Perfect! Let's continue the story with Lia starting her first strategic moves atThe next The next morning, Lia entered the school with the same calm, commanding presence as always. Her eyes swept across Section E, noting every student's posture, every glance, every nervous twitch. She didn't speak to anyone — not Jay, not Angelo, not Aries — but the tension around her was palpable.
Kairav walked beside her quietly, as always, ready to observe and support. He had become her shadow, her confidant, the one person who knew the full extent of what she was thinking.
As they passed the hallways toward their classroom, Lia noticed Section A students whispering and glancing her way. Kiara was at the center, smirking, confident that Lia had no idea what she had done. Lia's eyes narrowed, but her expression didn't change. The smirk alone was enough to make Kiara fidget slightly.
During first period, Lia made her first move. She subtly shifted her seating, intentionally positioning herself where she could observe multiple sections at once. She dropped a pencil near Jay's desk and let it roll in front of Angelo, watching how each of them reacted. The slight movements, the hesitation, the careful glances toward her — everything was a test.
Kairav leaned closer, whispering, "They're all on edge, but they're not sure why."
"That's exactly how it should be," Lia replied softly. "Fear sharpens honesty. I'll see who really cares, and who's pretending."
By lunchtime, whispers from Section A had spread further. Kiara, unaware that Lia had been watching, leaned toward her friends, whispering once again about Lia and Jay. But Lia remained untouched by the rumors. She didn't raise her voice. She didn't confront them. She didn't even look directly at them.
She simply sat, calm and controlled, observing. Every movement in Section E was cataloged. Every smirk from Section A, every flicker of nervousness, was stored in her mind.
Kairav handed her a notebook quietly. "Are you writing this all down?"
"I don't need to," Lia replied. "I remember everything. It's all in my mind."
By the time the final bell rang, Lia had gathered enough information to know exactly who could be trusted, who was uncertain, and who would falter if pushed. She didn't celebrate, she didn't speak, she simply walked through the emptying hallways with Kairav at her side, her mind already planning the next steps.
Section E students felt the weight of her presence without her saying a word. Section A students, especially Kiara, remained oblivious to how closely Lia was watching. And Lia? She was already calculating her next move, the first real step in taking control of the situation and making sure no one ever underestimated her again.