PDA

-The Canteen-

Like always, the canteen was bustling with students and the smell of food was wafting in the air. They all were eating, chatting, and relaxing the moments they got away from their studies.

At one of the tables there, four people were seated together: Lani, Opal, Caleb, and Zou Haoran.

Caleb didn't think that they would end up eating together… again. But then again, Opal and Lani have become friends as well as roommates, so it was understandable. But the most shocking news for him and Opal was Zou Haoran's new position in the student council. He was aware of his friends' thoughts but didn't think he would act this fast since Zou Haoran refused to spill any beans on his ways to deal with it.

Opal was utterly shocked too. She never thought the guy who rejected the president's position in their previous school would become a secretary.

"You can ask me anything you want to know?" Lani, a capable secretary, offered her help to her new co-worker.

"Dropping love letters in the complaint box, has this happened before?" He asked an unexpected question. He remembered how Layla was saying that she thinks the complaint box is gonna be filled with love letters again.

Since this was asked to Lani then how could she not tell the whole story rather than just saying yes or no. "If you don't know then someone would have definitely told you in a few days. It's related to vice-prez and... her notorious act."

She even attracted the attention of Opal and Caleb. For two days they were hearing that the vice-prez is like a demon or devil. It was funny that she was not infamous for her outstanding beauty but for something else.

Lani looked at their faces. It was saying "Tell us the story. We are listening." She took a bite and with a grin, she said, "Lemme tell you from the beginning."

Thus, Lani started the story from the very beginning. "It started last year. Layla started receiving love letters and love confessions from last year. At first, she ignored the letters and turned down the confessions. But some unreasonable suitors demanded answers as to why they were rejected. That time, she used her studies and teachers as shields, you know the perks of being a topper. There was also a time when she actually had to complain to teachers, causing that boy to be lectured."

Opal and Caleb were clearly surprised, so was Zou Haoran too. It was funny to see as he always had either a cold face or a fake smile. Lani too had vivid expressions as she was reciting the incident as if it was her own. They were waiting for her to continue as they also knew that this was not what could be said notorious, something else must have happened. Their silent faces were urging her.

When she was about to continue, Ryan came and sat with them. He gave a badge to Zou Haoran without saying a thing. "Her ways of rejection turned outrageous this year.

A year and a position in the student council didn't change much. When she discovered love letters under her desk, she didn't dispose of them immediately but… she read them aloud in front of the whole class. But she didn't reveal any name. That was merciful of her.

But touching her things without permission crossed her bottom line. Some even put the letters in her bag. Though they were few yet..." She gulped, "She almost raised hell, and was only controlled by the president." Everyone eyed Ryan who was calmly eating his food.

He and... her are rather close as he was able to control her and the said situation or was it because he is the president. As they were guessing, Lani's voice again rang in their ears.

"After that incident, boys no longer put letters in her desk or bag but in the complaint box, thinking it would save them from shame." She snorted.

"Hah… those guys really underestimated Layla. She was hellbent on getting rid of them. At first, she chose a peaceful way. She pasted a paper on the complaint box saying 'Stop dropping unnecessary letters otherwise you will face consequences' written on it."

"Did those letters stop, if not then, how did she deal with it?" Opal asked. Her voice had an urgency to know what happened in the end.

"No, it didn't and she really took it at a whole new level." The way she was emphasizing some words was already making them imagine wildly.

She took another bite before speaking again, "When the warning didn't work, she posted the letters on the notice board after removing the names, of course. Can you imagine, she posted it publicly on the board.

She also left some sarcastic remarks on them like 'one more time I will reveal the names too.' And, if someone left a nameless letter then, she matched their handwriting and crushed them publicly. She calls it PDA."

"Huh!? P-PDA that's..."

"I know what you mean." She sighed at her friend's poor joke. "To her PDA is 'Public Display of Authority.'"

An awkward laugh escaped from Opal's lips. Caleb had an expression as if he didn't believe it. And, Zou Haoran was genuinely laughing softly. When Lani looked at him she only had one thought: 'Was it that funny?'

"Wasn't she punished for it?"

"Her act not only alarmed teachers but the principal too." Ryan who was silent till now spoke. "And, she successfully dodged the punishment, of course, she was scolded for giving others a headache too."

"Well... all this happened not only because guys liked her but she also became a challenge." Lani sighed. She continued to blabber, "You know, it caused other troubl—"

"You still have a lot of food left on your plate" Ryan blocked her from letting her speak further. "Finish it before the bell rings."

*screech*

Layla arrived. She pulled a chair making a sound. She glanced at Lani's plate, 'she must have been chatting a lot.'

She sat down quietly. Although she felt that people on the table were looking at her… weirdly, she didn't bother to ask. Right now, her priority was to finish her meal as she was late today.

…

-The Student Council room-

Layla entered the room with materials in her hand and dumped them on the table. "We need to review these too." Sometimes, teachers ask them to do some miscellaneous work.

Right now, there were Ryan and Zou Haoran present in the room with her. "Zou Haoran, come and help me." He also started helping both of them.

With his help, they finished sooner. Layla asked her newly appointed secretary to take them to the faculty room and give them to their class teacher.

"What were you talking about during lunch?" she asked after Zou Haoran left the room.

"Lani was sharing stories of your scandal." He replied.

If she didn't know him, she would have believed that he wasn't mocking her. "Scandal… says who, as if you didn't cause any commotion back then." She scoffed. Not many were aware of his hand behind the scenes.

When these two were busy slandering each other by digging into the past, Zou Haoran returned. He conveyed the teacher's message as he thanked them for their hard work. After that, he went near the display board to take a look at it.