MARIAH'S POV
"Lexi and Zeke saw Shawn and Merida… doing it in the locker room kanina."
I couldn't help but smile when I overheard it. Did Merida really think she could ever escape Lexi? Oh, sweetie. No. She practically hands Lexi ammunition every time she slips up. If anything, she digs her own grave, and it's almost funny to watch.
And to make things worse for her? That little "mafia parents" rumor? Yeah, that was me. I sent her that anonymous text this morning. She didn't even question it, didn't bother to confirm—just swallowed it whole and spread it across campus like wildfire.
I lit the match. She poured the gasoline. Now she's the one burning.
The only upside for Merida in all this? She got Lexi to delete that video from her phone. But let's be real—does anyone believe Lexi only had one copy? Please. That girl is gunning for valedictorian. She's not stupid enough to keep her only leverage in one place.
I know Lexi has dirt on me, too. I'm not naïve. But I don't fight her head-on. I don't waste my breath. I let other people do the dirty work while I stay in the shadows. There's a reason I'm in Class 12-A. I can think. I can plan.
Unlike Merida—who talks big but crumbles when it matters. Or Lexi—who thrives on threats but rarely pulls the trigger unless she's really provoked. If I were Lexi? Merida's life would've been destroyed by now. But Lexi? She waits. She plays her games.
And me? I stay out of the line of fire.
Plus, after today, I doubt Shawn will ever come crawling back to me. Which honestly? Works in my favor. Ever since Merida dumped him—because she thought she saw me kissing him in the school plaza—he's been a walking disaster in my life.
He ruined everything. My friendship with Merida. My peace. My focus.
If Shawn didn't exist, I wouldn't be struggling to survive this hellhole of a school. It feels like I'm stuck between a demon and a devil—Merida, Lexi, Shawn, all of them dragging me into their mess.
But now? I've learned to keep my distance. I don't care if the hyenas fight the lioness. As long as they keep tearing each other apart, I'll be far from ground zero. Watching. Safe.
⸻
Right now, I'm buried in my notes. Finals are just days away.
I'm not trying to be valedictorian like Lexi—I've just always been a studious person. If I weren't, I wouldn't have survived this long. Sure, I get dragged into their games sometimes. I get bruised, humiliated. But I keep my head down. I endure.
After exams, there's supposed to be a "farewell outing" the class planned. A beach thing, apparently. My original plan? Not to go. Why would I? I'm not close to anyone here. We barely even greet each other, and now we're supposed to "celebrate" together like we're some big happy family?
"Guys, next week na ang outing natin! Don't you dare ditch us or else." Cynthia stood at the front of the room, her voice full of authority.
"Or else what?" Kisses scoffed, rolling her eyes. A ripple of laughter moved through the room.
"Or else… may issue na lalabas." Cynthia smirked. That's so like her—using threats to get her way. She's obsessed with perfection, with control. She acts clean, proper, but if you look closely? Her hands are filthy with all the strings she pulls behind the scenes.
Some of the guys booed and started teasing Kisses. She ignored them, looking unimpressed.
Then Hiro suddenly piped up. "Merida! Yung cheer routine nyo—malapit na performance nyo, 'di ba? Magaling na ba?"
The timing was perfect. Zeke burst out laughing, and even Lexi and Mia shook their heads. A few of the girls stifled their laughter. I bit the inside of my cheek, trying to keep mine in, but it was hard.
Merida's face was priceless. It was like she was silently praying for the earth to swallow her whole.
With a loud scoff, she stood up and motioned for Sandra to follow her. Sandra—ever the obedient puppy—trailed after her without a word.
I used to be like that. Blindly following Merida around, thinking she was worth it. Now I get why so many people in our class can't stand her. Her attitude is pure poison.
"Shawn! Pigilin mo naman! Pakitaan nyo kami ng routine nyo!" someone teased from the back. Laughter erupted again, and I finally let out a chuckle, ducking my head to hide my grin.
That's when it happened.
In a flash, Hiro was on the ground, Shawn towering over him. Blood dripped from Hiro's split lip, and by the looks of it, his face would be swelling soon.
Chaos broke out. Shinzou, our PO, jumped between them, but even he wasn't spared—a single punch from Shawn caught him in the nose, and suddenly, blood was pouring down his face too.
The entire class gasped. Even I froze, wide-eyed.
"Stop it! You're supposed to be role models for this school!" Missy's voice rang out, but Shawn and Hiro didn't stop. Shinzou was on his knees, clutching his nose, completely winded.
"Mia, what do we do?!" someone whispered.
"Cynthia, call Ms. Samonte," Mia said, her voice calm even though I could see her fingers fidgeting. She's good at acting composed, but I know she's worried—especially since there's something going on between her and Hiro.
"Zeke, do something!" another voice snapped. Everyone turned to Zeke. Hiro was his best friend, but he just… shrugged.
"Wag na. Kaya ni Hiro yan," Zeke said casually. Almost amused.
If I'm honest, it was Zeke's laughter earlier that set Shawn off in the first place.
"Class! What the hell is going on here?!"
Ms. Samonte's voice boomed from the doorway. Shawn and Hiro froze immediately.
"Mendes! Stanfield! Office. Now. Cynthia, take Mr. Han to the clinic." Her heels clicked against the floor like gunshots in the silence. Only the sound of her footsteps echoed as she led the boys out.
As soon as the door shut behind them, the whole class exhaled. Even I did.
"What are we telling Ms. Samonte when she asks how this started?" Kisses broke the silence.
"That Shawn initiated the fight," Mia answered smoothly.
"But we all know Hiro provoked him," Kisses argued. Maybe she has a thing for Hiro.
"Alangan namang sabihin natin na inasar ni Hiro si Shawn about, you know… the locker room thing," Hardin finally spoke up, his voice even. "If we tell the whole truth, it'll just make things worse for Shawn. Better to keep it simple."
He had a point. Exposing the real trigger would just drag the locker room scandal into the open—and while I don't like Shawn, even I know that would nuke him.
"Wow, nagsasalita ka pala," Missy teased. Hardin barely talks unless it's recitation or he's directly asked something.
Hardin just shrugged and headed back to his seat. I did the same, quietly blending back into the background, pretending to just "observe" like I always do.
No allies. No enemies. Just surviving.