--
Days passed since then.
Maria woke up to a phone buzzing nonstop with messages. She didn't bother opening any of them — probably just more hate.
She now had six million followers. Four million were haters. Some of her fans had turned against her. Others quietly unfollowed, disappeared, or stayed silent.
She didn't flinch. Not anymore.
Today was the last day of the test. And more importantly, the day the film would announce its cast. She was ready — especially for that scene.
She stood in front of the mirror, her school uniform hugging her figure with effortless grace. The crisp fabric contrasted against her soft skin, pale and luminous. Her doe eyes, clear yet unreadable, carried a calm defiance. Light gloss shimmered faintly on her lips, neither smiling nor trembling. Just ready.
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In the class—
"Hey Maria, today's the day the cast will be announced, right? Are you sure your name's even going to be on it?" a girl asked, her voice edged with sarcasm.
"Tsk. What are you saying? Can Maria even act?" another girl said as she took her book out. "She'll be nothing more than a pretty vase."
"Maria's got a lot of guts. Is the praise getting to her head?" a boy teased, leaning in close to the girls. "She should just stick to singing and dancing. She's pretty when she dances."
One of the girls smacked the back of his head.
"Stop what you're doing! Stop what you're doing!"
King burst into the classroom, panting and wild-eyed.
"Hey, King, what's your problem? Are you crazy?" a girl roared.
"Do you guys even know today is test day?" another girl snapped, clearly irritated. "If you're planning to fail, fine, but don't disturb those of us who want to read, idiot," she said, slamming her book shut.
"Ouch! I just failed my game because of this idiot," a boy muttered, tossing his phone on the table. "You better say something good."
"If I tell you this, you'll all be too shocked to even react. You'll be thanking me for it," King said, his voice trembling with excitement.
"V got suspended."
The classroom exploded into noise — students stood, gasped, and questioned one another, asking if they heard it right.
"What's happening? What happened to V?" Ivy asked as she walked into the class with her group, her expression unreadable.
King sat on the podium, looking quietly at the students. "I said V got suspended — the great V, the feared school bully! "
" If that shocks you, get ready for more".he continued
Suddenly, a boy threw folded papers at him. "Will you talk already? He's acting so mysterious," the boy mumbled, rolling his eyes.
King cleared his throat and said, "Kira is the reason why V got suspended."
The crowd responded with giggles and snorts.
"This boy is crazy," a girl shouted. "King, don't you have anything better to do with your life?"
Another girl added, "I can't believe we're even listening to him."
Ivy rolled her eyes and said, "What are you saying? V got suspended because of Kira? Are you joking? False information is a sin, don't you know?"
A guy threw an empty can at King and said, "Hey, leave the podium if you want to lie. Don't you know how to make it believable?"
King stood up, brushing himself off. "Hey! Don't throw anything at me or I'll beat the crap out of you.
"You bastard wants to dirty my uniform?"he mubled as he dust himself
He continued, "Believe it or not, V is suspended. The news about him raping a girl is trending."
Ivy gasped, "Rape? V raped someone?"
"Yes, the news is out," King confirmed.
A boy asked, "Okay, let's say it's true. How does Kira fit into this?"
"Yes, tell us!" a girl screamed.
King explained, "Listen. V saw a very beautiful girl at the club he regularly visits. He was drunk, so you know what happened next—the girl refuse so he forced himself on her . The girl threatened to spread the news. She even went to the police station, some press company, and threatened to go to V's family rival."
"His parents bribe her and she took the money.That would have been the end of it, right? But here's the twist."
"We all know V's cousin is the head of the department in the school, right? Well, it seems he got interested in Kira and wanted to have some fun, but it was all recorded," King said, pausing for effect.
"Kira baited him. V's cousin who was refused got angry and said V had spread her nude photos. Why is she innocent? They just had to pay a small sum — so small even their servants would reject it, but her parents accepted it. So even if she reported, nobody would help her. But she managed to escape."
"Today, V's father's company was holding a party. Instead of the usual boring routine, the video of V raping the girl came out, along with videos of Kira explaining how she was humiliated, and the video she recorded of V's cousin."
"It also seems Kira seduced one of V's friends and accessed his phone, discovering illegal gambling activities. The school suspended V."
"Are you sure you heard it right and not just making things up?" Ivy asked, folding her arms with suspicion.
"Yes. How can Ivy do that? Do you even hear yourself sometimes?" a boy scoffed from the corner.
"Since when has any news I've brought ever been false?" King snapped, clearly annoyed. "I brought you something huge and this is the thanks I get? If you don't believe me, check the school group."
With that, King walked to his seat, brushing past Ivy and bumping her with his shoulder. She turned, ready to snap at him—but before she could speak, a wave of gasps and murmurs spread through the class.
"What is it?" Ivy asked, eyebrows knitting together.
One of the girls in her group leaned over and whispered urgently, "Check your phone. Now."
Frowning, Ivy pulled her phone from her blazer pocket. The second the screen lit up, her expression shifted. The school group chat was exploding with messages—screenshots, videos, accusations, all spreading like wildfire.
Her eyes widened in shock.
"What's this?" Ivy mumbled in shock, just as the classroom door opened and Kira walked in.
"What is it? Why are you all talking?" Kira asked, her voice calm as she walked past Ivy to her seat. "Don't you guys have to prepare for your test?"
But Ivy grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks, and spun her around.
"What did you do?" Ivy questioned sharply.
"What is your problem this morning, asking me stupid questions? 'What did I do?'" Kira said, slapping Ivy's hand away from her wrist.
"This—what is this?! Are you crazy? Don't you think?" Ivy hissed, shoving her phone in front of Kira's face. "Why did you do this?"
"Oh, you mean that?" Kira said, folding her arms. "Well, I just wanted revenge. You see, nobody wanted to help me, so I helped myself. What's the problem in doing that?"
"So you framed V, didn't you?" Ivy asked, then paused, taking a deep breath. "This isn't a joke. This is serious. You're trying to destroy someone's life just for revenge! Can't you think straight? Because of your false rumors, he's suspended and might even get expelled. You even brought his cousin into this! Can you afford the consequences?"
Ivy gripped Kira's shoulders firmly.
"You're very funny," Kira said coldly. "I stand up for myself, and I'm in the wrong? When V spread those pictures of me, I never saw you telling him to stop. You never cared about my future! You're just angry because your number one fan—the one who does all your dirty work—is gone. That's what's pissing you off."
"You yourself aren't so innocent," Kira added, stepping closer. "Your 'good girl' act? It's cracking. Bit by bit. 'Girls should support girls,' right? Then look at what you're doing."
Kira poked Ivy hard in the chest with each word, making her stumble back step by step until she finally fell.
Ivy looked up at her with tears in her eyes.
"I stand for the truth, regardless of gender," Ivy said weakly. "And I think about the bigger picture. If you wanted revenge on V, why drag his family into it? Do you know what's going to happen to them? To the thousands of workers in his father's company? Are you trying to make them all jobless? What about their families? Their future?"
She stood up shakily and continued.
"You wanted revenge, but at the cost of millions? Is it worth it? If you wanted money, you should've asked us—not done this. It's disgusting. You're going to stay at this low level forever... even if it means selling yourself out."
The classroom buzzed with restless energy, but the atmosphere shifted instantly when Kira walked in. Eyes followed her every move, sharp whispers slicing through the air like knives.
"Yes, Kira, this is wrong and disgusting," a girl said, folding her legs with deliberate disdain. Her voice was cold, laced with judgment.
Another girl scoffed, "She's making me gross out just by being a female. Honestly, her character is a disgrace."
"If you wanted attention, did you really have to go this far? What an annoying b***," someone else muttered, voice dripping with venom. "Does being our class monitor give you the right to act like you're superior?"
A boy smirked, making a killing gesture with his hand. "This is all fun and games until the V family retaliates. Then what? You'll be destroyed. Your bones won't even be found, your family long gone."
The words hung heavy in the air, but another boy shrugged. "We were all having fun. Why do you have to react like this? It's not like the V family didn't pay your family off."
A girl joined in mockingly, "Yeah, I heard the V family paid her family. She even made them agree not to bring it up again. Her father destroyed the picture and apologized. So why are you doing this? For more money?"
The room erupted with bitter laughter. "This is why I hate scholarship students and transfers from poor schools," a guy sneered. "And those temporary students, too. They think hanging out with us will make them rich."
Another boy pointed a finger at Kira. "I bet you're the one who told V to take the picture, right?"
"Yeah, you put on a show for him. Come on, give us a show—we'll pay," someone else jeered, laughter rippling through the room.
"I never knew you were that kind of girl," a boy said, shaking his head in mock disappointment.
"Why don't you perform for us? Show us what you've got," another challenged, high-fiving his friends.
"I bet you'd love to tease us a little," a third added, eyes gleaming with cruel amusement.
A girl scoffed loudly, "Gross. What does she even have? She's so flat."
The tension escalated. "I wonder when the V family will retaliate so they can get rid of her. Killing her would be better," someone hissed.
"It's because of girls like her that women used to be drowned for dishonesty back in the day," another girl said, throwing a pen at Kira.
Suddenly, more students joined in, hurling objects—pens, erasers—toward her. Kira flinched but didn't move.
"Hey, Kira," a girl called out, voice dripping with malice, "I'll pay you fifty thousand to lose your uniform and any other clothing, then walk around the school. You'll do that, right?"
"Double that," another girl added eagerly.
Her seatmate leaned in, whispering, "Do you mean that? Are you really going to ask her?"
The first girl folded her hands confidently. "Of course. If I dared ask her, I'd pay."
A boy leaned forward, grinning wickedly. "Hey, Kira, you better beat her to it. Come on, you haven't seen that kind of money before, right?"
"Don't act shy. I bet you want to do it. Earn free money," he taunted, pounding the desk. "Or do you want me to help you, b***? I'm talking to you!"
The class erupted into chants of "Do it! Do it!" Some even threw water at her uniform, making it cling embarrassingly to her skin.
"Thank God I rejected you," James said as he approached, wrapping an arm around Kira's shoulders. "If not, I'd be stuck with a gold digger like you."
"Enough! Enough!" James barked at the class. "Don't you want a show? I'll give you one." He turned to Kira, voice low and commanding. "Give me face and do it now. Stop the fake crying. If you do this, maybe I'll let you eat with me."
Kira's voice cracked as she screamed, "You want me to humiliate myself just so you'll eat with me? Is that what my love for you is worth?"
The girl who had offered money sneered, "Who are you shouting at? James is willing to eat with you even if it means humiliation. Take the offer now. Stop acting righteous. She even knows how to fake cry. I'm seeing a verified White Lotus future mistress here."
Ivy voice cut through the chaos. "Kira, everyone's teasing you. Just kneel down, beg, and crawl to the middle of the school. Admit you framed V. Maybe then v family will spare you and your family. Nobody will talk bad about you."
Ivy gently held Kira's wrist, her voice soft and soothing.
"Kira… I know this is hard. I really do. But listen to me, okay?"
Her eyes were filled with worry — so convincingly warm it almost felt real.
"This isn't just about you anymore. Your family, your siblings, your future... they're all at risk."
She gave a tiny, trembling sigh as if she were the one carrying the burden.
"I'm not saying this to hurt you. I'm saying this because I care. I don't want to see your life destroyed."
Her tone was tender, but there was a sharpness beneath it — the kind only someone truly desperate or truly dangerous could sense.
"If you just admit it… say you made a mistake. If you kneel down and clear things up, V's family might forgive you. They might spare your family. I'll even talk to my parents."
Ivy smiled sweetly and brushed a loose strand of hair from Kira's face, like a big sister comforting a crying child.
"I'll help you. I'll give your family some money — enough to start fresh somewhere safe. I'll make sure no one ever bothers you again."
Her fingers tightened slightly around Kira's wrist, just enough for the threat to register beneath her gentle words.
"I know this must feel humiliating... but it's better than watching everything you love fall apart, right? I'm only doing this because I care about you."
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