"What!" I exclaimed at the same time. No student was bearing the name Belia in this classroom apart from me. Hence, that person had just pointed me out as the culprit. I looked in the direction of the voice and saw that it was no one other than Alison.
'That girl is a crap'. I cursed under my breath. Alison had always hated me and I don't even know the reason why. Well, I've never liked her to begin with. "Look Alison, this isn't the time to joke. I didn't write it, so why did you have to call out my name."
"It's her." As if she didn't hear my words, Alison continued to point at me. "I saw her writing it this morning."
"That's a lie. I didn't." I shielded myself from her accusation.
"That right. She did not." Ivy also defended me. "We came to the classroom together. Why didn't I see her writing it then."
"Well, who knows? Maybe you both planned it together." Alison said with a scornful smile.
"What are you trying to imp--."
"That's enough!" The teacher cut in before looking in my direction. "Belia, go to the library warehouse and dust all the books there. That will be your punishment."
"All the books!" I exclaimed in astonishment. "But I didn't--"
"I'm sure you heard what I just said. Now leave the classroom." The teacher's stern voice rang out once again.
"Okay." However, before leaving, I made sure to give Alison an intense stare. Seeing my cold gaze, Alison turned her head away. "I swear, you'll pay for this," I said through gritted teeth, before leaving the classroom.
I headed towards the library. The school library was located in the southern part of the school. Some of the students who had a free morning schedule could be seen heading towards the library direction to study. I entered the library and walked toward the library manager's counter to state the reason why I was there.
"You were punished." The library manager looked at my face. "Your appearance doesn't seem to fit the category of a bad student." I didn't make an answer to her statement. Seeing that I wasn't going to reply to her, she pointed me in the direction of the cleaning room where I would pick up the cleaning equipment I needed.
"Thank you," I said to the lady before leaving.
After taking a duster, gloves, and mask from the cleaning room, I headed toward the library warehouse. The moment I opened the door, I was greeted with an ample wave of dust onto my face. Even though I was wearing a nose mask, I began to sneeze fervently.
"Achoo!"
I brave through the dust and took the feather duster, before starting to dust the books on the shelves. More dust filled my nose and I began to sneeze constantly.
"You're going to pay for this, Alison." I kicked angrily at the bookshelves to vent my frustration. Unfortunately, one of the books seemed unstable and fell onto the floor. Seeing the fallen book, I leaned forward to pick it up.
It wasn't a learning material but a novel. Looking at the book title, I was hooked by its name. "BRIDE OF THE SEVEN GODS," I uttered the title and then turned the book over in search of the author's name. But I couldn't find it. It seems like it wasn't written on the cover. "Anyways, it sounds interesting. Let me just have a sneak peek." I hurriedly find a secluded corner to sit in. I opened the book pages, ready to read when something unknown suddenly hit my head and I passed out in the aftermath.
"Aww." I sat up groggily, rubbing the back of my head the moment I regained consciousness. "Have I truly been jinxed or is today meant to be a bad day for me?" Thinking of all that had happened to me till now, I complained bitterly in my heart.
When my vision became clearer, I was surprised to find out that I was in strange surroundings all alone by myself.
"What the hell! Where am I? Have I been kidnapped?" I swiftly got up to my feet and looked around cautiously. Different kinds of thoughts raced through my mind. "How the hell was I kidnapped? Have the school security been so lax that anyone can just go in and kidnap a student."
Another thought struck my mind. Why would they kidnap a poor student like me? It's not like my mom is a rich person. Or perhaps they mistook me for another person Then what am I doing here? Looking at my desolate surroundings, I began to panic. "Damm! It seems like I've truly been jinxed." I lifted my hands and ruffled through my hair. However, my attention suddenly drifted to my clothes. It was a different attire entirely. Looking at the traditional pink robe that was on my body instead of my school uniform, I panicked even more. "Why am I wearing this? And where on earth is this place?"
Before I could think further, a wave of sound came from the distance. In the distance, there was a group of people dons in traditional attires all running towards me.
'Huh.' A confused expression appeared on my face. A realization immediately hit me. Could it be that I was kidnapped to replace an actress on a film set? 'Damm. How daring are these filmmakers? So audacious to kidnap a student without her consent. I would probably get a big compensation if I sue them, right?' While in my thoughts, the group was only a few distance away from me.
"There she is. Catch her. Catch the thief!" Their loud voices chorused together.
I wanted to prove off a brave front but seeing the fierce expression on their faces, I cowered in fear.
Wow, isn't this just an act? Why is their expression so real? "What? Me? I'm sorry but I think there has been a mistake. I'm not an actress but a student in her final year of high school." I staggered backward as I explained, hoping that the director would shout cut. Instead, I was grabbed by this group of fierce people. "Let go of me. Let me go. If you don't, I swear I'm going to call the cops." Despite my threatening words, the group continued to grab me along with them. Soon, we reached a place bustling with people moving on about.
"Isn't she Minister Zhao's daughter?"
"Of course she is."
"Isn't this her third time caught stealing? What a shame." The passersby discussed among themselves
"Let's take her to the Zhao manor." A woman among the group that was grabbing me said.
"That's right. Let's take her to her father."
"We demand an explanation from the minister."
"Yes." They all chorused in answer and then headed in another direction.
'Just what on earth is happening right now? Am I in some kind of dream?' I screamed internally.
They all arrived in front of a closed gate, which I supposed, to be Minister Zhao Manor. Soon the closed gate opened and a middle-aged man stepped out of the house. His brows were furrowed into a frown the moment he saw my face. He was wearing a traditional robe attire like the others.
'Huh. Could it be that this man here recognized who I am?' A flame of hope immediately lit up inside my heart.
"What is this entire ruckus about?" Minister Zhao's cold voice rang out when he saw the group of people gathering in front of his home.
"It's like this, minister. Your daughter bought some goods from my stall but refused to pay for it. This is her third time doing this." The stall man turned to look at me and shot me a glare.
'Oh Lord, if this is a dream, I pray I should wake up from it any sooner'.
"Is this enough to pay for what she bought?" Minister Zhao threw out a pouch containing money at the stall man.
Feeling the heavy weight of the pouch, the man beams happily. "Yes, yes. It's enough."
"Now let go of her." Minister Zhao coldly ordered.
"Sure." The palms that were gripping my arms were let loose. "Everyone let's go." Soon the group of people walked away, leaving me standing on the spot.
"Follow me." Minister Zhao coldly uttered and marched inside the house. I subconsciously followed after him. Some beautiful young girls greeted us with a bow as we entered. "Take the young miss and beat her twenty strokes of cane."
"What!" I exclaimed.
"Yes sir." The young girls walked over to me and held me by my hands.
"Don't you dare touch me! Let go of me. Let me go! Hey mister! I think you got the wrong girl. I'm not your daughter. My name is Belia."
"How dare you speak like that to your father." A woman's voice rang out from nowhere. Standing in the distance was a beautiful woman heavily adorned. She was a beautiful sight to behold, but her gaze on me surely looked like one who was fighting against an enemy. "Such an insolent child. You're just the same carbon copy as your stupid mother."
"That is enough right there." Minister Zhao said coldly to the woman. "Make her punishment double." He said to the maids before walking away.