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Principal's Office at Brighton Wisdom (Evening)
The air in the Principal's office at Brighton Wisdom was cold, a stark contrast to the late-autumn evening outside. The heavy curtains were drawn, and the only light came from a single, imposing desk lamp that cast sharp shadows across the room.
Gabriella stood rigid before Principal John. Her school uniform—a green blazer over a white blouse—was wrinkled, and a noticeable smudge of black soot marred the shoulder. She still wore her heavy backpack, the straps digging into her shoulders, a burden she seemed too weary to shed.
Principal John, a man whose face was usually by a smile, now wore a severe expression. His tie was slightly loosened, a rare sign of distress. He leaned on his mahogany desk, his gaze unwavering.
"How is this program in a mess, Gabriella?" Principal John's voice was firm, laced with disappointment. "It's your responsibility, isn't it? To conduct the program well? Then how did this happen? Ryan got sick, too. Gladly, he is fine."
He began to pace, his leather shoes silent on the thick carpet. "I can't understand what's going on." John turned abruptly to face her, his eyes searching hers. "Tell me. Nothing happened like this before in this school."
Gabriella remained silent, her eyes fixed on a point just past his shoulder, seemingly listening only to the distant hum of the building's ventilation.
Principal John sighed, running a hand over his tired face. "I don't know what to say. As a school representative, it's your responsibility to make everything normal."
Gabriella finally looked up, meeting his eyes. They were a dull gray, but held a fierce conviction.
"I know," she said, her voice quiet but steady. "I will."
She didn't wait for a dismissal. She simply turned and walked out of the office, the click of the latch echoing the finality of her departure.
A Warm Embrace
As she stepped out, Gabriella immediately pulled out her phone and called her assistant. "Bring someone to repair the Brighton Wisdom school auditorium," she instructed, her tone all business. "Normal, as before."
She hung up and headed for the main staircase. The walls of the stairwell were lined with polished wood panels, reflecting the muted lights from the floors above. Her steps were slow and heavy as she descended, the weariness finally catching up to her.
When she reached the wide, marble-tiled Entrance Hall, she saw a tall boy standing with his back to her, silhouetted against the grand glass doors. He was wearing the school uniform—the familiar green and white.
Gabriella narrowed her eyes, a flicker of recognition mixed with suspicion.
The boy turned.
It was Han.
Gabriella stopped, staring. Han came closer, his face etched with a rare, sincere concern. He noticed the bandage peeking out from beneath the sleeve of her blazer. He suddenly reached out, gently but firmly taking her left arm.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice low and caring as he looked at the burn wound on her hand. "Someone said you got hurt in the stage fire."
Gabriella tried to shove his hand away, but Han wouldn't let go. His eyes were full of a gentle worry she hadn't seen from him before.
"I'm fine," she finally murmured. "Where were you then?"
"I was escalating some students who got injuries to the nursing room," Han explained.
Gabriella looked down, muttering a noncommittal "Mm."
"If you don't feel well, come with me. I will bring you to the hospital," Han offered.
Gabriella felt a sudden, sharp jolt—a genuine warmth of brother's love she hadn't realized she missed. She politely denied, shaking her head slightly.
Han lowered his voice even further, his gaze hardening slightly. "I know Raina did it."
Gabriella's eyes snapped up.
"I know her well," he continued. "She won't leave anyone alone who messes with her."
Gabriella smirked, a bitter twist of her lips. "Are you here to warn me?"
Han met her gaze squarely. "Yes."
Gabriella finally pulled her hand free, holding it out defiantly. "I don't want your advice."
"But one of you has to stop," Han insisted. "Then this fight can come to an end."
Tears began to well up in Gabriella's eyes, a rare, raw display of emotion. "I am not the one who started it! It's her, your friend!" She was close to shouting. "Do you know why I am revenging her?"
Han listened intently, his expression softening to pure empathy.
"Listen," Gabriella continued, her voice trembling. "I didn't tell anybody before, but I'm telling you now. Maybe your Raina hasn't told you. She bullied me. She destroyed my face."
Han's eyes widened in disbelief.
"My real face," Gabriella confirmed, the pain in her voice palpable. "Erica did it for Raina. Because of those bastards..." The first tear finally rolled down her cheek. "My mother got a heart attack. Do you know? My family's peace shattered into pieces after that!"
She stared at Han, her eyes blazing red. "Now look. She dared to hurt the innocent, too! Do you want me to leave it?" She screamed the last word. "No! I won't!"
She wiped her tears away with the back of her uninjured hand. "If you really consider yourself my brother, don't tell me to stop. Instead, tell her!"
Suddenly, Han stepped forward and enveloped Gabriella in a tight hug. She froze, eyes wide with shock.
"I won't," he whispered simply.
Gabriella's eyes flooded with tears again. She hesitated, unsure of what to do, then slowly, tentatively, she hugged him back. For the first time in her life, she felt the real, comforting warmth of a brother's love.
A View from the Balcony
From the second-floor Balcony overlooking the entrance hall, a long, dark nail tapped rhythmically on the glass railing.
"Oh, so brother and sister reunited," a voice whispered, full of mocking sweetness. The speaker bit her lip, a spark of pure anger igniting in her eyes.
"Are you angry?"
The figure turned. It was Raina, a malicious smile instantly lighting up her face. She was impeccably dressed, her long, dark hair sleek and perfect. The person next to her was Jake. They were both watching Gabriella and Han hugging below.
"No," Raina said, her smile disappearing. "I even separated you and her . It's not a big deal to separate her from Han." She winked, completely confident.
Jake didn't react. He was lost in a memory: a grainy camera footage of him carrying a seemingly fainted Gabriella in his arms. In the video, Gabriella had opened one eye and smirked at the camera, a clear wink aimed right at Raina. She had been acting.
Raina snapped her fingers in front of his eyes. "Jake!"
He blinked, back in the present.
"Remember," Raina instructed, a wicked glint in her eyes.
Jake just smirked.
Below, Gabriella and Han finally separated from their warm embrace. Han walked out first. Gabriella turned to follow, then stopped. Something made her look up.
She saw Raina and Jake on the balcony. Her angry gaze locked onto Raina.
Raina simply smiled and smirked, her lips moving without a sound, whispering a promise only Gabriella could read.
"Wait for my next move."
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