Rise Of The Imprisoned Student

CH-9

 

Alex frowned and said, “That’s not fair. Why would you even let something like this happen when I didn’t do anything wrong?”

The man leaned back in his chair and looked at Alex like he was looking at a stubborn child.

“Not fair?” the man repeated slowly, his lips curling slightly. “Young man, this is not a place where fairness is discussed like a classroom topic.”

Alex’s expression stayed calm. “Then what is it?” he asked quietly.

The man sighed and waved his hand lazily. “It is a place where orders are followed. And the order came from the dean.”

Alex’s eyes narrowed slightly. “So you just threw my things out because someone said so?”

The man nodded without hesitation. “Yes.”

He leaned forward and tapped the table lightly. “Let me explain something to you in a way even you can understand. When the dean speaks, we don’t debate. We don’t argue. We act.”

Alex let out a slow breath.

“So anyone can walk in here, say anything, and you just obey?” he asked.

The man smirked. “Not anyone. The dean. And the people he listens to.”

Alex’s gaze grew colder. “And Lily?”

The man shrugged. “She came with the dean. And that rich boy… Daniel.”

He gave a faint chuckle. “Those two spoke like they owned the place. Honestly, the way they talked about you…” He shook his head. “Even I started to wonder if you were some kind of walking disaster.”

Alex’s hand clenched slightly.

The man noticed and leaned back again. “If you have a problem, go meet the dean. Arguing with me is like arguing with a wall.”

Alex stayed silent for a moment.

Then he nodded once. “Fine.”

He turned and walked out.

—

As Alex stepped out of the dormitory, his face remained calm, but his eyes had gone cold.

He walked toward the administrative building.

That was where the dean’s office was.

As he walked, he suddenly saw someone ahead.

It was the dean.

The man was walking out of the building, heading somewhere else.

Alex’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Perfect timing.”

He quickened his steps slightly.

“Sir,” Alex called.

The dean didn’t turn.

“Sir!” Alex called again, a bit louder.

Still nothing.

The man kept walking like he didn’t hear anything.

Alex frowned slightly.

He continued following him.

“Sir,” he called again, his voice steady.

But the distance remained.

The dean walked faster. Or maybe he simply didn’t care.

Alex kept following.

Step after step.

“Sir.”

“Sir.”

No response.

The dean suddenly turned a corner and entered a large hall.

An auditorium.

Alex saw him disappear inside.

“Sir!” Alex called one last time before the man went out of sight.

No response.

Alex reached the entrance.

Then he stepped inside.

The moment Alex entered the hall, he stopped completely as his steps froze.

His eyes lifted slowly.

The hall was packed with hundreds of students. Some were standing and some were seated.

They focused on one place.

The stage.

And on that stage Lily stood with Daniel.

Standing side by side.

Smiling.

Like they were the center of the world.

Alex stood at the back, unnoticed.

His face remained calm.

But his eyes… had gone dark.

On the stage, Lily held a microphone.

Her voice was loud and clear.

“Everyone,” she said with a bright smile, “thank you all for coming.”

The crowd clapped lightly.

Daniel stood beside her, his hand casually in his pocket, his expression full of confidence.

Lily continued, her tone playful. “Today isn’t just any day.”

She paused dramatically.

“It’s the beginning of a new chapter in my life,” she said cheerfully.

The crowd leaned in.

“And tonight,” she added, smiling wider, “we will be hosting our official engagement party. Right here.”

Cheers erupted, claps, whistles.

Daniel smirked proudly.

Lily laughed softly, enjoying the attention.

“But that’s not the only thing worth celebrating,” she added.

Her tone changed slightly.

“And more importantly…” she said slowly, “I am finally free.”

The crowd quieted slightly.

Lily’s lips curled into a faint sneer. “Free from a certain… burden.”

Some people in the crowd already started laughing.

They knew.

They all knew who she was talking about.

Lily tilted her head slightly. “Free from that pig who calls himself Alex.”

The hall exploded.

Everyone laughed loudly, uncontrolled.

Some students clapped.

Others whistled.

Alex stood at the back watching everything.

His face showed nothing, but his fingers slowly clenched.

On the stage, Lily continued, her voice filled with mockery.

“Honestly,” she said, “being tied to someone like him felt like being chained to a stray dog.”

The crowd roared.

Daniel chuckled beside her. “A stray dog might actually have more value,” he added casually.

More laughter followed.

Lily nodded. “You’re right.”

She looked at the crowd. “At least stray dogs know their place.”

The hall erupted again.

Lily raised her glass slightly. “So cheers,” she said brightly. “To a new era.”

The crowd echoed. “Cheers!”

“To a future,” she continued, leaning slightly toward Daniel, “where I marry someone who actually has value.”

Daniel smirked proudly.

“Someone who isn’t poor,” Lily added casually. “Someone who isn’t useless. Someone who isn’t…” she paused and laughed softly, “…a mistake.”

The crowd laughed again.

Alex’s eyes darkened further.

Daniel stepped forward slightly. “Let’s be honest,” he said, his voice confident. “Some people just don’t know their place.”

He looked at the crowd. “Imagine thinking someone like Lily would stay with… that.”

He didn’t even bother saying Alex’s name.

“Delusion is dangerous,” he added.

The crowd nodded. “Very dangerous.”

Daniel continued, his tone mocking. “And then he goes to prison and comes back acting like a victim.”

He scoffed. “A victim of what? His own stupidity?”

The crowd laughed harder.

“A man whose job was cleaning toilets,” he continued. “Thinking he could date someone like Lily?”

He shook his head. “That’s not ambition. That’s madness.”

Alex closed his eyes briefly.

Then opened them again.

Lily stepped forward again.

“And now,” she said, “even the dean agrees.”

She gestured slightly and the dean stepped onto the stage.

The crowd clapped respectfully.

Lily smiled. “He understands that someone like Alex shouldn’t even be allowed near other students.”

The dean nodded slightly.

“It’s for the safety of the school,” Lily continued.

“He just came out of prison,” she added. “Who knows what kind of dirty thinking he brought back with him?”

The crowd murmured.

“True…”

“Can’t trust people like that.”

“He might corrupt others.”

Lily’s voice grew sharper. “So his things were removed from the dormitory. And he has been… handled.”

The crowd nodded.

Satisfied.

Alex couldn’t hold it in anymore; he couldn’t restrain himself any longer.

“Handled?” Alex spoke up.

The entire hall was confused where the voice was coming from.

Heads turned and slowly Alex stepped forward from the back.

The crowd parted slightly.

Whispers spread.

“Him…”

“He’s here…”

Alex walked forward, slowly until he reached the stage.

Then climbed it with no hesitation.

He walked straight to Lily and took the microphone from her hand.

The crowd gasped.

“What is he doing?”

“Is he crazy?”

Alex looked at Lily with a calm expression on his face.

“Why are you insulting me?” he asked.

The hall went silent.

Lily blinked, then her expression twisted into a sneer.

“You came here?” she said mockingly.

She looked him up and down. “Wearing that?” she added with disgust.

Alex didn’t react.

“You don’t feel ashamed?” she continued. “Standing here like that?”

The crowd started laughing again.

Alex spoke calmly. “You betrayed me.”

He paused for a few seconds before speaking again.

“And now you gather people to mock me?”

Lily laughed loudly.

“Mock you?” she repeated. “You think you’re important enough to be mocked? You’re nothing,” she said coldly.

Daniel stepped forward. “You should thank her,” he said calmly. “She gave you a reality check.”

Alex turned his gaze to him.

Daniel smirked. “You went to prison because you’re useless, a thief and a criminal,” he continued. “Not because of us.”

He tilted his head slightly. “Or do you want to blame others for your stupidity?”

The crowd laughed again.

“You couldn’t even afford anything for yourself,” Daniel added. “So you kept stealing and getting into trouble until you went to prison for it. Whose fault is that?”

“And now you come back acting like a hero?” He shook his head. “Pathetic.”

The crowd burst into louder laughter.

Lily crossed her arms.

“You should leave,” she said coldly. “Before you embarrass yourself more.”

The crowd cheered.

“Yeah!”

“Get out!”

“Go back to prison!”