Westbridge didn't explode with drama.
It leaked it.
Quietly.
Strategically.
The first sign came in the form of a document.
A screenshot.
A message that started circulating in private student groups late that night.
By morning, half the campus had seen it.
Anaya opened her phone to twenty unread messages.
Aarav leaned over her shoulder.
"What did you do now?" he asked lazily.
She ignored him and opened the first forwarded message.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
It was a screenshot of a supposed email exchange.
Between her.
And a faculty member.
The message implied she had requested special consideration during the leadership evaluation process.
In simple terms—
It suggested she had tried to manipulate the system.
Aarav whistled softly.
"That's not subtle."
"No," she said calmly.
"It's stupid."
Because the email formatting was wrong.
The timestamp inconsistent.
And the faculty name misspelled.
But rumors didn't care about accuracy.
They cared about momentum.
By the time she reached campus, whispers had already started.
"Did you see the email?"
"Looks bad."
"Maybe that's why she's pushing reform."
Some believed it.
Some didn't.
But doubt had entered the conversation.
And doubt was dangerous.
Across the courtyard, he was already waiting.
He held his phone up slightly.
"You've seen it."
"Yes."
"You're very calm."
"Because it's fake."
"I know."
A pause.
"You're not angry?" he asked.
"I'm irritated."
"Difference?"
"Anger wastes time."
He almost smiled.
"Kiara?" he asked.
"Obviously."
"Too obvious."
"Exactly."
Which meant the sabotage wasn't meant to convince everyone.
It was meant to create hesitation.
And hesitation affected votes.
They started walking toward the main hall.
Students watched openly now.
Not just curious.
Evaluating.
"Damage control?" he asked.
"No."
He glanced at her.
"No?"
"If we defend too fast, we validate the rumor."
"Then?"
"We expose it."
"How?"
She stopped near the notice board.
"Publicly."
He raised an eyebrow.
"You're planning something."
"I always am."
At that moment, Kiara appeared on the upper staircase.
Perfect posture.
Perfect expression.
Perfectly neutral.
But her eyes flickered briefly toward them.
Checking.
Measuring.
Anaya noticed.
And smiled slightly.
That was the moment Kiara realized—
The rumor hadn't destabilized her.
It had annoyed her.
And annoyance made Anaya sharper.
Later that afternoon, a campus announcement appeared.
Open Leadership Forum — Tonight.
All shortlisted candidates invited to address concerns publicly.
Students erupted with excitement.
Drama.
Debate.
Public confrontation.
Westbridge loved nothing more.
In the courtyard, one of his friends looked at the notice board and laughed.
"Oh this is going to be brutal."
The tall one shook his head.
"She's baiting them."
He looked toward the building where Anaya had just walked inside.
"Yes," he said quietly.
"And someone just took the bait."
Because tonight—
Westbridge wasn't going to watch rumors.
It was going to watch war.