The Price of Independence

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I was so poor that I didn't dare accept my childhood friend's confession.

My childhood friend looked down at me and sneered: You need money, right? Be my follower, five thousand a month.

Since then, he made me run the 800-meter dash for the school beauty during P.E., deliver condoms to a hotel on a rainy night, and give up my spot in the academic competition.

I always met him with a smiling face and never refused.

Until he made me complete a dare for the school beauty.

"The bar street is too sketchy, Chloe is afraid to go."

"You do the punishment for her."

"Here, take these five dollars, say you want to order a male model."

I reached out to take it: "Okay, but this is the last time."

Caleb suddenly let go.

Five coins fell to the ground, rolling everywhere.

Laughter came from behind.

"Who came up with this wicked idea? It's genius."

"Five bucks? Won't she get beaten up for looking for trouble?"

"Hey, the little follower has a temper too. What do you mean 'last time'?"

Caleb looked down at me from his high horse, twitching the corner of his lips:

"Don't worry, she wouldn't dare."

Under the colorful neon lights.

I was already prepared to take a beating, my voice calm:

"I want to buy you."

The man, who was so handsome he almost looked unnatural, looked down at me and sneered:

"Little kid, booking me is very expensive."

He held up five fingers towards me, shaking them gently: "At least this much."

I took a deep breath, pulled out five dirty coins from my pocket, and continued playing dumb:

"Just enough."

The man swore and raised his hand.

I instinctively covered my head and shut my eyes tight.

The next second, my wrist was grabbed.

"The injuries on your body, how did you get them?"

He rolled up my sleeve and frowned.

I froze for a few seconds and put my hands behind my back.

"I only have five bucks. If you'll do it, do it. If not, I'll find someone else."

"Don't talk about anything else."

Having said everything in one breath, I lowered my head and was about to leave.

The path in front of me was suddenly blocked by the man's long leg.

I stopped, feeling guilty:

"What... what are you doing?"

He put out his cigarette and spoke faintly.

"Deal."

Now it was my turn to be at a loss.

The man leaned down to look me in the eye, curling his lips.

"So, what are we doing tomorrow?"

I just felt my scalp tingle, and said dryly:

"Can... can we do anything?"

The man chuckled softly, eyes rippling.

"Anything."

"Even if you want to do something you shouldn't, I won't resist."

"After all, you're the boss."

He dragged out the last two words with a drawl.

My face burned, and I spoke incoherently:

"Just... tomorrow afternoon at 2 PM, our class has a parent-teacher conference."

"High school, junior year, class one."

"Just show up."

The next afternoon, I waited at the school gate two hours early.

When the school beauty, Chloe, and her two followers swaggered over, I instinctively shrank my neck.

"Yo, who are you waiting for?"

Chloe snatched the report card from my hand, speaking sarcastically:

"First in the grade? So impressive."

"But what's the use of good grades? Who are you going to show your report card to later? Burn it for your parents?"

The other two girls immediately laughed loudly.

My fingers tightened, and I said softly:

"My brother is coming."

"Brother?"

Chloe exaggeratedly widened her eyes.

"Since when do you have a brother? Did the good student learn to lie?"

"Could it be you went to the bar street last night and got beaten silly?"

They laughed even more presumptuously.

Until Caleb got out of a black sedan.

Chloe immediately reverted to her usual gentle and kind demeanor.

Caleb's gaze fell on me, and he frowned:

"Didn't I just give you five thousand to buy a jacket?"

"You wear this one piece all year round."

"Mia, are you really that obsessed with money?"

I was in no mood to explain to him, just wanting to end my connection with him completely:

"I did the dare you told me to do."

"I won't work for you anymore after this."

Caleb froze for a moment, then his face turned cold:

"Didn't I tell you that you didn't have to go?"

He turned to Chloe:

"You didn't tell her?"

Chloe's face turned slightly pale, and she shook off Caleb's hand.

"I forgot."

"Why are you so anxious? Are you that afraid she'd get hurt?"

"I knew you two hanging out every day was suspicious."

Caleb's expression softened, and he chased after her to hold her hand.

"How is that possible."

"She just does things for money. Mia is just my follower."

The two of them pulled each other into the school, quickly leaving me behind.

The crescent-shaped marks left by my nails were indented into my palms.

I squatted down to pick up the report card, slowly folded it, and put it in my pocket.

The parent-teacher conference was about to start, and the school gate on the weekend was empty.

The security guard yelled at me:

"The bell rang."

"Student, aren't you going in?"

I realized I was probably stood up.

But it was only five bucks, it was good enough that he didn't hit me.

But thinking about having to attend the parent-teacher conference by myself, thinking about others' strange looks, I suddenly realized I was actually looking forward to his appearance.

"I, I know."

I dragged my feet back to the classroom. The homeroom teacher's voice could already be heard in the hallway.

The back door was ajar, and I slipped in with my head down.

Luckily, my seat was in the last row next to the trash can, and didn't attract attention.

The homeroom teacher was talking about the midterm exam results, and paused when mentioning my name:

"Mia has made a lot of progress this time..."

Chloe and her little friends laughed, not bothering to cover their mouths.

I lowered my head, staring at a doodle on the desk carved by someone unknown.

My eyes felt a bit sour.

Just as I was almost biting my lower lip until it bled, there was a knock on the classroom door.

A gentle, knock knock sound.

The homeroom teacher stopped talking, and everyone turned their heads.

The door was pushed open, and a tall figure walked in against the light from the hallway.

White shirt, black pants, as clean as snow on a distant mountain.

Completely different from his flamboyant and rebellious look under the neon lights last night.

I froze, and my eyes lit up.

Liam's gaze swept over the classroom and landed on me.

"Sorry, teacher, I'm late."

"I am Mia's brother."

Chloe whipped her head around to look at me, eyes wide.

Liam walked straight to the back of the classroom and sat on the empty stool next to me.

The homeroom teacher was stunned for a few seconds before reacting, nodding at him, and continuing her speech.

Only then did I notice a faint smell of disinfectant on him.

Liam turned his head and explained in my ear:

"Had a little accident on the way."

"It's... fine."

Liam looked at the thick stack of certificates on the desk and raised an eyebrow slightly:

"Such good grades, and you play with male models in private? Quite the contrast, top student."

"I... I didn't."

"Why not?"

He seemed to have found some amusement, deliberately pressing the issue.

"Don't talk, the teacher is looking."

I pursed my lips and carefully sat up straight.

For the first time, I didn't lower my head at a parent-teacher conference.

After the parent-teacher conference, Liam was kept behind by the homeroom teacher to talk.

I quickly grabbed him and gave him a few instructions, telling him not to blow his cover.

"Just say you're my cousin."

"I'll be back after I go to the restroom."

Who knew that as soon as I pushed open the restroom door, I'd be yanked inside by a force.

"Not bad, Mia, you even dare to find someone to pretend to be your parent?"

Chloe and her two followers cornered me.

"Where did you find that guy? You're so plain and dark, and he's so pale and handsome, you don't look related at all."

They held down my neck, grabbed my hair, and pushed me into the sink.

The faucet was turned on, and cold water poured over my head.

"Planning to find a man to back you up and scare us?"

Breathing became difficult.

I struggled desperately, but two fists are no match for four hands.

A second before suffocating, Chloe pulled my hair and yanked me up.

"Looks like the lesson wasn't enough."

Before I could catch my breath, I was pushed back into the cold water.

"I'm warning you, stay away from Caleb."

"Don't play the victim in front of him."

"If I catch you again, I'll kill you."

I don't know how long passed before they finally let go and left.

I was soaked, my school uniform clinging to my skin.

Shivering from the cold.

Gasping for air, I slumped on the floor.

A long time later, the class bell rang again.

I propped myself up on the floor and struggled to stand.

Looking in the mirror, I dealt with my dripping hair, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open.

Liam was still talking to the homeroom teacher at the end of the hallway.

I kept my head down, wanting to slip past quickly and return to the classroom to put on my uniform jacket.

But I heard Caleb's voice: "Mia, what happened to you?"

"I accidentally... got myself wet."

I forced a smile.

The homeroom teacher and Liam also looked over upon hearing the voice.

Caleb frowned and grabbed my shoulder.

"Did this to yourself? Do you think I'm an idiot?"

"Mia, is someone bullying you?"

"Tell me."

I opened my mouth, just about to speak.

"Teacher!"

"I want to report something."

Chloe's voice came from behind.

"Teacher, the hair clip I bought for five thousand dollars is gone. Everyone was in the classroom earlier, only she came in last. Mia must have stolen it!"

The homeroom teacher's face changed: "Chloe, don't make wild accusations..."

"I didn't steal it."

I retorted immediately.

Chloe scoffed:

"You, someone who finds people to pretend to be parents and lies habitually, what credibility do you have?"

"Teacher, that man is not her brother!"

"You even dare to deceive the teacher, what else wouldn't you dare to do?"

Classmates gathered around, whispering.

I saw the hesitation in the homeroom teacher's eyes; she knew Chloe's family's influence in town.

Caleb took off his jacket, wrapped it around me, and looked at Chloe:

"I'll pay for it. I'll go buy you a new one after class."

"Don't say anymore."

That familiar sense of powerlessness crept up again.

Almost driving me crazy.

I laughed in anger, taking off Caleb's jacket and throwing it at his chest:

"What do you mean you'll pay for it?"

"You mean, you also think I stole it."

Caleb didn't catch it, letting the jacket fall to the ground, taking a deep breath:

"That's not what I meant."

"Then what do you mean?"

Caleb ran a hand through his hair, frustrated:

"Mia, I'm f*cking helping you."

"Does it matter who stole it? If I replace what Chloe lost, the matter is over. It saves her from suspecting you and saves so many people from watching you make a fool of yourself."

"Otherwise, what do you want? Tell me, how do you want to solve it?"

"Call the police."

Liam's voice wasn't loud, but it made all the whispers stop abruptly.

He took out his phone and neatly dialed 911.

Then he looked up at Chloe: "Are you sure the hair clip is worth five thousand? That's enough to press charges."

Chloe's face paled, and she froze.

The police arrived very quickly.

In the office.

The security footage was pulled up, showing Chloe hadn't worn that hair clip to school at all today.

Under the police's gaze, she stammered and changed her story: "Maybe... maybe I remembered wrong and left it at home..."

"So it's defamation?"

Liam smiled sarcastically and spoke lightly.

Caleb suddenly stood up:

"What are you saying?"

"She already said she accidentally forgot. Why are you speaking so harshly?"

Chloe pulled him and sniffled.

"Caleb, it's my fault I blamed Mia."

"It's all my fault."

"Just let them scold me."

Liam raised an eyebrow slightly:

"Classmate, you falsely accused my sister of stealing and demanded a public search without distinguishing right from wrong. This matter can't be settled with just a few apologies."

The expression on Chloe's face froze: "We're all classmates, just friends playing around, a misunderstanding..."

"Then can my sister say right now that these injuries and dirty water on her body were all done by you?"

"That won't do, you can't say things casually without evidence..."

Liam interrupted her, his voice still calm.

"So, you also know you shouldn't say things casually without evidence."

"Public apology, compensate for emotional distress. Otherwise, I'll personally go talk to your parents."

Chloe bit her lip, glaring at me with red eyes, and finally squeezed out two words through her teeth:

"I'm sorry."

She paused, then smiled again.

"But Mia, I know your living conditions are difficult."

"As classmates, I won't refuse whatever compensation you want."

Caleb, standing beside her with a gloomy face, looked at me.

He counted out a thousand dollars and shoved it to me, his movements rough.

"Are you satisfied now?"

"So this is what you were waiting for."

"Mia, next time you want money, you can just ask."

Caleb pulled Chloe away. As he opened the door, his footsteps paused.

"Mia, how did you become like this?"