Chapter 66: Farah Is the Mastermind

Without a teacher’s presence, the classroom always ended up in an uproar. There was always something to talk about and argue over, just like what was happening in class X-1 right now.

Rafa, as the class president, announced that today’s economics lesson was canceled because Mr. Eko was sick. As a substitute, we were given an assignment to create several questions related to trading companies and service companies, then answer them ourselves based on our respective perspectives.

“This is very easy. The questions are up to us, right? We’re the ones asked to make them,” Udin said arrogantly while laughing out loud.

“You’re so full of yourself, Udin. What kind of questions are you going to make, anyway?” Andika replied.

“You act like you don’t know Udin, Andika. The questions he makes will surely be related to his family’s shoe business. Then he’ll slip his own factory address at the bottom of the paper,” Daniel joked, now sitting next to Udin.

“Of course that’s fine. Just consider it part of promotion,” Udin answered with a grin as he scratched his head.

The classroom immediately grew noisy with bursts of laughter as we heard Daniel’s and Udin’s banter.

Udin’s family was indeed well-off. His parents owned several high-heel shoe factories that were currently popular among career women. I also finally realized why Udin had always been so afraid of Dara. It turned out that Dara’s mother’s boutique did not only sell various branded clothes, but also shoes supplied from Udin’s parents’ factory.

The incident a few days ago proved it. After Dara found out Kenn’s true identity, the next day she immediately ordered Udin to switch seats again. Without resistance, Udin obediently nodded when Dara threatened that her mother’s boutique would no longer cooperate with his family’s factory if he dared to argue.

“That’s enough. Now open your books to chapter three about the differences between trading companies and service companies,” Rafa said firmly, raising his voice slightly.

The class instantly fell silent. Everyone obeyed his command without protest.

“Time’s up. Now submit everything to the teacher’s desk.” Rafa walked to the front and placed his own assignment book there first.

He then shifted his gaze to the list of students’ names on a sheet of paper posted beside the whiteboard. The list showed who was assigned to assist the teacher during each class period every day.

“Today, the one assigned to deliver the economics assignments to Mr. Eko’s desk is Frela Lidiana Putri,” Rafa said, his voice clearly audible to my ears. However, as usual, I did not move at all.

“Rafa, it’s like you don’t know Frel at all. Even if your mouth foams from calling her, she still won’t respond if you use her full name,” Maya interjected while looking at me with a sneer.

The atmosphere fell silent. I chose to remain quiet and did not respond to Maya’s remark. Let her say whatever she wanted. What was clear was that I would not change my decision to hate that name.

“Sorry, I forgot. All right, Frel, please take all of these to the teachers’ office,” Rafa said afterward.

I nodded, then turned around to signal Kenn to follow me. Even though there was no sign that he agreed with my request, he still stood up and complied.

Look at that, deftly he immediately took more than half of the stack of assignment books from my hands. Meanwhile, the other female students could only stare blankly, witnessing this rare occurrence.

We walked out of the classroom side by side. Along the corridor toward the teachers’ office, only the sound of our footsteps could be heard. I smiled quietly. It really made me want to laugh every time I remembered the girls’ exaggerated reactions when they saw the change in Kenn’s attitude toward me.

When we were standing right in front of the teachers’ office door, Kenn suddenly stopped me from going in. “You go ahead.”

“Why? It’s just a little farther.”

“I have some business with Mr. Ahmad. I’ll carry the books you’re holding.”

I shrugged. “All right, whatever you say.”

I turned back toward the classroom. The distance between the teachers’ office building and the student building was indeed quite far. I had to pass the basketball court, the school clinic room, then a special room for oyster mushroom cultivation before finally reaching the main building where teaching and learning took place.

The atmosphere was very quiet. Perhaps all the students were in their respective classes. I walked leisurely, occasionally lifting my left foot and making small hops on the square-patterned ceramic floor in front of me. As long as no one was watching, there was nothing wrong with indulging in a bit of nostalgia for childhood games.

Left foot lifted, right foot hopped. Hop, hop, then both feet landed together. Once again.

But just as I was about to repeat it for the second time, suddenly someone covered my mouth.

Whose hand is this? Why was my mouth suddenly covered?

I screamed in panic, but the sound that came out was unclear, like someone gargling.

“Quiet!” he whispered sharply, right into my ear.

I pulled with all my strength at the muscular hand covering my mouth, but at the same moment my right arm was twisted behind my back. I kept struggling as my body was dragged forcefully by someone I did not know at all.

Suddenly, I remembered a similar incident from several years ago. That event kept flashing through my mind.

Damn it.

At least my eyes were not covered like in the movies. I chuckled inwardly. In a situation this critical, my mind could still wander everywhere. But what was wrong with that? It actually proved that they were not trained perpetrators, just amateur criminals who were nowhere near as skilled as actors in films.

I was taken to the area behind the school warehouse. Suddenly, I remembered Ari once telling me about Farah’s bullying actions that took place right behind this warehouse. Maybe this was the place Ari had meant.

Now my mouth was no longer covered, but both of my hands were pulled very tightly behind my back. I turned my head to the side.

Damn it.

I saw two delinquent boys I had once encountered near the restroom walking side by side with the boy who was holding my arms.

It was certain that the boy standing right behind me was their leader.

Apparently, this place was not occupied by just us. There were three other female students standing there, waiting for our arrival. From their demeanor, I was sure they were the ones who had ordered these three delinquent boys.

“Well, you’ve finally arrived, shorty.”

As I had suspected, Farah was the mastermind.

We stopped right in front of Farah. I remained still while observing the situation. I had already expected that sooner or later, Farah would definitely oppress me.

“Wow, I’m a little impressed by your reaction. Out of all the girls I’ve brought here, you’re the only one who can stay this calm.”

Farah clapped her hands while smiling. It was a disgusting smile.

“Let’s see just how far that courage of yours goes.”

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