Benriesan Socialis

8

Chapter 8

After that holy bell had rung, Rebecca went to the canteen to meet Vera. To her #muchamaze, she also found Benrie standing there. Both wore fed up expressions.
"Look Rebecca, firstly, I am not dumb. You and I are in the GEP for a reason. I know what you are doing. And furthermore, I am sick and tired of stooping to your level, that is, so far underground we need a frickin' drill to find you."
"You have no right to say this to me! I will make sure you get suspended!"
"I don't give a shit what you think about me."
Benrie also put in her two cents. "You see, I actually have a friend here that can figure out what is going on. I can be in whatever group or society I want and you don't get to decide, thank you very much!"
"Too bad. You and your little friends have already agreed to be with us. You can't back out now. Remember, loyalty is also keeping your promises."
"Fine. Since we are your friend as a group, then I declare out of Socialis!" Vera raged.
Before this, Benrie had practiced her acting until it was perfect. "Say what....? You can't do this to us!"
"Well, as Rebecca said, too bad. I am out and I do not want to be your friend."
Both Benrie and Vera stalked off in opposite directions, leaving Rebecca stunned and angry.
Vera called back, adding, "Oh, and Rebecca!"
"What?"
" 你妈妈没有毛!"
She tried to stifle her giggles as she ran off to meet Benrie again behind the school to walk to Lynn's house.
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"Please, Lynn! I can explain! Please!" Nut sobbed, looking up at the older girl fearfully. Little did she know, Benrie and Vera miraculously (well not so miraculous --- they climbed in through a window) got into Lynn's house and were nearby, listening to her conversation. "I didn't mean-"
Lynn bit her lip. She knew that Nut valued loyalty over everything. Lynn was really very sick of her. Was she her friend or not? Was it not so long ago that she told Lynn that she'd destroy the school if she had to? "Please, Netanya, I can't. I can't take this."
"I can explain, Lynn. Just-"
"Give you the chance?" Lynn glanced at her ex-friend sadly.
"Please!"
"Netanya, really. You listened to Rebecca. You tried to hurt me. You... you went back on your word..."
"Because we are trying to reveal the truth, Lynn."
Lynn didn't say anything, considering what the younger girl had said.
"But you forced my secrets out of me. I don't know if I can trust you anymore." Lynn whispered softly, beginning to tear up again.
"She's right," Hen piped, walking 'round the corner with Vera. "This is for you, Lynn. Just trust us."
"I have trusted you!" Lynn cried, frustrated. "And you end up doing all these dark things in Rebecca's name!"
"Lynn," Benrie said, trying to keep her cool. "Do you realise that Rebecca and her friends have been controlling us from day one? Netanya has said it, and I will say it again. This is all for you. The risks we take are all ours. We are trying to keep you out of this."
While Benrie said all that, Lynn could only nod her head in deep sorrow, wordless.
"You never told me." she wanted to say but Vera whispered, "We wish we could have told you."
Lynn, looking at Vera, the one that was not usually close to her, burst into tears. "I believe you," she choked out between sobs, "I am sorry. You were trying so hard to help me. I'm sorry, 我误会你们了."
"It's fine, Lynn, sorry for not telling you too. Right now, you need some rest to fully recover from your.. um.. stomach flu thingy." Henrie had no idea what Lynn had come down with, but it seemed bad. Lynn stared, not sure what Hen was talking about.
"Your damned stomachache, and vomiting, you idiot!" Hen cried, exasperated. Seriously, this girl needed to sort out her priorities. Health first.
"Oh." Lynn just replied, throwing up in 'The Bucket' again. "It'll pass."
"Ello, anyone home?" some voice said.
And standing there was Ann, along with the other members. They had heard about the day's happenings and decided to find out how Lynn and the others were doing.
"Your damned door was open." Isabel explained, when she saw Lynn's shocked face.
"Guyyyys. She needs to rest." Nut groaned.
"Oh." Ely remarked as she watched Lynn throw up again. "Disgusting," Boo-Boo practically breathed, so as not to offend Lynn.
"Do any one of us realise that we are skipping remedial here?"
"Never mind. Half of us tell them that Lynn is sick and the other half would say that went looking for the missing teacher." Ann was a great excuse-maker.
"I hope our teachers believe our excuse, though," Isabel remarked.
"Don't worry, they'll fall for it," Hen said.
"Hopefully," Vera muttered. "You are a terrible liar, Hen."
"But Netanya's worse!" Hen protested through giggles.
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Lynn lay on her bed at home, not feeling as sick as before. Actually, she was just really confused. She wanted to eagerly embrace and support their plan but she was frightened to become too close to them again. These kids... they always had genius plans that didn't always work out but they never liked to tell people what their real intention was. They were... confusing. Lynn sighed and took out her phone to text a junior that she never talked too much but would probably, hopefully give a more straightforward answer.
Isabel? Ok, I know that we never really talked but I was wondering if i could ask you something.
She waited a moment but there was no response. "I guess I'll have to ask them face to face," she mumbled to herself as she picked up a book to read. She didn't really want to ask the awkward question face-to-face though.
But she had to. What if they were doing something that would hurt them? That would be bad. Lynn would never forgive herself for letting her juniors hurt themselves for her. In fact, though she never told them, Rynn had overheard them swearing on all their reputation. She didn't understand the 360% or the 5R but she understood their intentions. She didn't like it that they were ready to do so much for her.
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"Why?" Vera moaned as they sat in their remedial class, whispering their plan to each other. There was a big problem though. They didn't really agree with each other and it was rather hard to complain quietly.
"It doesn't make sense!" Ely chimed in as she passed the brainstorming notebook to Henrietta. Henrietta was trying her best to look innocent as she frantically thought of an alternative plan. Meanwhile, Netanya was gesturing wildly as she tried to explain her idea to Isabel who wasn't really listening. Isabel was trying to secretly read an apparently very interesting book under the table.
"Isabel!" Henrietta hissed, poking her friend. "Were you listening to my plan?"
"Were you listening to me!?" Nut complained unhappily.
"I was!" Isabel insisted. "Could you repeat your plan again though...?"
"I said," Henrietta groaned loudly. "That you should help me... you aren't listening again, are you?" Isabel mumbled something and tried to pretend that she was doing a worksheet for the teacher was approaching. "Have you been paying attention!?" Ms Lo roared furiously.
"Yes Ms Lo." Henrietta replied sweetly, doing the innocent face.
"Oh, what was I talking about then?" Ms Lo asked.
Henrietta repeated what Ms Lo had been saying before she was caught and Ms Lo's mouth hung open.
When she got over her shock, she said, "I guess this time you got lucky. Please be more focused next time."
So the Benriesan Socialis 乖乖地 sat through the entire torturous lesson, and when Ms Lo finally dismissed them, they all dashed out of the classroom as fast as they could.
"Listen to me..." Henrietta said, glaring at them as if to say, 'If you don't listen to me I'll chop off all your heads.'
"I am listening..." Netanya said rolling her eyes, whatever Hen was planning, it'd better be good.
"It is time." Hen announced, pausing, as if expecting dramatic music to play in the background.
"Um... For what exactly?" Vera asked, which kind of ruined the whole effect. What a bummer.
"The video, you idiot!" Hen snapped, upset that her amazing performance was ruined.
"Oh the video." Vera replied meekly.
Hen then explained of how they were going to carry out that amazing plan of hers. Apparently, they had to trick 'Ms Rebecca Wong' that they were framing someone and that they had 'proof'. Then, they would go to Mr Fan and 'report it', then showing him the video, of what Rebecca had done.
At the end of her so called 'wonderful speech' Hen grinned brightly, waiting for the applause to come. However none came.
"Say again..." Ely mumbled.
Hen let out an exasperated sigh and repeated what she had said again as patiently as she could. It was alot coming from someone who was so impatient, but Hen was sure her plan would work.
They finally understood and man, Benrie was glad.
One more day of planning. One more day, and they were ready to go.
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Therefore, one more day of planning they did, one last Benriesan Socialis meeting to finalise their plans, for their big day the next day.
Readers, right now you might be sitting on your couch, bench, table, tree, chair etc. Or, you might be lying on your bed for all I know (Seriously, don't do that, bad for your eyes) I DONT CARE. The point is, you all might be wondering about the same thing. (OR ARE YOU NOT?)
Why 'befren' Rebecca? Why go through all this? Why not just show the damned Mr Fan the shuck video before?
Why, why, why, you may ask, my readers. Throughout this story, I have not been able to interact much with our readers, so let me do it now.
Why, I must ask you, why, can't you see the beauty in this vinderful plan?
Let me tell you why it is so awesome. Number one, not only can we, the Socialis, expose that damned Rebecca, Mr Fan would actually catch that idiot framing a person red-handed! #CatchRebeccaInAction How great does that sound?
Smart, eh?
Are you following?
Do you understand?
Yes?
Good.
IF NOT...
Back to the story, ah yes the vinderful planning.
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"One thing," Pheebs told Hen. "For all we know, Mr Fan will start scolding us too. What with using phones in class and we can't say that Kai-Xuan sent it to us because then she'll be in trouble and that breaks the rule."
"Please tell me you have a grand plan to get around that," Isabel begged desperately.
"Um, maybe he'll be too busy scolding Rebecca...?" Henrietta offered meekly. "I never thought about that."
"HEN!!" Ely chided loudly. "How could you not foresee that!?"
"I-I..." Hen stammered. "I'M NOT A GENIUS!! I'M NOT PERFECT!!" Ely looked away, the sudden outburst had startled her. She didn't mean to hurt Hen's feelings.
"Henrietta...?" she whispered hesitantly.
"WHAT!?" Henrietta snapped angrily. She couldn't believe that they thought she was perfect. Well, excuse me, bUT I'M HUMAN!!! She wanted to scream but decided against it.
"Henrietta, please!" Netanya groaned. "I dunno what's up with you today but you need to get your damn self together!"
"pLEASE?" Isabel pleaded. They were desperate. They were putting their plan into action soon but if Henrietta was super super angry at them... the whole plan could derail.
"Henrietta, I'm sorry, ok!?" Eleanor shouted, clearly frustrated.
"Can you just-!?" Netanya complained. When she was agitated, she often did not complete her sentences.
Meanwhile, Henrietta was ignoring them, walking away at a rather fast pace. Hen's default when angry was to ignore and avoid, to prevent herself from shouting at her friends. She wasn't usually so agitated. Secretly, she agreed with her friends. She had no idea what was up with her today and she totally needed to get her shit together but she just felt so angry.
"What is wrong with me!?" she asked herself aloud.
"Please, I told you already! I'm sorry, ̶J̶o̶n̶a̶s̶ Henrietta!" Eleanor repeated impatiently.
"J-Just leave me ALONE!!!" Henrietta replied furiously, trying her best to control her anger.
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I have your solution.
We can export the video to a camera.
Nothing in the school rules says no using of cameras in school. Anyway, if Mr Fan says anything, I can still prove to him we are not doing anything wrong.
And his face... Oh, will that be fun to see.
Your friend who is a genius at making up loopholes (am I doing a good job of being narcissistic?)

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Fine. I've done it, Rebecca.
Done what?
Framed Onna.
At this point Vera wanted to add 'you doofus' but against all temptations, she didn't.
Tomorrow, meet the whole Socialis at the lift lobby after morning assembly. We are going to Mr Fan's office to report her.
Whatever. See you then.
The trap was set. Tomorrow, they were going to take Rebecca and her little gang down.
Tomorrow, Lynn would be saved. (Hopefully)