Chapter 9: Hear Ye, Money Matters

I was walking alone, the bell rang so other students didn't really care about their surroundings, if they bumped you, they'd just run as if nothing happened, since tardiness was never a good thing in this school. But because I’m not quite aware of what punishments they gave students who are late, I took my time in walking, and there I heard everything that I shouldn’t have.

“You can’t do that, Madam. I worked hard to be the winner of last year’s Fall Singing Contest. If you’d give them to another student, wouldn’t the press know?” I heard a voice of a girl said, and it seemed like she was crying. I stopped on my tracks, and despite my gut feeling telling me to continue on walking, I stayed in my place and decided to listen.

”If you’d do this, then the other students would stop bullying you, isn’t that what you want, Ms. Jones?” the teacher asked, and I fought the urge to go and yell at her for what she just told the poor student.How come there are teachers like her who would dare say that to a kid who is being bullied? How can she sleep so peacefully at night, knowing that one of her students is being hurt? Isn’t she scared of what the consequences would be for her when the time comes it would be her turn to be hurt, because she turned a blind eye to this?

“You’ve been telling me that ever since I was a little girl, you told me that if I keep on winning competitions and give them to those girls, they would stop harassing me!” The girl’s voice echoed throughout the hallway, and I wished she did this when the bell hasn't rung yet, in order for the other students to hear what they were talking about. The students need to know about this sick teacher and the poor student’s condition. 

“But guess what? They never did!” the student screamed, to the point, even I was shocked at how she sounded. She sounded hurt, angry and greatly disappointed. But I didn’t really mind, she deserves to feel all that. What the school did to her was sick. I just can’t believe all these happen in real life too. This just proves that being powerless would only make your situation harder than those who have money and power. 

How come this has been going on ever since Ms. Jones was a little girl? And who do they offer her wins to? Was it one of the rich students in this school? Or the ones who are too dumb enough, that they chose to just lie about their achievements? I grimaced at those thoughts, since it felt so impossible to have those things happen in real life. But guess what, all of these can happen in real life too, but most people choose to ignore it.  That’s why this school never changes.

The student who was called “Ms. Jones” left the room so I immediately hid behind the wall, and even texted the other girls of the new information I got. I felt bad for the girl, and I wish I could help, but for now I need to attend to my favorite subject.

Attending class with an empty stomach wasn’t new to me, but the things that happened today were so exhausting, that it made me want to at least eat something. I knew I couldn’t, so I just took my water bottle and drank all of the remaining water there in hopes of it making me full and not make my stomach grumble during class.

I sat on an empty chair near the table. It was time for one of my favorite subjects which is Music, but I really don’t have energy left to at least participate willingly. And yes, the school doesn’t only focus on the students’ academic performance, but also on their extracurricular activities, like Music, Sports, Arts and Dancing. But the thing is, the school is not very supportive of their representatives in those fields, because it was never the center of attention in Whistler High.

It would always still fall on the smart students who do great in their academic performances. Well, it shouldn’t bother me so much, but after knowing that some students here, even though they weren’t great artists, they still got it under their profiles in order to pass prestigious universities.

It’s unfair to think that some students who aren’t as powerful as them were robbed out of their success. I really don’t understand why some parents would give their children everything, even though they’re already hurting another kid too. I just think that it’s really unfair.

So those people who kept on telling me and the other kids that money isn’t everything, I believe that it’s pure lies. Everybody needs money. If you have money, you’ll have power, and once you have power, then nobody would try to do something that might hurt you, because they’re aware you’re powerful enough to hurt them back.

I’m well-aware that I’m privileged, being born in a well-off family is a huge advantage for me, and even being the only child makes it even easier for me, but I’m just glad my parents never used their connections or money to let my wrong doings slip. If I did something bad, they would make sure I would accept the consequences. I even remember having to pick up garbage after class as a punishment when I was younger. If I was my 13 year old self, I would have cursed my parents for letting me do all that, when they clearly had the power to get me away with it, but then, now that I’m older, I realized what parents did was the smartest thing they ever did. 

At first, I was even angry at them since my friends’ parents would always make sure they’re exempted from the punishments, but as I grew older, I realized that my parents were just doing their best to be the best parents for me. I was just a brat who couldn’t see that what they did for me was all for my well-being.

I was cut off from my thoughts when the door opened and it revealed no other than the girl from the cafeteria together with the girl whom I heard being called as “Ms. Jones”

I leaned on my desk, my chin resting on my hand as I watched them enter. The officer’s bag was even being held by Ms. Jones as they’re walking on their seats. I smirked at what that officer was doing. She really is a brat. Okay, I wouldn’t lie, but in all honesty, I might’ve been a brat too during my younger years, but I never stoop so low by having another student in my past school hold my bad for me. What were my arms for if I would just let another student carry my bag instead of me? 

Some students were greeting her, even telling her that she’s such a great singer and it was nice to be able to see her in person, making my left eyebrow raise because of what I heard. So, this officer who ruined my supposed to be time with Amelia is a good singer? Now, that’s some awesome news, I can't wait to hear her sing so I can at least see if she really is that good.

“Why are you still here? Get lost!” the officer screamed at Ms. Jones so she immediately went to her own desk which was… next to mine, some students laughed at her, while some just chose to ignore. I smiled at her, and was even about to introduce myself, but our teacher already went in.

Our teacher was really good, I can tell with the way he knows what he’s teaching. He even knows how to sing. It looks like the school still has a little bit of care for their students who want to take up Music Major.

“Mandy, I heard you won another contest? That’s really great of you, keep doing that and I’m sure you’ll be able to enter a good University and we never know, you might even become a big star someday,” our teacher complimented Mandy aka the rude officer.  

So, Mandy won the competition, but from what I heard a while ago, it was Ms. Jones who won the contest. Now, this is making me even more curious. But immediately stopped myself, I still need to finish my job with Mr. Wilson and Georgia, so for now, all I need to do is befriend this girl beside me and have her spill all the secrets this officer named Mandy has in order to make her fall be more fatal than the rest.

“Can we get a little hear of what you sang in the competition, Mandy?”

I might be busy, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t tease this girl for what she did. She disrespected me, she deserves what I’m doing to her too. Mandy looked at me, and her eyes widened as soon as she saw me. I gave her a smirk, before telling her again if she can at least sing for us. I even felt Ms. Jones looking at me because of what I asked for, as if what I just requested was going to kill me. But who cares? I’m not scared. Who are they anyway, right?

“Mandy can’t do that right now, Miss Kingstein. Her throat is still healing, so let’s have the singing for another time,” our teacher said, making me nod my head, a smirk still on my lips before speaking once more.

“I’ll surely look forward to that,” I said, my eyes still looking at Mandy who looked like she’s about to cut me in half, but I just shrugged my shoulders and acted as if nothing happened.

The teacher went back to teaching, and I just listened, not minding to take notes since I already knew what he was talking about. Growing up with Asian grandparents always present in your life will make you one of the best students there is. My father’s parents made sure I have enough tutors ever since I started going to school. They also made sure I knew how to dance, especially ballet, and that I’m a great singer and musician too. Not only were they concerned with my Academics, they were also concerned with my other abilities too.

That’s why at such a young age, I was always told to do things, like studying and practicing even though I didn’t want to do it. It was one of the reasons why I rebelled against them, and although I enjoyed singing, it wasn’t just my passion, I never found what my passion is, all of the things I do are mere hobbies I enjoy doing.

But I never found what I love doing.

Classes kept on going, and what shocked me was when our teacher asked a question, and my seatmate immediately answered his question correctly. I was amazed, I have never met someone who was this knowledgeable when it comes to Music. It was rare, and the kids who I was with whenever there was a group that needs to be tutored by one teacher, the kids there would be too dumb to answer, and some just doesn’t care.

“That’s correct,” our teacher said, so my seatmate sat again and I wanted to tell her she did well, but I stopped myself. That would be too lame if I would just say it, so instead, I tore out a piece of paper from my rarely used notebook, before writing a note and sliding it up to her desk.

She looked at the note, before looking at me. I gave her a smile, and a thumbs up before going back to listening to our teacher.

After a few more minutes, our class was finally over. I was glad, since I’m already hungry. And I have a two-hour break, so this would at least help me refill my stomach, and I would even get to have an hour to rest my mind from such a tiring day. It was only my second day, but there’s already so much that was happening.

I learned so much, it makes me wonder how come the school never found out how corrupted this school is. I was just new here, but I immediately knew something was wrong. Or, maybe the school knew, and they just chose to ignore it for their sake?

I texted the girls that I’m inside the cafeteria, and Lily said that she would be in the cafeteria too to accompany me since she too has free time, and we would even be classmates for our next class. Eun even texted in our group chat that she wanted to join too, but her classes are still on going, I can even hear her whine just from her texts. I just smiled at her childishness, before ordering something to eat. I even asked Lily in our group chat if she also wanted to eat something, but she said she was still full and she was so busy reading to even pay attention to food..

Of course, Jada was there to nag at her to stop reading for a few minutes to at least let her eyes rest, but Lily was one who would do the opposite she was told to, so she just logged out even before Jada could say more. I just shook my head while smiling at their silly yet cute  interactions.

I thanked the old lady who served me my food, and she was shocked when I did so, but still gave me a warm smile.

I went to our usual spot inside the cafeteria, and I was so glad to see that there aren’t many students here. And I was also glad that the students here aren’t staring at me so much like yesterday, or else it’ll drive me mad.

Not long after I was seated, Lily came in but with her came also some of the officers, and one of them was Georgia together with Amelia and Mandy. I could feel my blood boiling when I saw how Mandy was clinging on to Amelia. But I immediately regretted feeling that emotion. So what if Amelia was nice to everybody but me? I shouldn’t really give a damn about it. I’m just her roommate after all, we’re not really friends, so it shouldn’t bother me too much.

“They’re really pretty up close,” Lily told me as soon as she sat next to me. I chuckled at what she said, because it was true. I wouldn’t be so attracted to Amelia in the first place if she wasn’t pretty, and I would never deny the fact that all the officers were pretty, but what keeps on holding me back from appreciating them more was their wrong doings.

A pretty face can’t solve all the bad things they did.

“You know what? You’re actually an officer material,” Lily told me, making me laugh. Now, that was some nasty joke. My mum might be the best president as they always say, but I don’t see myself being part of the student council. Especially in this very corrupted school.

“Why laugh? You’re pretty, rich and from what I heard you’re actually smart and talented,” Lily continued, making me frown. It was like she’s saying that I was just like the other officers. That I was privileged. I scoffed, before giving her a smile.

“Lily, stop. I don’t like where this is going,” I warned her, but I made sure my smile was still there, and that’s when Lily’s smile dropped. Lily is smart, and even though we only met a few days ago, I already knew she’s one sarcastic girl, and she could make you bleed by just using her words, but it’s a pity for her since I already knew this technique of hers.

Because just like her, I always made sure to hurt anyone who hurts me with words. Since it makes a person bleed more.

“If you’re planning to betray us, then do it now. I don’t want you to hurt my friends, Victoria.”

Lily removed her glasses as she spoke, before looking at me straight in the eyes. I could feel my heart beating faster, because she was so serious and her voice sounded so cold and distant, it was far from the Lily I knew, but I tried to mask my emotion in order for her not to read me.

“I’m not planning on hurting you, Lily, nor the others. I want to help,” I told her, and it was the truth, I might not be like my mum who wants to be in the spotlight and lead this group by being the president, instead I want to help even if other people wouldn’t know it was me who was behind it.

I want to help not to get acknowledged, instead, I want to help because I had the capacity to do so and I really want to end this. I will do my best to continue what my mum and her group did, but I could never do all that without Lily and the other girls’ help. So, how come I’ll even think of hurting or betraying them when they’re clearly all I have?

I was shocked when Lily chuckled, before wearing her glasses again. The dark aura that was once around her was gone, and it was now back to her usual bubbly and joyful aura that I was very used to.

“I was kidding, Tori. I always do that whenever I have a new friend. I also did that to Jada and Zoe, since I just didn’t want to get hurt, you know? I was betrayed by other students here so many times already, and I just don’t want that to ever happen again. Especially after knowing how much cool of a person you are,” Lily whispered, before holding my hand and rubbing it with her thumb.

“Please promise me you wouldn’t be like the others who would turn their back on us,” Lily said, she was almost pleading, and I wanted to tell her that I promise not to hurt them, but I didn’t know if I could do that, so I just I gave her a reassuring smile, but my smile faltered when I saw Mandy giving Amelia a tight hug, and even gave her a kiss on the cheek, but Amelia was fast enough to dodge it. I rolled my eyes at the scene, and reminded myself once again that it really shouldn’t bother me.

“Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about my plan for Mr. Wilson.”

Lily smirked at what I said, before urging me to continue talking.

“Spill,” she ordered, making me chuckle, before telling her everything that I had planned for Mr. Wilson. Yes, I was planning to have Mr. Wilson out first before Georgia, since we still need to have more evidence that indeed, it was Georgia who posted that video. Someone might’ve just hacked into her account and posted that video to frame her, and if she makes that excuse, for sure, she’ll be able to get away from it.

“Your plan is actually really good. No wonder our insider made this case be brought back in the secret files, since they trusted your capabilities. I can’t wait to share this to the others, I’m sure they’ll love this idea. I can’t wait to make him pay,” Lily enthusiastically said, her eyes sparkling as she spoke, it made me smile, because I’m excited too. I can’t wait to have him punished for what he did.

I don’t care if Mr. Wilson is handsome, smart or even rich like the others. I don’t care if he has power, all I care about is Nova and doing everything to give her the justice she deserved so much. I might not know Nova personally, but I have a similar childhood friend who died because of being assaulted and murdered by a teacher, and I remembered being so young by that time when that happened, and the culprit was just caught when I was already 15 years old. I don’t want that to ever happen again. So, I’ll try my best to protect the other girls here by sending Mr. Wilson to jail. And I can’t wait for that to finally happen.