Chapter 3

The third day was Friday.

Every Friday noon, the school held a "Student Voice" open-mic event in the central plaza where anyone could speak.

I had planned to use this opportunity to clear my name.

But when I arrived at my classroom in the morning, a letter was waiting on my desk.

A formal document stamped by the department.

【Notice of Suspension of Aria Vance's Academic Honors Eligibility for the Semester.】

Reason: Severe moral controversy. Based on the Student Council's report, all honors eligibility is suspended.

The date on the document was yesterday.

Chloe worked faster than UberEats.

From report to punishment, it took less than twenty-four hours.

I took the document straight to Mrs. Gable's office.

Mrs. Gable was eating a bagel.

"Aria, this has blown up way too much."

"The department is just trying to manage public relations."

"Once Liam gets back and clears things up, I'll help you reinstate it."

"He doesn't get back until tomorrow, but I'm already being punished today."

"The protocol is fine."

"Does the protocol give the Student Council the right to confiscate my debit card?"

Mrs. Gable's hand froze mid-bite.

"Well... you should negotiate that with the Student Council first."

In the face of public opinion, protocol is like play-dough.

Whoever screams loudest gets to shape it.

At noon, I went to the plaza to sign up.

But Chloe had already messed with the "Student Voice" sign-up sheet.

My name had been crossed out.

A note was scribbled next to it: *Student currently under moral controversy. Unfit for public speaking.*

I stood at the edge of the plaza, watching Chloe deliver a speech on the stage.

"We must have the courage to say no to inappropriate harassment."

"Everyone has the right to refuse being harassed."

Thunderous applause erupted from the crowd.

A few people glanced over at me and began whispering.

Chloe noticed me.

She smiled gently into the microphone.

"Of course, we must also give students who make mistakes a chance to correct themselves."

"I hope certain individuals will truly reflect on their actions."

Her gaze locked right onto me.

Two thousand eyes followed her gaze.

Standing under the bright sun, I felt like I was standing on an execution block.

Olivia tugged at my sleeve, trying to pull me away.

"Let's go. She's doing this on purpose."

I pulled my arm back.

"Take a picture for me."

"Of what?"

"The sign-up sheet on the plaza. The one where my name is crossed out."

Olivia snapped the photo and sent it to me.

I saved the photo and headed straight to the Registrar's Office.

The administrative officer there told me that revoking honors eligibility required a formal board meeting.

And no such meeting had occurred yesterday.

In other words, that official-looking document was processed illegally.

But the officer added:

"The department said they will hold a retrospective meeting on Monday to finalize the decision."

"The meeting is on Monday, but the document was issued yesterday?"

"Notify first, finalize the paperwork later. It's a special circumstance."

Special circumstance.

Translation: We'll punish you first and make up the paperwork later.

As I walked out of the administration building, Mia blocked my path again.

She handed me a printed apology statement.

"Chloe said if you post this on the forum today, she'll get the department to withdraw the punishment."

I took it and skimmed through it.

An eight-hundred-word essay. The key paragraph read:

"I admit that I have been inappropriately harassing Senior Liam Davis for a long time, causing severe distress to his academic and personal life."

"I have deeply realized the error of my ways."

I folded the paper and slipped it into my pocket.

Mia let out a sigh of relief.

"So, you're posting it tonight?"

"No."

"Then why did you take it?"

"To keep as a souvenir."

"Chloe had someone stay up all night writing this..."

"The writing is actually quite good."

I paused.

"But I won't sign my name to something I didn't do. Not a single word."

Mia's face soured.

She whipped out her phone and sent a text.

Ten seconds later, Chloe's reply flashed on the screen.

I saw it clear as day.

【Then don't blame me. When Liam gets back tomorrow, I'll have him tell the whole school himself that he doesn't even know her.】

I stared at the text for three seconds.

Doesn't know me?

If he actually dares to say he doesn't know me tomorrow,

I'll call Grams right in front of him.

Let's see if he faces social death first, or get a beating from Grams' wooden spoon first.