The Ticket

AEDRIAN

THIS IS ANNOYING. I never thought my life would be ruined because of what happened yesterday. All I wanted was a peaceful high school life, so why is this happening to me? Ugh.

They really got one over on me. But what I don't understand is this: Marco said Lyca's phone was a Samsung, and she never denied it. So why was the phone she pulled out of her pocket an iPhone?

"Hey, isn't he the guy from the video?" I heard a girl whisper behind me.

"Yeah, that's him!" her friend agreed.

"He's handsome, but I think he's stupid."

"Ouch, girl. That's harsh. Lyca's the one who should be blamed! She's such a liar!"

"But if they were really smart, they wouldn't have meddled in the first place. They're just trying too hard to be detectives. Now look at them, they've embarrassed themselves! They're not Holmes' apprentices, okay?"

"Well, he's just a transfer student. How was he supposed to know Lyca was such a talented actress?"

"Whatever. That's what attention seekers get! Second-rate, wannabe detectives!"

And that was how my day started. Tsk.

I never expected to become infamous just three days after transferring here. And it was all because of a certain presence that seemed to be approaching me again.

"Transfer student!"

"What?" I shouted.

The smile instantly disappeared from her lips.

Really? She could still smile after everything that happened? Did she enjoy being the talk of the campus? Because I certainly didn't.

I didn't wait for her to say another word and headed straight into the classroom. Just like the students outside, my classmates stared at me. That's all they ever did anyway—stare and whisper. They never had the courage to speak loudly because they were afraid.

I walked to the back of the room and took my seat. My seatmate did the same. When the clock struck seven, Prof. Tobias arrived and began the lesson. I noticed him glancing in my direction as if there was something he wanted to say.

My classmates' stares were insulting, so I glared right back at them.

When the bell rang, I packed my things and headed for the door. A few boys deliberately bumped into me, and Marco was probably one of them. As if I'd be intimidated by childish idiots like them.

Tsk.

I stopped walking when I ran into Lyca.

She smiled and handed me a piece of paper.

"A peace offering for what I did to you yesterday. It's a ticket to the play next week. I'm the lead actress. Come watch and see how good I am at acting. Hmm?"

"Are you kidding me?" I asked.

I still couldn't forget the way she humiliated us. Imagine pretending to be the victim when she was actually the one behind everything.

"No, but you two were even funnier. I knew someone would fall for my acting skills. And just as planned, I got your phone number."

She laughed.

"Wait, on second thought, you're actually the one who got mine."

"You could've just asked for it, you know."

"Not my style. I like making things complicated and exciting at the same time. See you around, Aedrian."

She walked away, leaving the ticket in my hand.

"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs?"

The scene was exactly the same when I entered the cafeteria—everyone was staring at me.

Tss.

I never realized people here could be so narrow-minded.

I grabbed my food and looked for an empty seat in the corner of the cafeteria. There weren't many students around. It was quiet. I could finally breathe.

But the temporary peace I was hoping for was interrupted when my seatmate arrived. She slammed her tray onto the table. The look she gave me was almost hostile.

"Are you mad at me?"

I chuckled.

"It looks like you're the angry one."

"Look, I'm sorry for forgetting to tell you that Lyca is a member of the theater club! I'm sorry, okay? I know it's my fault we embarrassed ourselves in front of the whole campus! It's my fault we have a giant sign over our heads that says 'Trying-Hard Detectives.' But Aedrian, don't ignore me! Do you know you're the first seatmate I've ever had in my entire life?"

My jaw dropped—not because I was impressed by her long speech, but because it was the first time I'd heard my name come out of her mouth.

It wasn't a big deal.

But compared to 'Transfer Student,' hearing her call me Aedrian was strangely satisfying.

"What? Are you still not going to talk to me? Come on, Aedrian! I've already swallowed my pride because I really want to be your friend. Hey, pay attention to me! Are you really that mad?"

I looked at her.

Maybe I had been wrong about her.

She didn't need an apprentice.

The truth was, she just wanted a friend.

And I wasn't cruel enough to reject that.

Besides, her deduction skills were actually kind of interesting.

"What if I don't want to be your friend?" I asked, trying to tease her.

She sat down and answered,

"Then being acquaintances is enough for me. But please... always stay by my side."

Her words made me pause.

What did she mean by that?

It sounded as if she genuinely needed someone beside her.

I smiled.

"Then let's just be. Seatmates, friends, acquaintances, or whatever we are now—let's just be."

A sweet smile spread across her lips, and she looked like she was about to cry.

Really?

Did she want to be friends with me that badly?

Weird.

"So you're not mad at me anymore?"

I shook my head.

"There's nothing to be angry about when it comes to being infamous in this school."

Her smile suddenly vanished.

"That's just how it is. We can't please everyone no matter what we do. That's why we shouldn't let their stares or words affect us. We should do what's right and what sets our hearts free."

Then she started eating her lunch.

"Hey... tell me something. Didn't you notice anything yesterday?"

"About what?"

"About what happened. There's something we heard that we didn't pay enough attention to. I know there is. We missed something."

"R-Really? What?"

"You mean you didn't know? You didn't notice it?"

Suddenly, my phone rang.

I looked down at the screen.

From: +639**8658497
12:34 PM

Use what I gave you, okay?

—End of message—

I frowned.