Chen Rou Jiao pacing weakly. Her dark circle became worst, and her body became thinner since she unable to get proper rest in the cell. For three whole days she was taken into custody at the police station. Every day she being interrogated by the police and done many drug tests to be used as evidence after they found the drug inside her backpack during the inspection night.
Fortunately the results turned out negative. All of them. Thus Chen Rou Jiao been released this morning but she could not expressed her relieve of the freedom she got after leaving the place of nightmare. Not long after her released, she got call from Mr. Zhu, the dean of her college, asking her to come to his office that instant.
Yet Chen Rou Jiao did not obey him. Get it real. She stucked in cell for three days, without proper cleansing, lack of rest and not to mention the meal was taste like sand paper. She needed a thorough cleaning and by all means, she needed a change. The way people stared at her, made her wanted to run away from them.
She decided to return to her dorm first, then she will head to the office. Plus, her stomach growled, begging to be fill with chicken stew or anything tasty. Chen Rou Jiao come to conclusion. She clean up, change cloth, eat and then she will go meet Mr. Zhu. After she calculated the time and distances, it might take an hour. She will definitely make it.
When the only barrier between her and her comfort just the door, she stopped right in front of the barrier after she caught lively voices behind the door, laughing and cheering. Chen Rou Jiao thought Pei Xin and Chun Hua must be anticipated her return so they and the others surely planning something to celebrate her.
They had known each other for so long, there was no way they did not concern about her. Chen Rou Jiao tried to make her pale face brighter, put a smile on her dry lips, in order to not made her best friends worried when they saw her. She composed a few answers in her mind in case they questioned her well being during the investigation later.
After all set, Chen Rou Jiao pushed slowly the door, and the voices became clear as a bell. She peek inside, nothing special. Just Pei Xin, Chun Hua, Fen Ju and Liling sitting in circle, on the floor between the beds and chatting happily.
"Where did they hide the balloons? Cake?" Chen Rou Jiao asked herself, of course in her mind. She still not announce her presence. She thought, if they did not plan to surprise her, let her surprised them. Chen Rou Jiao smirked naughtily.
"Hey. Pei Xin," Pei Xin looked at Fen Ju who was sitting next to her.
"What?"
"Do you know when Chen Rou Jiao return? It's already many days now. Does she still under interrogation?"
Pei Xin lifted her shoulder. "No idea."
Fen Ju sighed and puzzled. "No way. She shall have get release now."
Chen Rou Jiao giggled. "I'm already here, everyone." she whispered in her heart. She was getting ready to shock them, only a few seconds from now. They will be mad at her after this.
"If she is proven innocent. But I don't think she is."
Chen Rou Jiao's heart sank. The smile on her pale face vanished and her body went numb. She was stupefied by those words which was came out from Chun Hua, her close friend. If it came out other than Chun Hua and Pei Xin, she could still accepted it but, it was Chun Hua. CHUN HUA!!!
Chen Rou Jiao did not know how to react for that statement.
Her eyes started getting reddened and wet. Her lips trembled but she still stood silently at the door, looking at them. Her left hand gripped the door tightly like she wanted to break it by her bare hand. Without delay, she stood straight and turned her back to the door, she hardly to look at them now.
"Aiya... throw the bad thinking away. Her case is still under investigation. Don't say like that." Liling voice out in worry.
Pei Xin chuckled, she looked at Liling. "Hey, I also agree with Chun Hua, the drug was found in her bag, how come she still innocent?"
Chun Hua nodded. "True. I saw it too. You should see her expression when her secret get exposed. Scared to death." Chun Hua and Pei Xin laughed.
Liling and Fen Ju looked at each other. They knitted their brows together.
"That's not make any sense." Fen Ju said in low voice, almost to whisper to Liling. Liling also nodded.
She done laughing, Pei Xin added, "You two don't ever believe her lively and bright behaviour, it just her acting."
"Yup. How come she, who work and study back and forth can get better result without taking extra "supplement" to boost her brain?" Chun Hua giggled.
Chen Rou Jiao listened to their bad-mouthing about her in silent. A single tear falling to her cheek. She however, had no energy to even scold them. She cursing herself for being such a fool. She covered her mouth, sobbing quietly. What kind of feeling was this?
She wanted to bombard into the room, barked at them, but when her heart wanted to do that, her mind did not want to cooperate. She could not even move her hand right now to wipe the falling tears.
RING! RING!
Everyone in the room startled. They quickly checked their phones but the rings were not theirs. The sounds led them to the door which slightly opened, but the ring faded in a flash, before any of them could move to the door.
"Who is that?" Chun Hua asked curiously.
Chen Rou Jiao left the place, before any of her 'friends' noticed her presence through the ringtone of her phone. She breath shakily due to the sudden workout, and stopped on the road to her dorm building to catch breath.
Her phone kept ringing, when she looked the caller ID, she immediately answered. While sobbing.
"Yes sir." she still exhausted but her voice was a bit steady now. She started to walk to the destination she supposed to go today.
"Miss Chen, at what time you will come to my office?" the modulated voice of the dean could be heard from the speaker.
"Yes, Mr. Zhu. I am on my way."
"Okay. I will wait for you. Please be quick."
"Okay Mr. Zhu." Chen Rou Jiao hang up the call and fastened her steps.
At the hallway to the office, Chen Rou Jiao bumped into Yu Yao, who just happened to walk acrossed her.
He gasped upon seeing her. " Chen Rou Jiao! Are you okay? When you get out?" Yu Yao scanned her up and down, and grabbed her hands tightly. He was so worried till he could not think wisely.
The corner of her lips curled up, "there were someone who still care about me, huh?" she whispered in her heart as she looked into his eyes.
Calmly she replied, "I am okay now. But I need to meet Mr. Zhu. He say he have something to discuss with me."
"Mn.. okay then. I will come with you."
"Eh. No need. I can go by myself. You must be busy now, the final is around the corner."
Yu Yao shook his head. "My friend need me. I must be by her side right now." he sneered.
Chen Rou Jiao almost got teary with his attitude in the same time she was relieve because Yu Yao saw her as friend, not as his love anymore.
"Okay then. Let's go."
Yu Yao overexcited with Chen Rou Jiao approval. The two of them walked to the office side by side in the same pace.