I woke up the next day quite late, school had already started. I didn’t remember any part of the disinfection, so I must have passed out. My abdomen was wrapped in bandages, but they were not bloody.

  I pushed myself up with difficulty, and I got changed for school.

  I smelt food from the kitchen. Why did my father keep trying? I asked myself.

  But the food wasn’t burnt, and it wasn’t made by my father.

  Sitting at the table working on some papers, was Haven. She was so focused that she didn’t even notice me walking up behind her.

  “Ahhh.” She yelped, surprised at my appearance.

  I didn’t really feel like saying anything so I waited for her to recover.

  “Good morning, how is your back?” Haven asked, shyly.

  “It seems fine, but I don’t think it could have gotten much worse in the first place.” I replied slowly.

  “I see… Oh the porridge there is for you, I kept it warm.” She smiled while looking over to the porridge.

  “Thank you.” I replied while serving myself some. It tasted warm, and comforting. It reminded me of the food I had while at her house.

  “How do you like it?” Haven asked shyly.

  “It is the best porridge I have ever had.” Better than my own.

  “Really?” she asked, hopeful.

  “Yes.” I replied. It comforted me to see such a transparent and innocent attitude.

  I continued eating till it was all gone, I then prepared to leave for school.

  “You can stay as long as you like.” I told Haven.

  “Where are you going?” she asked worriedly.

  “School.” I answered like it was obvious.

  “It would be better for you to rest.” She insisted.

  “I'm going to school.” I stood my ground firmly.

  “Why?” She asked with a shadow over her eyes.

  “Why are you going to school this time?” She asked again. It took a second to decode her words, but I understood them.

  “Nothing is over yet. Just because I reported everything to the newspaper doesn’t automatically end it. Right now is actually one of the most important times to go to school.” I replied calmly explaining my reasoning.

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  “How is it important? Can you explain it to me?” She asked again.

  “Right now, nobody knows who to believe.” I started.

  “But, didn’t they see the evidence?”Haven asked.

  “They did, but specifically the people at my school refuse to accept it.” I responded.

  “Why?” Haven asked, confused.

  “Because of all of the things they have done.” I answered, but this only made Haven more confused.

  “When I was the suspected murderer-rapist, everyone felt it was like justice to bully me. However, now that it has been revealed that I was innocent, what does that make them?” I asked.

  “Just bullies.” She replied.

  “That’s right, but it’s even worse. They bullied the victim.” I replied.

  “Huh?” Haven was confused again.

  “The victim is always the most innocent in the eyes of others.” I replied.

  “But what does that have to do with believing the newspaper?” Haven asked.

  “If the newspaper is true then they are not only bullies, but evil criminals. However, what if the newspaper is false, they would remain the righteous people they were previously.” I explained.

  “You mean they don’t want to believe it because they refuse to admit their guilt?” She understood perfectly.

  “Yes, now you understand.” I replied.

  “How selfish.” She said disgusted.

  “Not only do they bully you at the mere word of another man, but they refuse to accept their own guilt in response to the truth.” Haven said.

  “Don’t sympathize with me excessively.” I said seriously.

  “Why not?” Haven asked.

  “If you play the game you have to be prepared to lose. I have and will do the same to other people.” I replied.

  “No, you are different.” Haven insisted. These words seemed familiar, but I did not understand them deeply. I had been told this many times, by many people. Some had meant it to be bad, and few meant it as something good. However I did not understand what made me different from the other cheaters and liars.

  “You don’t think for yourself, or more like you only think for yourself.” Haven said a line that made absolutely no sense.

  “What is that supposed to mean?” I asked.

  “You don’t care what other people think, but you are very selfless, almost like…” She stopped suddenly, coming to a realization.

  “That makes more sense.” She added on.

  “What?” I asked curiously.

  “Almost like your sense of self worth is gone.” She finished her earlier sentence.

  Her words were something I hadn’t even thought about, but they seemed to hit the mark too cunningly.

  “I'm going to be late.” I said while hastening my preparations.

  “You’re already late.” Haven replied, privy to my current attitude.

  “I can be even later though, if I stay here any longer it would be useless to even go.” I explained.

  “Then why don’t you stay with me?” She asked.

  “What?” I asked in surprise.

  This did not seem like the usual Haven move. What did she mean by staying with her?

  “If it’s going to be useless to go to school, you should just stay here with me.” She explained.

  “I'm sure I would enjoy that very much, but I have to go, I already explained why.” I said while walking out of the kitchen.

  “Don’t open the door for anybody, nobody comes here anyway.” I said while walking out the door, leaving no room for response.

  I then started my walk to school, the cold season was here which made the streets particularly empty. I tried my best to make it there quickly, but it still ended up taking forever.

  When I saw what was happening at the school, my mouth gaped.