The atmosphere inside Section E stayed tight even after Lia stepped out of the room. Everyone kept replaying her words in their heads.
"DNA test…" Jay whispered, staring at the floor. "Bro… she really said that."
Aries rubbed his face. "Of course she said that. She was shaking. You saw that, right? Lia never shakes."
Kiefer nodded slowly. "Yeah… she's not just angry. She's confused. That's worse."
Angelo sat at his desk, hands clasped tightly. "I… didn't know any of this. I swear. I thought she was just… my sister because Gema raised us together. Lara never told me anything about Kiara. Not even once." His voice was low, almost guilty.
Kit leaned against the wall. "So Kiara and Lia might be twins… and you didn't know?"
Angelo shook his head. "If I knew, do you think I'd hide it? Lia deserved to know. And honestly… I don't even know how to feel."
The room fell silent again. Everyone was thinking the same thing but no one wanted to say it.
If Lia is Kiara's twin… then what does that mean for everything that happened?
The door suddenly swung open and everyone shut up instantly.
Lia walked in like a storm disguised as a person. Calm face. Cold eyes. Stiff posture. Nobody dared breathe too loudly.
She didn't even sit. She looked directly at Angelo.
"You. Call your mom. Tell her we're doing the DNA test today," she said, her voice icy and steady.
Angelo swallowed. "Okay. I will."
"Aries, Jay, you two are coming too. Kiara as well. I'll talk to her later." Lia's voice didn't shake at all this time.
Everyone nodded—too scared to say anything.
Before anyone could speak again, the classroom door opened once more.
In walked a woman no one had seen before.
She wore heels that clicked loudly on the tile, an expensive perfume that felt like she wanted everyone to smell her, and a face full of attitude.
"Good morning, class. I'm Miss Brianna Cortez, your new temporary instructor," she announced with a proud smile, as if she gave people gifts just by showing up.
No one replied.
Brianna's smile faltered. "I said good morning."
Aries muttered, "Good morning" under his breath. The rest followed lazily.
But Brianna's eyes landed instantly on Lia—because of course they did.
Lia, who was standing with her arms crossed, silently intimidating the whole room without even trying.
"You," Brianna said, walking closer, chin high. "Why are you standing? Sit down. Unless you didn't understand my instruction?"
Kiefer, Aries, Jay, Mayo, even Angelo tensed immediately.
Kairav, who had been quiet so far, lifted his gaze slowly, already annoyed.
Lia didn't move.
She raised an eyebrow. Just one.
"I don't sit when I'm not done talking," she said calmly.
Brianna scoffed. "Excuse me? Is that how students act here? No discipline? No respect? I don't care who you think you are, you follow my rules in my class."
Lia blinked slowly, almost bored.
"I don't care who you think you are."
The whole class froze.
Brianna clenched her jaw. "What did you just say to me?"
Lia shrugged. "I said what I said."
"You have no idea who you're talking to," Brianna snapped.
"And you don't know who you're talking to either," Kairav finally said, voice deep and dangerous.
Brianna turned to him, ready to snap again—until she saw his expression.
But she still refused to back down. "Oh? And who are you? Her bodyguard?"
Kiefer coughed loudly, trying not to laugh.
Kairav leaned back in his chair. "Something like that."
Brianna rolled her eyes. "Unbelievable. This section is a mess. No wonder your reputation is—"
Before she finished, Lia spoke again, voice soft but sharp enough to cut glass.
"If you have something to say about Section E…" she stepped forward, "say it properly."
Brianna pushed her shoulders back. "Fine. This section is full of brats. And you," she said, pointing at Lia, "are clearly the worst one of all."
Everyone held their breath.
Lia's eyes darkened—not with anger, but with something deeper and colder.
Jay whispered, "Oh no…"
Lia tilted her head slightly. "What exactly do you think you can do to me?"
Brianna opened her mouth—ready to unleash more arrogance—but the door opened again.
Principal Ramos stood there.
He looked at Lia. Then Kairav. Then Angelo.
His face turned pale instantly.
"O—oh. You're all here. Miss Brianna, can I speak with you outside for a moment?"
Brianna smirked. "Of course, sir. I need support dealing with this attitude problem."
She left with Ramos, heels clicking.
The second she left, Section E exploded quietly.
"She's dead."
"Finished."
"Rest in peace, ma'am."
"Bro she doesn't even know who she provoked."
Lia didn't smile. She didn't joke. She simply sat down, silent again.
Kairav leaned close. "You okay?"
Lia nodded faintly. "Not really."
Angelo looked down at his hands. "I'll fix this. I promise."
But no one knew what was going through Lia's head.
Or how close everything was to exploding.
Because Brianna had no idea who she picked a fight with.
And Lia was only holding herself together by a thread.
When Brianna followed Ramos outside, the hallway stayed quiet for a few seconds. Then a sharp, muffled voice echoed through the door.
"Mr. Ramos, I don't care who they THINK they are, I refuse to let a bunch of rude kids disrespect me!"
Section E heard every word.
Jay covered her mouth. "She's… shouting at Ramos?? Bro, is she insane?"
Aries whispered, "She really wants to die."
Kiefer added, "She doesn't know the history… She really doesn't know."
Inside the room, Lia stared blankly at the door. Her fingers tapped lightly on the desk — a sign only Angelo and Kairav understood.
She was trying not to snap.
A minute later, the door opened again.
Ramos came in first, sweating, shaking, looking like he had just run a marathon blindfolded. Brianna followed, still smug.
Ramos' eyes went straight to Lia.
He gulped.
"Good… good morning, students. Miss Brianna will continue the lesson. Please be… cooperative."
His voice cracked on the last word.
Then he escaped — literally walked out as fast as he could without running.
Brianna closed the door behind him and smirked.
"See? Even your principal agrees. Now—"
She turned around and instantly stopped talking.
Because no one — not a single person in Section E — looked scared.
They were staring at her like she had made the biggest mistake of her life.
Brianna cleared her throat. "Let's continue."
She walked toward the board, writing loudly with the marker, pretending she didn't notice the tension.
But she couldn't ignore it forever.
Because halfway through the attendance check, she called out:
"Lia."
Kairav instantly turned his head.
Angelo straightened.
Jay and Aries stiffened.
Lia lifted her eyes lazily. "What?"
Brianna raised a brow. "You answer with 'yes, ma'am,' not 'what.'"
Lia leaned back in her chair. "I answer how I want."
The whole room held its breath.
Brianna clenched the attendance sheet. "You think this attitude is acceptable?"
"No," Lia said calmly. "I think it's mine."
Eren let out a tiny gasp. Freya slapped her own forehead. Mayo mouthed, "Bro, it's over."
Brianna marched to Lia's desk.
"You will respect me or you—"
Lia looked up slowly.
"Or what?"
Brianna froze. That cold silence—the weight of it—was heavier than any shout.
Kairav's fingers twitched.
Angelo leaned forward in his seat.
Jay whispered under her breath, "Don't provoke her… please don't provoke her…"
But Brianna wasn't done.
"I don't care about your little attitude," she said loudly. "You are just a student. And you will not intimidate me."
And then she made a fatal mistake.
She slammed her hand on Lia's desk.
Kiefer's chair squeaked.
Aries stood up instinctively.
Kairav was already halfway out of his seat.
Lia didn't move—but her eyes did.
Straight to Brianna's hand.
Then to her face.
"You touch my desk again," she said softly, "and I will throw you out of the window."
Brianna jerked her hand back like she touched fire. "You can't talk to a teacher like that!"
"You're not acting like a teacher," Lia replied. "You're acting like a problem."
Silence.
Brianna swallowed hard but didn't back away. "I will report you to the chairman! My father won't tolerate this—"
"Good," Lia said. "Call him."
That shut Brianna up immediately.
For the first time, she looked unsure.
Because no normal student talks like that.
No normal student stares a teacher in the eye like they're equals.
And no normal student makes the room feel like a storm is about to start.
Just then, the bell rang.
The entire class shot up, relieved.
Brianna turned away, muttering, "This isn't over."
Lia stood up too.
But the second Brianna left the room, Lia swayed slightly — just for a moment.
Kairav caught her arm. "Hey. Sit."
"I'm fine," she whispered, shaking him off gently. "I just need air."
Angelo walked beside her without being asked.
Jay followed.
The rest of Section E piled out behind them, staying close like a protective wall.
Because they could all feel it:
Lia wasn't angry anymore.
She was exhausted.
Confused.
Hurting.
Trying to stay strong — and fail as silently as possible.
And something much bigger was coming.
No one knew what it was yet.
But they could feel it in the air.
The last thing Lia said before leaving the hallway was:
"If Brianna wants to start a war… let her. But I'm not breaking first."
And she walked away.
Kairav and Angelo exchanged a glance.
Something was about to explode.
And this time… it wouldn't be a fight in the hallway.
It would be something messier.
Deeper.
Personal.