I Took The Same Exam, They Only Celebrated Her Chapter 09

I Took The Same Exam, They Only Celebrated Her Chapter 09

I had no idea about the storm unfolding back home.

I only saw the endless missed calls on my phone after my plane touched down. I ignored them all, slung my

bag over my shoulder, and headed toward campus.

“Vivi Hayes, we are so thrilled you chose us,” the principal himself said, shaking my hand. “We’re going to

make sure you’re taken care of.”

I hadn’t expected the principal to come pick me up in person, and I blushed, a little embarrassed.

“Thank you for making an exception and letting me enroll early, too.”

“It’s nothing.”

He led me to the dorms. Knowing my situation, he’d already applied for a single room for me and treated me

to a meal. The school also deposited a scholarship into my account. With that money, I bought all the basic

necessities.

Lying on my freshly made bed, I finally let my body truly relax and fell into a deep, sound sleep.

But my phone wouldn’t stop buzzing.

Seeing Grandma’s name on the screen, I hesitated, then answered.

“Vivi…” Her voice was already thick with tears.

I knew what she wanted to ask, so I said it first. “Grandma, I’m fine. I’ve already arrived at school.”

My mom’s voice clawed its way onto the line immediately. “You just up and left without a word?! Do you have any idea how worried sick we’d be?!”

I stayed silent.

Because I remembered the day my finger was crushed, just a few days ago. After getting it treated at the hospital, I came home very late. The whole family was asleep. There wasn’t a single plate of food left on the table. No one asked why I was out so late, and no one came looking for me. The next day, they saw my bandage, and not one person asked what had happened. Even the hospital bill was paid by the men at the

construction site.

“You were worried?” I finally said, my voice eerily calm. “When I was having that allergic reaction, you weren’t worried. When my finger was hurt, you weren’t worried. If it weren’t for the reporters coming to interview me today, you wouldn’t have even known I was gone.”

Liam’s voice cut in, desperate. “Vivi, I know you’re angry. But we truly didn’t know it was Rory who put the peanuts there. We never imagined she’d do something like that.” He sniffled, his voice thick with apology. “Vivi, I was wrong. I’m sorry.”

After Liam broke the ice, Asher hurried to apologize too. “No, I’m the one who was wrong.” My parents piled

on, one after another. The chorus of apologies washed over me, and all I felt was bone–deep exhaustion.

“I hear you. I’m at school now. Isn’t it enough that you know I’m safe?”

A long silence, then Mom’s voice came through, small and hesitant. “Then… when are you coming home? We’ll throw you a big celebration dinner.”

I felt the corner of my mouth twitch. “That won’t be necessary. Plane tickets are too expensive.”