Chapter 55 - Out Of Focus
Hearing Edward's words, everyone was very shocked, including Anne herself who had just sat back on her chair.
"What happened, Linda? Why did Edward ask the students to apologize to me?" asked Anne while whispering. ??
"That's ... a long story, Anne," Linda replied softly.
"How long is it actually? Just tell me from the start. What happened, really?" said Anne again.
"Actually, that was ..."
"Anne, come with me to the front," said Edward, suddenly startling Anne and Linda who were whispering to each other.
Anne, who was shocked, immediately touched her chest in reflex. She did not expect that Edward would suddenly appear like that beside her.
"Come on, Anne," said Edward back.
"What do you mean? Why should I come with you?" asked Anne, confused.
Without answering Anne's question, Edward pulled Anne's hand to get up and she was invited to walk to the front row where Professor Gilbert was. When Anne walked towards Professor Gilbert's place, all the other students seemed to be looking at her without blinking and this made Anne feel awkward because almost everyone in her class including students from other departments that joined her class today were staring at her.
"What's wrong Edward, why are you asking me to come forward?" asked Anne whispering.
"You will know later when you are in front," replied Edward briefly without stopping his steps.
Anne closed her mouth and chose not to ask anymore, she knew that her efforts to ask Edward would be in vain because the man would definitely not want to answer her question again. Finally, Anne arrived next to Professor Gilbert with Edward who finally let go of her grip. With the lecturer and the annoying Edward by her side, she now stood facing all the other students who were sitting opposite her without knowing what was really happening.
"Now that Anne is standing in front of us all, you better apologize for what you have said before," said Edward again as he put his hand into his pants pocket facing all his friends who had previously accused Anne.
After Edward spoke, no one else made a sound, several students who had previously said bad things about Anne were seen looking at each other. After all, Edward was the son of an important figure at the campus. No one dared to go against his words, let alone argue with Edward who did not like to be debated.
The quiet class atmosphere made Anne feel even more uncomfortable, she did not know what had happened. She got confused as to why Edward got this angry with his friends and invited her to stand in front of the class along with the Professor who stayed silent after hearing Edward's words.
"Can you tell me what had happened? Why did you invite me to stand here with you, Edward?" Anne finally opened her mouth and asked slowly about the current situation, she really could not stand seeing everyone staring at her with strange eyes.
"Are you all deaf, didn't you hear what Anne said just now?" said Edward in a loud voice that made everyone shocked including Anne.
" Edward…"
"Don't be too kind Anne, they've all accused you of something terrible. So they have to apologize to you right now, or else I have to process it through legal means using applicable laws in this city," said Edward quickly cutting off Anne's words while taking a glance towards his friends who were only staring at the desk.
"Don't say such nonsense, how could I not…"
"I apologize to you, Anne, I've accused you of something awful," Gabriella said loudly as she got up from her chair and stared at Anne.
"I also want to apologize to you, Anne, I didn't know you were asking permission to go to the bathroom and I was not aware of the real reason why you wanted to go earlier," said Isabel, trying to not lose over Gabriela, she apologized to Anne after being provoked by Gabriela's action to apologize to Anne first.
"I'm sorry, Anne, I have said some nonsense about you,"
"I'm sorry, I've also accused you earlier, Anne,"
"I'm sorry too, Anne,"
"Me too, Anne,"
"Me too,"
"Sorry, Anne,"
The students who had mocked Anne began to apologize one by one after the prima donna who majored in graphic design and fashion designer started apologizing. They finally followed what the two popular girls had done by apologizing to Anne. She, who was still confused by their apologies, could only look back at Edward. She did not understand what had happened. Edward only smiled when he saw Anne appeared to be confused with the whole situation. He finally began to tell what had happened after she asked permission to leave the classroom by talking to Professor Gilbert.
Anne's face turned red when she heard Edward's words, who told her that her friends had accused her of cheating by asking Professor Gilbert for information personally. But on the other hand, she also couldn't do anything else because those who had accused her of cheating had apologized to her. She indirectly had forgiven her friends' actions.
"Never mind, guys, you don't have to apologize. I know you guys must have accidentally said that and I understand it. It was my fault that I suddenly walked out of the classroom when Professor Gilbert was discussing big companies that will come to our campus year-end event," said Anne quietly with a smile.
"You hear it yourself, Anne has already forgiven you. Take this as a lesson and don't repeat it in the future," said Edward loudly.
"Edward ..."
"Yes, I know, I'm sorry. I'm just too excited," Edward muttered quietly cutting off Anne's words with a smile.
"Well, because this misunderstanding has been resolved, we can all move on. No need to bring this issue further outside of class. Anne and Edward can now return to your seats," said Professor Gilbert taking over the class again.
"Thank you, sir, I'm so sorry for the trouble," said Anne quietly as she nodded her head slowly, Anne's gesture when apologizing was very smooth and it made Edward who was still beside Anne smile.
Soon, Anne and Edward returned to their seats. When Anne sat in hers, Linda made an 'OK' symbol to tease Anne. Meanwhile, Anne was silent and did not respond to Linda's words, she felt very uneasy after what had just happened.
To be Continued
This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶