The next few days felt strangely peaceful for Aria and Ethan. They were busy with classes, projects, and their usual routine. Everything felt normal… until she arrived.
A new girl joined their department—Kiara Malhotra, the daughter of a powerful businessman. She was stunning, confident, and walked through the halls like she owned the entire university. People whispered about her beauty and money, but Kiara seemed interested in only one person.
Ethan.
The moment she saw him, her eyes sparkled with interest. She watched him quietly for two days, gathering the courage. Then, one afternoon, when Ethan was about to leave the library, Kiara stepped in front of him, blocking his way.
"Ethan," she said softly, tucking a strand of her perfectly styled hair behind her ear. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"
Ethan looked confused but nodded politely. "Yeah, what is it?"
She took a breath, looked straight into his eyes, and said confidently,
"I like you. Break up with Aria and date me instead."
Ethan froze for a moment—partly shocked, partly irritated.
Kiara continued, "I'm serious. I can give you everything. You deserve someone like me, not a simple girl like Aria."
Ethan's expression changed instantly—cold, sharp.
"I'm not breaking up with Aria," he said firmly. "And I'm definitely not dating you."
Kiara blinked, stunned. "W-What? Why?!"
"Because I don't like you," he said bluntly. "I like Aria. And I don't do fake relationships."
He didn't wait for her response. He just walked away.
Kiara's jaw tightened, but she wasn't ready to give up.
---
The next day, she tried again—this time with a plan.
Ethan was walking past the garden area when Kiara, who had been pretending to check her phone, suddenly threw herself on the ground dramatically.
"Ahh!" she cried. "My ankle… I sprained it! Ethan, please help me! I can't walk!"
Passersby looked at her, confused. Ethan stopped, looked at her once, then shook his head.
"No."
Kiara stared at him, shocked. "No? I can't walk—carry me!"
"I'm not carrying you," Ethan said, not even bothering to kneel down. "I don't like being close to girls other than Aria."
Kiara's eyes widened.
Ethan didn't even give her a second look. He simply walked past her.
Kiara, still dramatically sitting on the ground, watched him walk away. The moment he disappeared behind the corridor—
She stood up.
Perfectly fine.
Her "sprained ankle" suddenly healed.
Her face twisted in anger as she stomped her foot hard on the floor.
"How dare he ignore me?" she hissed.
People nearby whispered, realizing she had faked it the whole time, but Kiara didn't care. Her pride was hurt, and nothing angered her more than rejection.
She pulled out her phone and called her friends.
"I want information," she said through clenched teeth. "Find out everything about Ethan's girlfriend. Her full name, her schedule, her class, her background—everything."
Her friends nodded nervously, knowing she wasn't someone to be crossed.
Kiara's lips curled into a determined smirk.
"If Ethan won't come to me… I'll make Aria disappear."