Five Girls - Chapter 29: The Eraser Assassin

University Lecture Hall - Morning

The morning sun streamed through the windows of the large lecture hall. Students were scattered across the rows, some taking notes, some half-asleep, and some like Alice, already causing chaos.

Professor Darmawan stood at the front, his pointer in hand, ready to begin the lecture.

"Good morning, everyone. Today we'll be discussing—"

"I HAVE A QUESTION!"

Everyone turned. Alice's hand was in the air, waving enthusiastically.

Professor Darmawan blinked. "Yes, Alice?"

"Is it true that you once met a famous actor? I heard a rumor and I NEED to know!"

The professor sighed. "Alice, that's not relevant to—"

"BUT I NEED TO KNOW!"

Naila, sitting three rows behind Alice, reached into her bag. She pulled out an eraser.

And she threw it.

It hit Alice perfectly on the back of the head.

Alice yelped. "OW! What was that?!"

She turned around. Naila was looking at her with a blank expression.

"Shut up," Naila mouthed.

Alice turned back around, rubbing her head.

Professor Darmawan continued. "As I was saying, today we'll be discussing—"

"I also have a question!"

It was Alice again.

"Alice, I haven't even started."

"I know! But I have a REALLY important question!"

Naila reached into her bag. Another eraser.

She threw it.

THWACK!

Alice yelped again. "OKAY, WHO KEEPS DOING THAT?!"

Naila's expression didn't change.

Alice turned back around, muttering under her breath. "I'm going to find out who's doing that."

***

Lecture Hall - 15 Minutes Later

Professor Darmawan was deep into his lecture. The students were taking notes. Everything was peaceful.

Almost peaceful.

"Now, if you look at the data from the 1990s—"

Alice's hand shot up. "Was that when the internet started? Because I read somewhere that—"

THWACK!

Another eraser. Another perfect hit.

Alice spun around. "WHO KEEPS—"

She saw Naila holding a fourth eraser, her expression still blank.

"You!" Alice hissed.

Naila shrugged. "You were talking."

"I was asking a QUESTION!"

"You interrupted the professor. That's rude."

"So is throwing erasers at my head!"

"Fair trade."

Alice turned back around, fuming. "I'll get you back later."

Naila was already pulling out another eraser. "We'll see."

***

Lecture Hall - 30 Minutes Later

A pattern had emerged.

Every time Alice opened her mouth to interrupt, an eraser would fly through the air and hit her head.

"It's like she has an endless supply!" Alice muttered to herself.

She tested it.

"I wonder if the professor has—"

THWACK!

"OKAY, SERIOUSLY!"

She turned around. Naila was holding an eraser in each hand.

Alice stared. "HOW MANY ERASERS DO YOU HAVE?!"

Naila shrugged. "Enough."

"WHERE DID YOU GET THEM?!"

"I collected them. Over the years."

"YOU COLLECTED ERASERS?! FOR THIS SPECIFIC PURPOSE?!"

"Preparation is important."

Alice was losing her mind. "I hate you."

"You'll get over it."

***

The students around them were starting to notice.

Chima, sitting next to Naila, was trying not to laugh. "How many erasers do you actually have?"

Naila reached into her bag. She pulled out a handful. "This is just today's batch."

"TODAY'S BATCH?!"

"I have reserves."

Wony, sitting across the aisle, was also watching. "This is surprisingly effective."

Fatimah nodded. "Alice has been quiet for almost ten minutes now."

"That's a record," Wony agreed.

Alice was still rubbing her head. "I can't believe this. I'm being terrorized by erasers."

The student next to her whispered. "You should probably just be quiet."

"NEVER!"

THWACK!

"OW!"

***

Lecture Hall - 45 Minutes Later

Professor Darmawan was wrapping up his lecture.

"And that concludes today's material. Any questions?"

Alice's hand shot up.

"YES! I HAVE A QUESTION!"

THWACK!

"Oh come ON! I was actually going to ask about the material this time!"

Naila paused. She looked at Alice, then at the professor, then back at Alice.

"Fine," she said. "This one time."

Alice turned around, triumphant. "HA! I FINALLY WON!"

"There's still time," Naila said calmly.

Alice's face fell.

She asked her question. The professor answered. Everything was peaceful.

But Alice kept glancing behind her, waiting for the next eraser.

It never came.

The class ended.

Alice finally breathed a sigh of relief.

***

Outside the Lecture Hall - After Class

The group gathered in the hallway.

Alice was rubbing her head. "I have bumps on my head! LOOK!"

She showed them. There were indeed several small red marks.

Chima laughed. "You deserved every single one."

"What do you mean I deserved it?!"

"You kept interrupting the professor!"

"THAT'S NOT A CRIME!"

"It's annoying."

Naila walked up, her bag slung over her shoulder. "Good class today."

Alice glared at her. "You threw erasers at me TEN TIMES!"

"Nine times. The last one I didn't throw."

"IT WAS STILL NINE TIMES!"

"Learn to be quiet."

"I AM ALWAYS QUIET!"

Everyone stared at her.

"...Okay, maybe not always. But I have the right to speak!"

"Not during class."

Fatimah shook her head. "Alice, you really do interrupt too much."

"THAT'S MY PERSONALITY!"

"Maybe change your personality?"

"I CAN'T! IT'S TOO LATE!"

***

Campus Cafe - Afternoon

They were all sitting at their usual table. Alice was still grumpy.

"I can't believe you have a collection of erasers just for this purpose," she said.

Naila shrugged. "I started last semester. You interrupted Professor Darmawan seven times in one class."

"SEVEN?!"

"Yes. I counted."

"WHY DID YOU COUNT?!"

"Because it was annoying. So I prepared."

Alice stared at her. "You prepared. For an entire semester. To throw erasers at my head."

"Not the whole semester. I was just waiting for the right opportunity."

"AND TODAY WAS THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITY?!"

"Every day is the right opportunity. I just happened to bring extra today."

Chima burst out laughing. "NAILA! YOU'RE AMAZING!"

"I know. I'm surprisingly proactive when I want to be."

Alice was defeated. "I hate you. I really, really hate you."

"No. You love me."

"I do. But I also hate you."

"That's fair."

***

Alice finally forgave Naila. Mostly.

"Fine. I'll try to interrupt less. But no promises."

Naila nodded. "That's all I ask."

"And you have to stop throwing erasers at my head."

"Deal."

They shook hands.

But Naila had a small smile on her face.

"What?" Alice asked suspiciously.

"Nothing."

"You're planning something!"

"I'm planning nothing."

"You are! I can see it in your eyes!"

Naila's smile widened. "I'm not planning anything. But I did buy more erasers. Just in case."

"JUST IN CASE?!"

"For future classes."

Alice screamed into her hands. "I'M GOING TO BE TERRORIZED FOREVER!"

"Probably," Naila said calmly.

Chima laughed. "This is the best friendship I've ever seen."

Wony nodded. "Toxic. But beautiful."

Fatimah smiled. "That's us. Toxic but beautiful."

Alice looked at her friends. "I hate all of you."

"We know," they said in unison.

And despite everything, Alice was smiling.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHb0AF0fja8

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