Back in class, Selen sat at the back row, leaning against her seat, fingers tapping rapidly on her tablet. A colorful arcade game filled her screen—her way of ignoring the noise of whispers still echoing about her cafeteria showdown. Every now and then, she smirked as she caught fragments of students gossiping about Sofia's humiliation.
Meanwhile, back in the cafeteria, Sofia stood frozen. Her cheeks burned, not just from anger but from the laughter that erupted around her. Dozens of students were still giggling, some whispering behind their hands, others bold enough to laugh openly.
"You saw her face—like she'd been slapped for real!"
"Guess the school queen just got dethroned."
The words pierced Sofia's pride like knives. Rage boiled inside her. She slammed her tray off the table, grabbed a bottle of water, and stormed toward the restroom.
In front of the mirror, she splashed cold water on her face. Droplets slid down her flawless skin, but her reflection only mocked her with the reminder of defeat. She gripped the sink so tightly her knuckles turned white.
"I swear…" she hissed, her voice trembling with fury. "I'm going to make that bitch pay."
Her eyes hardened, glowing with malicious determination.
---
The bell chimed again, signaling the end of break. Students began drifting back toward their classes, the halls buzzing with chatter.
Among them was Lucy, the scholarship girl. Her oversized uniform sleeves nearly swallowed her wrists as she clutched her bag against her chest, hurrying down the hall. Her steps were quick, nervous—she always tried to make herself invisible, especially now that she'd accidentally crossed Sofia earlier.
But fate wasn't kind.
BAM.
Lucy slammed into a solid wall of muscle. She stumbled back, her bag almost slipping from her shoulder. Heart racing, she looked up—and froze.
"I—I'm so sorry," she blurted, words tumbling out in a rush. "I didn't mean to, really, I didn't—please, I'm sorry!"
"Hey, relax," came a low, amused voice. "It's fine. Just… next time, watch where you're going."
Lucy's hands scrambled across the floor. "My glasses—I can't see—"
A strong hand reached down, holding them out to her. "Looking for these?"
Her heart skipped. She pushed the glasses onto her face, and when the world came back into focus, she nearly stopped breathing.
Felix.
The Felix. The school's brooding bad boy. Brown hair messy yet perfect, his dark hoodie hanging loose around his sharp frame, and that eyebrow piercing glinting under the hallway lights. Up close, he was even more dangerous than the whispers made him out to be.
"O-Oh my God…" Lucy whispered before she could stop herself. "It's you."
He smirked, leaning closer. "Stop drooling, glasses. You'll catch flies."
Her cheeks flamed red. Mortified, Lucy clutched her bag tighter and turned to run. But fate tripped her again—literally. Her shoe caught on the edge of the tile, and she pitched forward.
Before she could hit the ground, arms shot out, steadying her.
Felix. Again.
For a moment, everything froze. Her eyes locked with his, wide and unguarded. His gaze, usually sharp and mocking, softened—just for a second. The air between them felt charged, like a silent conversation neither dared voice.
Then he smirked, breaking the spell. He let her go gently.
"You should pay me for catching you," he teased, his voice dripping with mischief. "A quick sex would do."
Lucy's eyes went wide. "P-Pervert!" she yelped, before spinning on her heel and bolting down the hall, face crimson.
Felix chuckled, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Such a weirdo," he muttered, though the smile lingering on his lips betrayed his amusement.
---
Unbeknownst to them, someone had seen everything.
Angela.
She stood at the corner of the hallway, her nails digging into her palm as she glared at Lucy's retreating figure. Angela, one of Sofia's loyal followers, had long nursed a crush on Felix. She adored his dark charm, his carelessness, his dangerous edge. But he had never so much as glanced at her.
And now… a scholarship nobody?
Her fists clenched tighter. Jealousy flared in her chest like wildfire.
"That little bitch," Angela seethed under her breath. "If she thinks she can take Felix from me, she's dead wrong. I'll make her regret even looking at him."
Her eyes burned with the same venom Sofia's had just hours ago.
---
Back in his classroom, Felix strolled in casually, late as always. He slumped into his seat, a lazy grin tugging at his lips as he thought of the clumsy girl with glasses.
Strange. For the first time in a long while, something had actually caught his interest.