Ayla's POV
Days passed after Sophie's return and the whole school seemed to revolve around her. Everyone clowned around just to make her laugh and when she smiled, that smile was contagious. She smiled at everyone, even at me, and I could finally see why they called her the Goddess of Solaria.
Apart from Eden, she's the only person in Solaria who actually calls me by my name, Ayla, and not some weird nickname or "Elena's shadow," Lima, or whatever else they use to describe me.
She was always very clingy to Elena. Honestly, she was like a leech on her, always sticking to her. And the funny thing, Elena was like a leech on me, never giving me a second to breathe without her around.
Later, I found out that both their families had been friends for years, which made them childhood friends. They went to the same middle school, high school, and even spent most holidays together. No wonder Sophie's the only one Elena is nice to, the only person who doesn't get that famous death stare of hers.
Everything was going fine. I even started seeing Sophie as my goddess and I began doubting all the things people said before she returned, like how my days wouldn't be good once she came back. I believed she truly was a goddess.
Until one Wednesday morning.
The moment the teacher stepped out after morning assembly, Sophie came straight to our seat.
"Here," she said, placing a bottle of orange juice in front of Elena. "Your favorite. I grabbed it from the campus café. I saw it and immediately remembered it's been your favorite since childhood."
Elena raised a brow and pushed the bottle back. "I don't take orange juice anymore," she said flatly. "She already got me strawberry juice this morning." She gestured toward me, pulling out the bottle I'd bought for her earlier in the campus café. "I changed my preference. Strawberry's my favorite now."
Every morning, I always bought strawberry juice from Eryne Café, a big café in the school premises. Strawberry is my favorite, so I always get it every morning. I noticed that sometimes when I got mine, Elena would end up taking it, so I started buying for her too. She never complained, no matter the flavor.
Sophie frowned slightly. "Didn't you always hate strawberry for its sour taste?" she said, taking the strawberry bottle from Elena and replacing it with her orange juice.
"Yes," Elena said, snatching it right back. "But I just realized I love it now. Maybe because I never got to taste it much before. Sometimes that sourness is what makes strawberry different from all the other sweet juices."
I sat there watching them argue, dragging the bottles back and forth, all this over a drink.
"Alright, alright," I said, making both of them turn toward me. "There's no need for a whole drama over fruit juice. Why not just mix both or maybe take one in the morning and the other later? Or return mine and take hers."
"No," they both said at the same time, eyes fixed on me.
"It should be one favorite drink at a time," Elena said firmly, finally snatching her strawberry juice away from Sophie.
Sophie's expression darkened. Without another word, she turned and stormed back to her seat. It was the first time I'd seen her face like that, not smiling, not soft. For the first time, I saw something cold behind that perfect image. I just sat there, wondering why they'd made such a fuss over a mere drink.
Later that day came the one class I wished didn't exist, P.E.
Swimming.
Every Wednesday, like clockwork, the whole class filed down to Solaria's indoor swimming facility. An Olympic-size pool surrounded by pale marble, with tall glass windows letting the afternoon light stream in. The air smelled faintly of chlorine and lavender. The water sparkled so beautifully it almost mocked me. Because truth be told, I hated swimming. Not because I disliked water, but because I didn't know how to swim.
That day the P.E. teacher hadn't arrived yet, so everyone scattered. Some in the locker rooms, some near the pool, dipping their feet and laughing. Sophie, as usual, was in the center of it all, drawing attention like a magnet. Every joke she made landed, every toss of her golden hair drew sighs from people around her. Even in a simple swimsuit, she looked like she'd stepped out of a glossy magazine.
Me? I sat quietly at the edge of the pool, clutching my towel tightly, dipping my feet into the water and splashing it softly. I wasn't scared of water, just swimming.
Elena wasn't there that day. She'd told me earlier to go ahead without her. She had something to discuss with Mr. Donovan about our literature project. Eden, my only real friend, wasn't there yet either, probably still changing, since swimming was her favorite activity.
So for once, I was alone. Free. Peaceful.
Until.
"Why are you sitting there?" Sophie's voice cut through my thoughts.
I looked up. She stood above me, her hair tied in a neat ponytail, droplets glistening on her shoulders. That faint, perfect smile was back.
"I'm just waiting for the instructor," I said quickly.
She tilted her head. "You don't like swimming, do you?"
I smiled awkwardly. "It's not really my thing. I kind of wish it didn't exist."
Her lips curved, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. "That's fine. Not everyone can be good at everything, right?"
The way she said it, kind but not kind, made something twist inside me.
Before I could reply, she asked, "Elena's not coming, right?"
"She's not here yet," I said. "She had to see Mr. Donovan about the literature project."
Her smile flickered for a second. "Oh. That's nice."
She crouched beside me, eyes glimmering. "You know, Ayla, I've been meaning to ask, what are you really to Elena? What's going on between you two?"
I blinked. "What do you mean?"
"Well," she said softly, her tone sweet but sharp. "Everywhere she goes, you're there. She barely lets anyone else near you. You must be really special to her."
Her words were coated in honey but laced with glass.
I swallowed hard. "Special? I'm more like a pet to her. She's always around, never letting me have peace."
"Pet," she repeated slowly, her smile deepening. "Doesn't seem that way. It almost looks like you two are hiding something. A secret maybe."
A secret? Who would want to share a secret with a devil? She's been tormenting my life and finding joy in my misery.
"Actually she—" I started to explain, but Sophie cut me off.
"You know what? Would you mind switching dorms with me?" she said suddenly. "Like leave her dorm and move into mine and I move to yours. I stay in Queen's Dorm too but not the penthouse, though you might've seen me once or twice."
"Really?" I said, standing up a little, a flicker of hope lighting in my chest. Finally, someone is coming to save me. Maybe this was my way out from Elena's shackles. No wonder everyone called her a goddess.
I almost said yes, almost, but then I remembered Elena's warning. Her threats. The way she said my family would suffer if I ever defied her and I should never think of leaving her side.
"No," I said quietly, lowering myself back down, dipping my legs in the water again.
"Why?" Sophie asked. This time her tone was different, lower, colder.
By now, most of the students had started heading to the lockers, getting ready for warm-up laps. The room had gone quieter, leaving only the echo of water against tile.
"I… I can't," I said softly. "I really want to but I don't think I can."
Before I could finish, Sophie was already standing. My legs were still stretched out in the pool when she turned slightly to leave.
I looked up, ready to stand and explain, to tell her the whole truth, but before I could, I felt a sudden hard nudge from behind.
A kick.
It was quick, silent, so small that no one would ever notice.
My balance slipped. The edge disappeared beneath me. The world tilted, and before I could even gasp, I was underwater.