Chapter 28: Difficult Turn IX

Patricia ended up taking a leave from school three days after everything was revealed.

Despite the situation being significant, the teachers remained tight-lipped about whether she was punished.

It seemed that the whole faculty of the school silently agreed that this matter was better buried.

"Not even offering an apology," Kathrine harrumphed.

It was obvious that this leave would end with her transferring out.

"Still, it's quite sad that she harbors such feelings, going to such lengths without trying to speak up," Beatrice sighed.

She had about two weeks before finally letting go of her clutches. To think she had to forgo opportunities to perform because of this injury, just because someone was jealous and wished the role for herself.

Kathrine patted her back.

"The good thing right now is that she is gone. No one else will fall victim to her scheming."

Then she shuddered, "But the thought of how good her acting was—she is truly scary."

"I feel the same way. It's like everything I knew was suddenly a lie," another classmate joined their conversation.

A few others followed, lamenting how they had looked up to Patricia all this time. They all felt cheated after discovering her true character. There was even talk about how pitiful Harmony had been during the days before the truth came out.

As they chatted together, Beatrice slowly turned silent. After some time, their teacher arrived, and they returned to their seats.

"What happened a while ago?" Kathrine asked Beatrice as they walked home.

"About what?" Beatrice replied.

"You went silent when more of our classmates gathered to talk about her."

Kathrine didn't even want to speak Patricia's name; she felt disgusted by how twisted that person was.

"I just felt that we were already hypocrites, but the others were even more hypocritical," Beatrice said with a bitter smile.

"In what way?"

"Some of us watched on the sidelines while Miss Thomas was bullied. That, in itself, doesn't allow us to sympathize with her. We didn't get involved not because we couldn't, but because we thought the same way they did. That she deserved it."

Beatrice sighed, "We thought she deserved such treatment for what she had done. But those who bullied her? Their hypocrisy is even greater. They hurt her, degraded her in various ways, but now they speak of pitying her."

"They can justify it by saying that at the time, everyone thought she hurt you," Kathrine replied.

Beatrice smiled, "I know. That's why I couldn't speak. Nor could I openly stop them. I feel that, while the degree may differ, we all believed what we saw without properly looking into it. She was ostracized for something she hadn't done, just because of appearances."

"I just felt that such talks of pitying her should not happen at all. They should not bring her name up just to paint themselves in a good light after what they had done," she shook her head after saying all this.

Kathrine remained silent; it was Beatrice's personal opinion and didn't require justification or argument. As long as Beatrice didn't ask her, that last sentence was all the comment she could give.

…

"What?" Larissa asked the moment Luca stepped into the clinic.

"Has she been staying here?" he asked her.

"This is the clinic; many ladies come here," Larissa replied, returning to the documents in front of her.

Luca walked to the seat by her table, "You know who I'm talking about."

"Nope."

Luca almost pouted at her response.

"Miss Thomas. I'm asking if she has stayed here over the past few days."

Larissa looked at him.

"There are people who wished to speak with her, but she's been quite elusive. It seemed too cold outside for her to stay in the garden behind the building, so this is the only place I could think of," Luca explained.

"Leave the young lady alone," Larissa finally said.

"I won't be bothering her too much."

"What I mean is, she seems busy these days. She only sleeps here during breaks, away from those students who bullied her and then suddenly wants to apologize for everything. She doesn't want any of that."

Larissa could see that Harmony was unaffected; she wasn't dwelling on the bullying and was simply happy that everything was over. She could finally return to her peaceful days.

Seeing her tired look, Larissa couldn't help but feel that Harmony's family must have been relying on her a lot.

"I just want to ask if she would like to join us at Justin's concours. I have the ticket here; you can ask her yourself since, as you said, she doesn't seem to want to be disturbed."

Luca handed her the ticket.

"That young lady does not like attention. Why do you keep trying to get close to her?" Larissa couldn't help but ask.

"If it's just because you feel bad that she's alone all the time, she prefers it that way. I can tell she wants to finish high school without any problems," Larissa said seriously.

With his character, Luca felt he could do something for Harmony after learning a few things about her. Maybe he could help her enjoy high school more.

"If that's indeed what you're thinking, then let her be, Luca."

Luca remained silent. Larissa shook her head; he could sometimes be as stubborn as this.

"I will give her this ticket. If she rejects it, don't push her. I'm not stopping you from being friends with her if she welcomes you, but… I'll repeat it: Do. Not. Push. Her."

"I know, Aunt. I just want to try," Luca replied.

"And these ladies might become someone she's close to," he added.

"Who?" Larissa asked.

"Miss Falcon and Miss Oscar."

Larissa nodded, "Fine. You go back now. Take care on your way home."