Chapter 89 - Confessing The Truth?

"Wh-Wha-" she couldn't say it out loud. Or she was trying to make up her mind whether to say it or not. 

I was going to take a seat in front of her when she motioned for me to take a seat beside her. Perhaps she wishes to talk about something that was not supposed to be heard by someone else. If I had sat in front of her, our distance would have been fairly great. Someone walking close to us could overhear our conversation.

Looking at her, it was clear that whatever she was attempting to convey was difficult for her. But what exactly may it be? When was the last time I spoke with her, if my memory serves, right?  Wasn't it the case that we were both required to perform some job for the teachers? That was the only time we ever chatted for more than a minute.

"Do you need more time? I can go, and whenever you're ready to tell me, you can probably find me in the classroom..." I tried to stand up, but she grabbed my arm and exclaimed.

"W-Wait...! I'll tell you," she said.

"Please be quiet..." a warning was given. I didn't care who said it or to whom it was addressed since I knew it was solely for us. The other person isn't making a single sound and there isn't anyone except us and him so the warning for us is. There's no doubt about it.

"Alright, say it or I am really going to leave this time," I said. 

"Okay..." she said, "W-When you were on the s-stage you said that the ones who spread rumors about you were in s-school, what did you mean by that...?" She looked hesitant. 

"I mean exactly what I said,' I said, "The rumors were spread from the school." 

To be honest I know where she is getting at. 

Let's bring back some memories, shall we? 

...

"My father said that he is suspected of holding a gun. He said that the police just need some proof and he will be in jail in no time," one of the girls said.

"But when I saw him in the first year I was like what a normal person. He gives those otaku vibes sometimes, that's why I kept my distance from him but to think he will do something like this," the other girl said.

"We can't be sure about that yet. But Anna, are you sure about this? I mean aren't all these false rumors spread by you? If we get caught, the teachers are going to kill us," the boy said anxiously.

...

That's enough for the past conversation.

Alight. Now then, right there, it was confirmed that Anna was one of the culprits. At this point, I am barely able to control myself from laughing out loud. 

Who knew that the person I was trying to manipulate in taking my side will come to me. 

The original plan was to use her to get to the name of that other boy. The first option was to slowly gain her trust and then spill out that boy's name. I know it has quite a high chance of failure but it was worth it. Or so I thought. 

The second option was to use the recording. I am thankful to myself for bringing up my phone at that time. The moment I got the hint that they are talking about me and the rumors I recorded all of it. I thought it would be helpful to use it as blackmail but I never thought I could use it as leverage on her. 

It's quite a development we got here, Allen. I said to myself.

"... I-Is there anyone in s-specific that you suspect...?" she said. I turned over to her and saw her hands shaking frantically as well as her legs. 

It's going to look as if I am the bad guy here using the recording to blackmail her. I don't care how it looks to me or anyone. I am just doing what's best for me and there's a saying, right? 

If something comes around it goes around. 

"Umm... are you asking this because you know someone who might have spread those rumors...?" I asked her. 

Since I know what she is trying to do I am just playing with her. Let's see how long will she be able to handle it. 

"... W-What if I k-know...?" she asked me. I could totally see her anxious eyes. It was almost dark inside her eyes.

Is it that much of a problem? Well, for her it might be because if the school gets the gist of it about who really spread those rumors then she might be the one who gets expelled. Because of her, I was about to get expelled, that's another case that I won't be going anywhere but the school might use a reason that she was about to ruin someone's whole life. I don't know but she will definitely get punished severely. At least that's for sure.

"What do you mean? You know the person who spread those false rumors about me?" I said. 

"What w-will you do when the p-person confesses her c- his crimes...?" she was just about to reveal that it was a girl but then she changed it. 

"I don't know but because of that person, I had to go through all of this so I will make sure to pay back in equal amounts. No, I will make sure to pay back that person no matter what," I said in a little serious tone. 

The more I tell her about what will happen if that person comes forward because if she believes that she will be forgiven and who knows she might actually be so then I won't be able to control her anymore. I cannot let this opportunity pass by. 

"I-Is it really necessary? Y-You can just f-forgive her-him...? Don't you t-think...?" Anna, you are making it too easy here. Even if I haven't heard your little secret talk back then I can totally make out that you are involved in this. 

"Now that I think of what have they done to me? Just spread the rumors, right?" I said. 

"Y-Yes..." her eyes showed a little bright light. 

"Only because of those rumors, I was made an outcast. I couldn't talk to anyone, those glares at me all the time at school. Bad Mouthing about me as I passed by them. If that wasn't enough I was just about to get expelled. Expelled. You know how much it matters, right Anna?"

"Yes," she said.

"It was good that I stood my ground or at this point, I would just be staring at these walls like usual but from outside, right? Isn't that scary? Just imagine that I was about to be kicked out of here... it's scary," I said in a low voice.

"..." she silently looked at me while I continued showing my desperate situation.

"Getting them punished won't be enough. It won't be enough at all. I am going to make their lives as miserable as mine. No, even worse. I will make sure that their entire school life is the same way they were about trying to do it with me." I said in a deep voice. 

"..." she silently looked at me, agonizing.

The atmosphere was getting weirder. 

"Thanks, Anna," I said.

"Why...?" She was confused and shocked at the same time.

"It only happened because of you, I realized that I can't forgive them at all. I will make them regret messing with my life. They won't get away with this easily." I said as I hid my face from her.

"N-no..." she tried denying it.

"Ah... sorry for all that w.e.i.r.d t.a.l.k Anna... I hope you u.n.d.e.r.s.t.a.n.d how d.e.s.p.e.r.a.t.e I am... Don't tell anyone about this to anyone..." I emphasised some words thinking it would click somewhere inside Anna/ 

Sympathy is a weapon that can be used as a shield and as a way to attack. Sympathy is a deadly weapon. 

"N-n-no... I ca-" she was trying to say something but I interrupted her before that. 

"Anna, you came here to help me make a decision, right? Before we talked I just thought about what I should do when I will find the person who spread those rumors about me and you must have seen through me. Thanks, Anna," I said. 

"No, t-that's not it..." she still denied it. Well, she is going to deny it since she is the one I am talking about. 

"Can I ask you a favor...?" I asked her as I looked into her eyes. 

"Why- wh?" she couldn't find the right word for the moment.

"Can you help me find that person? I can't ask anyone for help and you came to help me make a decision... can you please help me out...?" I asked her.

TO BE CONTINUED....