Mala, along with her friends Sing Sing and Ta Ta, approached Likan. "Kan, were you the last one in the classroom the other day?"
Likan looked at her, confused. 'Why is she suddenly asking this now?' Likan smiled faintly. "If I wasn't, how could I have been the last one? If I was, how could I not be?"
Mala chuckled. "Whatever! Just answer me: Were you in the classroom or not?" Before Likan could reply, Mala remarked, "The broken window hasn't been fixed. No one has taken responsibility, it seems."
The teacher arrived. Every teacher who entered the class seemed to notice the cracked window but said nothing, as if waiting for the culprit or a witness to come forward.
During class, Likan noticed Ta Ta whispering to the Vice-President, Neaya. At break, Neaya approached Likan. "Kan, can you help find the person who broke the window?"
Likan was hesitant. "I can't." ('I'm not even sure who it was, and there were so many people playing ball outside.')
Neaya insisted, "But you might have seen them!" Likan frowned. 'She sounds so certain!'
Niya smiled and took Likan's arm. "You are always the last one to leave. The camera caught that too." ('The camera? Is it fixed?' Likan wondered.)
Neaya continued, "The teacher just wants to know if anyone in our class saw something. The teacher hasn't checked the camera yet -they just got around to fixing it yesterday. Even if the teacher doesn't say anything, as Vice-President, I have the right to tell you directly."
Likan sighed heavily and pushed back. "Everyone knows a ball hit the window. Why don't the teachers gather all the students who play football?"
Neaya explained, "The camera angle doesn't clearly show the window, so we don't know if it was a ball or if someone threw something." Likan shot a glance at the camera's location, highly annoyed.
"Just find the person responsible," Neaya urged.
Likan was frustrated. "Why dump this on me? You're the Vice-President, why aren't you helping?"
Neaya was about to reply but was cut off by Sing Sing, who laughed as she intervened. "Some people just can't admit their mistakes. You knew what happened, but you played dumb when the teacher asked. The teacher is annoyed at students who don't help each other, especially those who are indifferent! Besides, the teacher wants you to participate in class activities. This is your fault for being so careless about your surroundings, and even about yourself! Take this chance to be active. You might realize your worth to the class !" Sing Sing smiled, grabbed Likan's hand, and walked away.
Likan was speechless. "It's not my duty!"
Lida, who was carrying books, patted Likan's shoulder. "If you don't find the culprit, you might lose points. Don't lose to Yin!"
Likan retorted, "Why does the teacher have to make it such a big deal? If they just announced it, it would be over, but they make it complicated!"
Lida just smiled. "Good luck!"
The bell rang, and Likan's mind was unsettled. Hana noticed Likan's state, recognizing the same unsettled feeling she had the previous night.
When Hana was alone, Siv Siv nudged her and offered her milk. "What's wrong?"
Hana smiled. "I just feel guilty for Kan."
Siv Siv was surprised. "Why? This is the first time you've ever mentioned Kan! I didn't even know you noticed her!"
Hana confessed, "I asked Kan to eat with me last night because I saw she was hungry, and we walked home together. But she refused. I insisted many times, but her smile seemed forced, not genuine. Maybe she's upset with me."
Siv Siv grumbled. "Kan? I don't get her. She's strange."
At that moment, 11th and 12th-grade students approached Hana. Some asked for homework help, some gave her gifts, and some confessed their feelings. Hana smiled and politely refused them all. She was popular, which brought her both joy and annoyance.
Meanwhile, Sara, the beautiful 11th-grade girl famous on social media, was sitting nearby watching the football players. Three of her friends filmed her. They teased her, asking if she came to watch alone. Sara seemed surprised and shy.
"Do you have a boyfriend?" they asked.
"No, I don't. I just came to watch the game and cheer on the players," Sara replied. They ended the live stream.
Mao, Thang, and Lin fanned her because she was hot. Then, another girl named, Tuna brought four cold drinks, offering them with two hands. They laughed and chatted until the bell rang. Mao said, "Don't be late tonight!"
Sara's group walked past the fierce-looking Mey. Sara smiled and kept walking; there was an unspoken challenge between the two. Sara's group walked further and passed Hana, who was also walking. Sara just smiled at Hana and moved on.
Tuna rushed to the 10th-grade classroom, arriving late. The teacher asked why she was late. She claimed she was in the restroom. The students generally ignored her. Vi looked at Tuna and sighed heavily.
It was almost evening. Likan, who wasn't taking extra lessons, was still confused by the teacher's condition. She asked the teacher, who confirmed that she would lose points if she didn't find the culprit, just as Lida had said. The teacher added, "It's been a long time since you came to talk to me about anything, even a question. It's good that you came to see me." Likan said nothing and politely left.
Exiting school, she saw Yin riding his bike and realized it was almost time for her shift. Suddenly, Jin and Phea dragged her to a quiet spot, handed her their homework, waved goodbye, and hurried home.
Then, a sudden, loud coughing sound made her jump. It was San. "Got you!" he declared. "You're a student preparing for exams, and you're writing homework for other people!"
Likan stammered, "San? What are you doing here?" San showed her the football he was carrying. "And how's the book I asked you to find?"
Likan fell silent. She suddenly yelled, "Ugh! Why is everyone on my case?!"
San was startled. Lay, Phat, and Dan walked out. "What's taking so long, San?"
San acted normal. "Nothing." Likan, feeling relieved after the outburst, shouted her reply: "I don't know! Find it yourself!" She started walking away.
San called after her, waving. "What about the school window?" Likan was stunned. 'He knows about that too?'
Today was exhausting!' she thought. She almost walked past her workplace, but Khai called her back. Yin saw them too.
Today, Likan didn't break any dishes, but she was quieter than usual. The old lady (Auntie) asked, "What's wrong?" Likan replied, "Nothing, I just have cramps because it's that time of the month(period)."
Khai brought dishes. "Do you want some soup tonight?" Hearing the word 'food,' Likan was tempted but quickly said, "No, it's okay, I'm not hungry." She then complimented Khai. "Big sister Khai, you look even prettier today!"
Khai joked, "Are you saying I wasn't pretty before?"
"No, no! I didn't mean that!" Likan quickly clarified. Khai smiled and went to serve a table.
Khai was attending to a family who were notoriously difficult to please. A man in the group repeatedly and seemingly accidentally touched Khai's thigh, then quickly apologized. As they took a long time to order, Khai politely offered suggestions. The man continued to touch her, pretending it was unintentional. Khai moved away slightly.
A woman in the group noticed and sneered, "Are you disgusted by my son?"
Khai replied politely, "No, not like that, I just feel mosquitoes, I'll go get some spray to protect you, ma'am."
She continued to take the order, but the man kept touching her, feigning innocence. Yin saw this and pulled Khai away, letting the man continue his order. Khai grabbed Yin's sleeve, trying to restrain him. He was trying hard to stay calm.
Later, while packing up, Khai acted as if nothing had happened. Yin was furious and wanted to punch the man. "You shouldn't stay silent about things like that!"
Khai asked, "Yin, are you tired? Go eat."
Yin protested, "Big sister Khai, you—"
Khai went silent, then asked, "What? What do you want me to do? Make a scene?" Yin fell silent, stung by Khai's cold tone. Khai continued, "It was not a big deal."
The boss asked, "What's not a big deal?" Khai instantly switched back to her cheerful tone. "Nothing, Boss! Goodbye!"
Likan said goodbye to Auntie and then turned to Yin and Khai, looking serious and quiet. She had never seen Khai like that. Likan changed her mind, hugged Khai's arm, and said, "Let's go eat something, Big Sister!"
Khai smiled and dragged Yin along. Yin noticed that Khai was always cheerful, but her expression changed quickly. 'Is she really okay? No, a woman would truly hate that kind of behavior.'
After eating and chatting, Khai received a call. She smiled and said, "I don't know! Find it yourself, then I'll agree to meet you."
Yin and Likan choked on their water. "Meet? You?"
Khai nodded, then said goodbye and took the bus. Yin rode his bike. Likan walked. Yin called out to her, offering her a ride. He was quiet, and Likan thought, 'He seems upset. He's actually kind when he's upset.' They stopped at the bus station, and he rode home.
Suddenly, it started raining heavily. Likan sat in the shelter, annoyed. 'This is bad luck! I don't have a raincoat or an umbrella!'
A motorcycle roared through the heavy rain. The lone rider slowed down, then suddenly crashed to the ground. Luckily, no cars were around, only a few motorcycles that hurried past. Likan didn't see clearly, only heard the loud sound. She saw a man wearing black trousers, a big black hoodie, and a sturdy, closed black helmet. The helmet's black visor didn't even break.
The man rolled and hit a rock near the shelter. Likan jumped onto the bench, terrified. "Who is that?" She thought about helping, but it was pouring.
Still, she started to approach, but the man got up by himself, roughly shaking his hand at her. He struggled to lift his bike, still masked by the black helmet, then sat down near the shelter.
Likan was scared, thinking he might be a gang member. She didn't dare speak. After resting, the man saw the rain wouldn't stop. He looked at Likan, and she felt a shiver. She took a pen out of her bag. She didn't dare look at his face.
He spoke. "Aren't you leaving? The bus won't come." His voice was muffled by the helmet.
Likan didn't know him and was too scared to be rude. She replied, "I'm leaving, but I'm waiting for the rain to stop."
He said, "You can wait until morning, and it won't stop."
Likan thought, 'Then why did he ask?' She held her pen tightly. He suddenly grabbed her hand tightly. "Get on the bike, I'll take you."
Likan was shocked. "Are you crazy?! We don't know each other, why are you grabbing my hand?!" She stopped herself from shouting and looked at him apologetically. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I can't go right now." When she struggled, he noticed how tightly she held the pen and let go. Likan thanked him, saying she preferred to stay, still terrified he might hit her.
He rode away. Likan breathed a sigh of relief. She was truly scared. 'Next time, I must bring an umbrella or a raincoat.'
But then, he rode back. She gasped, remembering news about crazy people who return. 'No, I don't want to die yet!' His figure was terrifying.
He got off the bike, handed her an umbrella and a raincoat, and then rode off.
Likan was full of questions but also relieved. That night, she couldn't sleep, thinking about the mysterious man. 'What was wrong with him? Why did he come back? Who is he?'
The next morning, Likan arrived at the library early, yawning. She quickly worked on the 10th-grade homework. She asked Vi about the book they needed to find. Vi searched, but couldn't find it.
Then, San arrived and helped them search. The three searched but found nothing. Teacher Cheat (the librarian) was curious about their silence.
"What are you doing?"
Vi replied, "Looking for your book, Teacher."
"What book?" Vi showed the picture. "I've never seen it, but if it is here, try the old stock. Maybe it's among the old books."
They searched but still found nothing. Hungry, they bought snacks. San checked the time. Seeing his friends arrive, he said goodbye to Likan and Vi.
Jin and Phea came, handing Likan money for the homework. Likan pointed them toward the library. "Vi will give it to you." Jin sat down. "Tuna is so weird, what is she scared of?"
Likan was preoccupied. 'I still haven't found the culprit!' Vi asked, "Tuna was called by them again?" Phea nodded.
Likan noticed the three looked unhappy. "What's wrong?"
Jin said, "A student in her class has to become a servant for the 11th-grade seniors."
Likan was shocked. "A servant? That's unheard of!"
Phea said, "Haven't you watched those dramas where they bully people?"
Likan asked, "Why doesn't she tell the teacher?"
Phea replied, "Sister, do you think it's just like in the movies? Maybe she has problems."
Likan looked at the three. "So you guys also..."
Vi quickly clarified, "It's an agreement, not bullying." Likan just said hm?
Suddenly, Tuna ran and fell. Sara walked up and helped her up, recording it on her phone. Sara said, "This is us filming a friendship story. It will be cut and released as a short film." Her fans really loved her.Sara ended the recording. "Act better next time. You were late last night, but I haven't punished you yet. Wait until break time."
Vi called out, "Tuna!"
Sara looked at Vi and then at Tuna. "Who is that? Do you know her?" Tuna replied, "No, I don't."
Likan walked closer, mumbling, 'She's beautiful, but is she wicked? I couldn't see clearly from far away.'
Sara told Tuna to call Likan over. Tuna insisted, "I really don't know her!"
Mao said, "How can you not know her? You're in the same class!"
Vi walked over and pulled Tuna's arm. Tuna struggled. Sara laughed. "Are they putting on a show?" Vi said, "We wouldn't dare compete with a senior's acting skills."
Tuna fell silent. Thang said, "Tuna, go with them! Aren't they your friends?" Tuna stiffened, pulled her hand away from Vi, and said, "I'm going to buy milk and bring it to the class." She left without looking at Vi.
Sara laughed. "Our junior Tuna is truly unmatched! Hopefully, one day you can be as good as Tuna." Likan thought, 'That's a threat!'
Sara saw Likan. "Does an older student have time to advise a 10th-grade junior? Leave this job to the 11th graders; we don't want you to be inconvenienced, especially since you have exams soon."
Likan replied, "It's fine for me as senior student." Sara saying, ah?and smiled and left with her group.
Jin grumbled, "She acts like a main character in a drama. So annoying." Likan then left for her class.
When likan back to her classroom suddenly Mala saw Likan. "So, how about the window problem?"
Likan replied, "I haven't investigated yet!"
"What? It's been so long, and you still don't know?"
Likan snapped back, "It's only been one day! Why don't you try investigating yourself?"
Mala laughed. "I've never seen a quiet person suddenly talk back so bravely! Who are you to talk so coolly?"
Likan asked, "Talk back? What are you talking about? Be clear!"
Ta Ta jumped in, "Wow, she's brave now!"
Mala clarified, a boyfriend and a score!"
Likan froze, speechless. Everyone looked at her. "What? LiKan has a boyfriend? Did she really? Who would date liKan? Maybe likan likes someone and started a rumor? No way, she's just secretly in love and spreading rumors!" The students in Likan's class started talking about her.