[CONTENTID1]

forty-two: riddle me this

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[“Why does everyone assume I listen to whatever Exo says?”]

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”Hello, Miss Jung Juyeon. It is a pleasure to see you again. I trust you had a pleasant winter break?”

”I did, sir, thank you.” Juyeon smiled at the principal and took a seat on the edge of the long couch.

Donovan smiled back, although he was looking noticeably more tired and haggard. His papers were cleaned off to make a small space on his desk, but the resulting stacks resembled mini towers. A cup of coffee was placed on top of one of the towers, and the whole thing was swaying dangerously.

”Is there a particular reason why you wished to speak to me?” he asked. There was something about the look in his eyes that made Juyeon suspect he already knew.

”Yes, sir,” she said anyway. “I have a good friend from my old class who wishes to enter High Class. Her grades are the highest among the normals, second only to me.”

Donovan made a little platform with his interlaced fingers to rest his chin upon. “You do know we cannot accept your friend for simply high grades, right?”

”I know, sir. I promised I’d get a word in for her anyway.”

”You have become a good friend,” Donovan said, and Juyeon actually felt pleased. “Yes, you have changed from the girl I saw a few months ago. I never would have thought High Class would improve you so much.”

Juyeon’s pleased feeling faded away immediately. She didn’t like to be made a fool of. “With all due respect, sir,” she said quietly and politely, but she never took her sharp gaze away from him. “I think that was exactly what you thought. I think you were expecting me to change, for good or bad.”

Donovan matched her gaze, his smile turning a little different. Not cold, or warm, or even a fake smile, just different. “I see,” he said. “And where do these accusations come from?”

”Nothing but my gut, sir. And I’m sorry for being so presumptive, but you told me you just wanted me to keep an eye on Exo and make sure they didn’t get in trouble. I think you weren’t telling the truth at that time. I think you had other motives when you put me into Class 44.”

There was a short silence, then Donovan sat back in his chair. “You don’t sound angry for being lied to,” he said calmly.

”You are the Academia’s principal. You know secrets about PCs that I don’t. It’s natural for you to not tell me anything.” She took a slight breath, pausing. “I will save my anger for now, until I can determine whether or not your keeping secrets will harm or benefit me and my friends.”

”Such eloquence in your words, my dear. And yet, so humble and honest. I am rather proud of you.”

”Thank you, sir.” She was confused. He actually sounded like he meant it.

”Well, unfortunately, I have lots of work to do, so you’ll have to come see me another time.” She understood immediately that she was being dismissed, and stood up and bowed.

She was just about to grab the door handle when he called back to her, “Ah, Miss Juyeon?”

She looked back. He was busy scribbling away on the papers, and didn’t look up. “I know our rule is to accept any normals who discover the existence of PCs into High Class, but there is one exception. Even if she were to know about PCs, Park Suji can never step foot into the High Class building. And that is all I can say about the matter.”

Juyeon didn’t answer him. She left his office with her head buzzing.

Just what exactly was his deal with Park Suji?

”Hey,” Juyeon said to Sumi, as they lined up to receive their unappetizing odd blob-food for lunch. “Who’s the High Class information broker?”

Sumi raised an eyebrow. “I beg your pardon?”

”Come on, every school has an information broker. That one student that knows everything about everyone, knows all the dirty secrets, is willing to share that info for a price. Who is it for High Class?”

Sumi accepted her tray of mush and made a face at it. It tasted fine, but physically it looked like a lot of gross dyed jello. “Wouldn’t he be Taehyuk? You remember him.”

The leader of the (literally) underground anti-High Class regime? “How could I forget?”

”I guess he’s the closest we’ve got to an information broker. Mind you, I don’t know how much he knows, but if you need answers, try him.” Sumi gave her a look, as if saying that she knew Juyeon was being nosy again but she didn’t dare ask why.

Juyeon grabbed her own tray and went to go sit with Seoyeon and Minjun. Howev