Caleb glanced at Jackie before lowering his eyes to the ground. He hadn't been interested in going to the bar in the first place. His agreement to come was merely to avoid upsetting Tommy or Jake. Besides, Jackie's unwelcoming attitude hinted that her friends might be equally inhospitable. It seemed best for him to leave."Alright.....""Wait a minute!" Tommy finally uttered, stopping them in their tracks.Tommy grabbed Caleb by the arm, wearing a helpless expression.Caleb stopped and turned to look at him.Tommy had invited his friend to the bar for drinks with the hope of introducing him to one of Jackie's friends. He longed for someone to come into Caleb's life, who could see past the poor exterior and appreciate his good heart. Someone who was better than Tracy. If Caleb left, what was the point of going to the bar?Jake forcefully pushed Tommy's hand away, which was still holding onto Caleb's arm."Didn't you just hear what your so-called girlfriend said about our friend? How
"Where are you, Jackie? Alice and I have been waiting at the bar for the last twenty minutes, even Sophia is late. Weren't you supposed to introduce us to some handsome guy? Where are they, and where are you?""There is no handsome guy. He's a good-for-nothing trash, not worth introducing to anyone," Jackie replied harshly, her gaze fixed on Caleb with hatred in her eyes."Good for nothing trash. What are you talking about, Jackie?" Suzie asked in a puzzled tone."Don't ask...anyways, today's plan has been canceled, so I'm heading towards my dormitory. Why don't you guys come over?" Jackie replied with a sigh as she took another look at Tommy."What?! What do you mean canceled? Are you kidding me right now? Do you know how packed this bar is right now? But Alice and I managed to get a table, and we've ordered wine! You just can't change plans last minute, Jackie!" Suzie said in a frustrated tone."And if you don't come right now, Jackie, with that rich boyfriend of yours, who will pay
"Jake, it's okay. I don't need an apology. Since it was my idea to invite all of you to the bar for drinks today, then I think it's only right that I should pay. Besides, I'm sure Jackie didn't mean it when she said those words about me. So, it's better to forget it and enjoy the rest of the evening," Caleb suddenly said.He was grateful to Jake for sticking up for him, but at the same time, he didn't want Tommy's feelings to be hurt. He knew how much he liked Jackie.Jackie, on the other hand, had her jaw slightly open after she heard Caleb's words. She was shocked, to say the least. She had never expected him to defend her, after she had been so rude to him. She looked at Caleb with narrowed eyes, but he totally ignored her as he checked the time on his mobile.Time was ticking.In reality, Caleb couldn't care less if Jackie apologized or not. She meant nothing to him. He only wanted to go to the bar to get the supposed fun evening over and done with so that he could quickly go ba
You know how she is. She doesn't really like these types of places, so who knows if she even bothers to turn up," Alice explained.Suzie nodded in agreement. "Yeah, don't even know why you're friends with her. She barely talks to any of us anyway."Caleb listened with a small smile. If they were talking about his fiancée Sophia, then he couldn't help but think that they had at least one thing in common – both of them didn't like bars.He smiled at the thought.The chatter around the table continued, although Jake and Caleb remained quiet.Jackie took a sip from her wine glass and scanned the bar until her eyes fell on a woman walking in through the doors."Oh, look, Cassie's here!"Cassie gracefully navigated through a few drunk guys who offered some crude comments, but she simply ignored them.Dressed in a dark navy blue jumpsuit with a silver belt, large hoop earrings, and stylish heeled boots, she exuded confidence. Her makeup was impeccable, and her hair was tied in a high ponytai
Amanda stormed out of the room, leaving Sophia alone with a mix of frustration and uncertainty. Slowly, she picked up her mobile and searched for his name in the contacts before dialing his number.HALF AN HOUR EARLIER Kenneth grabbed Tracy's hand and guided her towards a couch at the far end, with Jessica and the rest of the group trailing behind. The waiter, notebook in hand, delivered a straightforward message, "Sir, unless you order wine totaling at least 500 dollars, I will have to ask you to vacate this area."Kenneth nodded his head. He already knew the rule of ',The Bar', and he promptly contributed to the wine order.In the lively atmosphere of the upscale venue, Kenneth savored his drink, immersed in the vibrant night. Suddenly, a nudge from Max, a friend of his directed to a table on the other side."Isn't that Cassie and Jackie? And wait, who's that guy with Cassie? He looks kind of familiar," Max remarked.Squinting, Kenneth tried to identify the figure, Tracy gasped,
Caleb stared at his best friend, taken aback by the abrupt request. How could he tell Tommy about his engagement without making him and Jake feel betrayed?"Well...um... since we've just met, I don't mind being friends with Caleb," Carrie said with a small smile.Tommy grinned widely. His plan was working.Tommy then looked at Caleb, nudging him slightly."Well, don't just sit there, do something! You've got a great girl interested in being your friend, and who knows where this friendship may lead...don't ket this opportunity slip away buddy" he said in a low voice, raising his eyebrows up and down, hinting at him."Tommy....I..." Caleb began, but Tommy didn't let him finish his sentence."Caleb, hurry up and add her to the WeFriends app. Then you can chat with her more often, get to know each other better, and maybe in the future, there could be more than friendship," he whispered with excitement.Caleb just stared at him, and then at Carrie. She had over heard Tommy saying to add h
As the revelation unfolded, Cassie's disbelief turned into a mixture of confusion and disappointment. She couldn't understand how Caleb, who had offered to buy the drinks in the bar, could in reality, be living a life of a poor delivery boy.Meanwhile, Suzie, who had been listening to the whole conversation, sighed in relief that she hadn't approached Caleb earlier. The revelation about Caleb's poor financial status left her feeling grateful that she hadn't approached him earlier when she heard he was buying the drinks. Reflecting on the situation, she realized that she could have have been the one in the embarrassing situation, Cassie was in now.Amidst the shock and reactions, Caleb observed Cassie's response closely, realizing that the truth about his identity had left her far from happy.Cassie blinked in disbelief, her mind struggling to process Tracy's revelation. She couldn't fathom that the man she had been flirting, chatting, and laughing with for the last half-hour was a me
"I don't understand why you pretend to be rich. Is it to lure girls out of your league into bed with you? Is it because the girls of your league are just not good enough, eh? If you are a delivery boy, at least be proud of the fact instead of pretending to be someone you're not. Since you don't have money, why pretend to be rich? To make a fool of us rich girls. You disgust me..." Cassie's scornful words echoed in the bar, leaving a palpable tension in the air.Cassie's cutting words stung Caleb, a bitter reminder that sometimes appearances mattered more than genuine connections. Silently absorbing the hurt, he chose not to engage further. With a nonchalant gaze, he studied her, realizing that perhaps this encounter had spared him from repeating the mistakes of the past, particularly the misguided feelings he had harbored for Tracy. Caleb observed as Cassie regarded him with open disdain. He realized that his initial plan to disclose his background through the WeFriends app was now
As Caleb began to walk out of the classroom, Professor Hanks reached out and grabbed his hand, stopping him in his tracks. Her eyes were filled with a mix of concern and disbelief."Caleb," she said softly but firmly, "I need you to tell me the truth. Did you steal that money?"Caleb looked down at her hand gripping his and then met her gaze. He could see the earnest plea in her eyes, the hope that he wasn't guilty. He took a deep breath, his expression calm and resolute."No, Professor Hanks," he replied quietly. "I didn't steal the money."Professor Hanks studied his face for a long moment, searching for any hint of deceit. Finally, she released his hand with a sigh, a flicker of hope still lingering in her eyes."Alright, Caleb," she said firmly, her grip still strong on his hand. "But don't stay silent like you did here. You need to defend yourself clearly when you see the headmaster. Speak the truth and avoid any unnecessary remarks. I'll do everything in my power to support you,
Jane’s eyes were fixed on Caleb, desperately waiting for him to say something, to shout, to scream his innocence. But he remained calm and collected, his gaze never wavering from Carl. Carl, noticing Caleb's unwavering calm, smirked and turned to Mr. Henderson. "Here's the proof, sir. Now it's up to you how you deal with this thief." Mr. Henderson glanced at Professor Hanks, who was staring at Caleb in shock, unable to reconcile the calm student with the accusations against him. Mr. Henderson nodded and said, "I can't believe after all this time we've actually caught the thief red-handed. Caleb, come with me to the staffroom. We will discuss further what we should do with you with the rest of the staff." Hearing Mr. Henderson's words, some students nodded in agreement, murmuring among themselves that Caleb should be punished. The accusation seemed to fit with the recent rumors and suspicions. However, those who were close to Caleb, especially Jake, Tommy, and Jane, were filled
The students stared at Caleb with disgust, their eyes shifting between him and the pouch on his desk. Whispers and pointed fingers only deepened the collective disdain. Many had always harbored suspicions about Caleb, simply because he was poor. Yet, in the last few months, something had changed. Caleb had started spending money freely, treating classmates to dinners in expensive restaurants, flaunting an attitude of newfound confidence. The sudden shift was startling. Now, with Jane's pouch found among his belongings, the students were convinced their suspicions were confirmed. To them, Caleb's recent spending spree must have been funded by stolen money from the college. The atmosphere was thick with judgment, the air filled with murmurs and pointed looks. No one seemed to remember the Caleb who once struggled quietly. Instead, they saw only the image of a thief, their minds made up by the damning evidence before them. "I can't believe it!" another student exclaimed, shock evident
"Well, Carl, after an hour, you'll regret what you're doing right now, and you will pay for what you have done." Carl narrowed his eyes at Caleb momentarily and chuckled, muttering under his breath, "Is that a threat?" Caleb didn’t bother to respond, his silence conveying more than words could. Carl shrugged off Caleb's words, confident that they were meaningless. What could a loser like Caleb do anyway? Carl's smirk grew as he unzipped the bag. He knew that as soon as the money was found, there would be no escape for Caleb. The whole class fell silent, the only sound being the slow, deliberate zip opening Caleb's bag. Kenneth leaned forward on his desk, casting a quick glance at Tracy, who had a small smirk playing on her lips. They knew that any moment now, their plan would come to fruition. On the other hand, Tommy and Jake watched nervously, their anxiety palpable. But the most anxious of all was Jane, the class monitor. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was
"I..." Caleb began, weighing his words carefully. Caleb paused for a moment, his mind racing as he processed the situation. He instinctively slid his hands into his pockets, a subtle gesture to calm his nerves. His gaze shifted towards Carl once more, observing the smug confidence etched on his face. It was becoming clear to Caleb that Carl wasn't acting on mere suspicion but had orchestrated this accusation deliberately. The reason for Carl's unwavering confidence in Caleb's guilt pointed to a calculated plan. As Caleb pondered Carl's motives, his eyes flickered briefly to his desk where his bag lay discarded underneath. He couldn't shake the sinking feeling that the money, the very evidence Carl was banking on finding, might have already been planted there. A surge of frustration and anger welled up within him, but he maintained his composure outwardly, preparing to address Professor Hanks and the rest of the class with clarity and conviction. He had been set up. As his
Professor Hanks's hand slammed down on the table with a resounding thud, instantly quelling the rising chatter that had filled the room. "Silence!" Her authoritative command cut through the noise like a knife, demanding the attention of every student present. Once the room had settled into a tense silence, she fixed her unwavering gaze on Caleb, her expression a blend of concern and determination. "Caleb," she began, her voice firm yet tinged with curiosity, "do you have anything to say?" Her eyes bore into his, silently urging him to speak up and address the accusations that had been thrown his way. Caleb paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts before standing up. "What Carl said just now-his analysis of what could have happened-is very reasonable," he began, his voice calm and measured. "However, there is one small thing he seems to have forgotten to mention." Professor Hanks furrowed her eyebrows, clearly intrigued. "And what might that be?" she prompted, her gaze s
Mr. Henderson straightened his tie with an air of authority, smoothing back a few nonexistent strands of hair as he smiled at Professor Hanks. "Just before you arrived, we may have made some progress regarding the thief," Mr. Henderson announced, his voice projecting across the room. He briefly glanced over at Caleb, who met his gaze with a mixture of curiosity and concern. Professor Hanks furrowed her eyebrows, her expression shifting to one of focused curiosity. Stepping closer to Mr. Henderson, she asked in a firm tone, "What progress have you made?" Mr. Henderson's smile widened slightly, relishing the attention from Professor Hanks. Leaning in slightly, he lowered his voice as if sharing a confidential matter. "Before you got here, Carl accused Caleb of being the thief." Professor Hanks's eyebrows shot up in surprise. She scanned the room until her gaze landed on Caleb, who met her look with a disbelief apprehension. Carl stood smugly with his arms folded across his ches
Mr. Henderson's expression shifted from annoyance to cautious interest. He fixed Carl with a penetrating stare. "You know who it is, Carl? Thrn enlighten us" he demanded, his voice low and serious, cutting through the chatter in the classroom. Carl took a deep breath, steeling himself before speaking again. "It's..." He hesitated for a moment, as if weighing his words carefully. The suspense in the room was palpable, each second feeling like an eternity as everyone waited for him to continue. As tension hung thick in the air of the classroom, Carl stood up abruptly, his face wearing a confident smirk. His words cut through the silence like a knife. "The thief is amongst us," Carl declared, his voice echoing off the walls, "and he is sitting in this room right now!" A collective gasp rippled through the classroom as students exchanged shocked glances. Whispers erupted like a sudden storm, as everyone began to scrutinize their classmates with newfound suspicion. Mr. Henderson, hi
The professor's glare bore into Jane with unmasked frustration. "Do you have any brains ! Thats what happebscwhen you dont listen!" he bellowed, his voice echoing off the classroom walls. "I explicitly warned all students on the notice board to be vigilant with their belongings, knowing there's a thief among us. Yet you, young lady, have managed to have the entire class's fees stolen. And you dare call yourself a class monitor!"His words stung like a whip cracking through the air, each syllable laced with disappointment and accusation. The classroom seemed to shrink under the weight of his condemnation, leaving Jane visibly shaken under the harsh spotlight of Professor Henderson's scrutiny.Jane stood frozen under the professor's harsh gaze, her hands trembling slightly as she tried to find her voice amidst the palpable tension in the room."I... I'm sorry, Mr. Henderson," she stammered, her words coming out in a rush. "I... I didn't mean to... I thought... I thought it would be s