"Are you sure you three graduated from the same discipline as me?"
Veronica's voice sounds confused but for the trio, this is the same tone of mockery she used on them, years ago, on that day of their initiation.
Although the trio could feel the sudden jolt of nervousness, they braved their hearts, confident that years passed and Veronica Wang no longer had the capability to trample on their pride and intelligence like she did when they were just freshmen.
"But of course senior Veronica!! We, like you, hold a degree in Political Science!" Tina replied with pride. The two girls nodded their heads with pride.
"You weren't around here since your family's DIS- APPEA- RANCE so of course you weren't updated", Ally added, putting emphasis on the word disappearance to further implicate Veronica.
Veronica then made a sad expression and changed her voice to a mellow one as if recalling a dark past with a heavy heart. Although somehow, she's not faking the rawness of her emotion.
"Ah, indeed. Too bad. I was comatose then, from a car accident, rather, from a car chasing me to death, for almost a month and my father suffered from a stroke and after almost five years, is still under rehabilitation (i)."
Several gasps were heard from the people around. What unfortunate chain of events a family could suffer! But the strongest was of Madame Sy but still tried her best to keep silent and let her daughter in law handle these stupid girls.
She's Madame Sy and dealing with those stupid girls would be something out of her character. Well she can do better like, destroy those girls' lives behind the scenes. An excited, evil glint appeared in Madame Vanessa's eyes.
"Anyway, you heard among yourselves that my father's case was dismissed right? Can you still recall what that means?"
"Of course! It's, it's…" Carla stuttered. Well not because she couldn't recall what a dismissed case meant but because it would defeat the purpose of their prior scheme.
"A lawsuit closed with no finding of guilt and no conviction for the defendant in a criminal case by a court of law... so basically, my father is innocent, no?" Veronically enunciated each word.
"Well, ... well yes", Carla finally conceded, seeing no way out. While the two other girls could
only close their fist from humiliation.
"Now, isn't it sad that some people still implicate my father for the disappearance of the Yans when he was, you know, paralysed because of the stroke? Or my mother who was a plain
housewife or even me, in the middle of a coma."
Chuckles can be heard from the crowd and also Madame Vanessa couldn't help but snicker and felt guilty right after as Veronica was not talking about a fictitious comedy but her real life experience years ago.
9Senior Veronica, that's rude! Don't put words in our mouth! We didn't say that your father or you were involved in the Yans-"
"Were you listening?" Veronica cut the Ally girl through a question with a tone usually used to a question 'Are you stupid?'
This time, more snickering from the young elites while the old ones were trying their best to hide the amusement in their eyes.
"I said some people, not you, you or you, after deducing the words that came from your mouth", Veronica each pointed to the girls all the while maintaining her casual, calm tone like she's just talking to children, then continued,
"Not unless, you just spouted some nonsensical things without even knowing the gravity of those words and the implications it will cause to the innocent ones. A piece of advice, as your college senior, ladies, next time, be mindful of your actions and words. It's totally a shame for our alma mater and our program if you continue to act like you haven't learned a thing after
four years of schooling."
Seeing as the girls seemed to have no more comebacks to give, Veronica sighed loudly, as if she's a forgiving senior.
"You girls can go now."
Veronica, being able to justify her father's dismissed case, was happy and was in the mood to let the girls go. After all, they're too irrelevant for her to even think much of.
The trio, out of shame and at least, some realization, just took their bags and instantly ran out of the restaurant in embarrassment. They were castigating Ally who was the mastermind of their failed scheme while feeling ashamed of their own stupidity.
On the other hand, Julie was still hiding herself from the corner. Well, she actually thought of doing the same thing the girls did, but thankfully, when she was in the comfort room and had time to let all her frustration out, her thinking became clear and realized that it would put her in a compromising situation.
So she decided to stay a little longer in the comfort room to hopefully add more drama in her "not feeling well and traumatized situation" thus will boost the concern from her friends and eventually, will make them feel the need to avenge her.
Of course, she, the innocent, kind Julie isn't aware of this. And even won't appear to save them as it would compromise her image to being friends with those stupid women.
Well, if she is to go out later and there will be someone to point out her being friends with them, she'll just easily show her innocence, and "What happened?" shocked face.
Well, she didn't maintain her sweet, innocent and kind fasçade all those years for nothing.
It's also a good thing that she came to a realization that trying to humiliate someone in the public scheme is not safe. Instead, it's foolish and would eventually backfire... So Julie Tan decided on another approach.
'Well, if you can't beat them, join them.'
A sharp look appeared on her eyes after seeing her future mother in law held Veronica's hand as if consoling her.
'That bitch!!! Rawlf is mine! He's mine! Mine and mine alone!!' She thought in full delusion.