Records of Rebirth

Chapter 3 - The Conflict

Parts of my memory at that point were broken and foggy, but it was clear something terrible had happened.

As the representative of class C-3, my role was to supervise others. I regulated the twenty six students of my class, each with diverging temperaments and quirks, to ensure there was never a reason for anyone to clash.

A difficult job, but after taking care of two children since they were small, I considered this easy.

Like the valves of a heart, I became necessary. I maintained the harmonious flow, utilising every means to keep them in control.

There was never any situation dire enough for the class to erupt to such a state because I was always there to diffuse it in time.

I had arguments with others, bore the brunt of their dislike so they would leave their intended victim alone.

I reported every bully I came across. Spoke with teachers to communicate the needs and complaints of everyone in class and organised school trips and field days in ways that satisfied everybody.

No one could attack me because I never gave anybody a chance to find faults in me. The most they could do was throw snarky comments behind me in the corridors or leave rude notes on my desk.

Their efforts only amused me, as they were far too juvenile to be a bother when there were other pressing things that needed my concern.

My siblings, James and Nevara.

I was able to stay immune to every attack and abuse because my only aim was to go home everyday to their smiling faces.

Eventually, the class came to understand and accept the need for my presence and gradually left me alone.

And under my guidance, they stuck to the rules, rarely getting into trouble, or causing disruptions like before. So, the events of that day completely blindsided me.

Things were always clearer when looking in hindsight. Who would have thought that my one oversight could lead to such a disaster?

I thought I had a firm grasp of everyone's personalities, but it seemed I had underestimated the insanity of one particular person.

Perhaps due to being too strict, I had inherently isolated myself from everyone in class. I didn't have people to confide in that I could call friends, nor was I privy to the class gossip around the popular circle.

Which was how I missed the glaring issue.

In every conflict, there was always an instigator and a target. In this case, the instigator and the target happened to be one and the same.

And for once it was not any of the usual troublemakers.

It was a harmless, doe eyed, pretty girl.

Now that I think about it, the fact that my death came about because of a row over 'who gets the girl' made me depressed.

How ridiculous.

I'd like to think my presence there at that time was purely coincidental. If I had just packed up my books and left like I wanted to, I would not have been involved at all.

Why did I always think I could handle everything? I should've ignored the appeals of the boy that pleaded for my help to break up the fight and just went my own way.

But I didn't. I just had to feel obliged to do my duties. That was my worst mistake.

I remember a boy running up to me with a frantic expression, his glasses tilted on his face, as he quickly explained what was happening in the hallway.

Apparently, a girl was being bullied by another girl and her two followers, as they accused the victim of seducing the class prince with 'dirty tricks'. It had already escalated into a heated quarrel by the time I was informed.

I followed the messenger boy to the scene just in time to witness one of the bullies viciously give the cowering victim a slap that resounded loudly in the empty hallway.

At that point I could not just stand back and watch. I had to end the quarrel before it went too far.

So from what I heard, it seemed like the victim had knowingly approached the 'prince', when everyone knew he was already taken. Her attackers weren't exactly lying. But that did not mean they had a right to hit her.

Nobody deserved to be treated like that.

I quickly got in between the three girls and the victim along with the messenger boy who stayed by my side for some reason. Together we managed to separate them, which more than annoyed the three girls.

One of the attacking girls threw a fierce look at me and stepped forward with a malicious glint in her eyes.

I turned around to see a hand coming in my direction and instinctively stepped back to dodge, raising my hand to catch the offending palm just in time.

I was angry and upset as I gave the girl a fierce glare, and I threw her hand aside with a frown. She had clearly tried to take advantage of the chaos and slap me.

I recognised her as one of those mean girls who used to verbally attack me in the beginning. She would always cause one trouble or the other and would always be there whenever something went wrong.

Was that an act of revenge?

Regardless of her reasoning, I don't have the time or energy to deal with her petty grudge. She was only a follower, and this situation was not about her.

I focused on confronting the centrepoint of the three bullies. Their leader.

The class 'princess'. Or should I say, 'the villainess' in this case. Someone, who I thought was so much better than the two girls that lurked around her.

The 'villainess' was a pretty girl with long dark hair and a tall, slim figure, blessed with vivacious curves in all the right places that made her the envy of other girls. She had a vibrant personality and was admired by the whole class for her demeanour and poise.

She never put on any airs when dealing with others even when it was expected of her as heiress of the largest luxury conglomerate, and the richest girl in class.

Although she was not as delicate a beauty as the victim who had stolen her prince, she had a confident aura around her that set her apart.

However, her two friends| followers on the other hand were the typical bitchy side characters you would find in shoujo manga. They were devoid of personality, only existing to follow and agree and they dampened her spotless image.

The cause - a villainess who was so deeply in love with a prince, that she would do anything for him.

They were even engaged to be married from birth. It was so cliche I couldn't believe it was real.

So, how was I supposed to resolve a mess like this?

The villainess and her two followers were ready to eat the girl alive and I was one standing between them.

Why was it like this? I just wanted to go home.

There were more important things I'd rather be doing right now. I was late for work and I did not want to stay here dealing with this drama.

So, I calmly asked the villainess to call off her dogs, and to end the matter right then and there.