[Park Saeyi]

This is it. This is the moment I find out if I can go out of here with my head held high or if I'm meant to disappear from everyone's lives. I can't end up like Saeram, miserable and apart from the people who grew to love and accept me.

I also have reasons to fear for my younger sisters, especially Saerim. She was so upset when Mom and Dad blocked me out of home that she has since tried to contact me multiple times, only to lose track of me afterwards.

I guess they punished her for when I crossed paths with her last time. Neither Mom nor Dad have learnt their lesson—I know, I said that again, but it needs to be reiterated. They preferred payback over genuine support. I'm not even sure if they'll regret their decision.

By the way, the school committee is as scary as I expected them to be. Their stern glares are as cold as stone. To be able to face their cutthroat questions and judging looks, I must maintain my dignity and composure intact. There's no room for slip-ups.

I take my seat at the red chair in front of the committee president after a deep bow before all the members. I don't start talking first. I let them get the first word. The first question is as heavy as a huge weight. "Park Saeyi, what do you have to say regarding Oh Lira's statement?"

I gulp. "What Oh Lira spread on social networks is a declaration of war. She may claim she simply acted in a careless manner and reposted that harmful fake news without checking it properly. But the truth is, she planned everything because she's hellbent on making me pass off as a bully." Despite my passionate speech, the committee doesn't waver.

"What do you mean with 'making you pass off as a bully?' There is indeed evidence pointing at you displaying a less than desirable attitude towards other students and your followers on social media." The president is so out of touch. So much for being impartial! The more I listen to him repeating Lira's bullshit, the worse.

I call for the first witness: Sara. She recalls catching Lira in her plots as well as fighting her not long ago. In fact, she explains, "I overheard her scheming with two of her minions at her aunt's bar. When I caught her, she yelled at and threatened me. There are videos of the screaming match all over the Internet."

Sara extracts two phones from her pockets. One is hers, while I'm not sure whom the other belongs to. She hands both to the committee members for them to analyze the implicated contents on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

"Thank you. You can leave." The vicepresident orders Sara to exit the room, which means I'm alone again, facing all members' scrutiny. I don't know if I've played my cards right yet. I can't give up right now. I'm not here to beat myself down.

An eerie silence fills the room, scaring me. I feel shivers down my spine. I want to run away from here. I want to yell some sense into these grown muppets, at this point even at the cost of being expelled. If what Sara brought here isn't enough for them to learn the truth, their bad. They can fuck off. I don't give a damn.

Of course, the committee won't give me an easy time. "We'll go through the two phones and their social networks. This has better be valuable evidence supporting your case and not a means to fools us. If it comes to that, you'll face serious consequences." The president's warning resounds in the atmosphere, gloomy and dangerous.

The vicepresident adds, "You have ten minutes left to call one more witness, or recall Han Sara, before we let you go and Oh Lira will have to show up. Do you understand?" I feel like I have a lump in my throat, so I nod instead of uttering words as an answer.

My next move is my most daring yet. I bring back Sara, but not on her own. She's with Byeonghee and Saehyeon. Their presence can make my case stronger. Moreover, two more students show up unannounced, much to my surprise.

The committee is startled. "Kang Taejeong, Park Seokgi! What are you doing here, both of you?" The way the president loses his composure would be hilarious if this weren't a matter of death or life. To make matters even more difficult, even Kwon Seoyeon joins this improvised group of witnesses.

Do they know more about Lira's plot than I do? If so, what are the odds they've been targeted before? What's the purpose of her nonsensical witchhunt? Why does she see bullies everywhere? It's safe to say these are the questions that should be asked, but no-one in the committee will out of bias.

"Okay, this is getting ridiculous. You'd all better be here with valuable evidence, otherwise get out of here. We're only wasting time here!" More than a council to establish whether my defense against bullshit accusations is valid, this is the inquisition.

Thanks to Sara, order is restored in the room. She, in fact, reveals. "I asked around the school what was the sentiment on Saeyi and Lira. Most of the student body were afraid of discussing the matter, but I found someone who was willing to come here in front of you." She then points at Taejeong, Seokgi and Seoyeon.

The latter offers to hand her phone to the committee and points out, "I'm doing so because I believe in the truth. At first, I was shocked at what I learned about Saeyi. I thought it was true, so I saved screenshots from that account." Now that her phone is examined, she continues, "I only found out it was from a burner account later."

Oh shit. This means Lira managed to brainwash nearly everyone at Duckyoung High, plus many other people out of it. She can't have done so on her own. She must've got some external help—not necessarily from her numerous minions scattered here.

Byeonghee intervenes. "Lira also targeted me, but I think she did so simply because she doesn't like me. Because of her, everyone found out I was an idol and I was removed from my old group." He doesn't seem shaken by this revelation. He has nothing more to lose, which allows him to speak up free from burdens.

Saehyeon adds, "Lira didn't target anyone from the football team, but we stayed alert. Many of the others are still afraid of speaking up against her. She claimed she'd be capable of getting any of them accused of sexual harassment if went against her."

I'm open mouthed. At first, I thought the team, bar Saehyeon, was a bunch of spineless bastards. That girl is crazy as fuck! The idea that someone could be kicked out of the squad over a false sexual violence allegation is despicable.

Lira must be stopped. Her delusion isn't mere lunacy, it's pure perversion. This is further confirmed when Taejeong speaks up. "I'm here with Seokgi because we're tired of being invisible." Her voice visibly shakes, and she barely retains tears. "When I casually told Seokgi I believed Saeyi is innocent, she was furious."

What Seokgi says further confirms that Lira has established a reign of terror. "She insulted Taejeong, called her a sellout multiple times, and then had not so nice words for me either."

"Like what?" I ask out of shock and anger. Considering that Seokgi is a wheelchair user, I wouldn't be surprised if that asshole hurled ableist insults at him.

"She told me I'm nothing but your doormat." I seethe at his confession. How dare Lira call others bullies when she, out of her obsession, picks on people she doesn't like? She must have serious mental issues that have never been addressed properly.

Since here has turned into a battlefield, the committee members send all of us out so that they can question Lira. Hopefully, she'll face actual consequences for her actions as she deserves. I don't want payback, though. I'm not like her. I want her to learn from her numerous mistakes.

Plus, I also have other matters to sort out, such as regain credibility. Revenge isn't in my list of priorities.