The morning sun bathed the dining table in a warm golden light as the smell of toasted bread lingered in the air. Angel sat across from her dad, staring quietly into her cup of tea. Her spoon clinked against the ceramic as she slowly stirred, lost in thought.
Mr. Gabriel glanced at her over his newspaper, noting the faraway look in her eyes. "You're awfully quiet this morning," he said, lowering the paper. "Everything okay?"
Angel hesitated, then looked up slowly. "Dad... there's something I want to tell you."
He set his paper aside, instantly alert. "I'm listening."
She took a deep breath, her fingers nervously playing with the edge of her sleeve. "Dan... he said he likes me and asked me to be his girlfriend."
Mr. Gabriel blinked, eyebrows slightly raised, but his expression remained calm. "I see. And... what did you say?"
"I didn't give him a full answer," Angel admitted. "I told him I liked him too. Because I do, Dad. I really like it."
There was a long pause before her father leaned forward and spoke gently. "Angel, I know what it's like to feel that way at your age. I really do. And I know Dan has been there for you these past few months—especially after the truth about your adoption came out."
Angel nodded, her eyes starting to sting. "He was one of the first people who made me feel normal again. Like I wasn't broken."
Her dad's eyes softened. "I've seen the way he looks at you. And the way you look at him. I don't doubt that his feelings are genuine."
"Then... Why the rule?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why can't I just be happy with him now?"
Mr. Gabriel gave a long, thoughtful sigh. "It's not because I want to punish you or stop you from experiencing things, Angel. It's because I want to protect you. These years are precious—and fragile. You're just beginning to understand who you are and what you want in life. A relationship, no matter how sweet at first, can complicate that."
Angel's brows furrowed, disappointment flickering in her eyes.
"I'm not saying Dan isn't a good person," he continued. "But if he truly cares for you—and I believe he does—then he'll respect your journey. He'll wait."
Angel looked down, her throat tightening. "It just feels unfair. Like I have to choose between doing the right thing and being happy."
"You don't," her dad said gently. "You're allowed to feel everything you feel. Just... trust the timing. And trust that love—real love—doesn't rush. It builds."
There was a silence between them, heavy but not cold.
"I know it's hard," Mr. Gabriel added. "But you've already shown so much strength, Angel. And I'm proud of you. Not just because of your grades or the competition—but because you always try to do what's right."
Angel wiped her eyes quickly. "Thanks, Dad."
He smiled warmly. "You'll know when the time is right. Until then... just be you. That's more than enough."
. . .
While Ridgewood Academy buzzed with exam preparations, Isabel was silently crafting a plan so dangerous it could destroy everything Angel had worked for. And this time, she made sure there were no loose ends.
The students were focused—eyes buried in textbooks, whispers replaced with page turns. Dan often hung around Angel and her friends after class. He rarely said much, but his presence was comforting, grounding Angel as she pushed herself to her limits.
Angel was determined to excel, to make her father proud and to prove that she truly deserved the scholarship. She studied late into the night and often submitted her papers early, confident in her answers.
Isabel, while naturally intelligent, often leaned on malpractice to secure her high grades though she usually ranked just below Dan.
---
When the results were posted, the hallway erupted with chatter.
"I knew you'd top it!" Vicky squealed, hugging Angel tightly.
"She left no room for competition," Mira added with a proud smile.
Angel stood in stunned disbelief. She had ranked first in her class—and by a wide margin. From the whispers around them, it seemed she may have topped the entire school.
Dan walked over from his own class, smiling softly. "I came first too. I guess we're a power duo now."
Angel laughed, cheeks warm. But the joy was short-lived.
A panicked student ran up. "Angel! The teachers are opening your locker—they say you're being investigated for cheating!"
"What?!" Angel gasped, her heart pounding.
"They found a flash drive with all the exam questions inside... someone reported you."
The color drained from Angel's face. Her legs weakened as the hallway erupted in gasps and whispers. Dan's eyes immediately narrowed. "Who reported it?"
"Isabel," the student replied.
Angel was soon summoned to the staff room. Her friends and Dan walked beside her, their faces hard with determination.
"We believe in you," Mira said.
"We'll find the truth," Dan promised.
—
Inside the staff room, Mr Gabriel was already seated, looking calm but tense.
"Angel," one of the teachers began, "a flash drive containing all the leaked exam questions was discovered in your locker. You are currently under investigation for academic misconduct."
Her voice trembled. "I didn't... I would never..."
Mr. Gabriel rose to his feet. "There will be no judgment until a full investigation is done. My daughter has worked too hard for this to be treated as an open-and-shut case."
The headteacher nodded reluctantly. "However, if she is found guilty, her scholarship will be revoked—and she will be expelled."
The weight of the words crushed her. Angel left the room with tears in her eyes, her father's arm around her