Chapter 121: The Forbidden Area

I walked hurriedly and slipped into an elevator filled with several students. This was the first time I had used the facility. I didn’t understand why my feet moved reflexively closer when the elevator doors opened, as if searching for an escape from the suffocating crowd in the corridor.

I leaned my back against the cold elevator wall, trying to ignore the presence of several female students on my right and left. My mind wandered far away, replaying memories of my time with Mr. Aditya whenever I visited Kevan’s house.

I took a deep breath. Remembering the affection shown by Mr. Aditya, it felt impossible that all of it was merely my imagination. He sincerely cared for me. The love he showed was not something fake that would only last temporarily as Dara had said. Dara was wrong. I was sure Kevan’s entire family truly accepted my presence.

However, my calm was disturbed again. The elevator stopped at the next floor and a group of female students entered noisily. Their chatter truly surpassed the buzzing of a swarm of bees. I frowned, trying to remain unnoticed in the corner, but my ears couldn’t avoid their conversation.

“It’s been more than a month since Farah left, and it feels like this school has completely changed,” one of them whispered in a very relieved tone.

“That’s right. I’ve only just realized how oppressive the atmosphere used to be when she was still here,” her friend replied sincerely. “Now I don’t have to feel anxious or afraid every time I pass the back corridor. It feels much safer and calmer. It’s like we’ve been freed from a very heavy burden.”

“I agree. It feels like the school has returned to being a normal place, not a scary one anymore,” another student chimed in. “All of that is thanks to the video evidence that Kenn submitted to the principal back then. If it weren’t for Kenn’s decisive action, Farah might still be bullying others until now.”

“Kenn’s action in defending Frel was truly amazing. He really cleaned this school of people like Farah.”

I rolled my eyes, feeling fed up hearing my name and Farah’s being brought up again even though the incident had passed. They almost recognized me standing right behind them. Fortunately, the elevator stopped on the seventh floor and the group of girls got out while still chatting about how comfortable the new school atmosphere was.

Now only a male student and I were left. He looked at me with a furrowed brow, seeming puzzled that I was still standing quietly in the corner.

“You’re not getting off? This is the last floor for students,” he said while pressing the seventh-floor button that was already lit.

“I want to go back down,” I replied briefly.

He nodded, but his gaze remained inquisitive.

“I thought you wanted to go to the top floor,” he said softly. “Don’t try to go there. The rooftop area is forbidden. Only the principal and the foundation’s owner have access. Rumor has it, even Kenn and Tomi have special privileges there because of their family status. Ordinary students who dare to go up will be expelled immediately, no matter the reason.”

I remained silent, not interested in responding to his warning. The elevator stopped on the ground floor, but my feet seemed rooted and unwilling to move at all.

A group of students entered again, filling the small space. I let the elevator carry my body up once more, passing floors that should have been my destination.

I lowered my head, staring at the tips of my shoes. The ache in my heart struck again as the image of Kenn and Gita together earlier kept dancing in my mind. That scene seemed to paralyze my entire central nervous system.

“Do they have a special relationship?” I murmured softly.

I immediately shook my head. Let them have whatever kind of relationship they wanted, because I had already made up my mind to choose Kevan. However, suddenly I clutched my left chest as a sharp pain pierced me without warning. It was as if another part of myself was strongly rejecting that decision.

Damn, I really needed some space to be alone. When I lifted my head, I was stunned again to find myself alone inside the elevator. Everyone seemed to have gotten out without me realizing it.

Curiosity and desperation led me to press the topmost button. I didn’t care about the student’s earlier warning. If Kenn could be there and have such great authority, I wanted to know what made that place so special to them.

The elevator doors opened slowly. I stepped out and walked along a short corridor toward the open area called the rooftop. A strong wind immediately greeted my skin. However, my steps suddenly came to a halt.

My body stiffened and my eyes widened completely. It turned out the warning was true. This place was not empty. I hadn’t expected that two boys were already occupying this exclusive spot. And I knew them very well.

They were Kenn and Tomi.

From a distance, I observed Kenn and Tomi talking about something. The elevator entrance was in the left corner, while they were standing by the railing in the middle. At first, I could not hear their conversation clearly because of the distance between us. However, the very quiet atmosphere on the rooftop allowed the echo of their voices to slowly reach me.

I held my breath, trying to sharpen my hearing amid the gusts of wind.

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