and neither did he—he had no interest in taking on any extra responsibility.
"In that case, Jerryana is elected class president," Mr. Seno declared.
"Wait!" Tommy suddenly stood up. "I object!"
Every eye turned toward him. Jerryana glared sharply.
"What's the matter, Tommy?" Mr. Seno asked in surprise.
"I don't agree," Tommy insisted. "A girl isn't fit to be a leader."
Jerryana's eyes widened. "What did you say?"
"Didn't you hear me just now?" Tommy sneered. He continued with his argument. "Girls are too emotional. They can't lead, sir. They're not suited for it."
"What a dinosaur!" Jerryana stomped her foot. "It's the modern age, you know!"
"That's enough, that's enough," Mr. Seno said, stepping in. "Tommy, your opinion is wrong. Boys and girls have the same opportunities."
Tommy snorted. "But, sir—"
"No buts," Mr. Seno said firmly. "Jerryana was duly elected. You have to respect the class's decision."
Tommy dropped back into his seat, annoyed. Jerryana smiled smugly and puffed out her chest.
"All right," Mr. Seno sighed. "Let's continue electing the other officers. I hope you can all work well together."
"Okay, everyone," Jerryana cleared her throat. "Time to decide on the class officers."
Jerryana glanced at Mr. Seno, who nodded at her. She began writing the names of the class officers on the whiteboard. Her eyes swept across the room and stopped on the sulking Tommy. She quickly wrote down the name of the boy who was her enemy.
"And for vice president… Tommy!" Jerryana announced loudly. A grin spread across her face.
"What?!" Tommy sprang up. "No way!" he immediately protested. Mr. Seno fixed Tommy with a stare until he could only sit back down and accept the decision.
Jerryana smirked. "It's easier to keep an eye on your enemy up close, isn't it?"
Tommy grumbled but couldn't argue. He hated Jerryana even more now, an enemy who couldn't be underestimated.
Mr. Seno asked the class president to make sure there were books for the entire class. It was her first assignment.
After choosing the officers, they went to the library. The smell of books and air-conditioning greeted them. Like all libraries, the room was quiet despite several people coming in and out.
Jerryana counted and found that several books were missing.
"Are some missing?" the librarian asked. "The rest of the books are in the storage room in back. Can you get them yourselves?"
Jerryana nodded. "Tommy, come with me!"
"Why me?" Tommy protested.
"You're the vice president, aren't you?" Jerryana said with a mischievous wink.
They entered the stuffy storage room. Cobwebs covered the corners.
"Eww," Tommy shuddered. "What kind of place is this?"
Jerryana giggled. "Scared, chicken?"
"As if!" Tommy snorted, lifting a stack of books.
Suddenly, something skittered across the floor.
"AAAAAAAA!" Tommy screamed hysterically, dropping the books. "A COCKROACH!"
Jerryana gaped, then burst out laughing. "Oh my God! The big tough guy is afraid of cockroaches?"
"Shut up!" Tommy huddled in the corner, his face deathly pale.
"Look," Jerryana said, grabbing a broom and herding the cockroach outside. "All safe now, Mr. Chicken."
Tommy got up sheepishly. "Don't you dare tell the others!"
"Oh, don't worry," Jerryana said with a wide grin. "Your secret's safe… but there's one condition."