Arwen walked down the corridor with a cold face. She didn't expect this kind of situation when she saw dozens of pairs of students' eyes staring at her cynically. Not to mention the strange whispers she heard from a group of students who had been gossiping about her for a long time. But Arwen was indifferent, she continued walking towards her class. What she saw in class was not much different. Yuki, Nina, Choa, and Harry are seen gathering.
"Arwen!" called Choa after seeing Arwen enter the classroom.
Harry then shifted, making way for Arwen to sit down. Arwen said nothing, she was busy checking the contents of her bag, ignoring the stares and whispers of her classmates. She even ignored her four best friends who were now standing around her.
"Wen, have you heard today's gossip?" asked Yuki.
"Crazy. You listen to cheap gossip. If they want to slander that person, they must have proof!" Choa said in a high-pitched voice. She meant to insinuate her classmates who had been busy gossiping about Arwen.
"Seriously, I want to see the face of the person who spread this gossip," said Harry no less annoyed.
Nina nodded. "Wen, you better cover your ears, don't listen to what they say!"
Arwen suddenly let out a rough breath. "Do you believe I did that or not?"
She looked at her friends one by one as if looking for answers there. Choa immediately laughed bitterly.
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm just asking you guys believe me or not?"
"Yes, of course. How long do you think we've been friends?" Choa said in a slightly annoyed tone because of Arwen's question. The others also nodded.
"Harry, come with me!"
"Why? Where did you go?"
"Student Council Room!"
Arwen walked out of the classroom, followed by Harry with a confused face. Choa, Yuki, and Nina just looked at each other with the same confused face.
What is happening today? What's wrong with Arwen?
All because of the Osis cash loss problem. Even though at that time only five student council members knew about this problem, it turned out that the news quickly spread throughout the school. But the thing is, rumors are circulating that Arwen took the money.
Back to what happened yesterday afternoon when I got home from school. Arwen came home with an annoyed face not without reason. Previously, Arwen, Harry, Jinu, Yohana, and Nana had made an appointment to view the CCTV footage of the student council room. And what they saw at that moment shocked the five of them, especially Arwen.
Many student council members were in and out of the student council room, but that day only Arwen was caught alone. And the time coincided with when the cash was reported missing. Of course, Arwen was upset, she did go to the student council that morning, but only to pick up his textbook which was left there.
And what's even worse. Last night as Arwen checked her books, she found a familiar thick wallet in her bag. After Arwen checked it, of course, she was even more shocked. Why is Nana's money purse in her bag, complete with the missing cash? Arwen's face was red with anger, someone was trying to trap and toy with her this time.
*****
The four pairs of eyes widened after Arwen put the gray wallet she was carrying on the table. Originally, she wanted to discuss this with Jinu first, but Yohana was also in the room writing down the agenda. Nana was there too, it was her habit from long ago. Most like hanging out in the student council room.
Nana immediately reached for the wallet she recognized. "Arwen, why is that purse with you?"
There was no answer, everyone was still looking at each other. Arwen could see the look on Yohana's face that looked satisfied, the corners of her lips lifted in triumph. Because since yesterday it was Yohana who was the most insistent and convinced that Arwen had indeed taken the money.
"What does this mean? Why is your wallet with you?" said Harry after a moment.
"I told you yesterday..."
Jinu immediately raised his hand, telling Yohana to be quiet. The girl folded her arms in annoyance after seeing Jinu looking at her coldly.
"Nana, you check the contents first!"
There was silence until Nana finished counting. She then nodded. "Still intact, nothing missing."
Arwen could feel all eyes on her as if asking for an explanation. Arwen acted normal because she didn't take the money. But the problem was that Arwen couldn't convince them, especially since she didn't have any witnesses.
"Wen, now I ask for an explanation as to why this wallet is with you. This can't be you taking it?" Jinu asked quietly. Arwen could read Jinu's tone trying to convince himself.
"I couldn't have done that. But I don't know why it was in my bag. I just found it last night."
Silence!
Arwen could understand, they wouldn't immediately believe her words. They were just silent, even Harry himself was confused about how to act.
"So it means, someone set you up. You took it yourself," said Yohana sarcastically.
"I don't expect you to believe it because from the start you accused me of taking it. But I didn't take the money."
"Yeah, if you don't take it, how is the money with you now?"
"If I had known, I wouldn't have rambled on."
Arwen doesn't care about Yohana's attitude, whatever she wants to accuse, Arwen just needs Jinu to believe that she didn't do that. But the boy was silent, even Harry tried to avoid his gaze with Arwen.
"Why don't you believe me?" asked Arwen.
They had worked together for two years to become part of the student council, during which time there had never been a problem between Arwen and Jinu. They trust each other. And Harry had been her best friend for almost three years, they had been through ups and downs together. But Arwen realized time couldn't tell whether someone was the same or not after he saw Jinu and Harry who looked like they were trying to believe it.
"It's not that I don't trust Wen. But how can I believe it right away if I don't know the details? I need proof, Wen, I can't explain it to the teacher if there's no proof. While we only hear this explanation from you, everything will be added. It's really bad when you hear this. Because this news has spread everywhere, and I don't want them to gossip more about you."
"I know. I see what you mean. But what I'm asking is you, Nu, do you believe me?" But Jinu was silent. Arwen turned her gaze to Harry.
"What about you Har? After knowing the truth like this, do you still believe me or not?"
Harry kept his head down, it made Arwen's heartache. She didn't care if she had to lose other people's trust, but Arwen was disappointed when she saw the look on Harry's face that seemed hesitant or even reluctant to look at him.
Everything was silent, even Yohana, who had been insistent on her accusations since yesterday, is now silent. Meanwhile, Nana is confused by the situation that looks awkward. Arwen knew she couldn't force someone's feelings no matter how hard she explained. Arwen then rose from her seat.
"I understand how you feel. Maybe if I were in your position it would be too. I await your decision, Nu, and you won't have to hide this from the teacher for too long."
Once again there was no answer, Arwen's heart ached even more. Even when she was about to leave, no one held her back. Even Harry, a friend she had known for almost three years.
After the incident, Arwen and the other student council members were summoned to the principal's office. Once again Arwen couldn't explain anything except the fact that the money was in her bag. No witness can explain except her. Arwen is ready to accept all the consequences, even though her heart is angry and disappointed because she received the punishment, not because of her actions. But Arwen tried to be calm and patient until the person appeared by herself.
And the decision, because the money was returned in full, Arwen still survived the suspension. But she had to accept the fact that he could no longer be the student council representative. It was the absolute decision of the Headmaster. Because the student council representative position was vacant, Jinu immediately appointed Harry as his successor which was immediately approved by the Headmaster and the other student council members.
This news of course soon spread throughout the school. All the students were whispering and cursing Arwen, but many did not believe that Arwen did that. And her reputation as a popular girl that had been built for a long time immediately collapsed due to a mistake. Yes, a mistake she didn't even commit. Arwen would wait for the person to appear, he was sure the person was not far away. Maybe even very close.
Arwen was happy that Nina, Choa, and Yuki still believed in her. But her relationship with Harry couldn't be that easy. Especially now that he replaced Arwen as the student council representative.
Arwen didn't mind, all she needed was Harry's trust. But, Harry had been trying to avoid it ever since. Even when the school bell rang, the boy just walked away.
Of course, the other three friends were also disappointed with Harry's attitude. Instead of providing support to Arwen, Harry seemed to see Arwen as a criminal who deserves to be shunned.
Continued...