Chapter 173 The school king birthday

All the students present in the lab had their eyes peered into their practical. Biology was their core subject, so failing it was a journey of no return. Everyone was in their lab coat, each with their lab partners. Asher was with Ava, and they were making progress dissecting animal organs and naming them.

"Ewww, is that the intestines? Gosh, I think the smell got into my hair," Ava exclaimed in disgust. Biology practical was the last thing she looked forward to because she despised the thought of opening the stomach of an animal just for naming purposes.

"I don't even know why we do this. The poor creatures just got murdered brutally," Ava, who was trying to concentrate, spoke tiredly.

Asher smiled. Seeing this side of Ava made him giggle. The teacher was going all around, looking at their work and awarding each of them marks. Getting to the table of Asher and Ava, the teacher smiled.

"Good job, you two. I guess you can have 6.5," the teacher spoke, then went on her way.

Ava, who was already smiling, frowned. 6.5? What the hell? She got that thing on her body because of 6.5? That was not fair.

"Asher, this is all your fault. What did you do wrong?" Ava fired at Asher.

Asher, who wasn't expecting the accusation, frowned. Here he was, thinking he and Ava were making progress, but looking forward, he saw Emily had it much worse. The girl was literally boiling, looking like she could explode any moment from now.

Asher was beginning to feel Emily's situation was crazy, like she was acting like a crazy lady because she suddenly stood up. Pushing past Rose, who was writing, she walked to Slyvia and Harlan.

"Slyvia, you're not blind, are you? Just stop the drama to keep Harlan beside you. That's too cheap of you."

Emily's outburst made the teacher confused, especially Slyvia, who was being interrogated.

"Emily, are you okay? Did you drink? Because that's one of the most unreasonable comments I have ever heard from you. Like, can you hear yourself? I'm pretending to be blind? Why? Because I love attention?" Slyvia spoke amidst rage, making even the teacher interfere, but Emily was still raging, making Harlan stand up.

"Emily, dear, can you stop this? I don't want to abuse you, so leave quietly."

Harlan tried to remain as calm as possible, but Asher couldn't help but laugh at the showcase. Emily was such a disappointment. It was obvious she was growing jealous of Slyvia, her best friend, and now that her eyes were on Harlan, and the guy was not looking in her direction, she had gone mad.

Asher turned to Ava. "You know what, Ava? At this point, no day goes by without a fight in Paradise High," Asher declared, and Ava concurred while watching the upcoming drama unfold.

"I should leave? You want me to leave? She is pretending! She's just a two-faced cunt! Just how did she score the highest in the practicals? How, Harlan? And didn't you say you weren't interested in class competition? Why the sudden interest? Because I just wanted the spotlight? Why can't you give me that?"

Emily shouted at the top of her voice.

Asher, on realizing the true reason behind Emily's confession, felt his jaw drop. He was right. She was behaving stupidly because of a guy and acting like a spoiled brat. Asher was becoming infuriated, and he smiled when Rose finally came in between the issue.

"Stop this, Emily! She is your friend, and she's blind. Can't you see we should be showing her support? And Harlan here has been so nice, so why can't you do the same? I am beginning to dislike this recent attitude of yours. It isn't positive at all."

Rose's blunt words hurt like hell, but Asher was perfectly sure they put at least a bit of sense into the fool's brain. But how wrong was she? Emily literally turned Rose's words against her.

"So this is it, Rose? You all have ganged up against me? This is it? Throwing me out of your clique?" Emily yelled.

She was crying while shouting, looking like a broken toy. Slyvia felt so bad. She thought Emily had changed, at least, but she was still acting insecure. Shouldn't she see that she was loved? Rose literally fought for her. Now she was being irrational.

Slyvia tried standing but ended up falling. And like a fairytale, Asher watched as Harlan held Slyvia—almost like a couple in a passionate embrace, just like those cringe moments in TV shows and novels.

Asher's anger toward Emily was tripling. She was acting so selfishly when she should just stop acting like the victim and be there for her friends.

Rose walked toward Emily, cupped her face, and brought it closer to hers.

"Emily, we are your friends. Slyvia is your friend too. We prioritize each other's safety, and being there for one another—isn't that our motto?"

Rose tried mediating, but Harlan and Slyvia's moment made Emily more furious, and she finally snapped. Emily rushed to Slyvia, probably to slap her—Asher had no idea—but Harlan stopped her and gave her a resounding slap that immediately did the magic.

Emily's brain seemed to have automatically reset, and she fell flat on the floor.

Asher flinched. That was brutal of Harlan, but he just couldn't blame him. Emily was acting like an addict of opium because she didn't seem to be using her brain properly.

Asher sighed, but Zeke, the unbothered king, came forward and announced his big birthday party, seemingly ignoring Emily, the girl who was lying flat like a pancake, weeping even more.

Asher hissed. What a pretentious bitch.

"Enough, classmates! I am here again with my party."

Immediately Zeke said that, the class became silently still. Rose was stunned. The respect bestowed on Zeke was on another level. But it couldn't be compared to Asher, who was moping at Zeke, who was relishing in the attention.

At the moment, a pin could even be heard if it dropped. Asher was speechless. But why couldn't they respect their teacher, who seemed to have stomped out of the class in anger?

"Hmm, Ava, I don't think Mrs. Clara is coming to teach again. That woman can be a tsunami. But how could Ezekiel command this amount of respect? It's insane. Even the Almighty Mrs. Clara was ignored, but Zeke still rules," Asher asked Ava, who was listening intently to Zeke.

"I guess it's money, power, and good looks. Because just like him, Asher, you are going viral. Girls are literally drooling at you," Ava smiled while watching the endless streams of drama. At this point, her Netflix subscription was literally useless.

Asher's attention moved back to the drama, but he stood up, and then he once again came in contact with Rowan's deadly gaze. His eyes held nothing but endless rage. He seemed like a cold-blooded murderer—or was he?

Asher didn't understand how someone could stare at his sister so long like that without blinking.

"Ava, your brother is acting creepy. What's happening? This is looking weird," Asher pointed at Rowan's deadly glare on Rose.

Remembering Rowan's deadly intention, Ava gulped.

"As I was saying, since, unfortunately, I couldn't host my birthday party because of my so-called death, we are having it tonight, and it's gonna be a blast. And to make it more spicy, there are different fun activities. I know you guys know what I mean by that."

Ezekiel's announcement caused a mad shout from the class. Students screamed and yelled. The school king was having his moment.

"And to make things even spicier," he continued, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips, "we have a lineup of fun activities. I'm sure you all know what I mean by that." His words were met with another wave of excited screams.

"Now, an important notice—I have a special VIP list for my closest companions. I'll be announcing the names now," Zeke added, pulling out a sleek black envelope. "Also, the dress theme is red, so make sure you all dress sizzling hot."

Emily, who had been sitting quietly, felt her stomach churn. She was already humiliated enough, and now, she knew there was no way she'd be invited. It was impossible. Her hands trembled as she stood up, her face already streaked with tears, fully prepared to walk out of the room in disgrace.

But then—

"So, my number one on this list is the trio: Rose, Emily, and Slyvia. You three are invited," Zeke declared.

The entire room froze.

Emily froze.

Her mind went blank. She had been so sure she'd be excluded—so sure she'd be ridiculed—that for a moment, she just stood there, looking utterly lost. She probably looked foolish, standing frozen in the middle of the room like that, but she couldn't process what had just happened.

Slyvia, on the other hand, remained unmoved. "What's the point? I can't even see, so why should I go?" she muttered, her voice cold and indifferent. Then, without hesitation, she rejected the offer.

"Sorry, Zeke, but I won't be attending. Give my invite to someone else," Slyvia said, settling back into her seat.

Across the room, Harlan smirked, a slow, knowing smile curling on his lips. God only knows what he's thinking, Asher thought warily.

Zeke continued, "Simon, Rowan, Kai, Rose, Emily, Ava, and Jeremy. So, I guess that's all."

Asher's stomach twisted. Something wasn't right.

Almost everyone close to him had been invited—except him.

Even Simon and Rowan, those two snakes, had somehow made the cut. Even Ava—a girl who had no shame in mocking others—was invited.

Ava, of course, wasted no time rubbing it in. "Oops, Asher, guess you weren't invited. Sorry," she sneered, her eyes practically glowing with satisfaction. Who would have thought she'd get an invitation while Nina and her pathetic little clique got nothing?

Meanwhile, Simon and Rowan strutted toward Zeke like overgrown peacocks, their grins unsettling. There was something almost sinister about their excitement. Asher watched them closely, his unease growing.

Then Simon spoke, his voice carrying a smug undertone.

"What about your date? I mean, it's your birthday—you're supposed to pick one. It's basically a requirement."

As he said this, he shot a pointed glare at Rose, as if expecting a reaction. But Rose didn't even acknowledge his existence. Instead, she turned away, brushing him off like an annoying fly, leaving him looking like a complete fool.

Zeke, however, chuckled before giving a completely unexpected answer.

"I'm not taking a date," he said smoothly. "So, tonight… I'll be taking Asher Anderson as my plus-one."

The entire room gasped.

Asher felt his pulse spike, his breath catching in his throat.

What the hell just happened?

Nina, who had been standing with Ophelia and Vesper, turned several shades paler. She had already been rushing toward Zeke, fully convinced that she was his chosen date—only to freeze mid-air when she heard Asher's name.

Then Rose burst into laughter.

"The downfall of a used product," she sneered. "Wow, what a crazy, delusional fool."

Nina stood there, completely shattered, her dignity evaporating in real time. Without another word, she bolted from the classroom, her exit swift and humiliating.

Asher, meanwhile, stood there, completely stunned. His eyes locked onto Zeke, trying to figure out what game he was playing.

But regardless of Zeke's intentions, one thing was now certain—

Asher wasn't just a guest.

He was now the VVIP.

Zeke's date.

Or was it something else?

No one knew.