"I deserve that number one spot. Not that bitch, Park Chaeyoung!"
Lim Yoona's voice cracked with bitterness as her friends giggled in the bathroom, egging her on. She flushed the toilet, wiped her lips, and forced herself to laugh at their stupid jokes about her weight.
Too bad she didn't realize who was standing just outside the stall.
"Pathetic. She really thought her little stage play in here wouldn't reach me?" I thought
I stared at my reflection in the mirror, running my fingers across my glossed lips. When I finally spoke, my voice cut through the chatter like a blade made to silence people.
"You know… when you call out the devil, she always answers."
The bathroom fell silent. Yoona froze inside the stall, her heart practically pounding out of her chest. Slowly, she pushed the door open—only to find me waiting, arms crossed, gaze locked on hers.
Her knees buckled. She actually dropped down like I was royalty. Well, she wasn't wrong.
"First rumors. Now your little bathroom performance? How creative," I said, tilting my head.
Yoona's hands shook. She clutched her student ID like it was the only thing that could say her life right now. My eyes darted to it. LimYoona. Pathetic.
I crouched down so we were eye-level.
"That's two strikes. One more, and you're finished. Got it?"
Before she could answer, I straightened, slammed the stall door shut, and walked away—my heels echoing at each step. Her friends didn't even breathe until I was gone.
***
At home, the mansion was silent as always. Too clean. Too cold. The maids scurried around like ghosts, never daring to meet my eyes.
The heavy doors were pushed open and, of course, Eunji was waiting in the grand hall like she owned the place. Perfect posture, flawless smile, voice dipped in honey.
"Chaeyoung, my dear," she said warmly, arms slightly open as if I'd ever step into them. "You must be tired from school. Come, let's have tea together."
I stopped in the middle of the marble floor, meeting her eyes with none of the sweetness she tried to fake.
"Drop the act, Eunji," I muttered, brushing past her. "It's exhausting to watch."
Her smile didn't falter, but her eyes sharpened for just a second—enough for me to catch it before she slipped the mask back on.
"You really should work on your manners, darling. Your father won't like this," she sang, as if the threat was casual.
"Good," I shot back without turning around. "He's the only one left I want to disappoint."
The maids froze mid-step at my words. Eunji's heels clicked behind me, but I didn't give her the satisfaction of looking back.
I climbed the endless staircase, my heels dragging this time. When I reached my room, I locked the door behind me and dropped onto my bed.
The silence pressed in. My mind replayed Yoona's face, the fake confidence, the sudden collapse. She wasn't smart enough to think she was gonna get past me.
Someone was pulling her strings.
I rolled over, staring at the ceiling, a smirk tugging at my lips despite myself.
"Let's see who's stupid enough to think they can play with me."
Because if today proved anything, it was this—Park Chaeyoung wasn't just the President's daughter. I was the girl you don't cross twice.
***
It was Tuesday.
The kind of Tuesday where everything looked the same—until it didn't.
My limousine rolled up in front of the school building, black and glossy like always. I stepped out, tired, unbothered, but every pair of eyes glued themselves to me like I was royalty.
Oh. I am.
But that was nothing new. What was new? The looks weren't just envy this time. It was something else.
And then I saw it.
The Diamond Leaderboard.
The massive screen on the wall that broadcasted the social hierarchy of the school to everyone like it was religion everyone must follow.
And for the first time… my name wasn't sitting on top.
#1: Lim Yoona.
#2: Park Chaeyoung.
I blinked. Then I smirked.
So this is the circus act she decided to pull? Cute.
I stared at the screen a second longer, not because I cared about losing the crown, but because I hated shortcuts. Nobody climbs that board without being perfect, unless they cheat.
And if there's one thing I can't stand—it's fake people.
Apparently, Yoona thought faking her way to the top was a smart move. She'd spread some laughable rumor about me having an affair with the school's Director, even tossed in photoshopped pictures for extra drama. Almost impressive. Almost.
But the editing was sloppy. Too easy to track. Amateur hour.
"Speak of the devil," I muttered under my breath.
Because right then, Yoona strutted up to me, dripping with sarcasm.
"Hello, number two."
Her wings were growing, apparently. Dangerous for a stray. I just looked at her, letting my disgust sit plain on my face.
Yoona leaned closer, her voice gaining confidence she didn't deserve.
"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue? Guess who's on top now. Doesn't matter if you're the President's daughter—you don't scare me."
Still, I didn't speak. I just stared. A quiet stare can cut sharper than words, and judging by the way her cheeks reddened, she felt it.
"What? Speechless? Lost your edge already?" she pressed, smirking.
And that was it.
My hand moved before my brain did. A sharp crack echoed through the hall as my palm met her cheek. The crowd gasped. Yoona's smirk shattered instantly.
Her eyes went wide, her hand flying up to her reddened face.
"H-how dare you—"
"You're filthier than I thought," I said flatly.
I leaned in just enough for only her to hear.
"Should I tell everyone what you really did to get up there?"
That did it. Her bravado cracked. She dropped right there, onto her knees, her voice trembling.
"I-I don't know what came over me. Please… don't. I'll do anything, just—please."
Pathetic.
Now that was the Yoona I knew. The one who didn't belong on top.
I crouched slightly, meeting her teary eyes with a smile that wasn't a smile.
"Leave the school."
Simple. Final.
Her whole body trembled. Good enough.
I straightened, turned on my heel, and walked away like nothing happened. Behind me, whispers came alive through the crowd.
"What did she say to Yoona?"
"Why was Yoona begging her?"
"Did she just… make her cry?"
Yoona couldn't pull this off alone. Someone was feeding her courage. And I will find that person.
I didn't look back. I didn't need to.
Rumors would spin themselves, and they always did. That was the thing about Park Chaeyoung. You never needed to explain. The silence, the stares, my presence; those are the things that did all the talking for me.
And for the second time that morning, I smirked.
Let them wonder. That's all they can do. Because I don't explain… I rule.