Chapter 3
A week before final exams, something went down at school.
Someone had reported me for cheating in the competition. The whistleblower's letter was incredibly detailed, claiming I'd gotten the questions in advance, used a ghostwriter, and that my entire academic record was a sham.
It was sent anonymously, but it included specific details that only someone within the school would know.
The Dean of Students called me into his office, looking grim. "Sarah, this is a serious allegation," he said. "If this turns out to be true, your scores will be disqualified, and it'll go on your permanent record."
I looked at him. "Sir, I didn't cheat."
"Then how do you explain these specifics?" he asked.
"I have no idea," I said.
The investigation dragged on for three days. During that time, I cooperated fully, checking security footage, reviewing my papers, and even retaking the test under supervision. Every shred of evidence proved I was innocent.
Eventually, they tracked down the whistleblower. It was a girl from the class next door, someone I barely even knew. When the Dean asked why she'd framed me, she mumbled for ages before finally saying she just didn't like me.
The school let it slide after that, but I knew there was more to the story. That girl came from a modest background and usually flew under the radar. We had no beef, so why would she risk suspension just to frame me?
Unless someone had put her up to it.
On the last day of finals, as I was packing up my bag, I found a note in my desk. It was just one sentence: [I'm sorry, I didn't want to do it. But she gave me 3500 dollars.]
I stared at the paper for a moment, then slowly tore it to pieces and tossed it in the bin.
Alyssa. That money was practically two months of her allowance. She really went for broke on this one.
*****
During the summer break, our parents took us on a trip to the coast.
Since it was Alyssa's first time seeing the ocean, she was over the moon, dragging Mother all over the beach. I stayed under the parasol with my book, only glancing up every now and then.
"Sarah, aren't you coming in?" she asked, running over, soaking wet from head to toe.
"You go ahead. I'm going to read for a bit," I said.
She pulled a face and dashed back to the water.
*****
That evening, we had dinner at a seaside restaurant. Alyssa went to the restroom, but when she came back, she looked a bit off.
Mother asked, "Is everything okay?"
She hesitated for a second before shaking her head. "It's nothing."
*****
When we got back to the hotel after dinner, I realized someone had rifled through my suitcase. Nothing was missing, but everything was out of place.
I asked the front desk if they had security footage, and they confirmed there were cameras in the hallway.
When we pulled up the tapes, around three in the afternoon, Alyssa had walked out of the room carrying my bag.
I went back and knocked on her door. "Alyssa, were you digging through my suitcase?"
She looked taken aback, then let out a nervous laugh. "What are you talking about, Sarah? Why would I do that?"
"The security cameras caught you," I said.
Her smile froze. After a few seconds, she flipped the switch.
Her eyes turned red, and her voice started to crack. "Sarah, I just wanted to see your clothes. I wanted to see how you put your outfits together. I know I shouldn't have snooped. I'm so sorry."
Looking at her, a wave of exhaustion washed over me. "Alyssa, if you want something, just ask me. You don't need to do all this."
She lowered her head, saying nothing.
*****
The next day, Mother pulled me aside. "Sarah, Alyssa mentioned you were a bit harsh with her yesterday?"
I looked at her.
Mother sighed. "I know Alyssa has some bad habits, but she just come back. She needs time to adjust. You're the older sister, so could you go easy on her, please?"
"Mom, do you know she went through my suitcase?" I asked.
Mother blinked, caught off guard. "Well... I..."
"She said she wanted to learn how to dress like me, so she helped herself to my things. She did it yesterday, and she did it again today," I said.
Mother was silent for a moment. "I'll have a word with her later."
"Don't bother," I said. "Next time, I'll just use a suitcase with a lock."
Mother looked at me, like she wanted to say something but held back.
*****
That night, I heard sobbing coming from the room next door.
It was Alyssa. She was crying her heart out, wailing between sobs, "Mom, do you even love me anymore? Do you think I'm not as good as Sarah?"
Mother tried to soothe her. "Of course not, sweetie. You're my world..."
"Then why do you never scold Sarah? She was so mean to me, and you didn't say a word," Alyssa whimpered.
Mother added, "Sarah wasn't being mean, she was just—"
"She totally did! She looks down on me, thinks I'm tacky and uneducated. She wishes I'd never come back," Alyssa cried out.
The crying only got louder. I put on my headphones and cranked the volume all the way up.