A Joke That Went Too Far Chapter 07
I pushed through the crowd and headed out, tossing over my shoulder, “Dad, let’s go.
“Whether Tara stays in school or not doesn’t matter to me. I just came to prove I didn’t do those things.”
Behind me, her hoarse voice broke into a cry.
“Sophia, don’t be like this! I know I was wrong. We’re still best friends, right?”
I stopped and turned around.
I looked at her tear-streaked face and let out a cold laugh-then kicked her.
She was not ready for it and fell hard, face-first onto the ground.
“Best friends? You think you deserve that?”
Connor ran after me, forcing a smile.
“Sophia, w-wait for me-”
My dad shot him a cold look.
“What? Want a slap?”
He froze, mouth opening and closing, unable to say anything.
I did not bother with him. I walked straight toward the school gate.
I had just gotten in the car when a DM came in from Tara.
[Sophia, I’m so sorry. I was so wrong. Please forgive me.]
Another followed immediately.
[I know there were too many people just now for you to forgive me. But I really do know I was wrong!]
I frowned and ignored it.
Then another.
[I really know I was wrong! I shouldn’t have framed you! For the sake of our friendship, please talk to the dean for me. Don’t let them expel me!]
Then another. And another. And more.
My phone filled with her messages.
I got irritated, deleted the chat, and blocked her.
It would be a lie to say I was not affected.
Being betrayed by someone you trusted most… having your name dragged through the mud… almost ruined completely-no one walks away from that untouched.
However, more than the hurt, I felt relief.
Relief that I had a second chance.
Relief that this time, I would not live like I did before.
After getting my injuries treated at the hospital, I finally remembered to check my phone.
I opened the social media.
Trending-top ten: #SouthCityUniversity #TaraMansfield.
I tapped in.
The first post was the official notice-Tara being expelled.
Someone had uploaded the video from that day outside the dorms. The whole incident was online.
SouthCity University was known for being hard to get into. And Tara had become the first student in years to be expelled. It was bound to attract attention.
On top of that, who knows if the dorm supervisor was trying to curry favor or settle her own score-every video of Tara stumbling back drunk in the middle of the night, being supported by men, had been
uploaded too.
The comment section was brutal.
[Damn, this is vicious. Deepfake? Students these days really go all out.]
[Disgusting. Acting like some rich girl.]
[Weren’t they best friends? Feel bad for the other girl-she almost got ruined.]
[This is insane. She used this kind of method just to frame someone?]
[Who’s the girl who got set up? Is she okay?]
I read through the comments and I felt my mouth turn up at the corners. I dropped a like on a couple of
them. I screenshotted a few for safekeeping.
Just then, a few officers walked into my hospital room.
“Hello. We’re here regarding Tara Mansfield’s defamation and the spread of explicit rumors. We need a
more detailed statement.”
I told them everything, from beginning to end. The officer in charge nodded as I finished.
“The evidence is solid. She’s of legal age. We can absolutely move forward.”
He paused, then added, “But she hasn’t graduated yet. If we pursue this, it’ll likely ruin her future. Are you
sure you want to take it that far?”
I did not hesitate.
“Yes.”
Her future was her own doing.
If she did not face consequences now, she would do the same thing again once she stepped into society.
The officer raised an eyebrow and closed his notebook.
“Understood. We’ll proceed.”
