"You've been selected to contest for Miss Royal Academy!" Elsa announced, breaking into a wide smile.
Angela blinked in surprise.
"Really? But… I don't even know if I can win this." She hesitated, her voice lowering. "Elsa, you know Fiona will definitely join too, just to compete with me. And honestly… I don't want that."
"Hey," Elsa said gently, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Don't let that discourage you. I'll be right beside you every step of the way. Trust me, I'll help you through it. You don't have to be afraid."
Angela looked at her, then nodded slowly, comforted by her words.
Meanwhile…
Fiona and her friends gathered at the park, their expressions far from friendly. The air around them felt tense, filled with quiet hostility as they discussed their next move.
"I'm telling you, Angela had something to do with what those girls did to us," Julie said, her tone sharp with suspicion. "And now she's already leading as the Face of Royal Academy. We can't just sit back and let that happen. Fiona, you're the queen of this school, you can't let her take your place."
Fiona's lips curved into a cold smile.
"Oh, she will regret ever crossing my path… and even stepping into this school," she said slowly, her eyes gleaming with intent. "I'll make sure everyone sees who she truly is."
She paused briefly, folding her arms as her smile deepened.
"Something… interesting things are about to unfold."
*
Angela and Elsa made their way toward the hall, chatting quietly, when Angela suddenly stopped in her tracks.
Chris.
He was standing just a few steps ahead.
A spark of joy lit up her face instantly, her heart lifting at the sight of him after days of absence.
"Chris! What kept you away for three days?" she asked, her voice carrying both relief and curiosity.
He barely looked at her.
"It's nothing, Angela," he replied curtly before walking past her without another word.
Angela stood frozen, her smile fading as quickly as it had appeared.
Elsa glanced between them, frowning.
"I don't think he's okay… That's the first time he's ever brushed you off like that."
Angela let out a quiet breath, her gaze dropping.
"I don't even know what I did wrong," she murmured. "Maybe I've just been fooling myself all this while… building dreams that were never real."
Her voice grew heavier with each word.
"Being in love with Chris… it was probably just a fantasy. I mean, who would ever choose someone like me?" she added bitterly. "Now that Fiona is back, I think it's time I let go. There was never a chance for us anyway."
Elsa turned to her, surprised.
"And what makes you so sure of that?"
Angela shook her head slowly.
"We're worlds apart, Elsa. Chris comes from a wealthy family, people like him always have expectations to meet. His parents would want someone perfect… someone worthy." She paused, her voice lowering. "Not a poor orphan like me. Maybe I should just accept reality and stay within my place."
"Angela, don't say that. You've always believed in dreaming big, what changed?"
Angela gave a faint, tired smile.
"I still do… just not in this case. Deep down, I've always known that loving Chris wouldn't be easy."
"But the way he looks at you…" Elsa insisted. "It feels like he cares."
Angela shook her head again.
"No, Elsa. He's just being kind. That's all it is. Someone like him deserves better… someone more put together than me."
Her voice faltered, her eyes glistening as she fought back tears.
"Hey, girls!"
Jerry's cheerful voice cut through the moment as he approached them.
Angela quickly brushed away the moisture from her eyes and forced a smile.
"I've missed you so much, Angela," he said warmly.
Elsa glanced at them, sensing the shift.
"Well, I'll leave you two to talk. See you later," she said before walking away.
Angela turned back to Jerry, trying to steady herself.
"So… how was your holiday? I didn't hear from you."
"Yeah, I'm sorry," he replied. "My family travelled, and things got busy. I couldn't even come by to see you." He smiled softly, reaching for her hand. "I really missed you."
Angela hesitated for a moment but didn't pull away.
"It's okay… I missed you too. But I should probably get going," she said, her voice slightly unsteady.
"Angela, please… don't push me away," Jerry said, his tone turning serious. "I thought we were still friends."
"Of course we are," she replied, nodding gently.
They began walking side by side toward the garden, their hands still loosely connected.
Jerry slowed down, his expression growing more intense.
"Sometimes, I can't imagine my life without you," he said quietly. "Angela… I just want a chance to be part of your world. Please, think about it again. Can't you feel what I'm trying to say, even without the words? Having you close… it means everything to me."
Angela looked away, uneasy.
"Jerry… Please, let's not go over this again. My answer hasn't changed."
He stopped walking.
"Really?" His voice sharpened. "So you still can't consider me… all because of someone you say you love?"
His frustration spilled over.
"Are you really that cold, Angela? Don't you care that this hurts me?" he demanded. "What kind of person does that make you?"
Before she could respond, he turned and stormed off, anger evident in every step.
Angela remained there, staring after him.
Slowly, she sank onto a nearby bench, her thoughts spiralling in every direction.
Everything felt complicated, too complicated.
Chris distance.
Jerry's confession.
Fiona's return.
She pressed her hands together, her mind restless.
Maybe… I should just give Jerry a chance, she thought, uncertainty weighing heavily on her heart.
Angela lay stretched across her bed, her eyes drifting toward her wristwatch.
10:00 p.m.
She let out a quiet sigh, surprised that sleep had completely escaped her. The night felt unusually long, weighed down by thoughts she couldn't silence.
Her mind wandered to her dancing team.
It had been three weeks.
Three whole weeks, and not a single message, not a call, not even a simple check-in.
Did they really just cut me off like that? she wondered, her chest tightening. The thought left her unsettled, a dull ache settling deep within her.
Then, as if her mind wasn't already crowded enough, Chris slipped into her thoughts.
The way he had avoided her… the cold distance in his voice…
It replayed over and over again.
A sharp sting filled her chest, and before she could stop herself, tears slid quietly down her cheeks, soaking into the pillow beneath her.
Everything felt like it was falling apart at once.
Across town, Fiona sat upright on her bed, her attention fixed on her phone.
She had been waiting.
Anticipating.
The moment it finally rang, a slow smile crept onto her lips as she picked it up immediately.
"I'm willing to pay you any amount," she said in a hushed tone, her voice steady with intent.
There was a brief pause before the caller responded.
"When do we proceed?"
"Tomorrow, we'll meet," Fiona replied calmly. "She usually goes out to parties at night… though I'm not entirely sure about her schedule now. But Saturday should work."
She paused briefly, her expression sharpening.
"I'll confirm everything through someone close to her."
Her fingers tightened slightly around the phone.
"I just need you to get her intoxicated… make sure she loses control. After that, take compromising pictures, something that will ruin her reputation completely."
A faint, satisfied smile curved her lips.
"Understood," the caller replied. "We'll meet tomorrow."
The line went dead.
Fiona lowered the phone slowly, her eyes gleaming with dark satisfaction.
"I'll make sure Angela is thrown out of this school," she murmured to herself. "And this time… she'll regret ever stepping into my world."
A quiet, chilling laugh escaped her lips, echoing in the stillness of the room.