Phainon¹

Once you dreamed of teaching at a university. You imagined an incredible lecture hall, where everyone was listening to you. However, all these dreams were shattered after the first class. The students were unruly, arrogant, and rude. They believed that they didn't need anything. Thankfully, there is such a wonderful thing as exams, which occur twice a year. HELL YEAH, this is the place where you could take your revenge on the students. You were teaching in so many groups, and you had a young teacher who, according to the rector, "wouldn't go on maternity leave." Of course, she went on maternity leave, and all her classes were divided among other teachers, including you. You were teaching four classes a week more. A total of 24 classes a week... Sometimes it seemed like you wouldn't make it: getting a degree, teaching, trying to establish a personal life and trying to keep body in shape. And of course, there's the thirty-year crisis, when you're already an adult but haven't achieved much. The class is over, thank God. Everyone is happy that it's Friday, but you're whining deep down in your heart because for you, Saturday is not only a working day, but also a study day as a future PhD student. Two more miserable classes, please. And then Phainon approaches. He's truly an amazing person: an athlete (with a great body), an activist in any university nonsense, a handsome guy, and so on. You could only envy his endless energy.

"Professor, I'm sorry, but can I ask you a favor?"

Phainon's voice was low but gentle. In response to your nod, he continued.

"There is the end of first semester. Can I have the exam before others? I need it, very much."

He looked at you awkwardly. It was even surprising. He was completely unrestrained with his friends, but he became shy with the teachers. Funny.

"I remember that you teach several subjects, and in that case, you'll have to conduct several exams at once just for me, but please understand my situation."