⭐ CHAPTER 4 — Vanessa Starts a War
The next day began with the kind of energy that warned Amara something terrible was coming.
The hallways were too loud.
The whispers were too obvious.
And the stares were far too direct.
Tolu met her halfway to class, already wide-eyed.
"Don't panic," Tolu said immediately, which only made Amara panic more. "But… Vanessa did something."
Amara stopped walking. "What did she do?"
Tolu exhaled loudly. "She posted something on her status. And it's going around the school."
Amara's stomach dropped. "What status?"
Tolu pulled out her phone like she was handling a bomb.
On the screen was a picture — not of Amara, but of her back, taken yesterday under the mango tree. Her uniform, her hair, her bag… instantly recognizable.
And captioned boldly:
"Girls forcing themselves on boys that don't want them. Fake relationships are so embarrassing."
—Vanessa
Amara stared at the phone.
At first, she didn't feel anything.
Then everything hit her at once — humiliation, confusion, anger, panic.
"She took a picture of me?" Amara whispered.
"Without your permission," Tolu added. "And blasted it everywhere. People are posting it on their stories. The juniors are talking. The seniors too."
Of course they were.
Vanessa wasn't just popular — she was dangerously popular. The kind of girl who looked innocent but operated like a strategist.
She was the pretty girl with the perfect braids, a sweet laugh, and the ability to spread drama without ever raising her voice.
Amara closed her eyes.
She should have expected this.
Vanessa wasn't the type to accept losing quietly — especially losing Kyle.
"Let's just go to class," Amara said quietly, exhausted.
But the day wasn't planning to be gentle.
Because the moment she turned the corner, she saw Vanessa herself — leaning against the wall with two of her friends, smirking like she owned the hallway.
"There she is," Vanessa said loudly, as if announcing a celebrity sighting.
Students stopped walking.
Heads turned.
Whispers rose like smoke.
Amara tried to walk past, but Vanessa stepped forward.
"Ami baby," Vanessa said in a sugar-sweet voice, "I saw you with Kyle yesterday. Again."
Amara kept walking, refusing to make it worse.
But Vanessa laughed — the kind of laugh that demanded attention.
"I mean, I understand desperation," Vanessa continued. "Kyle is handsome. Smart. Everybody wants him. But pretending he's dating you? That's extreme."
Amara stopped.
Not because Vanessa's words hurt — though they did — but because the hallway had gone quiet again.
And then, a familiar voice cut through the air like a blade.
"What did you say?"
Kyle.
He didn't shout.
He didn't raise his voice.
He didn't need to.
The hallway parted for him automatically as he walked toward them.
His eyes were cold.
Sharp.
Focused entirely on Vanessa.
Vanessa straightened, her confident smile twitching just a little.
"Kyle," she said sweetly, flipping her braids. "We're just talking. No need to look so serious."
"You're not talking," he said calmly. "You're disrespecting her."
The crowd gasped.
Even Amara froze.
Vanessa blinked. "It's just a joke."
Kyle's jaw clenched. "Your jokes aren't funny."
Vanessa's friends exchanged nervous glances.
"Well," Vanessa tried again, "I just think it's embarrassing to pretend—"
"Pretend what?" Kyle stepped forward. "That we're together?"
Vanessa swallowed. "Kyle—"
"Say it," he said quietly.
The silence was so thick it felt like the air had stopped moving.
Vanessa bit her lip. "I didn't mean to offend you."
Kyle shook his head slowly.
"You didn't offend me," he said. "You offended her. And that's a problem."
The hallway erupted in whispers.
Someone actually dropped their notebook.
Amara couldn't breathe.
Why was he saying it like this?
Why was he defending her like she mattered to him in real life?
Vanessa's calm façade finally cracked.
"I'm not scared of you, Kyle," she snapped. "Everyone knows what's going on. You're only pretending with her because you don't want—"
"Enough."
Kyle's voice sliced the air.
Vanessa flinched.
"Delete the post," he said.
"I—"
"Now."
His tone wasn't angry.
It was controlled.
Quiet.
Dangerous.
And that was somehow worse.
Vanessa's lips trembled. She unlocked her phone with shaky fingers, tapping furiously.
"It's gone," she whispered.
Kyle didn't thank her.
He didn't look relieved.
He just stared at her with a blank expression that made her look suddenly small.
Then he turned to Amara.
"You okay?" he asked softly.
That was the moment Amara's entire world spun.
Because his voice changed when he spoke to her.
Softer.
Gentler.
Different.
"I'm fine," Amara whispered.
Kyle nodded once and placed a hand lightly on her back, steering her away from the crowd.
Nobody dared to follow.
Not even Vanessa.
⭐ OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
Kyle didn't speak until they were alone, away from the whispers.
When he finally stopped walking, Amara turned to him.
"You didn't have to do that," she said, trying to sound calm.
"Yes," he said simply. "I did."
"She'll hate me more now."
Kyle shrugged. "Let her."
Amara stared at him. "You don't get it. This is going to get worse."
Kyle stepped closer, his eyes never leaving hers.
"Then I'll handle it."
"Why?" Amara whispered.
Kyle's gaze softened — dangerously.
"Because you're mine," he said quietly.
Amara's breath caught.
He immediately corrected himself.
"Fake mine," he added quickly, looking away.
"Obviously. That's what I meant."
But the slip was already out.
Already echoing in the space between them.
Amara didn't know what to say.
"Kyle…" she began.
He looked back at her. "Yeah?"
"People are going to talk."
"Let them talk."
"They'll twist everything."
"They always do."
"And Vanessa—"
"Vanessa is not your problem."
His tone was final.
Amara swallowed, feeling a tension she could not name.
Kyle stood there silently, studying her, his expression unreadable but intense.
Then, very slowly, he reached forward and brushed her sleeve.
"Don't let anyone make you feel small," he said softly.
"Not them. Not Vanessa. Nobody."
Amara's heart stuttered.
For a brief moment, she forgot this was fake.
Forgot the rules.
Forgot everything except that Kyle was standing close enough for her to feel his warmth.
"Come on," he said finally, stepping back.
"I'll walk you to class."
"Why?" she whispered again.
Kyle didn't smile.
He didn't joke.
He just answered honestly.
"So nobody bothers you again."
⭐ BACK IN CLASS
Vanessa walked in ten minutes later, eyes red, face stiff. Students watched her like they were waiting for the next episode.
When her gaze landed on Amara, something flickered — resentment, anger, maybe fear.
But Amara didn't look away.
Because for the first time since this fake relationship started…
Kyle wasn't the only one breaking rules.
She was starting to break them too.
And she wasn't sure she could stop.