The air in "The Daily Grind" coffee shop was warm, heavy with the scent of roasted beans and cinnamon. Sun streamed through the tall, arched windows, illuminating dust motes dancing over their small, round table.
Dona wore a simple, dark olive sweater and black jeans, her expression tight with concentration as she stared into her lukewarm coffee. Her younger brother, Andrew, a lively boy around ten years old, was the center of attention. He wore a brightly coloured hoodie and perpetually muddy sneakers.
Beside him, Gabriella was the picture of relaxed elegance in a cream-coloured silk blouse and tailored beige trousers. A plate of blueberry muffins sat untouched between them, but Andrew was busy charming Gabriella.
"...and then Mr. Harrison said my homework was 'creative' which is a nice way of saying wrong," Andrew giggled.
Gabriella laughed, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him. "You sound like a fun trouble-maker, Andrew. Do you want another one of those muffins? They're getting lonely."
Andrew, whose manners were quickly overruled by his appetite, nodded eagerly. Gabriella adored his charming, slightly naughty nature.
Suddenly, Dona broke the comfortable silence, her voice flat and serious. "I only remember... that someone sprayed something on my face yesterday after that..."
Gabriella's bright smile tightened, and she gave a sharp, subtle shake of her head—a signal for not now.
Quickly changing the subject, Gabriella leaned toward the boy. "Andrew, listen. Your sister and I need two minutes of boring grown-up talk. Could you be my taste tester? Go over there and select which cake you want from the showcase."
Andrew, easily distracted by the promise of sugar, happily left their table.
"Mm," Gabriella hummed, trying to diffuse the tension.
"Actually, afterwards I can't remember anything," Dona pressed, her eyes searching Gabriella's face. "Do you..."
Before she could finish, Andrew was back, his mission accomplished. He slammed his hands on the table. "I want Donuts, not cake! The glaze looks way better."
Gabriella chuckled, thinking about how quickly kids changed their minds. "Yes, sure. I will buy it for you, little man."
"No," Dona said immediately, her tone sharp. "He has tooth decay. Don't buy it."
Andrew's wide smile instantly vanished, replaced by a deep pout. He turned to Gabriella, his lower lip trembling slightly. "I wish I had a sweet sister like you... not like Dona."
Gabriella covered her mouth to stifle a laugh.
Dona's face flushed with anger. "Hey! You should feel better because you have me! I'm the one who makes sure you don't get sick!"
Gabriella pulled a sleek black card from her wallet. She handed it to the boy. "Go on. Buy whatever you want, as long as it's not too many donuts. Bring me back a coffee."
Andrew's eyes lit up. He grabbed the card and ran off to the counter.
"I want a little brother exactly like him," Gabriella sighed wistfully, watching Andrew go.
"Then you can have him," Dona replied carelessly.
"You don't understand," Gabriella said, a shade of sadness touching her voice. "Because you have a brother, you don't know how I feel. I'm bored as a single child."
Dona softened and smiled, teasing her friend. "Yes, I have one, so you don't understand how much trouble I get because of him. You don't know about it since you haven't got a brother."
Gabriella returned the smile, but Dona's expression suddenly turned serious again.
"Do you know that I fainted because they sprayed something on my face?" Dona's voice was barely a whisper, demanding the truth. "You said you were only acting fainted... then why did you leave me there?"
Gabriella's smile disappeared completely. She hesitated, looking down at her hands. "I couldn't wake up because... Jake thought that I actually fainted. But everything happened so fast... so..."
Dona stared at Gabriella's eyes, her own filling with a powerful, emotional plea for an honest answer.
Gabriella whispered, "I forgot."
A drop formed in Dona's eye, threatening to fall. She laughed, a short, painful sound. "You forgot me?" The tear finally slipped down her cheek.
Gabriella leaned forward, worried. "Dona, I... I..."
Dona stood up abruptly, knocking her chair slightly backward. "You didn't still consider me as your friend, am I right?"
Gabriella was stunned, unable to answer.
Dona spun around and walked out of the coffee shop without looking back.
Andrew appeared near the table, holding the card back out to Gabriella. "Where is my sister going?"
Gabriella forced a smile onto her face, though she felt a sudden, tight knot forming inside her chest. "Little fight. She'll be fine."
She asked the staff to pack the display donut they had discussed earlier, then placed the box in Andrew's hands.
"Look," Andrew said, frowning at the door, "she forgot me. She left me here."
"She didn't," Gabriella reassured him gently. "Look, over there. She's waiting for you in the car."
Andrew spotted the car. Before running off, he looked back at Gabriella. "Don't worry. She's always like this. I know, she fights a lot with me too. Okay, bye!"
He darted out. Gabriella stayed, quietly waving until he was gone.
The Grand Hall
It was a bright, bustling morning at Brighton Wisdom School. The grounds were filled with students streaming into the formidable stone building.
Raina stepped out of her luxurious black car. She was dressed impeccably, as always, in a pristine white uniform shirt, a sharply tailored black skirt, and a silk scarf tied perfectly at her throat. She walked inside the grand entrance hall, the polished marble floor causing her expensive leather shoes to echo loudly.
High above her, on the second-floor balcony overlooking the hall, Gabriella was leaning against the railing. She watched Raina's entry with an intense, unblinking gaze.
Raina, sensing the weight of the scrutiny, casually glanced up at the second floor. Her movement stopped dead. She saw Gabriella staring down at her from the balcony. After a moment of silent, mutual scrutiny, Raina merely tightened her jaw and continued on her way toward her first class.
The Second-Floor Standoff
On the second floor, a vibrant discussion was taking place in one of the classrooms. Around thirteen students were sitting in a circle, surrounding Gabriella, who was leading the conversation.
Raina, walking down the hall, spotted the group. She was curious, maybe even suspicious, about what was going on. She slowed her steps, casually walking near the open classroom door, pretending to be distracted. Gabriella saw Raina and smiled, a tiny, self-satisfied twist of her lips. Raina, however, did not notice she had been seen.
A group of students asked, "Then how are we going to use the old Silverstorm room?"
Gabriella narrowed her eyes dramatically, making a show of considering it. "A storeroom? Is that okay?"
Outside the class, Raina froze in her tracks. She was instantly pissed. With a low, frustrated groan, she slapped the flat surface of a nearby pillar. Gabriella saw the movement and the flash of rage—and visibly enjoyed it.
"But that room is super cozy," one student argued. "It has so many facilities. How can we use that room for storage?"
"Yes," another student quickly added. "Every student dreams of entering that room just once!"
Gabriella tapped her chin. "Then fine. That room stays exactly how it was before. But..."
Raina listened intently from the hallway.
Gabriella's voice carried clearly: "If anyone wants, you can use the Silverstorm room for everyone, however they want. It's for the whole school now."
Raina's eyes widened in utter shock. She stood there, frozen for a full ten seconds, unable to process the dismantling of her private domain.
She finally tried to move, but a fresh shock ran through her—Gabriella was suddenly standing right in front of her.
Raina recovered with a smirk. "You... wanna tease me again?"
Gabriella shrugged. "That's boring."
Raina was about to storm off, but Gabriella stopped her, sharply snapping her fingers close to Raina's ear.
"Then what the hell do you want?" Raina demanded.
Gabriella gave a slow, deliberate smile. "Girl, don't keep yourself low."
Raina stared, confused by the strange taunt.
"I am really curious about how you are feeling now," Gabriella continued, her voice light and mocking, "because... you're not queen now."
Raina's smirk returned, harder and colder. "You are right. I am not." She leaned in, staring deep into Gabriella's eyes. "But... it doesn't mean it will stay that way. Not anymore." Her teasing tone suddenly dropped to a dark growl. "I will get back my position."
Gabriella laughed heartily. The students inside the classroom peered through the window, watching the drama unfold.
"Don't mind us," Gabriella called out to them, though her smile vanished instantly. She fixed her gaze on the students and ordered sharply, "Mind your business." The students immediately turned away.
Gabriella turned back to Raina, her voice dropping to a low, husky register. "Look. I'm the queen now, and your daydream of a return is never coming true."
Raina's control snapped. She grabbed Gabriella's hand tightly, her nails digging in. Raina groaned, her words a venomous hiss. "Don't think that you can escape from a snake after stepping on its tail." She smirked, a genuine look of menace crossing her face. "I will bite you."
Gabriella's smile returned, cold and terrifying. "You're wrong. I am not human. Actually... I'm your enemy." She stared at Raina with raw vengeance. "Eagle. You are in my feet. No snake can escape from an eagle's feet."
Gabriella smiled, a victorious, chilling expression, and turned to walk away.
Raina sharply clapped her hands together to grab Gabriella's attention. Gabriella turned back, her eyebrow arched.
Raina, her voice tight with unfulfilled rage, said, "Wait... for... my... turn..."
Then, without another word, Raina spun around and walked away, her pace furious.
Brighton Wisdom Canteen
The canteen area was loud and chaotic, but a pocket of tension centered on the table where the Silverstorm members sat.
Raina, Selina, Han, and Ronnie were huddled together, the standard school lunch trays before them.
"I miss our private room too badly," Selina complained, pushing her plate away. "Look at this! I didn't like this food even when we had the room, but now it tastes worse."
Raina, still reeling from the confrontation with Gabriella, didn't seem to notice the food.
"Did you talk to your sister?" Raina asked Han, her eyes narrowed in scrutiny. "What did she say?"
Han, his expression coolly neutral, took a bite of rice. "She said... she won't."
Raina raised an eyebrow.
Han answered casually, "Yes. She won't interfere in our business anymore."
Ronnie scoffed, laughing a little before his face twisted into anger. "I can't believe it. No one believes her! She's definitely planning something against us." Selina nodded vigorously in agreement.
Han sighed. "She won't. But one thing... I know you won't listen to me either. I have a small piece of advice for you that is..." He drank a sip of his juice, then placed his hand flat on the table, leaning forward with the look of a cunning player. "You can do whatever you want. Even bullying. But one thing you must remember: Do it without her knowing."
"What?" Selina scoffed, leaning back. "We don't fear your sister." She smirked dismissively.
Han ignored Selina.
Suddenly, the distinct sound of fast, heavy footsteps grew louder, approaching their table.
Selina stood up in disgust. "I've had enough. I couldn't eat this food anymore." She made a face as if she was about to vomit. Raina was about to stand as well.
But before she could, a figure turned Selina around abruptly.
Selina's eyes widened in terror. A strong, muscular hand, tensed with nerve-jangling force, was about to punch her face, but it stopped a few inches away. Selina stood frozen, a statue of fear. All she could see was a shining silver ring on his small last finger, embedded with the unmistakable symbol of Aa.
A hush fell over the entire canteen. Everyone was too afraid to move. Han stood up slowly, shocked. Ronnie was equally stunned. Raina couldn't believe her own eyes, realizing one of them—one of the Silverstorm member —was standing openly against them.
It was Jake. His eyes were locked on Selina, blazing with fury. Selina was drenched in cold sweat. Jake was incredibly, terrifyingly angry.
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