Miguel wrestled with the popcorn machine, frustrated. Suddenly, Gabriela jumped down from the kitchen counter and hit a button. The machine stopped, and perfectly popped popcorn spilled out. "I did it!" Gabriela exclaimed, beaming with pride. "I'm a genius!"
Miguel chuckled. "How did you manage that?"
Gabriela grinned mischievously. "I have my ways."
As they filled colorful bowls with the popcorn, their conversation turned to childhood mishaps.
"Kitchen utensils and electronics can really be an issue."
"I tried to make waffles and ended up with charcoal." Miguel laughed.
Gabriela giggled. "Oh yeah! And I once got my hair stuck in the waffle iron!"
Their laughter echoed through the kitchen as they reminisced about their bad experiences with waffle machines.
Gabriela playfully rolled her eyes.
"Let's hurry up so we don't miss the movie!"
With the popcorn ready, they headed to the living room, laughing and chattering. Damien and Michelle looked up, drawn by the aroma of hot popcorn. "Perfect timing!" Damien said, welcoming the bowls.
As they sat down, the movie began, and their eyes fixed on the screen.
Gabriela woke up with a start, her heart racing from the vivid dream. She had been dreaming about Sea World again, but this time, the Sea Witch's expression was twisted in a way that made her feel uneasy. The Sea Prince and Sophia were laughing together, and the Sea Witch's eyes seemed to burn with envy. Gabriela shook her head, confused about what the dream could mean. As she sat up, she realized she had fallen asleep after the movie ended.
She looked around, noticing the empty room. Damien, Michelle, and Miguel were nowhere to be seen. The house was quiet, with an eerie stillness. The movie had ended on a satisfying note, with a dramatic twist that left her intrigued. But now, the silence was almost palpable.
A soft breeze caressed her skin, and Gabriela felt a sense of calm wash over her. She closed her eyes, thinking she was safe, and let the gentle breeze lull her back to sleep.
Michelle stood in front of the mirror, her wet hair dripping onto her shoulders. She was lost in thought, her gaze fixed on her reflection. The warm shower had relaxed her muscles, but now her mind was elsewhere. She was wrapped in a soft white bathrobe, feeling cozy and calm. Suddenly, the door burst open, and Michelle's heart skipped a beat.
"Da-mien...what are you doing here?"
"We passed the math quiz. Just saw it online."
"Okay." Michelle shrugged.
Damien walked towards her. She felt shy with his gaze.
"Why are you act so boring? And I know pretty well that's not who you're really are."
"What do you mean?" She sat on the bed, trying to avoid his stare.
"You're probably acting this way because you never believed you could be loved. Those girls have done a lot to you. They've done a lot to the way you think. They've done a lot of harm. And you know what, I want you to stop seeing life the way you do."
"You're beautiful, you're smart. You're a great cook - I mean, what can't you do perfectly? But some bitches have made you think no one's ever gonna treat you like a queen. That mirror I caught you looking at, says a lot about who you are and what you don't know about yourself."
"Claudia is trying to kill the woman you're about to become. And you shouldn't let that. I won't let that. I'm going to protect you. Before this school year ends, Claudia and her minions will be expelled." Michelle was expressionless.
Damien noticed her eyes welling up.
"Miguel told me you used to be jovial as a kid but bullying and belittling turned you into a melancholic person. You rarely smile. It's okay to cry but not because of stupid girls like Claudia, Nadia or Sandra."
"From now on, I want you to change the way you view yourself. I want you to be more confident. I want you to prove that you're better than them. I want you to show them that you don't give a fuck about those nudes. But don't do too much. Leave them to me. I'll make sure they are expelled and their dreams after college are all shattered. They'll pay for ever messing with us. Got that?" Michelle nodded.
He stood up.
"I need to grab a snack downstairs. Are you coming over?"
"Yes. I'll join you when I get dressed." She replied.
Damien was about to leave the room.
"Damien!" Michelle called, getting up from the bed and walking towards him.
"Thank you so much..for always defending me. Thank you for giving me time to think about the.... relationship stuff. Thank you for everything."
"You're always welcome." He smiled.
"We still have a few days until two weeks' over, huh?" Michelle raised a brow.
"Yeah. Correct. Can't wait for you to finally give me an answer.." He winked and turned to leave but he was shocked at Michelle's grip on his arm.
"Any other thing you'd like to share?"
"Yeah. A kiss with you." Damien's eyes widened.
On a tiptoe, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into a soft, passionate and endearing kiss.
Damien was overjoyed as he reciprocated, his hands around her waist possessively. Her wet hair tickled his face.
Her lips tasted like berries and he couldn't help but feel proud that Michelle was actually kissing him.
The press of his lips made her feel electrified and his mint taste sent a bubbling feeling in her tummy.
She literally saw herself as the most courageous girl on the planet.
He noticed her eyes were closed, carried away by her emotions and he playfully bit on her lower lip.
She moaned softly and Damien was ecstatic he was actually making her do that.
She broke the kiss and couldn't hide the blush on her face.
"I just did that so the few days I have left wouldn't be so suspenseful for you." She smirked and Damien chuckled.
He left her room, leaving her pounding heart and a shy smile.
~~~~~~
Diana snuck into Professor Jennie's office, her eyes scanning the room for any sign of life. She spotted the phone on the desk and swiftly snatched it. Her heart racing, she began trying passwords - Professor Jennie's date of birth, her school number, her alphabet, her name, her daughter's name - but none worked. The phone's security features kicked in, and a message flashed on the screen: "Temporary lockout for 50 seconds." Diana's frustration grew as she waited, her eyes darting towards the door.
Just as the lockout timer hit zero, Isabella walked in, her voice firm. "Why are you still here? Come out." Diana hastily pocketed the phone and followed Isabella out of the office, pulling them both into a corner.
Isabella's expression turned serious. "Carissa and I have a plan for that already," she whispered, her words only adding to Diana's curiosity about what lay ahead.
It was the close of school and Professor Jennie worked an extra hour before locking the office.
She didn't even realize her phone was missing.
Professor Jennie was about to get into her car when a gun was suddenly pressed against her head, making her freeze. The janitor was inside the school compound, unaware of the danger unfolding outside. A rough voice commanded her to get into the car and drive to a location that would be described later. With trembling hands, Professor Jennie started the engine, pleading,
"Please don't kill me." The gun remained pointed at her neck as she drove according to the directions given.
When they arrived at the specified location, both she and the masked individual got out of the car. The gun was still pressed against her head. "I have your phone," the person said. "Tell me the password, now." Professor Jennie's voice shook as she replied, "981708." The person typed it in, but it didn't work. In a panic, Professor Jennie cried out, "No, no, the real one is 981709! It was a mistake!" The person entered the new password, and the phone unlocked.
With a swift kick, Professor Jennie felt intense pain in her leg. The person escaped into a waiting black car with hooded and masked accomplices. As they drove away, Professor Jennie screamed and cried, "My phone, my phone!" She was left alone, fear and pain overwhelming her.
She pulled out her other phone from her purse and dialed Claudia.
~~~~
"We got the password." Carissa declared to Isabella, Damien and Diana.
The phone unlocked and their faces lit up.
Carissa's fingers flew to the contacts and she was searching for a Myers.
Diana saw a mysterious 'DM' and she was curious.
"Let's try to call DM, it could be the man."
"What man?" Damien was confused.
"Probably her husband or someone related to the Myers family."
Isabella's eyes widened when she saw another 'Sheila Myers.'
"Sheila...."
"I think we should call Sheila." The others nodded.
Carissa hit 'Call' and they were all silent, waiting for a response.
"Hello." A greeting from the other end.
"Ahem." Carissa cleared her throat.
"Hi..."
"Jennie, what do you want from me this time?"
"It's not Jennie. It's...you'll find out later. I'm from The White's Academy. I called to ask you some questions."
"Questions? What questions?" Sheila was puzzled.
"Can you have us over at your house? Please send the address." Carissa spoke again, trying to be polite.
"My house? Okay...."
"There's absolutely nothing to be afraid of. We'll explain everything when we meet." Isabella chipped in.
"Alright."
"Thank you Miss. Sheila." The line went dead.
"Who could she be to Professor Jennie?" Diana was curious.
"We'll find out. What we know now, the Myers family are Jennie's ex's."