Masquerades

Chapter 14

Tommy Luo, Malachi Zhang, Bentley He, Dorothea Huang and Dalton Liu are their names. The five students who have been abused physically, mentally and emotionally by the privileged kids, now have their lives turned upside down because of being acknowledged by the Masquerades.

Everyone went back to the gymnasium after Calista, and William and his friends safely got out of that rusty staircase. The moment she stepped on the grassy ground earlier, her classmates – who had already come down from the rooftop – instantly surrounded her.

“Just take it back, Cali. Didn’t he say the game was finally over before you declared being caught?” Warren kept insisting, which just made her chuckle.

“I can’t, or they won’t be free,” she nodded in the five’s direction. They’re with their class – Section E – but from time to time, she would catch them taking glances in her direction.

“What’s with this heroic act, huh? Are you really going to drop out?” Kinsley frowned, shaking her head in disagreement.

“You all know I have to.”

All the way back to the gym, her friends kept asking in utter disbelief if she was sure about her decision, which she repeatedly answered with one thing – yes. For all the times she ignored and enabled all the bullying, she had to fulfill this as her apology. She told herself that she must save them before Penta, and she did.

Ellie Yu did some sort of a ‘closing’ speech, and once again announced the names of the five underdogs who are now free of their low status, before everyone was sent back to their classes. It was as if nothing happened, the teachers suddenly showed up and never mentioned anything about the game. It was beyond crazy.

But Calista could feel a shift in the air. Something’s about to change in Xian High and she’s apparently the one who initiated it all.

*

Principal Huo handed her a piece of paper without saying anything. It was a dropout form which she needed to fill out to make everything official. She didn’t hesitate and started filling it out with her basic information, but one thing made her stop – ‘reason for dropping out.’

Xian High’s unfair treatment of students from less-distinguished and inferior households, she finally wrote before signing at the bottom of the form. Once she was satisfied, she passed the paper back to the principal, who also signed it without blinking. He must have been pressured, knowing this was something the Masquerades made her do.

“You are dismissed,” he uttered with great conviction.

Cali smiled and bowed, before whirling around and going out of the office.

They didn’t even let her attend the rest of her classes and summoned her right before lunch break. She guessed it was the devil’s order. His ego must be bruised for yielding to her earlier, and now he’s doing this to make a point. Oh well, good for her, she can leave this nasty place as soon as possible.

“Cali,” a familiar voice called out from behind.

She turned towards the direction of the Admin Building, and was met by Shannon waiting right beside the exit doors. She must be too engrossed in her thoughts to notice her.

“Hey,” she smiled, meeting the girl halfway. She then observed her best friend, and instantly knew the latter was feeling uneasy. But why?

“I’m… I’m sorry,” Shannon looked down guiltily and clasped her hands together. “Everything started when I kept insisting to see Connor and I wasn’t even able to do anything for you—“

“Shan,” she reached out for one of her hands and squeezed it to reassure her. “It’s fine. It’s not your fault.”

There were already tears in the girl’s eyes when she looked up at her again. “I swear, I asked Connor and Maddox to find you earlier so they could help you, but they can’t find you and… and that thing with William happened.”

She was reminded of the time she saw the two standing outside Hall M and smiled. So she’s the one who sent them. “I know Shan, thank you. I see you are at least being taken care of. I can now leave the school peacefully.”

“Do you really have to leave?”

“You know the answer to that.”

“But—“

“Am I right? Is Connor really treating you well?”

Shannon immediately nodded, “I promise, he does. I told you, he’s different. Maddox, too.”

“Okay, good,” she then raised her hand and wiped the girl’s tears. “Can you at least try to accompany Ren, sometimes? Or are you being moved to Class A?”

“No, no, I told Connor I wanted to stay in our class until we graduated. And don’t worry about Ren, I will take care of him.”

She smiled gratefully, “thank you.” There was a momentary silence between them as she waited for the latter to calm down.

“What you did was very brave. No one will be able to forget you, Cali,” Shannon said after drying her tears. “You won against Arcane Wong and changed the lives of five people, you were so cool.”

She laughed and glanced at her wristwatch. There was only ten minutes left before the lunch bell rang, and she wanted to leave as quietly as possible. “I have to go now,” she smiled. “You should go back to class.”

“Aren’t you going to say goodbye to others?”

“Please do it for me,” she then pulled Shannon in for a hug, which the girl automatically returned. “But don’t say goodbye,” she stepped back and met the latter’s eyes again, “tell them that I’ll see them soon.”

She started walking backwards as she waved at her, before whirling around and going straight to the direction of the school gate. She didn’t bother to look around and do all those reminiscing s**t. Oh no, unfortunately, her freedom from this place won’t really last that long.

Her phone vibrated, and she gingerly took it out of her backpack’s side pocket.

Callum Song: Your school principal just notified me that you’ve dropped out of school? What is the meaning of this, Calista?

You: Relax, gege. They’ll want me back soon.

You: And one more thing, I think you have a spy inside your company. I suggest doing some pest control.