( Sierra's POV)
Campus felt different today.
Every hallway sounded as if it whispered. Every corner seemed to hold a pair of eyes that slipped away the moment I turned. The weight of the rumors Luciana spread clung to my skin like something I couldn't scrub off. I kept my head down. I kept walking. I continued pretending. But it hurt.
"…Sierra… that girl Stefano hates—"
"…she apparently threw herself on him—"
".desperate, attention-seeking—"
I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced myself to breathe. I hugged my books tighter into my chest. My fingers were trembling. I didn't look up as someone brushed past me. I didn't look up because I was afraid of seeing them laughing. I didn't look up because I was scared I'd break.
"Sierra?"
My heart eased a little at the familiar voice. Marko.
He jogged over, breathless, face lined with concern. "You didn't answer my texts. Angel said you seemed off. What happened?"
I shook my head. "Nothing. I'm fine."
He gave me a brotherly look. One that said he didn't believe me for a second.
"Tell me later," he whispered.
"But stay close today, okay? Ethan and I feel weird letting you walk around alone like this."
A sting pricked my chest.
Why were they so kind now?
Why were they getting softer?
Was it pity… or real care?
I nodded. "Okay." Marko politely took my books from me. "Let me carry these." He didn't ask, he just. did. It's strange, it made my throat tighten. We walked across the greenway together, toward the architecture building, when a ripple of whispers spread behind us. I kept my eyes down—
—but Marko's jaw tightened. He hated this. He hated everything the rumors were doing to me. He hated seeing me shrink.
"Angel will be inside," he said low and comforting. "You're not alone. Not anymore." The words hit harder than they should have. I blinked away burning tears. Just keep walking. Just keep breathing.
(Stefano's POV)
I saw her before she saw me. Standing by Marko, his arm brushing hers, carrying her books like some knight, while she seemed to fight not to fall apart. My chest tightened. Too tight. I stood on the upper balcony of the business building and gripped the railing until my knuckles whitened.
Why was she shrinking like that?
Who the hell made her eyes that empty?
I already knew the answer. The whispers below- they floated upward, slicing through me like shards.
"…she begged Stefano to kiss her—"
"…pathetic—"
"…probably fakes innocence—"
My vision blurred with anger. My jaw locked. My fingers dug into metal. My breath grew sharp. I wanted to tear the whole campus apart. I wanted to drag Luciana by the hair across the ground and tell her she had no right— NO RIGHT— to touch Sierra in any way, even with words. But I remained motionless. Because the moment I moved…
…I wouldn't be able to stop. Instead, I watched as Marko gently guided her toward the architecture building. She looked so small beside him. Too fragile. Too breakable. And she was trying to ignore me. Again. It burned. It burned more than anything I'd ever known.
Why did her silence hurt me more than any insult she can ever throw? I finally exhaled a breath I hadn't even realized I was holding when she disappeared inside. I whispered to myself—
"Don't fall. Don't fall. Don't fall."
But the words felt like lies.
(Sierra's POV)
Class blurred by. The professor spoke, the slides changed, pencils scratched on paper… I heard none of it. Angel squeezed my knee under the desk.
"You okay?"
"Yeah." Lie. Angel narrowed her eyes. "You know I can tell when you lie, right?" I couldn't help it— I smiled weakly. Angel always made things seem less dark. But as soon as class was over and students started leaving, I froze. Someone blocked the entrance. Someone tall. Someone with cold, analyzing eyes. Heavy makeup, mini deep neck dress, backless, her breasts are in a position like they will be dropped out of that dress soon as if she wants to provoke people to see her body.
Luciana,
She stood in the hallway like she owned it. Standing behind her were Kesi, Rosa, and Sasa-three girls with the same brand-soaked arrogance. Luciana smiled like a blade.
"So," she purred, "the little goddess finally shows her face."
Angel instantly stepped in front of me. "Get lost."
Luciana laughed. "Relax, sweetheart. I'm just here to talk."
Her eyes fell upon me.
"You know," she said sweetly, "you can't hide behind Stefano and his friends forever." My spine stiffened.
"I'm not—"
"Oh please." She waved a manicured hand.
"Everyone knows. The rumors? They're everywhere. And honestly?" Her smile turned cruel. "You earned them. Girls like you always act so pure. So fragile. But underneath—"
She leaned in.
"—you're just waiting to crawl into some rich boy's bed."
My breath hitched. Control Sie u can't repeat the history by breaking her face. Angel gasped. "WHAT—"
Luciana cut her off. "Don't bother denying it. It won't matter. Even if Stefano did look at you—" her voice lowered "—No he won't, u know why? Let the suspense stay, u will also know soon."
A cold wave moved down my spine.
A secret?
What secret?
What was she talking about?
Before I could ask, someone stepped between us so suddenly that Luciana stumbled back.
Marko. His face was cold. Dead cold.
"Move," he said sharply. "And don't ever speak to her again."
Luciana snorted. "Oh please. What are u now, her guard dog?"
Behind him, Ethan appeared, too.
"We told you once," Ethan said quietly. "Stay away."
Luciana smirked. "Cute. All the boys running to save the little actress." But the moment Stefano's name slipped from her mouth—
"Stefano will never choose a girl like her u know, a gold digger option."
Something snapped inside my chest. I didn't cry. Not in front of her. I held my ground, chin up, even if my heart shook. Luciana brushed her hair and quickly walked away, heels clicking. But before she vanished, she turned over her shoulder, and with a whisper:
"Get ready Daddy's Princess! This is only the beginning."
(To be continued...…)