Chapter 97 - Lily Knows

"Hey Anna, please don't bail out on me right now," I said, "Just one thing."

"W-What is it? Only after h-hearing it will I decide whether I am going to help you or not…" she said.

"That's fine with me," I said, "You just need to call Iris out of her classroom." 

"Huh? That's it…?" She looked confused and a little bit anxious. 

"Yes," I said, "That's why I said it's a small thing but you can't tell another soul about it. Are you willing to do it?" 

"I think I can do that… but why?" she asked me. 

"It's a bit complicated," I said, "Like you know my reputation right?" 

"Yes…"

"So I can't be seen with her alone. She will also be affected and that's also the reason I didn't call you out after school and now," I said, "I used the Principal's name to get you out and most of all at this hour most of the students are in their classes so no one will see us. So, you won't be affected. You understand my point…?" 

"Yeah," she said in agreement. 

"So, are you willing not to tell anyone about this? This is only to help Iris," I said.

"Okay, I will do it." She agreed to it. 

"Thank you," I said, "Also, take Selene with you." 

If she were to go alone someone might get suspicious of Anna and if they get suspicious of her they will follow her and if they follow her then they might see me with Iris and I don't certainly don't want that. 

"Why…?" Anna asked me. 

"Hn!" Selene was taken by surprise.

Selene, wait a minute I will explain everything so don't feel that much anxious. It's just a small job with risk next to zero.

But it appears that Anna doesn't know why. Well, I didn't tell the real reason ever so she can't possibly think of any specific reason. 

"You know Iris is quite popular in school?" I asked her.

"Yes…?" 

"If you suddenly talk to her then some might get curious and that curiosity of theirs might lead them to me and Iris meeting. We certainly don't want that," I said. 

I never thought that to hide one single thing would need thousands more layers of lies to cover it. 

"O-Oh…" it seems that Anna was convinced but the problem was Selene. 

"Selene…? Are you on board with this…?" I asked her. 

"I-I don't know…" she wasn't ready to do it. 

Maybe she is afraid of what our physics teacher would do if she found out that I used the Principal's name to skip classes. 

"Are you sure…? If not, you have to stay with me till Anna comes back with Iris," I said, "To be honest if we both were seen alone at this hour I can't make any promises about another rumor spread about you. Are you fine with that…?" 

"I-I" she looked like she was quite in a pickle. She can't decide what to do.

Here let me help you.

"Just go with her," I said as I pushed her towards Anna.

"Hey, don't push her towards me…" Anna said. She was about to yell but controlled herself. 

"Fine," I said, "Just go before someone sees us…" 

…

They both left. 

Now that I think, calling out Selene seems all for naught. Well, it can't be helped. 

As I sat on the stairs keeping an eye for whoever comes here I thought about the video that was uploaded on the forum. 

What should I do with that? 

I hate to admit it but at this point, they are in the lead. If I don't do something soon they are going to come at me with full throttle and I would have no means to get out.

At this point, the Principal would have been a great help but she specifically told me not to come to her for the time being then I don't think I can go to near her anytime soon. 

But when did they plan this all? 

And who planned it all? 

*Step*

*Step*

Someone is coming. 

"Hey, what do we have after this…?" a girl appeared at the end of the corridor. 

"Don't ask me… I wasn't paying attention in this class." another girl appeared who was walking beside her. 

Before they could reach the stairs I stepped up a few stairs and out of their sight. 

"You really are an idiot… fufufufu." one of the girls laughed. 

"Don't laugh at me…! You are also not in any different situation as me~~"

With that, they passed the stairs and walked past. 

Since the stair that I am at is at the one end of the corridor which is also just beside the washroom so I guess they are going there. 

Soon they were not heard. 

But as a precaution, I stayed up for the time being and sat there. 

Now then let's again think about that footage. 

Where was I…?

Right, here...

If it was the President, I believe he would have seen all the possibilities but his reaction at that time seems to be a legitimate one. At the moment I can't possibly know whether he was faking it all or was that a genuine reaction. 

I didn't think of a possibility that someone could have recorded it and that's the reason why I didn't think that the President might be just acting all that time. 

Whoever thought of it is not just one but a couple of steps ahead of me and is planning to kick me out no matter the cost. 

What should I do then? 

If my theory is correct then I don't have more than 3 days or maybe even less. 

Oh, boy the more I think about it I worry about it more and more. 

The sole thing that is clear is, I have to find the one who recorded the video as soon as possible. 

But what then? Do I scare him or threaten him? 

"Allen…!" I heard a feeble voice from behind the stairs.

I turned around to see who it was. There was a possibility that someone who isn't my ally would appear there and if that were to happen who knows what will happen. 

I have already told many lies so I can't risk getting caught.

"Lily…?" I saw a slim figure with a slight fluttering of hairs. 

"Yes, it's me, Lily," she said to me, "What are you doing here…?" 

Yes, that's a good question. 

"I wonder," I said vaguely. 

"Really…? That's your answer… to me?" she asked. 

"I was just resting…" I said. 

It was obviously an excuse but let's see if she gets fooled or not. 

"You really like living a hidden life, don't you…?" she said. 

"..." I stayed silent since I can't say anything to that comment. 

"Anyway, how are you doing…?" she asked me. 

"Me? What about me?" What is she concerned about? 

It's not like we have known each other for that long to worry about each other yet.

"No, after what happened to you and then the video…" 

So, even she knows about the video. I really think I should try socializing more or at least be more active online. 

"The video… huh?" I mumbled. 

"What are you doing to make things right…?" she asked me. 

"Making things right…? Why will I?" 

It doesn't matter to anyone if I am found guilty or not, at least in this school so I have nothing to prove to them. I just have to stop them from expelling them. I don't care how I will achieve it.

Even if it's going to take threats I won't hold back..

"I don't understand…? Don't you want to clear your name?" she asked me.

"That was something I thought for some time, then one day I realized I don't really care how others see me until the real one sees and understands the real me. So," I said, "So I don't care about others' opinions." 

"You really… have some ideologies," she said with a smirk that was hiding behind that face of hers. 

"Anyway, did you want something with me…?" I asked her. 

"No," she said, "I was just passing by and saw you sitting here all alone."

"So…? Don't you have somewhere to go then…?" I asked her. 

"Nah, it's not that important so I can spare a few minutes." She said with a smile and a big thumbs up aiming at me. 

"Oh, then…?" I don't know what to say now. 

"Allen, tell me one thing," she said. 

"Sure," I replied, "What is it…?"

"What are you going to do about the video? It clearly looks amusing at first sight but if someone outside the school sees it, they will for sure get the wrong idea and it will affect the school," she said. 

She had similar thoughts about the video. 

"Well, about that… I can't do anything as of now," I said. 

"You can do something about…!" she exclaimed. 

"... What? Do you know who uploaded it…?" I asked her with a vague tone. 

"I… don't know who did it as of now but…" she stopped and waited for me to ask her. 

"But…?" I asked her. 

She really is getting a kick out of this. 

"I can find who did it easily," she said proudly and looked at me with a big smug face. 

TO BE CONTINUED…