18

C18

Heart confidently left the classroom after her exam, believing that even if she didn’t achieve perfect score, she was close to it. Despite the rule imposed by her instructor, she remained undeterred, determined to give her best. Regardless of her pending exam results and grades, she faced each challenge head-on, knowing she wouldn’t be defeated.

As she headed to the Guidance Office, she bid farewell to her friend Jeck, who wished her luck.

“Take care, Ate Heart. Good luck.”

“Thank you,” she replied, then walked away, paying no mind to her other classmates.

Unfazed by the distance created by rumors surrounding her personal life, Heart refused to force herself into societal expectations. Her true comfort always lay with her family.

The assistant opened the door for her, and she entered, greeting Miss Collins. This woman was a topic of gossip, too: how did she become a Guidance Counselor when her partner is allegedly a lesbian? Does a person's ability to be a counselor depend on th