At our high school reunion, the class president was drunk off his ass. He suddenly leaned in with a conspiratorial whisper: "Let me tell you guys a secret. Holly didn't kill herself back then. I saw someone push her off the roof with my own eyes." My heart skipped a beat. Instinctively, I looked across the table at my old desk mate. He was looking right back at me. In that split second of eye contact, we saw the same unspeakable terror reflected in each other. Because we were the ones who pushed Holly off that roof. 1 The laughter at the dinner table died instantly. Dead silence replaced the conviviality. But the quiet didn't last long before a burst of raucous laughter shattered it. "Dude, President, did you drink some bad moonshine? What kind of nonsense are you spouting?" "Yeah, Holly's suicide is a fact. The police closed the case ages ago." "Speaking of which, Holly's been gone for almost fifteen years. Time flies." Chatter resumed, drifting back to high school memories. Seeing no one believed him, our class president, Ben, slammed his hand on the table. "I'm not talking nonsense! I really saw someone push her!" "Not only that." He paused, took a deep breath, and spoke again: "The person who pushed her is one of you!" His gaze swept over us one by one, scrutinizing. My heart sank. He didn't look like he was just drunk-talking. But on that day, we had locked Ben in the bathroom. Did he sneak out? No! Ben and Holly were childhood sweethearts. Their parents were best friends. After Holly died, Ben was devastated. His grades tanked, he went to a mediocre college. After graduation, he rushed into a marriage arranged by his family. Now, at our company, he's even my subordinate. Holly's death changed the trajectory of his entire life. Moreover, Holly's mother nearly died from grief back then. If he had really witnessed the crime, he would have called the police immediately, not waited until today. I didn't know why he was doing this. But I was certain: Ben was lying. Realizing this, I secretly let out a sigh of relief. I straightened up involuntarily, meeting his desperate gaze. He looked at me like I was a lifeline. "Lin, do you believe me?" Everyone knows people instinctively seek help from those closest to them when helpless. After college, we coincidentally joined the same company, so I was his closest friend here. But right now, I couldn't tell if he sought comfort or was testing me. I forced a smile, ready to speak. A confused female voice came from behind: "If you saw it back then, why didn't you tell the police?" 2 All eyes focused on Ben again. He clearly hadn't expected the question. His face flushed red, and he froze. After a while, he rasped: "I didn't dare." "That person had leverage on me. If I went to the cops, I was done for." My pupils dilated. I involuntarily glanced at Tyler. No wonder Tyler had sworn to me back then that Holly's case would be closed as a suicide. So there was a secret I didn't know. Holly's case was closed as a suicide mainly because of Ben's testimony. Actually, we didn't intend to kill Holly. It was her fault for being a busybody. It was the day before finals. After the usual boring homeroom lecture, the teacher directed us to arrange the desks for the exam. Exams meant different things to everyone. For good students like Holly and Ben, it was time to shine. They cooperated fully. For the kids by the trash can, it just meant sleeping in a different seat. The most nervous were mid-tier students like me and Tyler. Tyler was a rich kid who hated studying, kept in line only by his dad's money. If he failed, his allowance would be cut, and he'd get a beating. Usually, he bribed students in his exam room to pass him answers. But last time, he bombed and ended up at the bottom. This time, the kids in his room were even dumber than him. So he had another idea. He dragged me to the stairwell when the teacher wasn't looking. "What's your plan for the exam?" I shrugged. "Same as usual. Copy off neighbors. Can't waste my 20/20 vision." "Damn, the guys in my room are useless." Complaining, he had a brainwave. "Lin, let's steal the test papers." 3 Fifteen years ago, security wasn't as tight, especially in our small town. I stepped back. "Are you crazy? We'll get expelled." Tyler launched into a persuasive speech. He guaranteed nothing would go wrong. Thinking of the mixed doubles beating I got from my parents the last time I failed to cheat, I impulsively agreed. That night, the chemistry teacher was on duty. We spiked his water with laxatives. When he ran to the bathroom, we snuck into the office. We thought it was seamless, but we ran into Holly. She stood at the door, staring at us with wide eyes. We begged, practically knelt. The little bitch finally relented, giving us three days to confess to the teacher or she'd report us. Watching her leave, Tyler said: "Let's just kill her." My eyes nearly popped out. But Tyler argued that Holly had been whining about depression for ages. We had even found a note she wrote before. If we were discreet, it would look like she ended her own life. "Expulsion or kill her. You choose." Three days passed. We asked her to meet on the roof to negotiate. We found out she had also asked Ben to come, planning to tell him. While Tyler pretended to negotiate, I locked Ben in the bathroom. Tyler offered her ten grand, but Holly was relentless. She insisted on exposing us. Tyler and I exchanged a look. Then she fell. We rushed back to the internet cafe we had pre-paid for, pretending we never left. The case closed quickly. Holly had severe depression; it was ruled a suicide. Her note was exposed, detailing insomnia and anxiety from academic pressure. Ben stepped up to testify that Holly had mentioned ending it multiple times. For a while, people talked about her. But gradually, everyone forgot. Until tonight. 4 "Leverage? You were the one who testified she was suicidal. What kind of leverage could make our high-and-mighty Ben commit perjury?" The mocking voice spoke again. Ben seemed triggered, holding his head and choking up: "He had proof I cheated. I was waiting for a recommendation to a top university. If exposed, I was ruined." "I didn't want to, but I had no choice." "It was me. I killed Holly. I failed her." Someone stood up. "Alright Ben, if you really saw it, go to the police. We were just classmates, we're not here for your drama." "Yeah, haven't seen each other in ages, and you start with this nonsense." People started leaving. Ben panicked, running to block the door. "No one leaves!" "I'm telling you! I know you're in here. I'm not afraid anymore. I'm giving you a chance to turn yourself in with me, or else..." He scanned the room: "We die together." "It's karma. My wife left, my daughter is sick. This is my retribution." Chaos erupted. Tyler and I stood at the back. I signaled him to check his phone. "You did this?" Tyler looked at me in disbelief. Before he could speak, someone called my name. "Lin, you're close to Ben. Get this drunk out of here, we want to go home." I pushed through the crowd and dragged Ben out. Ben passed out drunk. In the car, he kept muttering "I'm sorry." Driving home, I was deep in thought. Based on tonight, he didn't seem to know who threatened him back then. Or that there were two of us. But if he traced it to Tyler, would Tyler cover for me? Absolutely not. With Tyler's petty mindset, he was probably planning to throw me under the bus right now. No. I worked too hard to get here. I couldn't let this fat bastard ruin everything. How to shut him up? Unless he could never speak again. The thought scared me.
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