The house was unusually quiet. Lia sat at the edge of her bed, staring at nothing, her hands clenched into tight fists. The events of the day played over and over in her mind — Kiara spreading rumors from Section A, the hallway fight, and the humiliation she felt knowing everyone in the school was whispering about the Kiara matter.
Her phone buzzed repeatedly, but she ignored it. Messages from Jay, Angelo, Aries… even her mom, all unread. She didn't care.
The only person allowed in her space was Kairav.
Kairav knocked softly on her door.
"Lia… you okay?"
She didn't answer immediately. Her jaw tightened. Then, in a low, calm voice:
"Don't tell anyone. Nobody. Only you can know. Understand?"
Kairav nodded.
"I understand. But… you can't keep this bottled up forever. You need a plan."
Lia's eyes flickered at him. Finally, she spoke:
"I know. I have a plan. But first… I need to see who's honest and who's pretending."
The next day, Lia returned to Section E. The hallway felt tense. Whispers followed her like a shadow. Everyone was trying to guess what she knew, what she'd seen, what she might do.
But Lia didn't speak to anyone. Not Jay, not Angelo, not Aries. She walked through the hall like a silent storm — everyone stepping aside instinctively.
Even Kairav stayed slightly behind her, like silent bodyguard.
From her seat in class, Lia watched:
Jay kept glancing nervously at her.
Angelo was avoiding eye contact completely.
Aries looked guilty, fidgeting with his pen.
Section A, where Kiara sat, was buzzing with whispers — clearly spreading rumors about Lia and Jay.
Kairav whispered, "She doesn't even need to say anything. Everyone's scared. Even Section A."
Lia didn't reply. She only tightened her grip on her notebook, her mind racing.
By lunch, Lia had made her decision:
Step 1: Keep her distance from everyone except Kairav.
Step 2: Observe every action, every glance, every whisper — especially from Section A.
Step 3: Decide who is loyal, who is weak, and who is dangerous.
Step 4: Plan carefully… and strike only when she is ready.
Kairav sat beside her, silent, letting her thoughts flow. No one else could get close. Not today. Not until Lia said so.
Lia had regained control, silently and flawlessly.
Section E and Section A were anxious, unsure of what she knew.
Kiara, in Section A, still didn't realize that Lia knew everything she had spread about her and Jay.
Kairav was the only one in the room who could speak freely with her.
The quiet in Lia's world was dangerous.
And everyone knew — this storm was only beginning.
The school day passed quietly, but not for Lia.
She didn't speak to anyone in Section E — not Jay, not Angelo, not Aries. Her gaze was sharp and calculating, watching every movement, every whisper, every glance from the other sections.
Kairav walked beside her in the hallway, careful to stay within earshot but not too close to distract her.
Lia finally spoke, but only to Kairav.
"Listen. I need to know exactly who is loyal and who isn't. Who's honest, and who's just pretending."
Kairav nodded.
"Okay… but how? They all know about Kiara now."
She smirked faintly, a dangerous glint in her eyes.
"Exactly. I'll test them. Little by little. Watch. Observe. And I'll decide who deserves my trust."
In Section A, Kiara was buzzing with gossip, unaware that Lia knew every single word she had spread.
"Did you hear what Lia did?" Kiara whispered to her friends.
"She's so… crazy," one girl replied, shivering.
"Yeah, she fights everyone, and now she's… untouchable," Kiara added nervously.
Little did she know, Lia's eyes were metaphorically watching her from afar.
During lunch, Lia deliberately observed her friends:
Jay laughed a little too hard at a joke, glancing toward Lia.
Angelo kept his distance, shifting uncomfortably.
Aries tried to act casual, but his fingers tapped nervously on the table.
Even Keifer and Kairav stayed alert, silently ready to intervene if Lia made a move.
Lia didn't speak. Not a word. But her eyes alone conveyed authority and power.
Kairav leaned over quietly.
"They're scared of you."
Lia gave a faint smile.
"Good. Let them be scared. Fear sharpens honesty."
When school ended, Lia returned home. The house was silent. She didn't talk to anyone — not her mother, not Jay, not Angelo. Only Kairav followed her quietly, sensing the tension.
She went straight to her room. Kairav knocked softly.
"Are you… okay?"
Lia didn't answer immediately. Finally, she spoke:
"I've seen everything. Everyone knows about Kiara. Everyone except you. Don't tell anyone."
Kairav nodded silently.
"I won't."
For the first time all day, Lia relaxed slightly. Her trust in Kairav was absolute. Everyone else could wait.
The rest of the evening passed quietly. Lia didn't speak, didn't eat much, and stayed in her room planning her next steps. Kairav remained nearby, silently supporting her, the only person she could fully trust in a world where everyone else knew too much.
By the time night fell, Lia's thoughts were clear. She wasn't just angry — she was prepared.
And with Kairav by her side, she felt ready to face whatever came next.