That Senorita girl is really something else. How could she do that to Sugar?" Malaya muttered, slamming her locker shut in frustration.
"She did that to him, and that's not even the problem," Preya replied, arms folded as she leaned against the wall. "What baffles me is how Sugar just let her go after everything."
"Maybe he didn't want to fight her because she's a girl," Malaya offered.
Preya scoffed. "The Sugar we know doesn't give a damn about gender. If you cross him, he'll bury you-male or female. No mercy."
Malaya turned to the quietest among them. "Liliana, you're awfully quiet. What's going on in that pretty little head of yours?"
Liliana blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. "Sorry. I was... lost in thought."
"You always are when it concerns Sugar," Preya teased.
Liliana's mind was racing. "I need to check on him. I'll catch you girls later." She brushed past them, her heart pounding with conflict.
---
Sugar's Room – Evening
"Does your lip hurt much?" Liliana asked softly, sitting beside him, her eyes sharp with concern.
"You don't have to worry, Lili. I'm not a kid anymore-it's just a small cut," Sugar replied with a charming grin, trying to play it off.
Liliana frowned. "A small cut? That girl practically assaulted you. And you... just let her walk?"
"She deserves to be punished," she added, her voice hardening like a blade in a velvet sheath.
Sugar chuckled. "You sound more pissed than I am."
"Of course I am! I care about you, and she crossed the line!"
"I appreciate it. But you're gonna give yourself high blood pressure at this rate." He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "You trust me, right?"
Liliana hesitated, her heart drumming wildly, then nodded. "Then relax. I'm fine. Really."
She studied him, emotion swirling behind her eyes. "Can I sleep over in your room?"
His expression darkened slightly. "You can't. I don't want the students to get the wrong idea."
Liliana's face tightened. "You don't want them to misunderstand... or are you expecting someone tonight?"
Sugar blinked. "Well... maybe both? Look, I see you like a sister. People already whisper that we're together. If they see you leaving in the morning, it'll only add fuel to the fire."
She nodded, swallowing her hurt. "I understand. You're just looking out for me."
He smiled gently, ruffling her hair. "Exactly."
Liliana forced a smile, but inside her heart thundered in protest. Looking out for me, my foot.
Who said I want you to view me as your sister?
Do I look like I care what the students are saying? Can't you see it, Sugar? I love you...
She walked away from the only boy who had the power to shatter her heart-in the sweetest and most devastating way.
---
Next Morning – Senorita's Room
Senorita's phone buzzed aggressively on the nightstand, yanking her out of sleep. She groaned, reached for it, and swiped to answer.
"Senorita," Mrs. Leo's voice boomed through the speaker.
"Good morning, Mother," she yawned.
"Keep the greeting. Every time I hear about you, it's always bad news! 'Senorita did this, Senorita did that.' Are you trying to kill me with stress?!"
"Chill, Mother. Nobody's dying of high blood pressure. I'm sorry."
"That's what you always say, but each term you get worse. This is a new term. Can't you leave your bad habits in the past?"
"I promise I'll change."
"You said that last term! And now, disrespecting teachers? Did I raise you to be rude?"
"I said I'll change!" Senorita snapped, then paused. "Sorry... I meant it, okay?"
"You better," Mrs. Leo grumbled. "Now get dressed. And Senorita?"
"Yes, Mother?"
"No more trouble. Please."
"Got it. Love you."
"Love you too."
The call ended. Senorita hissed and tossed her phone across the bed.
"Change, my foot," she muttered, dragging herself to the bathroom. "I don't go looking for trouble-trouble just can't leave me alone."
---
Classroom – Later That Day
"Hello everyone!" Anabel chirped from the front of the class. "I'm throwing a sleepover party tonight, and you're all invited!"
She turned to Senorita. "Especially you. Please come with the other girls-it would mean a lot."
Senorita smirked. "Thanks for the invite, Anabel. We wouldn't dare miss the first party of the semester."
Excited chatter erupted across the room.
"Oh my gosh, Sugar, you're too hot-I can't breathe!"
"Jett, you look amazing!"
"Loord, that jacket? Fire!"
"Sugar, I'll pay for just one hour with you!"
The college heartthrobs-Sugar, Jett, and Loord-walked in, igniting a storm of fangirl hysteria.
Moments later, the teacher entered. "Settle down, everyone!"
Jett and Loord slid into seats behind Senorita, while Sugar dropped into the one beside her.
"Crazy bitch," Sugar muttered.
"Ugly jerk," Senorita shot back.
"I'm assigning partners for the project," the teacher announced. "Your seatmate will be your partner."
"No way!" Senorita protested.
"Why not?"
"I can't be paired with this thing."
"Who the hell are you calling a thing?" Sugar snapped. "I should be the one complaining. I'd rather be paired with an animal than an ugly duckling like you."
"Ugly duckling?!" Senorita screamed. "I'm the hottest girl on campus!"
"Anyone who talks to you has to be a lunatic," Sugar fired back. "Only a madman talks to a madwoman."
"And you're a sex-starved jerk who only opens his mouth to insult women!"
"You're nothing but a wide hole who's only useful when her legs are open!"
"Enough!" the teacher roared. "Detention. Both of you. Now!"
---
Detention Room – One Hour Later
"Now, because of someone, I have to waste six hours arranging dusty-ass books," Senorita grumbled, slamming a book onto the shelf.
"Whose fault is that?" Sugar asked with a lazy grin.
"Yours!" she snapped.
"I should be blaming you," he said, picking up another book.
They both reached for the same one.
"Let go!" Senorita hissed.
"I picked it first."
They locked eyes in a silent standoff. Then, suddenly, Senorita let go. Sugar stumbled backward with a thud.
"Witch! What the hell is your problem?!"
"You said let go, didn't you?" she said, folding her arms. "Now you fell and you're blaming me? Get lost!"
She turned to leave-but misstepped.
Her balance slipped.
Time slowed.
Senorita felt the world shift under her feet. Gravity betrayed her. In one chaotic, cinematic heartbeat, she toppled forward-
And crashed straight into Sugar.
Their lips collided in a fierce, unplanned kiss. The air froze.
Everything stopped.
Mint. Heat. Hands on her waist. His breath against her skin.
Then-
The door creaked open.
Loord and Jett walked in, jaws dropping in cartoonish disbelief.