Framed for an Exam I Never Took

"Sorry, everyone. It looks like the circuit breaker tripped. I'll go reset it right now. Please stay calm."

Not long after, police sirens wailed outside the cafe. Several officers rushed in and surrounded me. One of them flipped open his badge and said, Jade Cromwell, you run pretty fast. One moment you vanish, the next you're hiding in a cybercafe."

I was stunned. "Excuse me. Why are you looking for me?"

The officer scoffed. "Quit playing dumb. You were caught cheating on the college entrance exam. We're here to arrest you!"

My mind went blank instantly. "Me… cheating?"

While I was in a daze, Lily and my childhood friend turned boyfriend, Sean Humphrey, rushed inside.

Lily was out of breath as she exclaimed, "Jade would never cheat! You have to trust in her character. Besides, she was already granted early admission. She had no reason to do this."

Sean pushed through the crowd and stepped in front of me protectively, "Officer, she wouldn't take that kind of risk. There has to be a mistake."

A few classmates who had followed them to watch the drama snickered.

"Who are you two to decide whether or not she cheated? Then what do we need the police for?"

"Exactly! I think you're all accomplices. You should all be arrested for interrogation."

Lily panicked. "Jade, say something. I'm freaking out here."

Amidst the chaos, my mind turned blank. When I didn't respond, Lily's resolute expression wavered into doubt. "Jade, you didn't really cheat, did you?"

Her voice was soft, but loud enough for those around to hear. They began whispering among themselves.

"Oh my God! I can't believe someone dared to cheat in such a strict exam. That takes guts."

"I recognize her. She's that top student from my friend's school. I've seen her on their honor board. Tsk, tsk, tsk, I guess it was all fake."

"She always acted so superior. I guess she was afraid she'd be exposed during the exam, so she cheated."

"I heard her parents are elite teachers too. Even a teacher's kid cheats now. How will her parents be able to show their faces? They might as well die!"

Every insult sent a chill down my spine.

But I had been in this cafe since the night before. I hadn't stepped outside once. How could I possibly have cheated?

My voice trembled as I spoke. "Officer, I didn't even take the exam. How could I cheat?"

The officer laughed dryly. "You're still claiming that you didn't take the exam? When will you admit the truth? Come with us to the station. I'll show you the evidence!"

A pair of handcuffs snapped shut around my wrists. Clutching the chair desperately, I shouted, "I really didn't take the exam! You can ask the cafe staff. Check the surveillance cameras!"

"Still lying? Fine. I'll check right now. I'll make this perfectly clear for you!" The officer then turned to the crowd and asked, "Does anyone here know for sure that she's been here since last night and never left?"

I looked at the crowd, filled with anticipation. But they all shook their heads.

"Officer, we're just here to play games. No one pays attention to who's sitting nearby."

"I just got here. I have no idea when she came. I don't remember at all."

"Officer, if I testify, do I have to go to the station? Please don't make me. My parents would kill me if they found out I skipped school to come here and play games."

Panic surged in my chest. "If they won't testify, then check the cameras!"

The cafe manager hurried over, looking apologetic. "Officer, I'm really sorry. Our cafe faced a power outage earlier. The system that stores the surveillance footage burned out. All the footage is gone."

I stared at her in disbelief. "That's impossible. How could it be destroyed at a time like this? I want to see it for myself."

She led me behind the counter. On the monitor, the words "Hard Disk Corrupted" glared back at me.

Grasping at my last lifeline, I turned to the manager. "Miss, you checked me in last night. Don't you remember me?"

She nodded, then shook her head. "I'm sorry. I'm terrible with faces. I really can't remember."