The engine started smoothly. Adrian leaned back in the driver's seat, one hand on the wheel, the other tapping lightly to a beat only he could hear.
Ruz sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window.
Silent.Not tense.Just… thinking.The city moved past them cars, lights, noise but inside the car, it felt strangely quiet.
Too quiet. Adrian glanced at her briefly.
Adrian: "You fought him."
Ruz didn't look at him.
Ruz: "No."
Adrian: "You grabbed him."
Ruz: "Yes."
Adrian: "You enjoyed it."
A pause.Then
Ruz: "…Maybe."
That made him smirk.
Adrian: "You're getting bold."
She finally turned her head slightly.
Ruz: "I learned from you."
He let out a short laugh.
Adrian: "Dangerous teacher."
Ruz: "Bad example."
"Accurate," he said casually.
A Quiet Shift, A few seconds passed.
Then,
Adrian (more serious): "…You shouldn't get too close to him."
Ruz's gaze shifted. Not fully.Just enough.
Ruz: "Why?"
He didn't answer immediately. Eyes back on the road.
Adrian: "…He's not simple."
Ruz leaned back. Calm.
Ruz: "Neither am I."
That answer he expected it. But still. It made him exhale softly.
Adrian: "That's the problem."
The moment they stepped inside
Noise.Warmth. Life. The house didn't feel like MIS. It didn't feel like power or tension. It felt… real. From the kitchen—
"YOU'RE LATE!"
Tito's voice.Loud.Dramatic. Ruz blinked once.Then whispered
"…I like this place."
Adrian rolled his eyes.
Adrian: "You've been here for a year."
Ruz: "Still."
Kitchen Scene
They walked into the kitchen and chaos greeted them. Tito Antonio stood near the stove, holding a wooden spoon like a weapon. Apron slightly crooked. Expression serious. But not really.
Tito: "You're both late."
Adrian: "We had school."
Tito: "You have a clock."
Ruz: "…We also have traffic."
He pointed the spoon at her.
Tito: "Excuses."
She raised an eyebrow.
Ruz: "Facts."
A pause.Then tito laughed.Loud. Genuine.
Tito: "I like her."
Adrian groaned.
Adrian: "You weren't supposed to."
Tita enters,
tita walked in, wiping her hands on a towel.Warm smile.Soft eyes.
Tita: "You're back."
Ruz looked at her. And something Just a little, softened.
Ruz: "Yeah."
Tita stepped closer, adjusting Ruz's hair slightly. Natural.Gentle.
Tita: "Wash your hands. Dinner's almost ready."
Ruz nodded.No hesitation.
The table was full. Food.Noise. Movement. Ruz sat between Adrian and Tito. Big mistake. The Teasing Begins
Ruz reached for a piece of chicken
Adrian took it first. She froze. Slowly turned her head.
Ruz: "…Give it back."
Adrian: "No."
Ruz: "That was mine."
Adrian: "It's mine now."
Ruz: "You're testing your survival instincts again."
Adrian: "They're still strong."
Tito watched them.and then
Tito: "Fight."
Tita sighed.
Tita: "No fighting at the table."
Ruz grabbed another piece Adrian blocked her hand.
Ruz: "…You're dead."
She lunged slightly and he leaned back
chair almost tipped
Tito LAUGHED.
Tito: "YES. THIS IS ENTERTAINMENT."
Ruz grabbed a spoon. Adrian grabbed a fork. They pointed at each other.
Adrian: "Don't."
Ruz: "Try me."
Tita: "PUT THOSE DOWN."
They froze. Slowly lowered utensils.
Like children. A pause.Then tito leaned in.
Tito (whispering): "…Continue."
Ruz smirked slightly. Adrian shook his head.
Adrian: "You're encouraging this."
Tito: "Absolutely."
Tita quietly placed more food on Ruz's plate. No words.Just. Care. Ruz noticed.
Paused. Just for a second. Then continued eating. But slower.
Later...The house calmed down. Lights dimmed. Noise faded. Ruz sat by the window. Looking outside. Thinking.The day replayed. Rifat. His eyes. His words.
"You're hiding something."
Her expression didn't change.
But her fingers tightened slightly on the window frame.
Ruz (quietly): "…So are you."
The next morning, MIS looked the same.
Perfect.Clean.Fake. Ruz walked through the gates alone. Liam wasn't there yet.
Which meant peace for now.
She turned the corner and stopped.
Rifat.
Leaning against the wall. Like he was waiting. Which he was.
Ruz: "…You again."
Rifat: "You again."
She crossed her arms.
Ruz: "You don't get tired?"
Rifat: "Not when I'm interested."
She raised an eyebrow.
Ruz: "That sounds like a problem."
Rifat: "For who?"
Ruz: "You."
A faint smirk.He stepped closer.Not too much.Just enough.
Rifat: "You think you're always right."
Ruz: "I usually am."
Rifat: "That's confidence."
Ruz: "That's accuracy."
He exhaled softly just amused.
Rifat: "You don't avoid fights."
Ruz: "I don't start them either."
Rifat: "You escalate them."
Ruz: "Only when necessary."
A pause.Then
Rifat: "You like control."
Ruz: "You like testing limits."
Their eyes locked.Tension rising, but no physical movement. Just sharp words.
Rifat: "…You didn't answer me yesterday."
Ruz: "I don't answer unnecessary questions."
Rifat: "What are you hiding?"
That again she stepped closer this time.
Mirroring him.
Ruz (low): "What are you looking for?"
Rifat: "Truth."
Ruz: "Wrong place."
A group of students slowed down nearby.
Watching. Sensing tension.Liam arrived
And paused.
"…Oh no."
Back to Them
Rifat: "You act like nothing affects you."
Ruz: "Because most things don't."
Rifat: "That's not normal."
Ruz: "Good."
A beat. Then...
Rifat: "You're not afraid."
Ruz: "Of what?"
Rifat: "People."
She tilted her head slightly.
Ruz: "Should I be?"
Rifat: "Yes."
A pause.Then she smiled.Small.Cold.
Ruz: "…You first."
He leaned slightly closer.Voice lower.
Rifat: "You'll break eventually."
That line that one was almost hit but not quite. Ruz's expression didn't change.
Not even a little.
Ruz: "…Then watch carefully."
A beat. Then she stepped past him. Shoulder brushing his slightly. Not aggressive. Not soft.Just intentional.
Liam rushed to her side immediately.
Liam: "WHAT WAS THAT?!"
Ruz: "Conversation."
Liam: "THAT WAS WAR."
Ruz: "You exaggerate."
Behind them Rifat didn't move. Didn't turn immediately. Then slowly he looked back watching her walk away. Again.
Rifat (quietly):
"…You don't react."
A small pause. A faint smile.
Rifat: "…That's going to change."
Meanwhile Ruz didn't look back. Not this time..But her voice soft. Barely audible.
Ruz: "…We'll see."
The air at Monterrazas International School felt… different. Not tense. Not calm. Charged.
Like something big was about to happen.
Students gathered in the hallway, whispering, excited, restless. Ruz walked through it all like usual, unbothered, unreadable. Liam, however, was the opposite.
Liam (whispering loudly): "Something's happening. I can feel it."
Ruz: "You feel everything."
Liam: "Because I have instincts."
Ruz: "You have anxiety."
"Same thing," he muttered.
All sections were called to the main hall.
Huge.Elegant.Packed.Sections A, B, C, D.... All present. Ruz stood beside Liam. Adrian and his group across the hall. Rifat leaning casually near them.
Their eyes met briefly.Just a second.
Then the lights dimmed.The principal stepped forward.The Announcement
Principal:"Students of Monterrazas International School…
Starting tomorrow, we will begin our annual 6-Day Inter-Section Festival and Competition."
The hall exploded. Cheers. Excitement.
Noise. Liam grabbed Ruz's arm.
Liam: "SIX DAYS?! WE'RE NOT SURVIVING."
Ruz: "You're dramatic."
Details Continue
Principal:
"Each section will compete in multiple categories—
Academics, Sports, Strategy Games, Performance, and Final Day Elimination Challenge."
Now the room got serious.
Even Ruz's eyes sharpened slightly.
The Twist
Principal:
"And this year… we will have participation from a special section."
A pause. The room went quiet.Confused.
Curious.Then the doors opened.Silence.
Real silence. Five..no... Six students walked in.Slow.Confident.Untouchable energy. Like they didn't belong to thsame school.They didn't look around.They didn't react.They just walked forward.
Liam (whispering, panicking):
"…Who are they?"
Names Called
Principal:
"Section Z."
Whispers exploded instantly.
"They're back?"
"No way…"
"This year too?"
Introduction they lined up and one by one their presence hit.
" Nika Isabel Flores"
"Aira Camille Santos"
"Mira Elise Garcia"
"Zayn Dominic Valdez"
"Joshua Aquino (Josh)"
"Eren Framcisco"
And just like that The balance of the school shifted.Ruz's Reaction
For the first time,Ruz didn't look bored.
Her eyes stayed on them.Focused.
Interested. Across the hall Rifat noticed.
Not the group.Not the announcement.
Her. Watching.
The Velvet Girls sat together.
Selene at the center watching Ruz.
Selene (low voice):
"…She's getting too comfortable."
Clarisse: "She's always around them."
Bianca: "Adrian. Rifat."
Danica: "…And now during the festival?"
Selene's lips curved slightly.
Not a smile.Something colder.
Selene:
"Then we remind her where she stands.
Back on stage-
Principal:
Day 1—Strategy and Intelligence Games."
Murmurs again.
Principal:
"Section A vs Section C—Final match representatives will be chosen."
Liam froze.
Slowly turned to Ruz.
Liam: "…No."
Ruz didn't react. Across the hall Adrian leaned toward Rifat.
Adrian: "You're going in."
Rifat: "Obviously."
Then teacher called names.
Teacher:
"Section C representative - Ruzelle Richelle Cruz."
Liam grabbed his head.
Liam: "IT'S OVER."
Teacher:
"Section A representative - Rifat Alejandro Reyes."
Silence.Then noise.Whispers everywhere.
Ruz & Rifat – Eye Contact
Across the hall their eyes met again.
This time Different. Not just tension.
Challenge.
The crowd spilled out.Loud.Excited.
Chaotic.
Ruz & Rifat (Round 1 – Pre-Competition)
He found her.Of course he did. Leaning near the corridor.Waiting.
Rifat: "…So it's you."
Ruz: "Looks like it."
Rifat: "You're not backing out?"
Ruz: "Should I?"
Rifat: "You'll lose."
A pause. Then
Ruz: "You talk too much."
He smirked.
Rifat: "You'll see."
Ruz: "I will."
Liam (interrupting):
Liam: "I WON'T."
Both ignored him.
Velvet Girls – First Clash
As Ruz turned to leave a voice stopped her. Smooth. Cold.
Selene: "…You're confident."
Ruz turned slowly.Velvet Girls stood there.Perfect.Elegant.Dangerous.
Ruz: "…You're staring."
Selene: "You're noticeable."
Ruz: "That sounds like a problem."
Selene: "It is."
A beat.
Clarisse: "You think you can compete with them?"
Ruz: "I don't think."
Bianca: "Then what?"
Ruz looked directly at Selene.
Ruz (calm):
"I just do."
The tension shifted instantly.
Selene (smiling slightly):
"…Careful."
Ruz: "You too."
Liam whispering:
"WHY ARE WE COLLECTING ENEMIES?!"
Adrian Joins.....
Adrian walked in Perfect timing.
Adrian: "Problem?"
Selene: "Not yet."
Adrian: "Good."
He stood beside Ruz.Casual.But clear.
Adrian (low):
"They bite."
Ruz: "So do I."
Selene noticed that.And smiled.
Selene:
"This will be fun."
Final Build-Up:
As everyone separated the lines were drawn.Section A vs Section C
Ruzelle Cruz vs Rifat Reyes
From the balcony above Zayn watched.
Arms crossed. Silent.
Zayn: "…She's the one?"
Aira nodded slightly.
Aira: "Yes."
Mira looked down at Ruz.
Mira: "She doesn't bend."
Nika grinned.
Nika: "I like her."
Zayn's eyes stayed on Ruz.
Zayn (quiet):
"…Let's see how long that lasts."
Ruz walked forward.Unaware?
No. Aware of everything.
Ruz (inner thought):
"Six days."...…Let's break something."