<h4>Chapter 382: 382-Hello Criminal</h4>


    <strong>Hnie:</strong>


    "This is to freedom and justice," Penn raised his ss of juice, making us allugh at him. It had been a week, and things had gotten better.


    Jenny didn’t face any punishment because it was self-defense. The details of the case were kept under the rug at our request, from me and Jenny. But Evaline’s name was mentioned because Lamar wanted it there and for his sister to get justice.


    We met up at the café today to enjoy our freedom. I mean, they didn’t know yet that my journey had only just begun.


    "Lamar!" Benita arrived with a hand on her chest. "I’m so happy your sister got justice. Not everyone has a brother like you who never lets it go and somehow puts the culprit in his ce."


    She had such a fake vibe to her. Or maybe it was because I didn’t like her. So everything she did seemed fake to me.


    "Thank you," Lamar replied to her with a mild smile. He knew about this woman and how she always preached about being the purest and pointing out ws in others.


    "And Jenny!" Then she pouted, looking so fake. I remember when she told us Gavin hade here with his other girlfriend. I swear she purposely didn’t say Jenny’s name. She knew her name but acted like she didn’t.


    "How are you feeling now? It’s not easy to have your mate attack you to hide his truth," she made Jenny feel so ufortable.


    We wanted everyone to stoping up to us and reminding us of every single detail they heard in the news.


    "At least she gave him karma," I stood up for Jenny, who hadn’t been able to say a word. Her brother smiled at me while Gavin and Lamar kept ring at Benita.


    "True," Benita’s smile faded before she said, "Jenny, you must know the other two victims whose identities were kept safe?"


    I stared at her in disbelief. Was she really here to get inside information?


    "Their identities are protected for a reason. Some thoughtless people wille asking them about their experience despite the fact that it would make them ufortable," If she was a smart woman as she imed to be, she would have known Penn was teasing her.


    But she didn’t.


    She sighed and nodded, "Some people just love gossip. But tell the girls, if they want someone to love them like a mother,e to me."


    I rolled my eyes and looked away while Gavin and Lamar elbowed each other.


    "A mommy love?" Lamarmented, and the look on Benita’s face was hrious. She was offended, but Lamar was also too much.


    "I was just saying," he shrugged, while Benita left the table.


    "Hey, not even a woman with a child?" Jennyined to Lamar, whose mood changed into something entirely different when watching Jenny.


    Now that he knew Jenny wasn’t ying us and she did help us behind our backs, Lamar was kind of waiting for the moment to make a move again.


    This was our first meetup after the case, so it would take time for the two to move forward with their rtionship. But I was happy for them.


    "What happened to your other friend?" Penn asked, rubbing his hands at the sight of the croissant.


    "Lucy is now Sydney 2.0," Lamar groaned while Gavin took a deep breath. Even when we criticized Lucy, Gavin would hardly say anything or share his opinions.


    I could tell he was ming himself for her change in behavior.


    "She’lle around. Soon, Sydney will be done with her and then Lucy will have a great awakening," Imented with a clenched jaw. But how would I ever forget what she said about me?


    I kept wondering, is that what she thinks of me?


    "Jenny, how are your parents?" Gavin quickly changed the subject.


    "Dad wants to spend some time with me to redeem himself, but I just can’t—it’s not just about me. He needs to open his mind and think about others too. And until then—I don’t think I can look at my father differently than before," she sighed, her wordsing out with deep breaths. Penn quickly wrapped his arm around his sister’s shoulder and gave her a warm hug before they started eating again.


    Now that silence had settled in, I couldn’t help but feel that today was different from thest seven days.


    The academy sses were continuing without any interruptions, except we were just getting ready for a big uing test.


    All the teams wouldpete against each other and I wanted my team to win at any cost. But then I was afraid—what if any of my friends’ teams lose?


    That was the biggest problem.


    "So, Hnie—" Penn cleared his throat as the others got up to go to the restroom. Jenny felt much safer when Gavin and Lamar were on her side, so Penn could stay behind me.


    "How is your training with Rudy going?" Penn asked, looking down at his food.


    "We’re having fun. You should see Lamar and Gavin get under Rudy’s skin," Iughed but also made sure to let him know it wasn’t just me and Rudy spending time alone. Even though I didn’t have to exin to him who I was spending time with, I just didn’t want any unnecessary rumors.


    "Hmmm, that’s good," his response was cold, "When you win, he’ll want a treat."


    He joked, even though I could tell he was in a bad mood about the whole training thing.


    "Yeah, Lamar and Gavin will have to take him to a club," I added, feeling like I was doing something wrong. Giving too many exnations might give Penn the wrong idea too.


    I swear, I was being so careful.


    "Okay, are you two done too?" Lamar arrived with Gavin and Jenny and asked us. We got up to leave while Penn stayed behind to pay.


    He had asked us all out for dinner as a treat for his sister’s freedom.


    "You two are weird," Jennymented at Lamar and Gavin, who had their arms around each other’s shoulders like childhood friends.


    We were leaving the café,ughing and giggling when someone almost bumped into us whileing inside.


    "Oh, I’m so sorry—" The guy lifted his head to apologize with a smile when my blood ran cold.


    I could recognize his face very clearly. The way he hade on top of me that night—he was one of them.