Skip to content
Novel Catalog
Bryan’s realization hit him like a thunderclap, and the rest of the class slowly started to catch on. They exchanged confused glances, but Bryan’s voice cut through the tension. “Wait a minute… if nobody else got perfect scores but Catherine did, then that means… there must be something more to this!”
His outburst caused a ripple of understanding to spread through the room. The math teacher and principal, who had been growing increasingly agitated, looked at each other, their confidence starting to waver. Catherine’s calm demeanor and strategic questioning were slowly dismantling their accusations.
Catherine, with a slight smirk, leaned back in her chair. “So, the question remains—how can a paper that was never leaked to anyone result in just one student achieving perfection? Is it possible that the test itself was… perhaps, too easy for me? Or is it that the rest of the class wasn’t prepared enough to match my scores?”
Her words, though simple, carried a weight that caused many students to reflect on the inconsistency in the accusations against her. The math teacher, unable to think of a suitable response, clenched her fists in frustration. She had anticipated Catherine’s guilt, but now, with every question Catherine posed, her certainty was crumbling.
The homeroom teacher, who had been listening carefully, shifted uncomfortably. She could sense the room’s shift in attitude, but didn’t want to outright confront the math teacher or the principal. “Catherine, I’m not here to accuse anyone,” she said, trying to regain control. “But the fact remains that we need to understand how you managed to do so well. You’ve got to admit, it’s unusual.”
Catherine’s eyes narrowed, her voice growing colder. “Unusual? If I’m to be punished for doing well in a test, then I guess you should be expelling every top student here. I wonder what kind of message that sends about your standards.”
Bryan, emboldened by Catherine’s words, joined in, “Exactly. Why single her out when no one else in this class has anything close to her achievements? You can’t just accuse someone of cheating because they excel. That’s not how education works. And if it’s unfair to put the spotlight on Catherine, it’s even more unfair to target anyone who tries to speak out against it.”
More students, now emboldened by Bryan’s support, began murmuring their agreement. “Yeah, she’s right. Why’s Catherine the only one getting blamed?”
The principal, who had been quiet up until this point, stood up straighter, his eyes now sharper, his face tight with irritation. “Enough!” he barked, trying to regain control. “This isn’t a debate. We will investigate the situation thoroughly.”
Catherine met his gaze with a challenge, her posture relaxed yet commanding. “Of course, do your investigation. But let me remind you—no matter how many times you accuse me, if you can’t provide evidence, it means nothing.”
The homeroom teacher, now visibly anxious about the growing unrest in the room, intervened again. “Catherine, we all want this to be resolved fairly. Just clarify how you did it. This is about your reputation too.”
Catherine’s eyes flashed for a moment, calculating her next words. She was acutely aware that they needed a scapegoat for this whole situation, and she wasn’t about to play the victim. “You really want me to explain something so simple? Maybe the real question is, why didn’t anyone else do as well as I did? Why are you all so focused on me, when the real problem is the class’s collective performance?”
The room was quiet now, and for the first time, the teachers had no ready response. It was undeniable that Catherine had turned the tables on them. The principal’s face reddened with frustration, but he kept his composure, trying to salvage his authority.
“Alright,” he said, his tone clipped, “we’ll look into this further. For now, you can all return to your studies.” The dismissal felt abrupt and unsatisfying, but it was the only option left for the principal to maintain some sense of order.
As the students filed out of the room, the buzz of conversation grew louder. It was clear that Catherine had earned more respect in that moment than she had previously. Bryan, still standing beside her, gave her a look of admiration. “You handled that better than I expected, Boss.”
Catherine smiled lazily, the tension in her posture relaxing now that the immediate danger had passed. “Sometimes, the best way to deal with people like them is to let them dig their own hole. No need to fight back too hard—just ask the right questions.”
“Yeah, well, I’ll definitely be watching your back from now on,” Bryan added with a grin.
Catherine chuckled, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. “Don’t worry, I’ve got it covered. It’s all about timing.”
As they exited the classroom, the principal and teachers lingered behind, still processing the events. They knew they couldn’t easily take down a student like Catherine without clear evidence, and for the moment, they were left with nothing but their frustration and a class full of students who now viewed Catherine with a new kind of respect.
The battle wasn’t over yet, but Catherine had already won the first round.