Chapter 111: !!!!

The news about the expulsion of not just one but five students caused massive waves among the students. Everyone was talking about it and, just like any story, the story continuously evolved from one mouth to another.

The only fact that everyone was sure of was that it was Ray who made the case. The one who supported this case was Miss Sandford. No matter how the students involved denied the accusations, the evidence Ray had on them was solid. Hence, the outcome.

"I mean, I understand why Ray had taken such an intense action," one of the students commented. "I heard they almost harmed someone."

"They’d been pulling a prank on Penny, but she’s fine with it. Did they pick on another student on top of pulling pranks on Penny?"

"Wow. They have a lot of time, huh?"

"I don’t know, but from what I heard from the fans’ club, they really went too far."

"What did they do?"

"From what I heard, they actually drop a flower pot at someone from the rooftop."

"Your news is fake. What I heard is that they pushed someone who doesn’t know how to swim in the pool."

"Flowerpot? Pool? But I heard they locked someone in the gym stockroom."

Nina glanced at her classmates, who had been buzzing about the current news like bees. She secretly sighed in relief, smirking deep in her heart, as she knew she was already safe. She didn’t know those die-hard fans would claim what she did, but it wasn’t her loss.

"Gosh." Patricia rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Really. Even students from other families are so dumb. How can they do a crime and admit it?"

Patricia didn’t want to go to school today and wanted to beauty rest from the stress Penny gave her at the start of the week. However, her brother was getting worried. She was afraid Theo would ask their teacher and find out what had happened. Hence, she had no choice but to attend school.

Fortunately, there was something else everyone could talk about and not about her.

Nina pursed her lips and smiled at Patricia. "Maybe they’re telling the truth."

"The truth?" Patricia turned to Nina and scoffed. "Nina, just because I’m sitting here with you doesn’t mean I am not upset about yesterday."

"I’m sorry, okay?" Nina sighed. "Many things are happening in our family, so I have to be considerate."

Patricia still wasn’t appeased. "If this is my parents, I would give them hell. You’re too kind and understanding."

"Sometimes, that’s the least we could do for our family," Nina casually remarked. "It’s just one birthday — there’s more. Moreover, we can always celebrate our birthdays any day of the year."

"Hah! Every day’s my birthday, Nina. But on the day I was born, everyone should rejoice simply because I was born that day. It’s an extra special day, duh?" Patricia carelessly argued. "I know you’re too kind, but I’m not taking any of that. I’m still upset."

Nina smiled helplessly. ’I’m just glad she’s not as upset as I thought she would be.’

Meanwhile, Lily’s face was twisting as she couldn’t help but overhear Nina and Patricia’s conversation. It was ridiculous. It wasn’t like this was the first time she heard Patricia talking nonsense, but because of what Patricia tried to pull on Penny, Lily had this newfound dissatisfaction with this girl.

"Hey!" Patricia suddenly yelled, making Ginnie’s shoulder tremble.

Lily inevitably shifted her attention to Ginnie, frowning when she saw how Ginnie’s back shivered.

"Hah. Didn’t she hear me?" Patricia hissed, glaring daggers at Ginnie’s back. "Hey, didn’t you hear me?"

"Patricia..." Nina nervously reached for Patricia’s arm, making the latter look back at her.

Patricia quickly frowned at the conflicted look on Nina’s face. "What?"

"Thing is..." Nina moved closer to Patricia and whispered in her ear.

Listening to the whispers, the corner of Patricia’s lips curved down. Her face darkened as a look of mockery flickered across her eyes.

"Friends?" Patricia scoffed, eyes on Ginnie. "Is that the reason she’s not responding to me now?"

Patricia slammed her hands on the desk, pushing herself up. She sauntered toward Ginnie’s desk, slamming her hand on Ginnie’s desk to get her attention.

"Ginnie, you are so shameless. How could you abandon your long-time friend just because I was absent for a few days?" Patricia hissed, watching Ginnie nervously look up at her. "Explain yourself."

Ginnie’s lips quivered as she opened and closed her mouth. "Patricia..."

"What?" Patricia widened her eyes as a glint flickered across them.

Seeing this, Ginnie’s breath hitched. "Pa — Pat... ricia, I —"

"Patricia, haven’t you heard about the expulsion?" Suddenly, Lily’s voice was heard, standing right next to Ginnie’s desk, eyes on Patricia. "The main point of the expulsion is for students to understand that regardless of how many donations their families give to this school, they would still face consequences for breaking the rules. For instance, bullying."

"I’m not bullying. I’m talking to my friend," Patricia smirked as she crossed her arms, casting Ginnie a cocky look. "Am I bullying you, Ginnie?"

Ginnie lowered her head and shrunk in her seat. "N — no."

"See?" Patricia arched a brow, casting Lily an arrogant look. "Lily, you might be the class president, but you’re overreacting. Talking and bullying are two different things. Or are you abusing your power as the class president, thinking you can just point a finger at an innocent person?"

"If there’s someone who easily points a finger at someone, isn’t that you?" Lily laughed. "Patricia, you might’ve forgotten what happened last Monday morning, but none in here did."

The smirk on Patricia’s face faded as her eyes looked around the classroom. All of their classmates were looking in her direction. Some girls even whispered to each other while giggling.

"Hah! Hey, are you making fun of me!?" Patricia harrumphed at the group of girls and then glared at Lily. "Lily, now this is bullying! What happened that time was a mistake and everyone agreed! You also didn’t have a problem when I said none of our valuables disappeared until that fatty slash shorty came in here!"

"And that’s the biggest lesson I learned this week. I can’t just believe what I just see or hear." Lily maintained a dignified stance, taking a step closer to Patricia. She leaned over and dawdled. "Patricia, I let you do things just because I thought you were doing no damage. But pick on Ginnie again, I will not back down be it in school or any social gathering we’ll meet."

Slowly, Lily drew her head back and held Patricia’s gaze. "One more thing. Insult Penny again, and you’ll have a very big problem."

"Hah!" Patricia scoffed, briefly speechless. "Lily, do you think you scare me?"

"No, but I’m not talking about me." Lily tipped her head to the side, making Patricia twist her neck to her classmates.

This time, all of them carried this sharp look that almost made their eyes blaze for some reason. Earlier, they were just giving her this mocking look, but now, they all seemed angry right after she called Penny names.

What was going on?

Even Nina was stupefied at the sudden tension in the classroom. She scanned everyone, feeling a little nervous as this felt like Patricia offended the entire class.

*****

Meanwhile, Penny was skipping her steps to her classroom when she walked past another bulletin board in the hallway. She didn’t bother with it until she was a few steps past it.

"Huh?" her steps skidded as she froze. "Did I just see my face on the bulletin?"

Penny quickly walked in reverse, turning on her heel to face the bulletin. The second she did, her face contorted at the several posters of her that were promoting the sign-up of her fans’ club.

"!!!"