Chapter 115: Dara’s Investigation

The classroom atmosphere this morning was no different from a pop-up market, especially whenever homework had to be submitted. I could only gape at the scene in front of me.

Adam was involved in a chase with Andika, who was running off with his notebook. “Give my book back, Andika! I haven’t finished copying the last number!” Adam shouted while panting.

In another corner, Udin looked absorbed in holding a solo concert, singing a song with a broom that he was using as a guitar.

“Come on, everyone, raise your hands!” Udin shouted.

Meanwhile, other students were clustered at several spots, busy copying answers from friends who had already finished the assignment.

Tomi and Dara were no exception. I saw them fighting over a notebook at the backmost desk, even to the point of pushing the desk’s owner away, who was now forced to relocate to the seat next to mine.

Speaking of relocating, that person turned out to be Kenn. That meant Dara and Tomi were copying Kenn’s answers.

I immediately walked quickly to my seat. Dara, who noticed my arrival, immediately pounced without preamble. She grabbed my physics assignment book and copied the answers right beside Tomi.

“Dara, why don’t you just stay at your own seat?” I asked.

“It’s pointless, Frel. Before Mr. Ahsan comes,” she replied briefly without shifting her gaze from the paper in front of her. Her hand moved very fast.

Tomi glanced at me. He chuckled when he saw me clicking my tongue in annoyance at Dara’s unreasonable excuse.

I turned my body to face forward. Occasionally, I glanced at Kenn, who was now busy with a game on his phone. I propped my chin on both hands, trying to focus my gaze on the blackboard, but my mind was still stuck on Kevan’s words earlier.

“How is your leg?”

I flinched. “Are you asking me?”

Kenn nodded. His position had now shifted sideways to face me. “Is it still swollen?” he asked in a lowered tone.

“Swollen? Did you fall, Frel?” Tomi suddenly cut in. He peeked from behind my back with a face full of curiosity. “When did it happen? Why didn’t you tell us?”

I was startled and reflexively hit Tomi on the head with my hand.

“Tomi, don’t scare me!” I exclaimed softly but sharply.

Tomi winced slightly, but he did not give up. “This time I’m serious. Which part is swollen? I need to know how bad the injury is.”

I quickly held Tomi’s arm before he could really come closer and check my leg. “It doesn’t hurt anymore, Tomi. Yesterday Kenn and I went with Abel and Reno to the zoo. Then, yeah, my leg accidentally got sprained. But don’t worry, my leg has recovered now. Kenn helped treat it.”

Before Tomi could give a response, Dara cut in with an exaggerated tone. “Amazing, you two went together? Some kind of date?” Dara asked with a delighted expression. “Wow, Frel, you’re starting to dare to hide things from me, huh?”

Dara even slammed the desk with both hands, making several other students turn to look at us.

My eyes widened. Dear God, this girl managed to make me annoyed and embarrassed at the same time.

“Not just the two of us, Dara! Abel and Reno were there,” I shouted in an irritated tone.

“Ah, they’re just accessories. In reality, you two were the most mature ones there.” She waved her hand, signaling disagreement with my defense. “So it’s true, you two were on a date? Come on, just admit it, your eyes can’t lie,” she teased again.

I rolled my eyes, then turned to Kenn while throwing him a commanding look for him to help me answer. However, Kenn only shrugged. He then turned his chair to face Dara, leaning back casually while crossing his arms in front of his chest.

That overly calm attitude of his was truly annoying.

My gaze returned to Dara, who was now starting to raise and lower her eyebrows to tease me.

I hissed sharply. “Dara, don’t start again. Don’t make drama in the morning,” I pleaded.

Dara laughed loudly. “Alright. So the point is, you went only to accompany Abel and Reno. Then because of your kind hearts, God rewarded you with a wonderful incident where the princess fell and was helped by a brave prince. Like that, right?”

My eyes bulged. What kind of conclusion was that? Why did it have to involve princess and prince terms?

“Oh, was that all? Nothing else? Something that made your heart flutter, perhaps?” Dara continued. “Maybe like prolonged eye contact or an accidental hand holding?”

I glared sharply. Without any guilt, Dara instead waited for my answer with her hand propping up her chin. Her eyes sparkled with intense curiosity.

My mouth opened, then closed again. I felt like I wanted to refute all of Dara’s assumptions because I knew exactly what was in her mind.

However, for some reason, doubt suddenly crept in and made me unable to utter a single word.

To make it worse, I started to be attacked by overwhelming nervousness when the gazes of the three of them were fixed on me. I panicked, not knowing what to say, especially when I saw the silent expression on Tomi’s face.

His gaze moved straight toward Kenn, then alternated to look at me. He folded his arms arrogantly while raising one eyebrow. One of his clenched hands was brought to his lips, as if he were weighing something.

“Why are you silent, Frel? Usually you’re the quickest to refute,” Tomi sneered.

Tomi stared at me sharply, as if he wanted to strip my honesty bare. I realized that compared to Dara, Tomi was the most sensitive to every change in my movements.

“Don’t you want to continue copying the assignment?” I tried to divert their attention. “Time is almost up, Mr. Ahsan could come in at any moment,” I added anxiously.

Dara slid her now fully filled assignment book toward me, while Tomi smiled amusedly. Kenn himself looked like he was holding back laughter while slightly lowering his head.

“You can’t answer, can you, Frel? So it’s true that there’s something between you two?” Dara pressed again. “Your cheeks are starting to turn red, that’s enough of an answer for me!”

I shook my head quickly. “Don’t talk nonsense, Dara. We don’t have any kind of relationship. Everything we did was purely for Abel and Reno.”

“Attention, please.” Suddenly Rafa, the class president, stepped forward to announce something. “Everyone, please calm down!” he shouted.

I immediately turned my body to face forward while secretly rubbing my chest, feeling very relieved.

“Mr. Ahsan will be coming late. He asked us to write the answers to the ten questions on the board. He wants the work to start from the front row seats,” Rafa continued.

Instantly, weary complaints were heard from the front rows, while the other students cheered happily for escaping Mr. Ahsan’s barrage of questions.

When I glanced backward, I saw Tomi and Dara giving each other a high five.

At least, they were no longer demanding my answer for now.

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