Sona's POV
After Aria and her little group left for her house, I walked alone down the narrow street, my bag swinging at my side. The air smelled of dust and sweat, my head heavy from the exam and from everything that had happened. I just wanted to crawl into my bed and sleep off this miserable day.
That's when the purr of an engine made me glance up. A sleek Lexorge Panther, silver paint gleaming under the afternoon sun, rolled up beside me. Of course. Who else but Mirzand?
The tinted window slid down, and his smug face appeared. "Sona," he drawled, "going back to your hut?"
My jaw tightened. "Mind your own business."
He raised his brows, pretending to be hurt. "Hey, why so rude? I was just asking nicely. Do you want a ride?"
"No." The word snapped out of me before he could even finish. I turned away, walking faster. His car crept along beside me, engine humming like a taunt.
"Suit yourself," he said, voice dripping with mock sweetness.
I kept my eyes forward, fuming. Why did he always have to be everywhere I turned? Always teasing, always pushing—like he lived to see me explode.
Then, of course, fate had to betray me. My foot caught on a loose stone. I stumbled—straight into a shallow ditch of murky water. The splash echoed down the street, cold filth soaking into my clothes.
Laughter burst from the Lexorge like music on full volume. "Oh, Sona," Mirzand choked out between laughs, "you really do know how to make an entrance."
Heat rushed to my cheeks. My fists curled. I wanted to scream, to throw that smug grin right off his stupid face. But I was drenched, humiliated, and shivering. I had no choice.
I turned, glowering. "Fine," I hissed, "give me a ride."
He smirked like he'd just won a battle. "Now that's better."
I climbed into the passenger seat, water dripping onto the pristine leather. He wrinkled his nose dramatically. "You're ruining my car."
I shot him a glare sharp enough to cut glass. "Shut up and drive."
For a moment, the car was silent except for the low growl of the engine. Then he leaned back casually, one hand on the wheel. "You know, you're kind of cute when you're angry."
I whipped my head toward him, scandalized. "Excuse me?"
He just chuckled, eyes on the road. "Don't act so shocked. Everyone knows you've got fire. I like fire."
I crossed my arms, turning to the window so he wouldn't see the blush creeping up my neck. "You're insufferable."
"Maybe," he said with a grin I could hear even without looking. "But you didn't say I'm wrong."
I bit down on my lip, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reply.
And yet… somewhere between the sound of the engine, the glint of sunlight on his hair, and the warmth seeping back into my cold body, I felt something stir. Something I didn't want to admit.
Something dangerous.
Next day..
Street ____.
The road leading to KHSS was warm under the late morning sun. Aria hurried forward, her arms weighed down with a bundle of answer sheets. Her thoughts were crowded with calculations and plans—financial notes she needed to finalize before the batch meeting. She was late, but determined to reach.
Halfway through the lane, her path was blocked. A group of GHSS girls stepped into the road, their laughter cutting into the quiet.
At their center stood a girl who instantly drew every eye. Her hair, long and black, curled freely down her back, glinting under the light. Her eyes were sharp, glossy, and filled with a confidence that commanded the others without a word. Even in the neat folds of her school uniform, she carried an elegance that separated her from the crowd.
To her right stood another girl, equally striking, with sleek hair and a cruel little smile that suggested trouble. On her left, a girl in a pale hijab watched with narrowed eyes, her beauty soft yet her expression harsh. The three together looked like rulers of the street, with the rest of the group lingering behind them as their court.
The leader's voice cut through the air.
"So… this is the one? The girl Sinas was seen with at Café Corner?"
Aria froze. "Excuse me?" she managed.
The girl in hijab gave a sharp laugh. "Don't play dumb. Everyone saw you with him."
"Sinas doesn't belong with someone like you," the sleek-haired one said coldly.
Aria's grip on the answer sheets tightened. "Move," she said firmly, trying to push past them.
The leader's eyes narrowed. Without warning, she shoved Aria hard by the shoulder.
The papers flew out of Aria's hands, scattering high into the air. Sheets spiraled down into the dust, tumbling along the street as the girls laughed. Aria stumbled, hitting the ground hard, her palms scraping against the rough surface.
The leader bent slightly, her words sharp as glass.
"Stay away from Sinas. You'll regret it if you don't."
With that, she straightened and walked off, her two closest friends following at her side, the rest of the group trailing with mocking laughter. Their voices faded into the distance, leaving the sound of papers rustling against the ground.
Aria stayed crouched where she had fallen, gathering the scattered sheets with shaking hands. Dust smudged across the ink. Her breath came uneven, her chest tight with anger and humiliation.
She didn't know their names. Not yet. But she would.
The huge classroom of KHSS buzzed with impatience. Ninety-four students packed into the room, their voices overlapping in restless waves. At the front, the wooden desk stood empty, a bundle of chalk left untouched.
Everyone was waiting for one person.
But Aria hadn't arrived.
"She's not coming," a boy from the back muttered, his voice carrying over the low hum. "Probably ran away after yesterday. Too much for her to handle."
A girl snickered. "What do you expect? She's a golden spoon. Her kind never lasts here."
"She only acts tough," another chimed in. "One slap from reality and poof—gone."
The mocking words rippled across the room, gathering momentum. Some laughed, others nodded, and the air thickened with doubt.
Zorvath, seated at the edge of the front row, slammed his fist against the desk so hard the chatter broke into silence. His eyes, sharp with fury, swept across the room.
"Shut your mouths," he growled. "She's not the type to run. If any of you had half her guts, you wouldn't be sitting here whispering like cowards."
The room tensed. A few looked away, unwilling to meet his glare.
Sona crossed her arms, stepping forward with her chin high. "He's right. Aria doesn't quit. You don't know her, so don't judge." Her voice cut through the silence like steel.
But the students weren't easily silenced.
"Then where is she?" someone challenged from the corner.
"If she's really so strong, why is she late?"
Zorvath's jaw tightened. Sona's eyes blazed.
At the side of the room, Ruby sat with her arms folded, legs crossed neatly, her expression unreadable. She hadn't spoken a word, but her gaze flicked from face to face, watching, weighing, memorizing.
Near the doorway, sreya and Danvy huddled over a phone, worry etched across their faces. Sreya pressed call again and again, her lips trembling.
"She's not answering," she whispered.
Danvy raked a hand through his hair, trying once more. "Pick up, Aria… damn it, pick up."
The ringing tone filled the air for a heartbeat, then ended in silence.
The clock ticked. The voices started to rise again.
And Zorvath's temper was about to break.