et at the airport at exactly 8:00pm tonight. It’s about your brother Samson," The unidentified caller inford Thomas on the phone, a voice he imdiately recognized.
"I have to go now, Arthur!" Thomas exclaid, quickly standing up from the bench and starting to walk away.
"Where are you going?" Olive inquired, but Thomas didn’t respond as he walked out of her sight. She wondered who could have called him and hoped everything was alright with him.
Lucas then appeared behind Olive, cleared his throat to get her attention.
"Oh my goodness! You startled ." Olive said as she turned to face Lucas.
"Sorry. I’ve been looking for you. Didn’t know you’ll be here," Lucas said.
Olive rolled her eyes and walked away, but Lucas grabbed her arm to stop her.
"Co on, I know you’re upset, but I’m sorry," Lucas apologized, still holding Olive’s arm.
"Your hand? Olive said, her expression still stern as she looked at Lucas and then her hand. "Release my hand."
Lucas quickly let go of her hand, his expression somber. "I’m sorry for seeing you unclothed..."
"Stop!" Olive interrupted, her voice sharp. "Have you lost your mind? Do you want everyone to find out?"
It seed Olive was correct. Lucas appeared to have lost his senses right after discovering Olive’s true gender.
"I’m sorry, I didn’t an to be so loud. Please forgive ," Lucas apologized with a heavy sigh. "It just feels strange knowing your real identity. You’re no longer the Arthur I knew, but soone else," he whispered.
"You’ve suddenly beco foolish and clueless. How unexpected," Olive exclaid with a shocked expression . "I’ll say it again: don’t change how you treat . Keep treating as Arthur to avoid suspicion."
"Understood, and yes, I will keep your secrets. Your trust is safe with ," Lucas replied in a barely audible voice.
"Are you going to keep whispering? No one can hear us here," Olive said with a light chuckle, gesturing to the other students engrossed in their own activities. "They’re all busy."
"Anyways, am I forgiven?" Lucas asked, his eyes fixed on Olive.
"It’s fine! You didn’t do it on purpose," Olive replied with a smile. "Let’s go to class now." Lucas nodded in agreent, and they walked into the school building together.
They found their way to their classroom and took their seats.
"What’s going on? Are you two sitting together now? No more red card?" Aiden was the first to inquire.
"Today, you’re not sitting with , but with him," Henry asked Olive, raising his eyebrows.
"Yes, Henry and Aiden, but since when do we have to decide where to sit? Don’t we have the right to sit wherever we want?" Olive replied, sending a puzzled expression to Mark, Henry, and Aiden.
Mark scoffed and folded his arms. "Despite being bullied and receiving a red card, he had forgiven him. Don’t you have quite a big forgiving heart? You’re not Jesus, after all."
"What’s the matter, Mark? Are you hoping that Arthur and I will never be friends again?" Lucas asked, standing up from his chair and facing the entire class, gaining everyone attention.
"After everything that has happened, the deaths of Samuel and Desmond. I know many scholarship students, thought I killed Desmond to avenge my sister. But I’m glad the truth has been revealed. If I had stopped the red card system or let go of my grudge against Desmond, then Samson wouldn’t have acted on that hatred, leading to Desmond’s death," Lucas said, his voice and expression serious.
"As a mber of the 3RM, I am putting an end to the issuing of red cards from now on. I am also stopping the classification of scholarship and non-scholarship students. We are all students of Belmont High School, and we are all equal," Lucas concluded.
Olive was in disbelief as she stared at Lucas, wondering if he had lost his mind. Could he really be serious about ending the red card system? What had caused this sudden change of heart?
"Does devils change their ways?" Olive murmured to herself as she swallowed hard.
The classroom fell silent as everyone processed Lucas’s unexpected announcent. The notorious bully and leader of the 3RM was advocating for the removal of the red card system.
So students quickly took out their phones to record Lucas’s speech, capturing the montous occasion.
Mark applauded, his expression a mix of shock and approval, and the rest of the students followed suit. The once quiet classroom was now filled with the sound of applause.
Henry, however, simply smirked and left the classroom without a word.
"Henry!" Olive called out, but before she could follow him, Mr. Jas entered the room.
’Why is he suddenly angry?’ Olive wondered to herself with a puzzled expression, but then brushed it off.
"Everyone, please take your seats now!" Mr. Jas announced, standing before the students and capturing their attention. "Your chemistry teacher is Mr. Philip, but unfortunately, he will no longer be teaching you."
"Why not?" a curious student asked.
"Isn’t it obvious?" Another chid in, obviously irritated by the previous student question.
"He has submitted his resignation
letter. He will no longer be working at Belmont High School due to reasons involving his son. He needs so ti to himself to reflect on things, and I understand his decision," Mr. Jas explained.
"With Mr. Philip’s departure, a new principal will be joining the school soon. But before that happens, all of you will be going on a one-week trip to Paris," Mr. Jas announced, a smile on his face. "This trip is ant to uplift your spirits after the loss of two of your classmates. The school has organized it as a way to bring so joy back into your lives."
"Will scholarship students be able to go on the trip as well?" a student on scholarship inquired.
"I’m sure it’s only for the elite." Another student on scholarship chid in.
"All Belmont students, whether on scholarship or not, will be able to go on the trip. The school has covered the costs, so every student has the opportunity to participate if they wish," Mr. Jas revealed, eliciting excitent from the students.
The classroom was filled with laughter and excitent as the students reacted to the news of the school trip. Aiden, however, seed to be in a somber mood amidst the cheerful chatter about Mr. Jas and the upcoming trip.
"Why the long face?" Mark inquired, noticing Aiden’s downcast expression, joined by Lucas and Olive. "Don’t you like the idea of going on this trip?"
Aiden hesitated before sharing his concerns. "Samuel died at a party, and Desmond passed away at a competition," he began, his eyes widening in fear.
"We’re aware of that, but what’s bothering you exactly?" Mark pressed, his curiosity piqued.
"What if soone else dies?" Aiden voiced, causing a ripple of unease among his friends.
Mark shook his head in disbelief. "That’s a dark thought, Aiden. Samuel and Desmond’s deaths were tragic coincidences. We’re going to Paris to have a good ti, not to dwell on such fears."
Aiden persisted, "But what if another tragedy occurs during our trip? We were having food tis too when Desmond and Samuel died afterall."
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