Nobody

Chapter 8

In the aftermath of Chelsea's party, Kioshi traveled to the speech room the next morning. Obeying every detail of Delilah's instruction, he broadcasted a recording of Gary and Chelsea's conversation.

As their voices resonated through the hallways of Penhearte, Kioshi smirked to himself. He immediately fled the room and basked in the loud reverberation of an unfolding scandal.

Around him, students desisted their routine to pay attention. Much like the scenario that he'd anticipated, the students coincided with the conversation through their disgusted whispers and faces of shock and disappointment.

"Gossip is petty but it makes life less miserable when I indulge in the suffering of others." Chelsea's killer statement burst through the PA speakers. Killer enough to bury her reputation.

"I can't believe her… She could have actually been stabbing me behind my back this whole time." Maria folded her arms over her chest and huffed.

She couldn't vanquish the glare on her face, a telltale sign that Chelsea had just lost a supporter.

Everywhere and in every side, the students began to revise their behavior towards the first lady of gossip.

As more and more chunks of the truth were fed to them, their view of a student they once respected became a tainted gathering of mass hatred.

"Took them so long to realize," Delilah casually strode in, holding junk food and beverage. She tossed a canned soda at Kioshi. "Catch."

"Oh!" He successfully caught the can in his hand. "Nice. You went through with your promise."

"Of course I do," Delilah giggled. She let her gaze soar to a speaker. "Finally. Those two are getting punished."

"Yeah. I couldn't have done it without you."

Delilah peered at him, tilting her head to the side. "How does it feel to spread the sense of justice in this school?"

"Like I'm a hero." Kioshi clarified, "Underground hero."

"Damn right."

Gary and Chelsea's conversation, which they'd assumed was covert, eventually rebounded from their horrified faces. All at once, the school grounds became a danger zone brimmed with public hostility towards two specific targets. Students swarmed both ends of the hallways, cornering the pair.

"Back! Back all of you!" Gary demanded as the students closed in on them.

"That's an edit of our voices. Artificial intelligence has developed these days and someone has used it against us!" Chelsea tried to control the growing horde. Her eyes widened once she'd realized that it was too late.

She tossed a glare at Gary. "You! Did you do this?!"

"I didn't!" Gary denied. "I swear!"

Somehow, in a divine state of intervention, the crowd numbed its violent backlash against them when the dean's secretary, Nadia, sauntered forward, her heels angrily crashing against the floor. "The two of you. In the dean's office. Now." She trained her lethal gaze on Chelsea and appeared conscious of the rumors swirling about her.

"Do you know who you're-"
Nadia cut Chelsea off. "I don't give two shits about who you are. In this school, you are a student to me." She barked at them, making the pair flinch at the abrupt trajectory of her ire. "Go to the dean's office before I make you!"

Rolling her eyes, Chelsea shot off into the distance without a choice, trailed by her pale accomplice. Nadia walked after them so as to guard the pair under her icy gaze.