Chapter 4
The moment I opened the door, I was planning to stage a classic caught-
in–the–act scene.
But right as the door swung open, I suddenly thought-
What’s the point of something so small and petty?
Why not… go straight for the big show?
I instantly switched gears, putting on a surprised expression as I looked at the two flustered people in front of me.
“Oh? Just the two of you? Where is everyone else? Weren’t we all supposed to check our scores together?”
That’s right.
Today was the day SAT scores were released.
In previous years, everyone checked their scores at home and sent screenshots to the school for recordkeeping.
But this year, the principal suddenly announced that all students had to come to school to check their scores together.
I knew exactly whose idea that was–his precious daughter Rebecca’s.
First, she estimated her score to be 1400–the highest in this county–level school’s history, which wasn’t exactly known for its elite academics.
Naturally, she needed the rest of us background characters to play the cheering crowd in her personal victory scene.
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And second…
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She was dying to see it with her own eyes–her lifelong academic rival, the one who’d always beaten her–dragged down into the mud, crushed under her heel by her own hand.
Gabriel’s panicked expression hadn’t even fully faded yet, but the moment he heard me only asking about the group, his brows started to relax.
He was just about to say something when I shifted the tone.
J’But why are your lips so red? Did you eat something bad?” I asked.
Hmm…
Even if I wasn’t going to go full drama mode, tripping up a cheating bastard a little–that was still fair game, right?
Gabriel’s whole body froze on the spot.
Just as Gabriel was still fumbling for a lie he hadn’t even figured out yet, the sound of hurried footsteps suddenly echoed outside the door.
Moments later, the principal barged into the classroom, leading a swarm of people behind him.
“Come on, come on, set the camera up right here.
“Is the livestream signal good?
“And the audio–double–check the mics, now!”
I watched the chaos unfold like a boiling pot and slowly curled my lips
into a smile.
So the principal wanted to broadcast his daughter’s moment of glory to the world–make sure it was all perfectly recorded and live for everyone to
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see.
1 288 Wescher’s
Well, since our dear principal had gone to all this trouble building the stage… Why not let me finish the show in style?
His sudden entrance cut off the strange tension between me and Gabriel.
Gabriel let out a silent breath of relief and quickly pulled me toward the computers.
“It’s almost nine. Let’s grab a spot.”
subtly avoided his hand.
“Sure.”
As the clock inched closer to nine, students began pouring into the room. The first wave of kids who got to the computers were sweating bullets, fingers hovering over the “check score” button. The ones behind them looked ready to shove them aside and press it themselves.
Before long, cries of disbelief and celebration started erupting around the
room.
“I broke 1300?! Mom, your son made it! I can get into a top 100 U.S. university!”
“What the hell?! Is this a mistake? How did I only get 272 in reading?!”
***
“Holy shit-”
As scores started popping up one by one, Rebecca’s screen was the only one still stuck loading. She was on the verge of cursing out loud.
But when she looked up and saw a whole row of cameras pointed straight
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at her, she swallowed every word back down.
IN
