Catch the culprit

The door was opened.

Lani entered. The redness in her eyes was still there.

She sat on her bed with puffy cheeks and a down mood.

"Why didn't you suspect me?" She would be too stupid if she couldn't tell something like this when she lives with the same girl day and night.

Layla was silent for a second. She didn't expect her to ask this question. "Because I know you." Like you know me.

"Are you alright now?" She looked at her red eyes.

Lani raised her hand to rub the corner of her eye. "Yeah."

"You should try to cry less." Layla sighed. "I know crying is healthy, but... it won't solve a thing."

"I know. But… it was hurting." Lani bit her lip and lowered her head. She was staring at her hands resting in her lap and spoke further. "They are my friends and yet they are hiding something like this from me."

Now she thinks about it. They actually came to her just to verify the news, but they never spilled the beans and never let her know their real intention. At that moment, she felt that something was wrong with them but she ignored the little signs thinking them nothing. Maybe… maybe if she would be a little smarter then…

Seeing her lost in thoughts, Layla reminded her. "You can talk to them later and ask for clarification but before that…" Layla's expression turned serious "I'll meet them and you can't let anyone know. Anyone." She put the pressure on the last word.

Lani nodded her head.

…...

It was the evening and everyone was busy doing something to spend time like any other usual day of their life. It was the same for Layla too, who was working in the shop for a few days right at this moment.

But a scene that happened yesterday repeated itself in front of her. She saw that boy who was here yesterday too, struggling with the questions. Looking at him, a thought popped in her head. She felt that not only he was struggling with questions but somehow with life too. The struggle and frustration on his face were too real to ignore. She shook her head to shoo the absurd thought away.

She went to him. "The answer is zero." She said after glancing at the question his eyes were trying to murder.

He raised his head. But before he could say anything she left, leaving him to stare at her retreating back. She felt that he might flare up if she continued to disturb him.

Layla stretched her hands and looked at the sky which already started to turn dark. She was leaving the shop after her shift was over. On her way to the hostel she expected to bump into acquaintances but not someone unexpected.

"Good evening, vice-president." Zou Haoran said, stopping his bike near her. Like a usual day, he went on a ride when he saw her today again. The only difference was that she was alone this time. Suddenly, he felt like he should go and greet her.

"..." What just happened. She raised her head and saw the most familiar face she was seeing in school nowadays. "Good evening. Do you live nearby?" She couldn't help but ask after seeing him all of sudden.

"You can say so." She nodded in understanding.

"It might be a little far from here. Shall I drop you at the hostel?" he suggested. This was something he won't do, not even in rare cases. Except for his family members, he does not remember anyone who ever seated behind him on the bike but right now he asked her. Was he confident that she would reject him? Is That why he decided to be polite or did he actually want her to sit behind him? He wasn't sure but he wanted to help her.

She shook her head. "No. No need." She hadn't lost her mind to ask a boy whom she met recently to send her to the hostel. Especially when they both can attract unwanted attention easily.

"Maybe I can drop you somewhere." He suggested.

"No need. I can go by myself." Without beating around the bush, she rejected him again. "Oh, by the way, remember to find me outside of the class as soon as possible." She waved her hand and slipped away from there.

…...

Today Layla was planning to stop all maligning rumors about Olivia. At least she was planning to do her best. And she was going to start from the only lead she has right now.

In the classroom, she was waiting for a chance to slip from there. Occasionally hinting Zou Haoran to follow her.

As president, Ryan wasn't worried. Since the vice-president assured to solve the problem by herself. He knew Layla was blaming herself for her rashness for that day too, so he let her be. Also, he was putting his trust in her secretary too as he is not a submissive type and would be able to handle her.

Thus, when the teacher left the class, Layla and Zou Haoran also left.

"What are you planning to do this early in the morning?"

"Nothing much. Just planning to grab someone's collar in the early morning." She answered, smiling mischievously yet dangerously.

They reached near the classroom, Grade 10 Section C. They could hear the teacher's voice taking his lecture. Layla stood there hidden and peeked inside. Yesterday, Lani showed the photos of Heath Miller to her after searching for his face on the official website of the school.

She spotted him. After that, she politely asked the teacher to let him leave with her. Though he did not like to be interrupted but still let him go. After all, Layla at that moment was not just a vice-president but also a good polite student.

Heath left the classroom in confusion as he had no idea as to why the vice-president would look for him. His friends didn't dare to tell him that they had sold him out leaving him in the dark.

When he came out, he saw another student standing there too. He didn't give it much thought.

"Follow me." She turned around on her heels like an arrogant queen and started moving without sparing him another glance.

'She looked as arrogant as rumors.' Despite having complaints in his heart, he still followed her silently.

They went to a deserted place in the school. All the time, no one spoke. This silence was suffocating for Heath. He had no clue as to why he was brought here. He had a foreboding feeling about this.

"Why did you spread bad rumors?" She asked without giving him any time to prepare himself.

Heath was stunned. His heart had started to beat fast but he dared not to breathe loudly and rapidly lest they realize it.

Forcefully calming his erratic heartbeat, he said. "What! Rumors! Who? Me. not at all, vice-prez. I-I didn't… someone lied. Yes, someone might be framing me." He anxiously tried to explain himself.

"Since you know that someone is framing you. That means you knew about the rumors. And that they were circulating." Before he could say anything to clarify she spoke again. "I heard you even harassed your senior in the music club yesterday."

"But senior Olivia didn't even come to school yesterday." He answered instantly.

Hearing this, Layla smiled mysteriously. "So you know exactly what's going on." Seeing his confused look she thought to herself. how dare he spread rumors with his level of brain. "Otherwise how do you know whom I was talking about?"

He was speechless. 'But isn't she her-'

"Who?"

"Huh… Wh-who!?"

"Can't you speak without stammering? What are you doing playing some cringe music in your head." Layla taunted. She really wanted him to cry so that she could be spared from this game of passing the baton and he would directly spill everything.

"Vice-prez, let me talk to him." Zou Haoran suggested seeing Layla getting aggressive. She looked at him before nodding and giving him the command.

"Your friends have given your name and we also talked to the teacher. And we were given two options: either you tell us the truth or be ready to face the teacher." Zou Haoran said calmly as if his words contain only truth and nothing else.

Heath could not detect a single trace of a lie from him. His mind was already a mess. His stomach was churning with the thought of who gave his name. Why are they doing this to him? 'Did that bitch complain? Is that why they are planning to push the blame on me?' His own assumption made his mood more terrible.

"But-but… didn't you spread this by yourself." He was feeling wrong when she herself was the main culprit. "I-I'll tell the teacher. You are framing me." He was feeling crushed. He didn't even notice the shock on her face.

'What nonsense I just heard.' She was shocked to the core. She felt like something was wrong with her ears. With her mouth opened, she twisted her neck to see Zou Haoran, wanting to confirm that her ears were working properly. "State clearly." She heard him say to Heath.