Lilana was perched at her desk, her chin resting gently in her hands, a bright smile lighting up her face like the morning sun. A small group of girls had gathered around her, their voices blending together in a whirlwind of questions.
"Is it true you're dating Sylvester?!"
"What's he like when it's just the two of you?"
"Did he confess first? Or did you?!"
Lilana let out a soft giggle, her cheeks flushing pink as she answered each question with an innocent charm that only drew the girls in closer. "Mm-hmm~! He's a bit on the quiet side, but that's what makes him so cool. You just have to pay attention… he says so much without even speaking, you know?"
Her eyes twinkled with mischief, and the girls squealed at her response.
"He even lets me call him 'Sylvie'~," she added, puffing her cheeks in a playful pout. "Though he always pretends he doesn't like it… I know he secretly does."
The classroom erupted in squeals and laughter. Lilana leaned back, soaking up the attention as if she had been waiting for this moment her whole life.
But amidst the excitement, a shadow loomed in the corner. Amara sat at her desk, her nails digging into her palm beneath the table, her glare fixed on Lilana like a sharpened blade. Every laugh, every smile, every whispered "so cute" felt like another thorn in her side.
And when Lilana, blissfully unaware, waved cheerfully across the room to Sophie and Riley, Amara's expression darkened even more.
Amara's fingers tightened around her pencil, turning her knuckles white. All morning, she'd been watching how the class gravitated toward Lilana the way girls huddled together, phones waving like flags, and the ridiculous squeals that erupted whenever Lilana laughed.
It wasn't just attention; it felt like a territory dispute, and Amara couldn't stand being pushed out of her own space.
Sophie and Riley lingered nearby, eager to mimic whatever mean-spirited plan Amara concocted next. They were deadly in their loyalty: the perfect smirk, the right gasp, and suddenly half the school would follow suit.
Amara smiled a small, calculated, almost surgical smile. "We're not fools," she said quietly. "This isn't just a harmless little show. That girl shows up, and within two days, everyone's fawning over her. That has to stop."
Sophie leaned in closer. "What's our move? Should we confront her? Call her out?"
"No." Amara's eyes glinted with a colder intensity. "Direct attacks are too obvious. We need to dismantle the narrative she's spinning. We have to make it impossible for anyone to trust her. People believe what they can see. So, we'll give them something they can't overlook."
Riley's brow knitted in confusion. "Like…videos? Photos?"
"Exactly." Amara said with a smile on her face.
"Remember how we did with Clara those pictures we took of her its the only way and nothing else.
Sophie and Riley look at each other first then they give off a slight smirk as they finally caught on, on what Amara is planning.
"So how are we doing this?" Riley asked.
"Its simple we catch her off guard after school on the way to the dorms we direct her somewhere else then BOOM its over for her."
Riley and Sophie give off devilsh smiles and the plan is in motion.
The bell rang, marking the end of the school day. Students poured out of the classroom in lively clusters, chatting about homework, weekend plans, or the latest gossip that had already spread like wildfire.
Lilana tossed her bag over her shoulder, humming a little tune as she skipped toward the stairwell. She had a clear destination in mind: Sylvester's classroom. She was already practicing how she'd greet him, maybe something light-hearted to break through his serious demeanor.
But just as she turned the corner, three figures blocked her way.
Amara. Sophie. Riley.
They stood there like guards at a gate. Amara was in the center, arms crossed neatly, her smile a bit too perfect. Sophie leaned casually against the wall, her eyes scanning Lilana with barely concealed disdain. Riley twirled a strand of her hair, her expression calm and observant.
"Where do you think you're off to, Lilana?" Amara's voice was sweet, almost teasing.
Lilana blinked, tilting her head slightly. "Oh, I was just going to meet up with Sylvie."
At the mention of the nickname, Amara's smile flickered but just for a moment. "Of course you were." She stepped closer, narrowing the gap between them. "But… how about you walk with us first? To the dorms."
Lilana's cheerful humming faded. She glanced between the three girls, sensing an undercurrent beneath their friendly facade. Her instincts screamed trap.
"Um… thanks, but I think I'll pass today," Lilana replied cautiously.
Sophie let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "Come on, it's not like we bite."
Riley finally chimed in, her voice soft yet firm. "It's just a walk. What's the big deal?"
Lilana tightened her grip on her bag strap. "Still… I have plans. Important ones."
Amara's smile widened, but her eyes were icy. "Plans with Sylvester, right? That's fine. But wouldn't it be nice to… get to know your classmates first? After all, we've been here a lot longer than you. It's only fair to show a little respect."
The words weren't harsh, but the weight behind them pressed down like an unspoken command. Sophie and Riley shifted slightly closer, hemming Lilana in.
For a moment, Lilana considered brushing past them anyway. She opened her mouth—then stopped. The hallway was thinning out, fewer students passing by. Refusing again might spark something bigger than she wanted right now.
Lilana exhaled softly, forcing a smile. "Alright, alright. Just for a bit. But only because you asked so nicely."
Amara's smirk sharpened as she turned smoothly on her heel. "That's all we wanted. Come along, then."
Sophie and Riley fell into step at her sides, leaving just enough space for Lilana to slot in between them.
As they headed toward the dorms, Lilana's cheerful façade remained intact but her fingers drummed lightly against her bag, a restless rhythm. Something in her gut told her she was walking into the kind of storm Sylvester always warned her about.
The four of them started walking, their steps syncing up at first as they made their way toward the dorms.
But soon, Amara paused, glancing over at a side trail that veered off from the main path.
"You know," she said with a casual tone, "there's a quicker way through here. Plus, it's still early. We've got time to spare."
Sophie and Riley nodded right away, like they were part of a well-rehearsed dance routine. Lilana looked in the direction Amara was pointing. The path wasn't the usual one—it wound toward a quieter section of campus, where fewer students hung out.
Lilana shifted a bit uneasily. "I… don't think I've ever gone that way before."
"Then it'll be an adventure," Amara chimed in, her voice sweet yet insistent. "A little fun. Don't worry, we'll stick together."
With some hesitation, Lilana agreed, and the group turned onto the alternate path.
The walk was quiet, the sound of their shoes on the stone path echoing more than usual. With every step, the surroundings became more tranquil no students, no teachers, no chatter.
The grand school buildings faded behind them, replaced by rusty fences, scattered crates, and the faint scent of water drifting on the breeze.
Eventually, the trees parted, revealing an old port-like area by the lake. The water sparkled under the dimming sun, but the scene felt oddly still. The air was thick, almost as if it were part of a set.
Lilana frowned, coming to a sudden halt. "Why… why are we here?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, filled with doubt.
None of the three responded.
Instead, they moved a few steps ahead, and that's when she spotted them five boys hanging out near the edge of the port.
They leaned casually against the railings and crates, looking relaxed, but their eyes were anything but. As the girls got closer, the boys straightened up, grins spreading across their faces.
Not the kind of grins that made you feel welcome. More like predatory ones.
The kind that made Lilana's heart drop.
Her stomach twisted as all five pairs of eyes zeroed in on her, like hunters who had just realized their prey had wandered right into their trap.
And Amara? She smiled too cold and triumphant like everything had unfolded just as she had schemed.