Monday morning dawned bright and calm, with a gentle breeze rustling the leaves of the trees on campus. The sun cast a warm glow over the bustling school grounds, where students were beginning to gather in groups, chatting and laughing. The atmosphere was lively, with an undercurrent of excitement as everyone settled into the new week.
Bella and Kathy, both dressed in stylish yet understated outfits, stood out amidst the crowd. Bella wore a simple yet elegant white blouse paired with a knee-length black skirt, her hair tied back in a neat ponytail. Kathy, on the other hand, wore a fitted pastel pink top with dark jeans, her hair cascading down her shoulders in loose waves. Despite their low-key attire, their presence was hard to miss, given their growing fame on campus.
As they drove into the school, they attracted more than a few curious glances.
As Bella and Kathy drove to Kathy's department, they chatted about their plans for the day. When they reached Kathy's building, Bella pulled over and Kathy got out. They exchanged a warm wave goodbye before Bella continued to her own class.
As Bella drove to her department, and got down from her car, she was mobbed by students. "She's beautiful!" someone exclaimed. Others asked for pictures, and some simply waved enthusiastically. Bella felt uncomfortable at times, the attention overwhelming her. Still, she understood it was part of her new reality, given her father's prominence and her own growing public profile. Forcing a smile, she tried to graciously acknowledge the admirers, but her mind was elsewhere, preoccupied with the lingering questions about Justin and the anonymous message.
Bella walked into her classroom and took a seat near the window, her mind consumed by the emotions swirling. She couldn't shake off the thoughts about Justin, torn between wanting to confront him and keeping silent. As the lecture progressed, she zoned out, lost in her thoughts.
Midway through the class, her phone buzzed with a text from Kathy: "Hey, are you fine?" Bella's response was brief: "I'm okay."
After the class ended, Bella headed to her car and drove to a nearby cafeteria close to Kathy's department. She planned to wait for Kathy so they could eat together after her classes. On getting to the cafeteria, she secured a seat for her and Kathy, ordered just water and waited for Kathy.
Her phone buzzed again , this time with a message from Justin: "Can we see each other?" She read in disgust as she dropped her phone. Minutes later she replied.
Bella's response was simple "I'm busy."
Bella ignored Justin's subsequent messages, focusing instead on waiting for Kathy at the "Sugar & Brew" cafeteria beside Kathy's department. When Kathy walked in, sighting bella as she was seated, she walked up to her, pulled a sit and sat, she noticed Bella's downcast expression and immediately commented, "You look dull, Bella. Don't let that message get to you." Kathy tried to sound reassuring, but Bella's somber mood was palpable.
Just as they ordered their food, Melanie, Talia, and Rina walked in, taking a seat a short distance away. Bella and Kathy didn't notice them at first, but as they settled in, their eyes met. The mean girls couldn't help but stare, whispering among themselves.
As they munched on their snacks, Bella and Kathy chatted about their classes, discussing everything from lectures to assignments. Bella mentioned Justin's texts, and Kathy leaned in curiously. Bella showed her the messages on her phone, and Kathy's eyes scanned the screen.
After reading the texts, Kathy offered her advice, "Just follow your heart, Bella. Do what feels right for you." Bella nodded thoughtfully, considering Kathy's words. Kathy added, "You've got a good sense of what's going on, trust yourself." Bella smiled slightly, feeling a bit more at ease after talking to Kathy.
___
At the mean girls' table, Talia faced Melanie and Rina, a sly grin spreading across her face as she gazed over at Bella. "Look at Bella, she looks so sad," Talia whispered, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
Melanie nodded in agreement, her voice barely above a whisper, "Yeah, she's definitely seen the message. Our plan is working perfectly." Rina chimed in, a hint of excitement in her tone, "She's probably freaking out about Justin now. Let's just sit back and enjoy the show."
The trio continued to gossip, their conversation laced with malice and anticipation. They speculated about Bella's reaction, wondering how she would handle the situation and how Justin would respond. Talia leaned in closer, her voice taking on a conspiratorial tone, "I bet she's overthinking everything right now. Let's see how long it takes her to confront Justin"
As they spoke, they kept their eyes fixed on Bella, watching her every move and reaction, reveling in the drama they had orchestrated. Their plan was unfolding exactly as they had hoped, and they were eager to see the outcome.
****
Justin and John sat inside Justin's car, parked outside their classroom building. They had just finished a long and tedious class, and both looked relieved to be out of the lecture hall.
"Dude, that class was so boring," John said, stretching his arms and yawning. Justin nodded in agreement, "I know, right? I felt like I was going to fall asleep."
Justin pulled out his phone and checked his messages. He saw that Bella hadn't responded to his text, but her previous reply was brief and didn't give much away. He frowned, wondering what was going on.
"What's up, man?" John asked, noticing Justin's expression. Justin showed him the message on his phone. John raised an eyebrow, "She's being pretty vague. Do you think everything's okay?"
Justin shrugged, "I don't know. I've been trying to get a hold of her all day, but she's not responding like she usually does." John leaned back in his seat, "Maybe she's just busy. You know how she gets sometimes." Justin nodded, but he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off.
Justin looked concerned, his brow furrowed in worry. "I don't think she's just busy, John. She's been distant all day, and her responses are really short. When I asked if we could meet up, she said she was busy, but it didn't sound like her usual tone." John noticed the worry in Justin's voice and leaned in, "Maybe you should try calling her? Sometimes a phone call is better than texts."
Justin hesitated for a moment before picking up his phone and dialing Bella's number. As he waited for her to answer, he looked anxious, his eyes fixed on the phone screen. After a few rings, it went straight to voicemail. Justin's expression turned even more worried, "She's not answering. Something's definitely up with her."
"Give her some time, bro," John said. "She'll probably hit you back. And if not, you're Justin, you've got no shortage of admirers. Like, literally, the girl right there," he nodded to Justin's left, and Justin followed his gaze to see Chloe walking out of the classroom.
As Justin gazed over at Chloe, he didn't notice the flutter in her chest as their eyes met. She smiled warmly, unaware that John had just been teasing Justin about her. "Hey, guys! Just got out of class," Chloe said, walking up to them. Justin smiled back at her, "Hi Chloe," and John chimed in with a friendly "Hey, Chloe." As she approached, Justin's expression was pleasant, but his mind was still preoccupied with thoughts of Bella and her unexplained silence. Chloe seemed cheerful and carefree, unaware of Justin's concerns. "You look good," Justin said, his compliment automatic, but his attention still elsewhere. "Thanks, Justin," Chloe replied, smiling at the compliment.
Justin asked, "So, how's your health now? I noticed you weren't at the matriculation ceremony because of your sickness." Chloe's face lit up with a warm smile as she replied, "I'm doing much better now, thanks for asking. I was really not happy that i missed the matriculation ceremony, but I'm glad to be back on campus." She paused, her eyes sparkling with appreciation. "Actually, I was touched that you texted me to check in after the matriculation. It meant a lot to me." Justin's expression softened slightly, his thoughts about Bella momentarily pushed aside as he smiled back at Chloe. "No problem, glad you're feeling better," he said, his tone friendly.
"So where are you heading now?" John asked Chloe. "I was thinking of grabbing lunch at the cafeteria nearby," Chloe replied. "We're going to a nearby cafeteria too, want to come with?" Justin asked. "Yes, sure!" Chloe said, happy as she stepped into the back seat.
Back at Sugar & Brew cafeteria, Bella finished eating not quite long, Bella picked up her phone , keeping herself busy as kathy finished her food, the remnants of her (bella) food still uneaten. She looked drained, her usual sparkle dimmed by her current mood. Right after, Kathy finished her food and Kathy and noticed bella's mood, she immediately took charge, "Let's get out of here, it's getting late." Bella nodded weakly, and Kathy quickly settled the bill. As they stepped out of Sugar & Brew Cafe, Kathy led the way to their car, knowing Bella wasn't in the right state to drive. "I'll drive," Kathy said, taking the keys from Bella's hand. Bella didn't protest, her energy spent. With a quiet determination, Kathy drove them away from the cafe heading towards their apartment, the tension between them palpable..
***
The three girls kept gossiping and speculating about Bella's obvious distress, happy that their plans seemed to be working. They exchanged knowing glances, pleased to see Bella's bad mood, and knew it was because of the anonymous messages they had sent. Their conversation was filled with a sense of satisfaction, thrilled that Bella was reacting just as they had hoped.
A few minutes later, the door to the cafe swung open, and Justin, John, and Chloe walked in, their presence drawing subtle attention from other students in the cafeteria. Talia, seated facing the door, was the first to notice them, and her eyes widened in surprise as she took in the sight of Chloe laughing with Justin. She let out a discreet cough, trying to compose herself, and leaned in close to her friends.
"OMG, look who's here," Talia whispered, her voice barely audible over the background chatter. "Chloe's with Justin again." Melanie and Rina exchanged a knowing glance, their faces lighting up with excitement as they casually turned around to take a peek.
Talia's eyes sparkled with intrigue as she watched Chloe and Justin settle into a corner table. "This is absolutely perfect," she whispered, a sly grin spreading across her face. "We've got the ultimate ammunition now." Melanie and Rina nodded in agreement, their faces alight with anticipation.
The three girls exchanged excited whispers, their conversation punctuated by giggles and furtive glances at Chloe and Justin. "Let's get some pics of them together," Melanie suggested, her eyes shining with mischief. "We'll send them to Bella, and this time, we'll make sure she believes us fully, We'll have proof."
Rina nodded enthusiastically, already pulling out her phone to snap some discreet photos. "With evidence, she'll have to take us seriously. She'll see that Chloe's really been spending time with Justin." Talia's grin grew wider as she watched Rina work her phone magic. "This is going to be priceless. Bella's going to freak out when she sees these."
As Justin, John, and Chloe sat down, the waiter came over to take their order. After noting down their requests, he nodded and left to put in their order. The trio started discussing their classes, assignments, and a lecturer who was known for his humor.
"I swear, Professor Thompson's lectures are hilarious," John chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm surprised he doesn't have a laugh track." Chloe giggled and playfully rolled her eyes. "I know, right? He's always making jokes, even when time's running out." Justin grinned and added, "And his impressions of other professors are spot-on. I cracked up when he did that one guy's voice."
While they chatted and laughed, Talia took the opportunity to snap some photos. She discreetly held up her phone, trying to capture the perfect shot without drawing attention. Rina and Melanie watched with anticipation, their eyes fixed on the scene.
Talia took several photos, capturing Justin and Chloe's laughter and playful moments. Some photos showed them smiling together, while others caught Chloe leaning on Justin's shoulder, their heads bent together in amusement.
"Yes, this is perfect," Talia whispered, showing the photos to Melanie and Rina. "Look at this one, Chloe's leaning on Justin's shoulder, and they're both smiling like they're sharing a secret." Melanie's eyes widened as she looked at the photo. "Oh my god, this is amazing. Bella's going to freak out when she sees this."
Rina nodded in agreement, her face set in determination. "This is the proof we need. Let's send it to her and see how she reacts." With a sly smile, Talia began crafting a message, her fingers flying across her phone's screen as she prepared to send the photos to Bella.