Arian

Arian's pov

I didn’t know I was crying. Not until I felt the tears roll down my chin, warm against my skin. Words can't explain how I was feeling. I felt embarrassed, ashamed and lost.

People looked at me in a different way. I was used to being different but this situation was totally different. Their gazes were judging me, accusing me of something I didn't do.

I thought about it over and over again. Who could’ve done this to me? Who hated me enough to frame me? Who would have found joy in destroying everything I’d worked so hard for?

And the answer was no one. There's no one on my mind. I had no enemies. I didn’t fight with anyone. I didn’t compete or cause drama. I kept to myself, focused on school, on books, on keeping the scholarship that was the only thread holding my future together.

So why me? Why would anyone do this to me?

I dropped my head, staring at the cracked pavement beneath my shoes. I wiped my face, pretending everything would be fine, but I know it won't be fine.

I just wish I could wake up and see that it was just a bad dream. Please, let this be a dream.

The familiar black leather shoes stopped a few feet in front of me. I didn’t even need to look up to know they belong to.

Luke, my cousin, was the only one on campus who wore the same shoe on all outfits.

“Wow,” he said with a cold voice. “Rough day, huh?”

I finally looked up, my eyes boring into his unsympathetic eyes. Right from childhood, he and his father, my mother's brother, had been nonchalant about me and my mom.

Uncle George, his dad never cared and Luke took after him. They lack empathy when it comes to other people's feelings.

He stood with his hands in his pockets, his backpack slung over one of his shoulders. That smug smirk is already curling at the corner of his mouth as he stares at me. He didn’t look surprised, he didn’t look concerned. Instead, he looked entertained.

“Why are you here alone? Where are all your minions? Have they abandoned their precious president?” he asked with a mocking tone.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, voice low.

He raised an eyebrow. “Same thing you're doing here. Oh, I forgot, you are no longer a student,” he said.

“Sorry to burst your bubbles, Luke. I'm still a student at this school. Nothing has been said about me leaving the school.”

He stepped closer, invading the space around me. I stood up from the bench before he could hover on me.

“There's no other way out for you, Arian. You are going to get expelled from school.”

“How are you so sure?” I asked him, folding my arms.

“I wonder how a dumb person like you became the president of the book club. I wonder how you remain the best student in school. You don't just have common sense to understand that the administration can't keep someone like you around.”

I stared at him in disbelief. I knew he disliked me but I didn't know he hated me so much. He didn't even ask if I did it or not. He is just concerned about me getting expelled from school.

There was something about his presence, something I hadn’t noticed before. Like a switch had flipped to another degree. And suddenly, everything made sense in the worst way possible.

“A meeting will be held tomorrow. Your expulsion will be concluded and you will be sent out of school.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked him.

Although I was still reeling from his statement, I couldn't help but think about him. Luke was the only one who always asked about my scholarship. The same one who made weird comments about “easy money.”

“Use your senses, dimwit,” he said, laughing like crazy.

“Did you do it?” I asked quietly, barely able to form the words.

Luke tilted his head, still smiling. “Do what, cousin?”

“You know what I mean.” I said as annoyance bubbled within me.

He continued to laugh, shaking his head. “You’ve always been paranoid.”

“You are not denying it,” I said, flashing him a questioning look.

“Stop talking nonsense. Instead of worrying about if I did it or not, worry about your future. That's if you still have one.”

“Why did you do it? Why did you do this to me?” I asked, grabbing him by his collar.

My slender fingers didn't last before he yanked them away, pushing me to the ground. As soon as I reached the ground, I stood up. I can't afford weakness now.

“Only if you know how much I hate you. You are a nobody and you always get the best things. You got the only slot of scholarship left. You became the best student as soon as you got in. You became the president of that useless book club. You got everything without stress and you act like you are the victim when you are the one full of shit.”

Jealousy was the only thing I saw as I looked at Luke. He was blinded by jealousy and his stupidity. How could he say I had it easy? My mother died on the same day I graduated from high school. My father left before I could recognize him. I had no one to guide me or care for me. I was alone to fight for myself.

And he had the nerve to say I had it easy. Coming from someone whose father is the registrar of the college. Coming from someone who got everything he wanted.

Not once have I ever gotten jealous of him but he had the nerve to be jealous of me, someone who had nothing but a scholarship and a hope for a good future.

“You are a monster, Luke,” I said in disgust, shaking my head.

He leaned in slightly. “Careful what you accuse people of, Arian. Especially when you don’t have proof.”

“What other proof do I need?”

“Look around you, Arian. Your gay ass lost it all. No one believes you and your story.”

“I will expose you, Luke. I don't care how much I have to spend but I promise I will expose you. And I'll make sure you pay for what you did to me.”

“Good luck proving I did it.” He winked like this was all a joke to him. Then he walked away whistling, like he hadn’t just shattered my world.

When I thought I had no enemies, I never imagined I had one under my nose.