Principal's Office
The air felt heavier inside the office.
Not just quiet.
Oppressive.
Mrs. Jean Cancelo sat behind her desk, fingers interlocked, eyes sharp enough to cut through steel.
Andre stood on one side.
Carlos on the other.
Neither looked at each other.
But the tension?
Explosive.
Mrs. Cancelo finally spoke.
Her gaze shifted to Andre. "New student. Already breaking my rules."
Then to Carlos. "Old student. Still behaving like a delinquent animal."
"What happened today…"
A pause.
"…was a disgrace to our prestige."
Her gaze hardened.
"It was barbaric."
"The two of you spat on the thin line of freedom I gave students to express theirselves."
Silence.
"You broke school property. Endangered students. Sent one boy to the hospital."
"You learnt how to fight, good, but don't you ever practice it in my premises."
Her voice sharpened.
"And don't even think you will turn my academy into a battlefield."
Carlos smirked faintly.
Andre didn't move.
"I have expelled students for far less."
That line landed.
Hard.
Then
She leaned back.
"But…"
Her tone changed.
"Carlos."
His eyes lifted.
"Your father is one of the most influential stakeholders in this institution."
Carlos smiled slightly.
Then
"Andre."
Her gaze shifted.
"I am… aware of your guardian's situation."
A subtle pause.
"…Mrs. Jenkins."
Andre's jaw tightened.
"So for this one time"
Her voice became firm again.
"I will be lenient."
Silence.
"But understand this clearly…"
She leaned forward.
"If either of you causes trouble again…"
A slow pause.
"…you will not walk back into this school."
"Now you will both apologize."
"…And you will coexist."
That word lingered.
"Meaning… you will get along."
Carlos scoffed slightly.
Andre said nothing.
Mrs. Cancelo's voice dropped.
"…Or face consequences you will not recover from."
"Now apologize"
Silence.
Both in unison.
"We are sorry ma."
Then she gave a smirk.
"Now get out of my sight you penguins."
They both walked out.
The door closed behind them.
Outside.
Silence.
Then
They turned.
Eyes locked.
Just pure hostility.
Carlos smirked.
"Don't think you are off the hook just because of what the principal said. I will avenge every single punch you landed on me"
Andre stepped closer.
"…You know what i like about you? You get cocky over just a mere privilege I gave you."
"You should have understood by now that you are below me."
The air tightened.
And it looked like it would start again.
Then
They both stopped.
Carlos chuckled under his breath.
"…This isn't over."
Andre didn't respond.
But his eyes said everything.
It never will be.
They walked away in opposite directions.
But neither of them relaxed.
Class B block
"Heyyyy."
A voice called Andre from behind.
He turned.
Esmeralda standing there all smiles.
"…Come with me." she said.
Then she gave a follow me signal with her finger.
Andre hesitated.
Then followed.
She led him to an empty podium by the basketball court.
"Sit here with me."
Andre gave a confused look
"Why will I do that."
"Pleasee."
She said giving him a puppy face.
Andre looked at her then sat down.
"Yayyyy."
They sat down as wind brushed softly past them.
She brought out snacks.
"Mmmm.. I brought goodies."
She offered him.
He shook his head.
"I'm good."
She exhaled slightly.
"You're boring."
A pause.
Andre looked at her.
"…Why are you being nice to me?"
She blinked.
"I've never been mean to you."
Silence.
"If this is gratitude"
"It's not."
Her tone cut in.
Firm.
Then softer.
"…I don't owe you anything."
A pause.
"…I just… don't mind you."
That was the closest thing to honesty she'd given anyone.
She leaned back slightly.
"…You think I'm a bad person, don't you?"
Andre didn't answer immediately.
"…I think you do what benefits you."
She let out a small laugh.
"…At least you're honest. Look I'm just trying to make a friend."
"Why me."
"You're natural, you're just like me, just the more badass version."
"And your minions."
She smiled
"You mean poppy and Emilia, they are just with me because of my father's name that's all."
A pause.
Then
" You know Andre, I wasn't always like this."
Her voice changed.
"I used to be… easy."
A faint smile.
"I laughed a lot."
"I gave the good princess style."
She looked ahead.
"…People loved that."
A pause.
"Until they didn't."
Her fingers tightened slightly around the snack wrapper.
"They called me stupid."
"They used me."
"They laughed at me."
Each word quieter than the last.
"So I learned."
She looked at him now.
Direct.
"Kind people get stepped on."
A pause.
"Cruel people get respected."
Andre held her gaze.
"…So you chose cruelty."
She smirked faintly.
"I chose survival."
Silence settled.
Then
"My mother doesn't care about me."
She said it like it meant nothing.
Which made it worse.
"My father… buys things instead of fixing things."
A pause.
"And Maxim…"
Her jaw tightened.
"…thinks everything belongs to him."
Then she looked back at Andre.
"…Including me."
Silence.
Something shifted in Andre's eyes as she continued.
"I don't have a place where I'm just… me."
A breath.
"So yeah."
A small shrug.
"I may be a bad person but all I want is just to belong somewhere. I don't know if you understand."
Andre tapped her leg and gave a wierd smile.
She laughed abruptly.
"Is that a smile I'm seeing."
Andre shurged.
"…Everyone has a bad story."
A pause.
"But mine…"
His gaze drifted slightly.
"…isn't something you'd want to hear."
She studied him.
Longer this time.
"…You say that like you're some kinda exconvivt."
A small smile.
"Relax."
"Everyone's broken in some way."
She leaned slightly closer.
"…You just hide yours better."
Andre's eyes flickered.
"…What are you trying to do?"
She smirked faintly.
"…Figure you out."
A pause.
"…Or maybe I already have."
He frowned slightly.
"…What do you mean?"
She tilted her head.
"You act like you don't care."
A small pause.
"But you do."
Her voice softened just slightly.
"…Especially when it comes to people like her."
Maria.
Andre didn't respond.
But that was answer enough.
She smiled faintly.
"…You're not as cold as you pretend to be."
Andre spoke.
"Whatever."
"…By the way something crossed my mind. What did you mean yesterday?"
Her brows lifted.
"When you asked, if that was my best shot at getting to you."
A pause.
She smiled.
Slow.
Dangerous.
"…Its not fair, that's manipulation you're trying to pull off?"
He didn't react.
She chuckled.
"Relax."
Then
A softer tone.
"…I'll tell you."
A pause.
"…When you earn it."
That lingered.
Then she stood.
"I have somewhere to be."
Andre watched her.
"…You're avoiding the question."
She looked back.
A faint smile.
"… maybe…"
A small pause.
"…I just don't want to ruin this yet."
That line
Sat between them.
Unspoken.
But understood.
Then she turned
And walked away.
Leaving Andre there.
The Roberts Mansion
Rihanna leaned against the railing.
Pacho beside her.
Close.
But not touching.
"You've been smiling all day."
Pacho said.
Rihanna smirked.
"Maybe I have a reason."
He turned slightly.
"…Am I the reason?"
She didn't answer.
Instead
She stepped closer.
Close enough to feel his breath.
"…Maybe."
Pacho swallowed.
Nervous.
She noticed.
And smiled.
"…Oh my God, You're still shy."
"No I'm not"
"Yes you are."
She poked his chest.
He caught her hand.
Her diamond ring shone in the sunlight.
He grabbed her by the waist and didn't let go.
Silence.
Their eyes met.
Something softer now.
Something real.
"I'm just happy i was able to get you as my wife."
He said quietly.
Her brows lifted.
"Lets say lucky, because if I hadn't confessed to you we will still just be friends."
"Oh, that's the torment I will face for the rest of my life."
Then
She placed her hand on his chest.
Felt his heartbeat.
Fast.
She smiled.
"…You're nervous."
"I'm not nervous."
"You're shaking."
"I'm not shaking"
Then she kissed him.
Soft.
Quick.
Right on the lips.
Pacho froze.
Completely.
Brain gone.
System crashed.
Rihanna pulled back.
Grinning.
"…Now you are."
He blinked.
"…I think I forgot how to breathe."
She laughed.
Leaning into him.
"I love you."
"I love you too."