All students had already left. Nina and Vlad were the last.
«Haven’t you finished yet?» wondered the professor.
Sighing, Vlad got up and gave his papers to the professor. The educator went to Nina, and stood next to her desk. «Time’s up.»
Feeling nervous, the girl looked at her watch. Though Nina had a few minutes left, she dared not argue, and without a word held out her paper.
Taking it, the educator went to the others, and Nina had started packing her stuff when she heard the professor address his colleagues. «It’s against the rules, but one time is okay. I suggest we check Nina’s test right now. Some people claim I nag her, so I want to have witnesses that I’m objective.»
Standing still, Nina looked at Vlad. He smiled, trying to support her.
The pedagogues checked Nina’s test and whispered to each other.
«She passed it,» one of them said in a surprised voice. «She has enough points.»
Nina laughed gleefully and Vlad hugged her.
«It’s impossible.» The professor grabbed her paper and re-checked it.
«You cheated!» he shouted at Nina, and she flinched as though he had slapped her face.
Next Vlad flung himself at the educator.
«Apologize right now,» he uttered very quietly, however in such a frightening voice that everybody was still with terror. Nobody who knew Vlad could ever imagine this shy, restrained guy was able to show this kind of emotion.
Blushing with anger, his tender face showed resolute fearlessness. His blue eyes were glowing like the flame of a gas stove burner, and the professor, looking at him in amazement, realized that if he did not do it, Vlad would hit him.
«I’m sorry, Nina,» the scared pedagogue barely squeezed out. «You did everything great. Congratulations.»
Shaking, Vlad went to his desk, took his bag and left. Nina followed him with trepidation and trust in her heart, as other females have followed their protectors and defenders through the centuries.
* * * * *
Tired after the exam, Lana left the building and near the entrance she saw the girl that had been caught cheating. Smoking and sniffing, she was talking with some other girls, and feeling pity for her, Lana went close.
«Damn VanStein!» The girl nervously inhaled. «He’s so honest, eh? I’m sure if I allowed him to pinch my butt, he would have pretended he didn’t see my crib.»
«Don’t worry.» Lana tried to support her. «Next time…»
«What next time?» the girl suddenly yelled at Lana. «My parents are not so rich that I can take the same course again and again like someone does.»
«What do you mean?» Lana murmured. «I didn’t repeat any courses.»