Chapter 2: WarningLet Them Get Caught

"I'm a coward. Besides, the exam hall's rules aren't there just for fun, you know. So, I threw the notes away."

Some of my classmates were starting to hesitate, wondering if they should follow the rules as I did.

Michael sneered before they could come to a decision, saying, "There's no way they'll be checking. After all, we're from the honours class. The state's hoping there'll be some top scorers among us so they can latch on to our fame and brains.

"Even if we're caught, I'm sure they'll pretend it never happened since everyone's cheated, too. She's just stupid enough to say no to a perfect score. Just think about it. We might get interviewed if our entire class scores well. We'll be famous right after we finish the exam!"

Queenie was quick to back him up, insisting, "We'll be famous and have a bright future. That'll make all of us elites."

Then, she added pitifully, "Maybe Josephine doesn't want us to score better than her and strip her of the state's top scorer title. That's why she's threatening us with the exam hall rules."

The hesitation in my classmates' eyes vanished. Instead, it was replaced by greed. Michael and Queenie had convinced them to take the leap of faith. I turned to stare at Michael in disbelief.

In my previous life, he was the first to hug me after we left the exam hall. "Thank you for stopping me from cheating. I nearly ruined my life. You saved me."

I thought he was just tempted by the devil and wanted to cheat because he was worried he might flunk the whole thing. Now that I knew the full picture, perhaps this had been what he truly had in mind all along.

That speech they gave consolidated everyone's decision. Some even shot me a look of disdain, as if I was getting in their way to success.

Michael looked even more smug. "See? No one will be taking your side this time, and I'll be keeping a close eye on you. You won't be able to snitch this time around!"

I shrugged nonchalantly. I couldn't care less about this whole class of ungrateful souls. It was a pity that he was so sure that I had snitched to the proctor in our previous life.

He was so certain that he figured that things would work out perfectly this time around if he kept a close eye on me.

Everyone else started packing up and carefully tucked the notes away. Michael and Queenie thought they'd achieved their goal, and their lips curled with confidence.

It was then that our homeroom teacher, Ms. Erin Lawson, came running in, huffing and puffing. "Students, please check your stationery cases to see if you've brought anything unrelated to the exam. Do not bring anything irrelevant into the hall.

"Be warned that you'll be punished severely if you're caught cheating during the college entrance exam!"

Everything stiffened upon hearing her warning.

Michael was the first to snap out of it and promptly started roaring at me, "I thought you'd seen sense, Josephine! I can't believe you snitched again! You went to the homeroom after I stopped you from snitching to the proctor? Do you hate us scoring better than you that much?"

The others frowned and grumbled as well.

"I can't believe she's so selfish. It's fine if she doesn't want to use the notes, but why's she being such a pest about it?"

"Honestly, Queenie went through hoops to get us those notes. I bet she's worried she might not be the top scorer, just like what Michael said."

Erin immediately knew something was up. Her eyes swept across the room full of frustrated faces as she demanded, "What do you mean she snitched? And how are you so sure you'll score high? What did you do?"

Michael snickered. "Don't cover up for Josephine, Ms. Lawson. I bet she snitched so you'd check us!"

Erin frowned. "What? This has nothing to do with her. They're checking thoroughly for any form of cheating this year. That's why I came all this way to warn you!"

That hit everyone where it hurt most.