In the examination room, the teacher found a piece of cheating paper on the corner of Andreas Deleon's desk.

He stood up and told the teacher uprightly, "Sir, this note was thrown to me by Kristi."

I was about to explain when Avery Hendrix, who was standing beside me, pulled me back with red eyes and said in a trembling voice, "Kristi, don't."

Since I was hesitating, I missed the best opportunity to explain.

From that day on, I went from being the top student to a cheater and no one wanted to listen to me anymore.

Andreas and Avery were even more eager to draw a line between themselves and me.

In this remote town, even my parents, who were always proud of me, would be pointed at when they went out. 

I was isolated like a cancer.

The school cancelled my admission qualification and stopped my subsidy.  

Also, no one visited my father’s vegetable stall anymore.

On the day when my mother was seriously ill and had no money for treatment, Andreas threw 200 dollars at me and forced me to drop out of school.

"Watch your mouth. The college entrance exam is coming soon. If you tarnish Avery's reputation, I will make you regret it!"

When I opened my eyes again, I was back in the examination room during my senior year of high school.

The teacher frowned as he looked at the note in his hand, reading word by word, "‘Andreas, I don't know how to answer the last big question.’

——

“Who wrote this? Stand up!"

I woke up with a startle from a loud shout and found myself back in the examination room of my senior year of high school.

My childhood friend Andreas turned around and saw me with tears on my face. He sighed with pity, "Since you've already stood up, just... accept it."

Next to me, Avery, whom I had always regarded as my best friend, thanked me in a low voice with tears in her eyes, "Kristi, I will repay you."

I finally pulled myself out of the pain of my family being torn apart in my previous life and stood up before Andreas could speak.

“Sir, I didn’t throw this note. The ink on it is blue-black, but my pen only writes in black, so it couldn’t have been mine.

“Besides, the handwriting is shaky and messy and I always write neatly with little emoticons too. Also, I’ve already solved the last big question. Look, it really can’t be me!”

I held up the test paper and explained it to the teacher seriously, speaking loudly and quickly.

I had explained countless times in my previous life, but no one cared.

The teacher glanced at my paper in shock and asked in confusion, "Kristi, I didn't say you were the one who did it. Why are you so excited?"

I realize my own gaffe.

On the side, Avery clenched her fists with her knuckles turning white and looked at me with eyes full of resentment.

Andreas also looked at me with disappointment.

What? Just because my family was the poorest, I, Kristi Lester, deserved to clean up your mess and take the blame for you?!

After the exam, the teacher announced he would conduct a thorough investigation and deal strictly with any cheaters. Then, without another word, he folded the note, tucked it into his notebook and walked out of the room.

I packed my things and was about to go back to the classroom from the exam room, but someone grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

Andreas was very strong and he pulled me to the corner of the stairs without paying any attention to other people's eyes.

Avery followed, with big tears dripping from her eyes.

"Kristi, you are my best friend. You clearly know it's me, why are you doing this to me?"

I pretended not to understand and asked, "Ah? Avery, what did you say? So, is it you?"

Avery stamped her feet in anger as she explained, "I threw that note to Andreas, you clearly saw it!"

“I didn’t see it.”

Avery wanted to say something but was stopped by Andreas.

He patted Avery's back gently and used his eyes to reassure her.

Then he looked at me seriously as he said, "Kristi, I don't care whether you did it on purpose or not. You are the one who caused the trouble. Now the note is in the teacher's hand. I will give you two choices.

"First, go to the teacher and admit it. Think about how to explain it yourself.

"Second, steal the note. I only give you one day, you have to solve it before school is over, otherwise Avery will not be able to sleep well tonight because of you."

Andreas gave me orders in a serious manner.

His current appearance could no longer be the same as when he was a child, when every New Year he would steal two candies from home and give one to me, wishing for a better future.

When did it start to change?

Two years ago, Avery's father was transferred to a factory next to our town as Deputy Director.

So, Avery also transferred to our class. That was the first time Andreas and I met Avery.

She was different from the colorful me. She wore a white down jacket and was as pure as an angel.

Andreas, I and almost all the students in the class could not take our eyes off her.

She asked who the class captain was, so Andreas stood up and became her deskmate while I moved to the back of the classroom.

I thought that from that day on, Andreas and I would have a new friend.

Until I quietly told Avery that I seemed to like Andreas a little.

That day, I ignored the disdain and ridicule in Avery's eyes.

Later, I still treated them with all my heart, but accidentally became their follower.

It seemed like I should be the one to bear the consequences of all the bad things that happen.

Looking at Andreas who was righteous, I asked him seriously, “Why?"

He frowned and asked me in confusion, "Why what?"

"Heh.” I laughed at myself and patiently explained, "Andreas, Avery cheated in the exam, it has nothing to do with me, why should I help her cover it up?"

"You!” As soon as I finished speaking, Avery stopped crying and glared at me as she scolded, "But you can obviously take the blame for me. Weren't you willing to do so before? Why are you suddenly unwilling to do so today? 

“Aren't you deliberately making trouble for me? You know very well that my father has always been very strict with me. If he knew, he would never forgive me!"

Andreas, who was speechless just then, seemed to have finally found an outlet to vent, “Yes! Kristi, you did it on purpose. You are jealous of Avery, so you deliberately embarrassed her. You are so vicious."

The look in Andreas's eyes when he looked at me no longer had any trace of guilt.

It was as if as long as he threw dirty water on me, I would really become the insidious villain they described me as.

"Why am I jealous of her?" 

Avery answered proudly, "Of course, you are jealous because I'm prettier than you, richer than you and... and Andreas likes me.

"I didn't want to say it out loud because I was worried about hurting you, but you really disappointed me today.

"When you told me that you liked Andreas that day, did you know how hard it was for me to not vomit it out? How can a poor girl like you like Andreas?"

As she spoke, Avery pulled Andreas's hand, impatiently asserting her sovereignty.

But in the previous life, she did not want to tell me because she cared about my feelings.

It was obvious she was afraid that once I found out, there would be no one left for her to boss around, let alone someone to exploit further.

Only by pretending we were all friends could she gain access to my innermost thoughts, just so she could mock me mercilessly behind my back.

“Andreas, do you think so too?"

Andreas's eyes fell on me with a complicated expression.

I followed his gaze and saw my school uniform, which had been washed white and even a little deformed. I seemed to understand a little bit.

“Andreas, I don't like you anymore,” I yelled at him, then said to Avery, "Avery, I will no longer be your follower. You have to bear the consequences of your own mistakes."

I left without looking back.

Avery's threat came from behind, "Kristi, you will regret this!"

I would not!

During the break, all my classmates looked at me in a different way.

I was too familiar with this malicious look. 

There was a lot of discussion behind my back.

"Have you heard? Kristi got first place by cheating."

“I heard it, I heard it, she received the scholarship for two full years, it's really unfair!"

“How can we give this money to someone with bad behavior? Let's tell the teacher and make her return the money!"

"How can she return? Her family is so poor, she must have spent it all."

"No matter what, I'll make her pay for it even if she sells everything she has, or gets the hell out of school!"

Everyone's words seemed to have determined my future.

Avery fiddled with the pen and looked at me mockingly, as if declaring her victory.

Just as I expected, the news of my cheating in the exam has spread throughout the school.

Even if there was no evidence, it would not affect them from throwing dirty water on me.

After all, it took only one mouth to spread a rumor, but it took a lot of effort to refute it.

Just as I was about to explain, my homeroom teacher, Mr. Nash, called me to the office.

He pointed at me and slammed the table, "Kristi, you have brought shame to our class! How could you do such a terrible thing as cheating in an exam?! 

“I heard that you even put on a big show in the exam room. Ha, find your father and ask him how he could raise a daughter as shameless as you."

I took out the old phone my father gave me from my pocket and explained, "No! Sir, I'm not the one who cheated, listen."

As I found the recording I wanted, I clicked play.

After the exam, when Andreas was pulling me to the corner of the stairs, I turned on the recording, so I could avenge myself.

Avery's words were still clearly recorded.

"She admitted it, Sir. It was Avery who cheated, not me!"

At this moment, I was extremely grateful that I had become cautious after experiencing a life-and-death slander and had recorded the evidence in time.

Mr. Nash was so angry that his face turned red and white. Then, he snatched the phone from my hand and said, “Show me."

As he handed the phone back to me, the recording was gone.

“Why?!"

“Why?” Mr. Nash said casually, "I already know about the matter. I will handle it. You can go back first."

I stood there and refused to leave, tears streaming down my face as I complained, “Why did you delete my recording?"

Mr. Nash patted my shoulder earnestly and said, "Let's stop here. Do you need me to explain it more clearly? Don't you know who Avery's father is? What can you use to fight her?

"Even if you have evidence that she is the one who cheated, she won't be punished. But you, aren't you afraid of retaliation?

"Okay, let's go now. I will pretend I didn't hear today's recording and you will pretend you didn't record it. Don't talk nonsense when you get back. Do you understand?"

I wiped away my tears and left Mr. Nash's office.

After checking the fresh recording on my phone, I ran to the school's broadcasting room at the speed of a 100-meter sprint. I wanted to let everyone know about their evil deeds.

No one could wrongly accuse me again!