"Whoever did this must be crazy! How dare they slander my bestie!". Lucy angrily stomped her right foot out of frustration.
"I can only guess that person has a mental illness. Who would do this in their right mind anyway?!".
The classroom soon filled up with people and I'm glad my classmates are on my side.
"Kaezi, don't worry about this. We all know you're not that kind of person", said by my classmate. Her name is Nadia Yuno. A girl with pale red hair and black eyes. Like me, she is just an ordinary girl.
"That's right!".
"We will definitely find the culprit!".
Everyone… Thank you.
...
The incident soon reached the ears of many students. I was so scared that I didn't leave the classroom the entire time. I skipped lunch and my eyes are weary.
All the rumours and gossip are pointed at me.
They said I was a sl*t. It was a karma for seducing men. I don't think I have ever done such a thing.
My tears drip down as I silently comfort myself.
Bang!
The door opened so loudly.
"Brother… Derris?!".
Brother was panting from running and hurriedly hugged me. "Zi, don't worry about it. Brother will find a way".
I was touched because of his warmth and care.
Jeremy sighed in relief. Lucy was still worried but chose not to say a word and gathered the entire class with her.
She seemed to say something but my consciousness was getting blurry. Did I fall asleep?
…
I was studying for an assessment that I forgot about the time.
"Ian, you're back!", Kimi waved.
Ian furrowed his brow.
"Is something wrong?", Kimi asked.
I didn't look since I was focused on the notes. Anyway, I just listened instead.
"Do you know? The other class seems to be the center of the academy lately".
Kimi took his water bottle. "Really? What's the rumor anyway?".
"Kaezi Iura of that class got slandered. It said her desk was sabotaged and got a curse message".
Huh?!
I stood up from the shock.
"Are you okay, Claude?".
Did they say… Kaezi Iura? What's going on?
"Oh yeah. Isn't she a friend of yours?". Ian mentioned as he remembers it. Kimi looks at Claude with worries.
…
I left my room and ran towards the other room. Outside Kaezi's room were filled with students who were gossiping. Others are trying to get in and seek information.
"I told you our classmate is not that kind of person!".
A female student was quarreling with another student who seemed to be an outsider.
"Why are you defending her? Must be true then that she seduces men. Look how she clings onto the student council male students".
"Do you even know what you're saying? The student council president is her older brother..".
She was cut off. "But that doesn't mean she's ain't a vixen".
A male student coming out from Kaezi's room jumped in. It was Jeremy Iura. He slapped the girl looking enraged.
"How dare you curse my sister". His eyes were cold.
Lucy also stepped in. "Jeremy, don't bother wasting your time with those people. People who are easily swayed by rumours are stupid. Don't let your nerves get the best of it".
Jeremy went back inside and so did Lucy.
I approached the girl who got defended. "Uhmm, is Kaezi Iura alright?!".
She was startled that she thought she would get into another fight.
"Don't worry. I'm a friend of hers".
"Oh, I see. What a relief". She sighed and glanced at the door that was slightly opened. "Kaezi was not herself today. She was terrified that she would only cry. Jeremy and Lucy couldn't try to give her much comfort so we are trying to find someone to help us solve the situation".
Someone to help? I think I know someone who can.
"Then please continue to take care of her. I'll seek help from the student council!".
"Huh? Uh.. sure. But they are on a tight schedule as the teachers are. Are you sure they would be willing?".
"Yes. Just trust me".
I quickly left and ran through the hallway. Right to the staircase, I saw someone I knew.
"Wait up!".
"You are… Melody?".
Why is she stopping me all of a sudden?
"Where are you going?". She approached me with a charming look. Her blonde hair was swaying and bouncing as she played with it.
"Now is not the time… I need.. to..".
Huh?!
I bumped into someone. It was Derris Iura, Kaezi's second older brother!
…
At the infirmary,
"Zi? You're awake!".
She saw her brothers right as soon as she opened her eyes. She recalled what happened and covered her ears.
The pain of hearing something bad just by thinking of it.. I'm scared.
"3rd brother, I'm scared". I was shivering in fear and my tears won't stop flowing through my cheeks.
Brother Klein who was usually calm suddenly hugged me. "It's okay, it's okay… everything will be fine". Brother Lewis sat down on the chair and asked me about what happened.
"I see".
"I think female students are the ones who did this", Derris said while leaning on the wall. He looked so serious and gazed at Lewis.
"Why do you say so?".
Lewis blinked and has a stupid expression. Derris twitched his eyebrows. "What do you mean, why?!". Derris yelled at him.
"It's because you are too popular and tend to be kind to your crazy fanatics. Look at how they are delusional now. They look like they want to push away those who are close to you because of their obsessions".
Derris sighed at Jeremy. He looks like he found someone who understands his thoughts.
"I get it. It's just I'm too popular", Lewis sarcastically said.
Derris smacked his head. "You idiot, this isn't the time to joke about!".
"How can you confidently say that when it's your fault?!". Jeremy said while walking towards her twin sister. The two push all the blame to their eldest brother.
Lewis flinched and shrunk as he scolded him.
While it happened, Kaezi was staring at the window and was lost in thought. She remained silent. Jeremy patted her head.
"Don't worry about it. Our idiot brother will fix his mess that got you into".
Her eyes that were so listless regained the light reflecting in it. She nodded and felt the sense of security from her brothers.
…
"Do you think it's strange?".
"What do you mean?".
Lucy was walking with Claude through the hallway. They were carrying snacks for Kaezi.
"I mean they only targeted Kaezi when there are other girls who are also close to her older brothers".
"Are you talking about the president's classmate?". He asked curiously and tilted his head.
Lucy's instinct suddenly aroused when she thought about the girls who are trying to cotton on to her brothers.
While walking, the two are nervous as they feel that the air around them is getting hostile.
"Claude!". A shout from behind. A sweet alluring voice he heard and familiar.
"Lucy, I think I need to run", he said in a stiff voice and pushed all the snacks on her.
Claude dashes through. Lucy knew that he was being pestered by that girl.
"Hey!". Melody pants and stop at the very same ground where Claude used to stand.
Lucy clicks her tongue. Melody felt offended and glared at her.
"Give it up. Claude doesn't like to be pestered by you".
Melody bit her lips. "Don't act familiar with him".
"Hm?". Lucy turned her face on her. She saw Melody's bitter expression. "What?!".
"I said don't you dare get close to him!".
Wow. Her expression revealed her jealousy and how ugly her personality is. Melody Nakamura, was it? I don't know why he ran away as soon as he saw her. But one thing is positive, Claude finds her annoying.
"I think you have heard that Kaezi Iura got into trouble right? Claude is full at hand at the moment and please don't trouble him". I calmly said as I found her funny trembling by herself.
"Her… again?!".
Huh? What's with her? Is she perhaps really jealous of why Claude pays extra attention to Kaezi while ignoring her?
How laughable.
"Student Nakamura, I must go now".
Lucy waves her hand with a cool aura. She smirked at Melody and left.
…
"Did she leave already?". I was hiding inside the storage room and peeking outside.
"So you are here".
I was startled. "Lucy?!".
"She left already. I kinda pissed her though". She said in a confident tone.
Why are you so smug like you won something?! Don't tell me you fought?
{EXTRA CHAPTER}
Lewis admiring himself in front of the mirror. "As expected, my face is so handsome. My sister must be so proud of me".
A loud sound from the door and Noah barged in. "Hey! Did you hide my toy again?!". Furious and out of control, Noah turns Lewis's bedroom upside down.
"Hey! What the heck are you doing?! Get out of my room, this instant!".
Noah stumbled upon a hidden box under his bedsheet. He took it out and opened it. He saw her older sister, Kaezi's photos about her daily life in it.
Noah disgustingly looked at him. "Oniichan, you pervert".
"Aaaaaaahhh! My treasure!".
Noah snatched the photos inside the box and ran downstairs yelling at Kaezi's name. "Sister! Look what I found!".
"Noah, you devil!".
"Bleh!". He let out his tongue as he slid down. He saw Kaezi reading a book and Jeremy playing with his headphones on.
"Sis! Bro! Look at this! Lewis brother is hiding sister's photos!".
Kaezi stood up and looked at all of her photos.
One was when she was happily eating parfait, the other was when she was dressed up with a long dress that made her look like a living doll, and a photo of her napping beside Noah.
"Brother Lewis!".
Ever since that day, Kaezi ignored him. Her image of his cool brother crumbled.
Meanwhile, Lewis shrunk on a side where Kaezi told him to stay and didn't let him go beside her.
"How come I don't know this?". Kaezi was being taught by Jeremy how to play an RPG game. "Use offensive skills and defend".
"I got it!".
Derris glanced at the poor eldest sibling while he was watching Noah plays with Klein.
-to be continued-