Chapter 4 She cheated!

Chapter 4

Eileen pov

As I brushed past Anna and her friends. I couldn't shrug off the strange feelings that settled over me.

They were muttering inaudible whispers among themselves. Laughing so hard.

I ignored walking to the assembly ground.

Praise and worships was practiced as usual then followed by our national anthem and school anthem.

Principal Willow stepped onto the podium, and whistles rippled through the air. Her auburn hair gleamed under the sun as she gave a small smile and waited for the noise to settle.

“Hello beautiful ladies and handsome gentlemen,” she drawled, earning another wave of cheers.

“Alright, a little morning exercise!” she said.

“If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands!”

We clapped.

“If you’re happy and you know it, jump!”

We jumped.

When the murmurs died down again, her expression shifted—still calm, but sharper.

“Now, for our reminder of the day.” Her eyes swept over the entire assembly. “Honesty. Integrity. Morals. Especially during tests.”

A hush fell.

“It is disappointing when students cheat after all the effort your teachers put into teaching you,” she continued. “Cheating will not be tolerated in this school. Ever.”

A student raised her hand.

“What happens if someone gets caught?”

A wolfish grin touched Principal Willow’s lips.

“The consequences are serious. Very serious. And I won’t reveal them… until the first scapegoat is caught.”

Gasps and murmurs spread instantly.

She paused, then asked. “So, who's willing to be the scapegoat?”

No one volunteered rather murmuring echoed in the air and when there was no response. Principal Willow urged us to be good ambassadors and not engage in cheating and then the assembly was dismissed.

While I was walking away, Ana stopped me and said, “sister, don't forget you'll be writing my test for me today. If you dare to make me fail…” She gritted her teeth as she jabbed her hands at me, then swallowed, stomped her feet, and walked off.

I let out the breath I've been holding and heaved a sigh.

I know what to do today. I won't be sitting near Ryan.

‘I’ll sit on the floor or anywhere.’ I murmured to myself as I headed for the class. Today Ana was having a commerce test.

Last night I already covered her scheme of work. She refused to tell me the exact topics that have been covered in the scheme of work by her teacher.

So I had to read all of it in a textbook.

Damn! My head hurts and my eyes were bringing out water.

I sauntered into the classroom scanning the entire room. I saw Ryan in his seat.

He smirked, just the faintest curl of his lips, as if he knew something I didn't. My chest tightened at his sudden behavior.

I didn't want to sit or be near anyone, especially him.

As I was making way to another direction, my steps faltered.

I thought I heard it wrong but the voice resonated in the air again.

“Eileen,” he called softly. I rolled my eyes and ignored him, forcing my gaze downward.

Before I could move further, another girl waved at me. “Come sit here,” she said kindly.

Hesitant, I complied, sinking into the empty seat and trying to disappear into my thoughts.

I had barely settled beside the girl who had invited me when a shadow fell over the desk.

My stomach dropped.

Ryan.

He stood there with one hand in his pocket, the other resting casually on the desk—too calm, too confident, too close. A slow, dangerous smirk curved his lips.

“I called you,” he said, voice low with a warning edge.

I stiffened. “And I ignored you.”

The girl beside me shifted uncomfortably. Ryan’s gaze slashed toward her—cold, sharp, and enough to make her shrink instantly. Her fingers slipped off my arm.

“I wasn’t talking to you,” he said to her, though his eyes never left mine.

He grabbed my wrist.

“Let go of me!” I jerked back, heat burning through my embarrassment.

His grip tightened—not enough to hurt, but enough to show he was the one in control. “You’re sitting with me,” he muttered.

“I’m not your property.”

He leaned down, close enough that his breath brushed my ear. “Then stop acting like you can walk away from me.”

Anger simmered in my chest.

“You’re obsessed,” I whispered, glaring up at him.

That smirk ok his face returned, lazy, arrogant, infuriating. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

Before I could respond, he tugged me effortlessly from the seat. Gasps echoed through the classroom.

Every eye followed us.

Every step felt like a public humiliation.

He pushed me gently, but firmly into the chair beside him. The same damn seat as yesterday.

I scoffed. “Was dragging me across the room really necessary?”

Ryan leaned back, eyes sweeping over my face with mocking amusement.

“Think of it as returning misplaced property.”

“I am NOT—”

“You spit on my face earlier,” he cut in, tapping his cheek. “You should be thankful this is all I did.”

God, I hated that he made my heart race like this.

“What kind of girl are you?” his voice was low. He doesn't even seem to be angry.

Gosh, he's so cute right now.

“The kind of girl that dares you and walks on your fucking egos!”

He shook his head then wiped the spit off with the back of his hand, smirked, and flicked it on the floor.

“I love it when you look so pathetic and frustrated.”

He finally looked away just as the teacher entered.

And the class erupted in laughter when the teacher said,

“Ah, I see our school’s newest couple has joined us?” she said, eyeing us.

“Please, try not to submit one script with both your names on it after the test.”

My cheeks burned.

Ryan didn't laugh but that damn smirk spread over his face.

“Settle down,” the teacher said, waving a hand. “Lovebirds or not, we’re still writing a test this morning.”

More laughter.

I wanted the ground to swallow me whole

So the test began and silence fell over the classroom, broken only by the scratching of pen on the papers.

A voice broke through the silence which warranted the attention of the entire class.

“She has something in her pocket. A cheat sheet.”

My brows creased as I looked back to see who was talking and then trailed her accusatory fingers towards the unlucky person.

Why would anyone ever dare to chest despite Principal  Willow’s warning at the assembly today?

Shock froze me in place, eyes were pointed at me and every eye was fixed on me now.

“I swear I don't!” I gasped when the teacher approached me.

But it was too late. They searched me and found a small piece of paper folded neatly in my pocket.

I shouted. “I didn't put that there!” Panic clawed at my throat. I glared hard at Ryan when I heard his soft chuckle. “Ryan this is your doing! You're playing a dirty trick!”

“And what is going on here?” Principal Willow's voice cut through the air, and I felt like collapsing.

No! This can't be happening to me.

Just as they were dragging me away I saw Ana leaning against a wall, she smiled and blew a kiss at me.