Kelly knocked softly on her sister's door.
"Melissa?" she called gently.She pushed the door open—Melissa was still lying on the bed, motionless and quiet.
Kelly sighed and walked over, wrapping her arms around her. Melissa slowly returned the hug.
Melissa had cried endlessly that night. She was so deeply hurt that she hadn't gone to school the following day.
Three days like this already, Kelly thought anxiously.
"Aren't you going back to school yet?" Kelly asked while gently fixing her sister's messy hair.
Melissa shook her head weakly. "Maybe… I'll go back on Monday," she whispered.
"Melissa, we're all worried about you," Kelly said softly. "Your friends are worried, too."
"I'm still scared to go back." Melissa's tears fell again. "I'm scared they'll talk about me again."
"That won't happen anymore," Kelly assured her. "Chris made an announcement. No one is allowed to bring it up again."
Ever since Chris told the student body that the issue must not be discussed further, it vanished instantly—like a ball tossed and forgotten.
"Sis… I'm scared to see him. I'm scared to look them in the eyes." Melissa's voice trembled. "Whenever I think about it, I can't breathe—my chest tightens and I panic. I get so afraid."
Kelly only nodded. She understood her sister. Pressuring her would only make things worse. Melissa was gentle and timid by nature; she wasn't built for this kind of chaos.
When Kelly went downstairs, her brother was waiting.
"She's not going today?" he asked.
She shook her head, sighing.
"Don't worry. When we find out who spread that and who sent it to Raymond, I'll handle it," Kenjie said with a small but dangerously calm smile.
Kelly swallowed. Her brother was usually quiet—but after seeing Melissa break down like that, she knew he wouldn't let this go.
"She'll be okay," he assured her.
She just nodded and let her brother drive her to school with Jonathan.
"Melissa's still not coming?" Jonathan asked.
Kelly shook her head for the third time, and worry flashed in Nicole's eyes.
"When did she say she'll go back?" Nicole asked.
"Monday," Kelly sighed.
"Monday? A whole week?" Jonathan asked, shocked.
"There's nothing I can do. I don't want to force her," Kelly admitted.
Nicole just sighed and fell silent.
Meanwhile, their dance practices continued for the upcoming competition.Kelly was thankful Melissa had company at home when she came home late, and grateful their parents were still abroad. The siblings didn't want to tell them yet—they wanted to protect Melissa themselves.
"Your sister still isn't back?" Steph asked when Kelly reached the classroom.
Kelly nodded faintly. Angie patted her shoulder.
"Kelly, tell your sister that the theater group is here for her," Melody said warmly.
Kelly smiled. "Thank you, Melody. Really. Thank you for supporting her."
Melody only smiled and shook her head, as if to say it was nothing.
Who could it be? And why spread it? Kelly wondered bitterly.
XXX
"Dawn."
She turned when Paulene called her.
"Hey, did you delete the account you used?" Paulene asked, glancing nervously around.
"Relax, Pau. No one's going to hear us," Dawn replied, watching students pass by.
"I heard the officers are trying to trace it," Camille said, anxious.
Dawn raised a brow. "They won't find anything. I deleted the account and the email it was tied to. That means they'll find nothing."She smirked.
"Good. That was really fun, though," Camille laughed.
"Yeah, fun. Their heads are probably spinning, trying to look for something that doesn't exist anymore," Dawn said with satisfaction.
"That girl is miserable. She hasn't even come to school," Camille added.
"Well, I wouldn't either if that happened to me—unless I had a face as thick as leather," Dawn scoffed.
"We didn't get to enjoy it much because Julie's punch to Raymond went viral instead," Camille frowned. "But the comments—God, I loved the comments about her sister. Totally ruined her image."
"Well, she's Chris's sister. Chris can do whatever he wants. And that disgusting diary—ugh, I got goosebumps," another girl said.
"Right? It's fun playing with them in the palms of our hands. I'm already thinking who our next target should be."
"Hey, be careful first. We can't afford behavior marks," Paulene warned.
"God, Paulene, you're such a worrywart. Relax. We never get caught. Besides, they'll never touch me," Dawn said confidently.
"You know why, right? Cielo is on our side."
"Oh right—your fiancé," Camille smirked. "Damn. We can really use that."
Dawn only smiled.
They don't know Cielo's family already cut off that deal. But I can still use it, she thought.
The dancers were called again for rehearsals, so their gossip about Kelly's sister ended quickly.
I'm here, doing whatever I want, because I'm the innocent one, Dawn thought smugly.
The next morning, as Dawn walked down the hallway, she felt eyes lingering on her back and whispers spreading. She turned—students quickly looked away.
Don't ruin my day.
She stepped into the classroom and immediately sensed the thick atmosphere of murmurs.
"Hey, Dawn."
She turned to Raymond, smiling brightly. "Yeah? What is it?" she asked cheerfully.
"Here. Look at this," he said casually, handing her his phone.
She nodded and tapped play.
Her smile froze.Her eyes widened.Her voice—her exact words from the conversation yesterday—played back at her.
Raymond looked straight at her.
"W–Who sent this to you?" she stammered, panic rising in her chest.
"You can see who posted it," he said calmly.
She glanced at the screen.
Uploader: Paulene.
Her hands began to tremble.
Isn't this supposed to be a dummy account?! she thought in horror.
Raymond watched her reaction closely.
"She's trying to frame me!" Dawn said quickly, voice rising.
"Okay." Raymond smiled faintly. "Are you really sure you won't get caught?"
"Dawn!"
She froze at Paulene's furious voice.
"W-What is this?!" Paulene demanded.
What's going on?! Dawn's mind spiraled.