CHAPTER 5: THE ACCUSATION
1444 Words
June left Mrs. Bennett's office feeling confused.
She knew she hadn't written her name in the attendance book.
Then who had written it?
She began wondering if Mrs. Bennett had written her name to protect her from being marked absent.
But then she remembered that Mrs. Bennett had a reason to keep her quiet about the secret.
Was Mrs. Bennett only being kind to her because she wanted to make sure June stayed in her good books?
June couldn't stop thinking about it.
When she got home, the thought followed her.
She sat on her bed, staring into space as she tried to figure out what was really going on.
Why would Mrs. Bennett go out of her way to help her?
June sighed.
Something didn't feel right.
There was a knock at the door.
“Mom, come in, please,” June called.
The door opened, and it was Scott.
“Scott, what are you doing here? What are you looking for this time around? Have you come to steal another diary this time? Please leave my house. I'm not in the mood to talk to you.”
“Please, can you calm down?” Scott said.
“Calm down for what exactly? As what? What am I to you?” June asked.
“You are my tutor!” Scott shouted.
“When did I become your tutor? Do I have any agreement with you?” June replied.
“I really need your help, June. I have been—”
June couldn't allow him to finish what he was saying.
“That reminds me. Were you the one who wrote my—”
June stopped herself.
A thought crossed her mind.
He would never be the person. He hated me so much.
No, he could never do that, she thought.
“You have overstayed your welcome. It's high time you left, Scott.”
Scott couldn't say another word. He left angrily.
Was I too harsh on him? June asked herself after he had left.
It was the weekend, and June knew she had a test coming up on Monday.
On Monday morning, Mrs. Bennett's test was scheduled to take place.
June was well-prepared for the test. She was confident that she would do well.
Before the test began, Mrs. Bennett gave them a warning.
“Anything that will implicate you in this test should be removed, or you will face the consequences of malpractice.”
As they began writing, Mrs. Bennett walked around the classroom, monitoring the students.
Then she saw a small piece of paper beside June's desk.
She picked it up and read it. It contained information related to what they were writing.
“June, stand up.”
June stood up.
“After all my warnings, you're still trying to cheat on my test. I'm disappointed in you,” Mrs. Bennett said.
She forcefully collected June's answer sheet and tore it.
“Leave this hall now.”
Mrs. Bennett did not allow June to say another word.
June was surprised and speechless.
Before she could understand what was happening, the whole class began murmuring.
Some students burst into laughter.
Others whispered among themselves.
“June, of all people?”
“I thought she was intelligent.”
“Could she really do something like that?”
Scott was surprised. He couldn't believe what he had seen.
It seemed unbelievable to him because he had always known June as an intelligent and smart girl.
June went home.
She cried her eyes out and couldn't bring herself to open the door for her mother.
She locked herself in her room.
Her mother knocked repeatedly, but June wouldn't open the door.
June wasn't crying because she had been denied the opportunity to take the test.
She was crying because an allegation had been made against her, and the matter had been concluded without giving her a chance to explain herself.
Being embarrassed in front of her course mates made her cry even more.
June cried to the point where she began questioning herself.
Who have I offended?
Who could have done this to me?
How do I face them now?
June was afraid to tell her mother, thinking she would be disappointed in her.
It was already night when her mother knocked again.
“June, please open the door.”
“My darling, why are you punishing yourself? You have been indoors since morning. Please, whatever it is, let's talk about it.”
June finally opened the door for her mother.
“My darling . . .” Mrs. Anderson said as she hugged her.
June told her mother everything that had happened.
Her mother felt her pain and consoled her.
“My daughter, don't worry. Everything will be fine. We must get to the root of this matter. First thing tomorrow morning, I will come to your school to meet your lecturer,” Mrs. Anderson said.
“No, Mum. You don't have to do that. I will handle this by myself. Trust me,” June replied.
“Are you sure?” Mrs. Anderson asked.
“Very sure, Mum,” June replied.
“If you say so, then report back to me if you can't handle it.”
“Yes, Mum. I will. I love you, Mum,” June said.
“I cherish you, my daughter. Now come downstairs and have your dinner,” her mother said.
The next morning, June was preparing for school, but she still didn't know how to face her course mates.
Who would believe her, and who wouldn't?
“I will need someone to help me with this matter, but I don't even have a friend,” she said.
A thought suddenly came to her mind.
Could it be Scott who did this to me?
Was he trying to frame me or set me up?
He's the only rival I have now. Who else could it be if not him?
He must know something about what happened to me.
He must be involved in it.
I must confront him today when I get to school, June thought.
June arrived at school.
Everyone was already seated, waiting for the lecturer.
June immediately went to Scott.
“We need to talk,” she said, and forcefully dragged him outside the lecture hall.
“You can talk now. Tell me every single thing you did to implicate me in the exam hall yesterday. Scott, how could you?” June said angrily.
“June, I don't know anything about what you're saying. I'm innocent, but I promise myself that I must find the truth about this matter. I have also tried begging Mrs. Bennett to pardon you, but she refused,” Scott replied.
“Why would I plan such a thing when I wrote your—”
Scott couldn't finish what he was saying because June interrupted him.
“What a lie! You have already planned what to say to make me believe you, but I can't fall for it.”
“Scott, I have enough evidence to get you expelled from this school for frolicking with your lecturer, but I didn't do that.”
“Calm your voice down. People might hear you,” Scott interrupted.
“Instead, you took my diary and threatened to expose me to the world if I ever revealed your secret. All you care about is your own reputation, without considering others.”
“Scott, you're evil . . .” June said through her tears before running off.
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