CHAPTER 15 — "Sabotage Is a Boring Hobby, Agnes."
Navira's POV
Agnes wakes up and chooses violence.
I wake up and choose productivity.
That's the difference.
It's been one day since the results, and Agnes is still in emotional ruins.
Her face at breakfast? Puffy. Aggressive.
Like a little raccoon who lost a fight behind a dumpster.
I bite into my toast politely while she stares at me like I ate her destiny.
Vivienne: "Agnes, sweetheart, drink your juice."
Agnes: glare
Victor: "Navira, pumpkin, you too."
Agnes: glare intensifies
Alden watches me over his coffee mug like he's observing a live grenade.
Alastair watches me like he's trying to calculate the blast radius.
I'm honored.
School — Sabotage Attempt #27
Agnes storms into school with the determination of someone planning a TED Talk on why her life is unfair.
She corners me at my locker.
"Listen, Navira," she starts, chin lifted. "I know what you're doing."
I blink at her.
"Breathing? Existing? Studying?"
She scoffs. "You're pretending to be innocent to make me look bad!"
"I don't need to pretend," I say calmly, shutting my locker.
Her mouth opens and closes like a malfunctioning fish.
"For your information," she snaps, "people LIKE me here. They'll always choose me."
"Okay," I say, walking off.
"Don't walk away from me!"
"I'm not," I say, still walking. "I'm gliding."
She sputters so loudly that Jasver, who was unfortunately approaching, freezes like a sudden wildlife encounter.
"Navira," he says, smiling like a fool, "morning."
Agnes's soul leaves her body.
I nod at him. "Morning."
He blushes so hard it's embarrassing.
Agnes sees red.
I can practically hear her internal monologue:
THIS. WHITE-HAIRED. DEMON. IS RUINING. MY LIFE.
Perfect.
She stomps away, and I savor the moment like fine chocolate.
Teacher Trouble — But Not for Me
Second period, my adviser pulls me aside.
"Navira," she says gently, "we need to talk about your future."
I blink.
Oh?
Already?
She smiles wide.
"We want to recommend you for the National Academic Competition. It's invitation-only, highest level."
I stare at her blankly.
Internally? I'm applauding myself.
She continues, "We'll need to meet your parents to discuss—"
"No," I say instantly.
She blinks. "No?"
"I mean," I correct smoothly, "they're… busy. Very busy."
And very unaware that their "mediocre-scoring child" is actually the school's academic nuclear weapon.
The teacher nods sympathetically.
"Oh, I understand. I'll call them soon."
…
Oh.
That's inconvenient.
Agnes, who overheard, drops her pen loudly.
She glares at me like she's trying to curse me with her mind.
Sabotage Attempt #28
At lunch, Agnes makes her move.
Her plan?
Pathetic. Predictable. And hilarious.
She "accidentally" bumps into me while I'm holding a tray.
Her friends gasp.
She waits for me to spill food everywhere so she can scream "SHE ATTACKED ME!"
Unfortunately for her…
I hold the tray steady without a single shake.
Physics and balance: 10/10.
Agnes's acting: 0/10.
I tilt my head.
"Are you alright? Low blood sugar?"
She growls—actually GROWLS—and storms off.
Her friends scatter behind her like confused pigeons.
Whispers, Whispers Everywhere
Throughout the day:
"Navira is so calm."
"I heard she got almost PERFECT scores on ALL subjects."
"Agnes must be so mad…"
"The brothers keep watching Navira like bodyguards."
"No… like they're scared of her."
I smile to myself.
Good.
Fear is healthier than worship.
Home — The Explosion Begins
When I get home, Vivienne greets me with a gentle smile.
"Sweetheart, your adviser called."
Ah.
Here we go.
Agnes watches from the corner, pretending to look uninterested while vibrating with hope that I'm in trouble.
Victor sets down his newspaper.
"What did the school want, pumpkin?"
"They want to place Navira," Vivienne says, eyes shining, "into an advanced academic program!"
Agnes's jaw drops.
Victor looks confused.
"Advanced? But she said she didn't do great."
"I did say that," I agree, sipping water innocently.
Agnes explodes.
"She's LYING! She's pretending! She's manipulating you all!"
Victor frowns. "Agnes, don't accuse your sister."
"She's NOT my sister!"
Vivienne gasps.
Alden and Alastair stiffen.
Agnes continues, voice hysterical:
"You're all falling for her stupid act! She's—she's— she's EVIL!"
Victor stands. "Agnes. Enough."
Agnes looks betrayed. "Why do you always take her side?!"
I watch quietly.
No need to speak.
She's destroying herself beautifully.
She runs upstairs dramatically, slamming the door like a soap opera actress.
Vivienne sighs tiredly.
"She's just stressed… teen girls, you know?"
Alden mutters, "She's losing it."
Alastair glances at me. "…What DID you score?"
I smile warmly.
"Enough."
Their suspicion spikes.
I walk upstairs without another word.
Night — The Brothers Investigate
Later that night, as I pretend to organize my desk drawers, I hear footsteps.
Alden and Alastair whispering outside my room.
"She's hiding something."
"Obviously."
"We need to check."
"Victor will kill us."
"She's… dangerous."
I almost laugh.
They open my door slowly, quietly — subtle as elephants.
I keep my back to them, pretending I didn't notice.
They check my bookshelf.
My laptop.
My drawers.
My trash bin.
They find nothing.
Because the important things are always where people least expect.
Finally, Alden says:
"She's too calm."
Alastair whispers back:
"Calm people scare me."
They leave.
I smirk.
Good.
They should be scared.
Final Scene — A Promise to Myself
When the house goes silent, I take out the mock result sheet again.
Rank 1.
Perfect.
I slide it back under my mattress.
Not yet.
Not yet.
This is more than a test score.
It's a sword.
And swords must be revealed only when the room is FULL of enemies.