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In Brighton Wisdom School,
Professor's Room
Andria knocked timidly on the wooden door, her heart still heavy from the last two days. When she entered, the professors were busy with files, scribbling notes, or typing reports. She walked forward, standing straight, forcing her voice not to tremble.
"Sir… Ma'am… I want to report what happened to me yesterday and today," she said.
Professor Saima lifted her eyes, listening calmly. The Principal's assistant shuffled papers, ignoring her. After she finished explaining everything—about the bullying, the torn books, the insults—Saima simply asked, "Then what's your problem?"
Andria froze. She repeated herself, hoping they had misunderstood.
Again, the Professor looked at her coldly. "What's your problem?"
Around her, staff moved indifferently, as though her words were dust swept by the wind. It was clear—here, only money and power spoke. Justice did not exist.
Her jaw tightened. Fury burned in her chest. Without another word, Andria turned and left the room, her footsteps echoing with anger.
---
Hallway Outside
As she walked toward her class, a girl brushed past her. Something slipped into the pocket of Andria's coat.
Startled, she turned. "Hey, stop!"
The girl with long ponytail hair ran swiftly, not looking back. Andria sprinted after her, weaving through the corridor, until she caught her wrist at the end of the hallway.
Andria spun her around by the shoulder. "Was it you? Yesterday in the washroom—you left that note in my pocket too, didn't you? Who are you? What do you mean by—'Don't trust anybody'?"
The ponytail girl adjusted her glasses, her face calm yet calculating. A faint smirk curved her lips.
"Don't trust anybody means exactly that. All students here… and even professors too. You can only trust yourself. That's the only way you'll survive."
Her words dripped with dark certainty. Andria felt a chill run down her spine.
She opened her mouth to ask more, but the girl stepped back. "This much I can tell you." She turned and walked away as if nothing mattered.
Confused, Andria fumbled in her pocket. There was another note. She unfolded it with trembling fingers.
Didn't I tell you? Don't trust anybody. Here, you won't get justice.
Her mind spiraled into unease. Who was this girl? Why did her words feel like both a warning and a curse?
---
Classroom
When Andria entered her class, her desk was in shambles. Books were ripped, pages torn, words scribbled in ink. Across the desk, in bold letters:
Go back, poor girl. This place isn't for you.
Her chest tightened. She turned and caught sight of Erica and her friends giggling at the corner.
Andria marched up to them. "I don't know who did this, but I want everything back the way it was. Right now."
Erica smirked, feigning innocence. "Why are you saying this to me? I didn't do anything, poor girl."
Andria gave a low laugh. "I said now. One… Two… Three…"
One of Erica's friends snapped, "Didn't you hear what Erica said? Why are you acting—"
Before she could finish, Andria's hand shot out, grabbing Erica's hair. Erica yelped in pain, bending backward as the whole class gasped.
Her friends tried to pry Andria's grip away, but Andria's hold was iron. "Don't play with me again," she hissed.
A male voice rang out suddenly. "Yes, we did it. What can you do?"
From the crowd, Harry stepped forward, winking mockingly.
Andria released Erica, who stumbled away in relief. Then Andria strode up to Harry, leaned close, and whispered in his ear, "Didn't you see what I did just now? Do you want the same… or worse?"
Harry's smirk faltered. His eyes flared with rage. He snapped his fingers, and a boy locked the classroom door behind them.
"I remember your slap," Harry whispered back. "Now I'll pay you back."
He shoved her hard. Andria hit the desk edge, her head splitting open with a small wound. She closed her eyes for a moment, then smiled bitterly. I tried, Mom… I can't keep my promise anymore. Forgive me.
She stood tall again, eyes cold as steel. "Is this all you've got?"
Harry lunged to slap her. Andria twisted aside, catching his arm mid-swing, locking it in a painful hold. Harry howled.
Two boys rushed forward. Andria muttered, "I'm a black belt in karate."
In swift, sharp motions, she kicked and flipped them. They crashed to the floor. Gasps erupted around the room.
One of Erica's friends tried to grab her hair, but Andria countered with a swift block and a sharp kick. "You can't touch me, girl."
Chaos erupted. Andria fought off whoever came near, her breath heavy but her spirit blazing. Fear spread among classmates; some bolted out of the door when it was unlatched.
Harry clutched his twisted arm, glaring murderously at her. Erica leaned on her friends, hissing, "I won't leave you, Andria…"
Andria shouldered her bag, walked to Harry, and raised her leg as if to kick him. Harry flinched, eyes squeezing shut—but she stopped short.
"Cross the line again, and I won't spare you," she warned. Then she turned her back on the defeated bullies.
---
Next Day – Principal's Office
Harry stood with a plaster cast on his arm, his mother beside him. Erica and her mother were also present. Principal John and Professor Saima oversaw the scene.
Principal John's voice was cold. "We cannot allow your daughter here anymore. I'll prepare her Transfer Certificate."
Roselette, Andria's mother, panicked. "Please, sir. I'm sorry on her behalf."
Andria's stomach sank. She looked at Harry and Erica. They smirked triumphantly.
Harry's mother snapped, "Look at what she's done—she broke my son's hand! I'll report her to the police!"
Roselette nearly knelt, but Andria stopped her. "Mom, don't."
"Please, she won't do it again," Roselette begged, but Harry's mother shoved her aside. Andria cried out, rushing to help her mother, but Roselette pushed Andria away too, tears burning in her eyes.
Erica's mother sneered, "Why admit students like her in such a prestigious school? She doesn't belong here."
Principal John nodded. "You're right. She doesn't deserve it."
Andria's voice shook. "Sir, do you even know what they've done to me? I've suffered their bullying from the start!"
"Don't cover your faults," John replied icily.
Erica clutched her chest. "She's lying. We never bullied her."
Harry added smoothly, "You can ask our classmates."
Students were summoned. One by one, they denied ever seeing Andria bullied. Even Anita, whom Andria thought was neutral, said "No."
Andria's world crumbled.
"Have you had enough of your lies?" Principal John said coldly.
Roselette pulled Andria down. "Apologize to them. Now."
Tears blurred Andria's vision. "I don't lie. I won't apologize."
"Do it!" Roselette pleaded. Desperation cracked her voice. She herself knelt before the Principal. "Please, sir, don't dismiss her. She worked so hard to reach here."
John said,"I can't decide it alone,apologies to them"
Andria's heart shattered. Seeing her mother on her knees broke her. With shaking lips, she whispered, "I'm sorry… it's my fault."
Harry signals to his Mom.
Harry's mother get little worried, "Leave it,Don't repeat it again ".
Principal John folded his arms. "Her fate depends on her behavior. For now, we'll let her stay."
When everyone dispersed, Harry and Erica lingered. They leaned close, whispering in her ears: "You're nothing in front of us." Erica shoved her forehead with two fingers, and they walked away laughing.
Andria clenched her fists. She understood it now—truth had no value here. Only lies ruled.
---
Evening – 5:30 PM
As punishment, Andria cleaned the school ground alone. Her arms ached, her body was heavy, but her mind was heavier.
"Bullies walk free. Victims suffer in silence. Where's the justice?" she muttered, throwing the broom down.
Exhausted, she sat on a bench, head buried in her lap. She drifted into a restless sleep.
When she woke, the sun had set. The playground lights glowed against the darkness.
Stretching, she froze—someone was running toward the back gate.
It was a girl. Same uniform. Same ponytail.
Andria chased her through the quiet grounds, but lost her near the road. Then, in the middle of the street—
CRASH!
A van struck the girl, speeding away into the night.
"No!" Andria screamed, rushing to her. Blood spread across the asphalt.
Andria panicked,"Don't worry Nothing happen to you".Andria shouted for help...
"Why were you running?" Andria whispered frantically.
The ponytail girl's eyes, fading, darted across the road. Andria followed her gaze.
Under a flickering streetlamp stood two familiar figures. A boy and a girl, both wearing Brighton Wisdom uniforms.
The light revealed them clearly.
Selina. Ronnie. Members of Silver Storm.
Andria's breath hitched. Why… why were they chasing her?
Her world tilted. Darkness, blood, betrayal—it was all tangled together.
Andria froze, caught in the web of mystery.
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