Yuan's voice thundered through the empty room. "When are you going to say yes to me, Alexandrea?"
Alexandrea's heart raced. She knew that this moment was inevitable, but she wasn't ready for it yet. She had a mission to complete, and she couldn't let anything distract her.
"Our mission isn't over yet, Yuan," she said calmly. "I can't be your girlfriend until we've finished with Javier and Ian."
Yuan's eyes narrowed in anger. "And why is that taking so long?" he asked.
Alexandrea took a deep breath. "Trust me, Yuan," she said. "This is the only way."
Drey barged into the dance practice room, his eyes widening in shock as he saw Alexandrea and Yuan standing in the middle of the room, their bodies pressed close together.
"That's not what you think!" Alexandrea and Yuan exclaimed in unison.
Drey's heart pounded in his chest. He had just seen Alexandrea and Yuan in the dance practice room, their bodies pressed close together. He couldn't believe his eyes. He thought they were finally together.
"We just had an argument but we're okay now," Alexandrea said, her voice trembling.
Drey nodded slowly, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. He knew Alexandrea and Yuan better than anyone else. They were always so careful about their relationship, especially in front of other people. Why would they be arguing in the dance practice room, where anyone could see them?
"Okay," Drey said, trying to sound convincing.
But inside, he was a mess. He couldn't believe that Alexandrea and Yuan were lying to him. He thought they were best friends.
Later that day, Drey couldn't stop thinking about what he had seen. He decided to confront Alexandrea about it.
"Hey," he said, catching her up in the hallway. "Can we talk?"
Alexandrea looked up at him, her eyes wide. "Sure," she said. "What's up?"
"I saw you and Yuan in the dance practice room earlier," Drey said bluntly. "What were you two doing?"
Alexandrea's face paled. "We were just talking," she said.
"Talking?" Drey repeated. "It looked like you were more than just talking."
Alexandrea sighed. "Okay," she said. "We had an argument. But we're fine now."
"Are you sure?" Drey asked.
Alexandrea hesitated for a moment. "Yes," she said finally. "I'm sure."
Drey nodded, but he didn't believe her. He knew that Alexandrea was hiding something from him. But he didn't know what.
Over the next few weeks, Drey noticed that Alexandrea and Yuan were acting different around each other. They were more distant and less affectionate. Drey tried to talk to Alexandrea about it, but she always brushed him off.
Yuan's heart sank as he watched Alexandrea walk away from him, her shoulders hunched and her eyes downcast. She had been avoiding him for days, and the icy indifference in her gaze was a stark contrast to the warmth that she had once reserved for him.
He couldn't bear it any longer. He had to know what he had done to deserve her scorn.
He approached her, his heart pounding in his chest. "Alexandrea," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
She stopped walking and turned to face him, her eyes narrowed. "What do you want?" she asked, her voice cold and clipped.
Yuan took a deep breath. "I need to apologize," he said. "For everything."
Alexandrea scoffed. "An apology? What good is that now?"
"I know I can't undo what I've done," Yuan said, his voice trembling. "But I can at least try to make it right."
Alexandrea stared at him for a long moment, her eyes searching his face. Finally, she sighed. "Very well," she said. "I forgive you."
Yuan's heart leaped with relief. "Thank you," he said. "I promise that I'll never make you angry again."
Alexandrea nodded. "I hope you mean that," she said. "Because if you’ll do it again, I'll make you pay."
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Yuan standing alone in the hallway.
*****
Alexandrea's clinginess intensified as her relationship with Ian blossomed. To him, she appeared the epitome of sweetness, but Ian and Javier remained oblivious to her vengeful intentions.
Beneath the facade of her sugary demeanor, Alexandrea's heart festered with bitterness and hatred. She had never forgiven Ian and Javier, and she relished the opportunity to make them pay. Her revenge would be slow and meticulous, savoring every moment of their downfall.
Alexandrea began by subtly isolating Ian from his friends and family. She would invite him to endless dates and activities, leaving him with no time for others. She would also subtly criticize his friends and family, planting seeds of doubt and suspicion in his mind.
As Ian became increasingly isolated, Alexandrea's grip on him tightened. She began to monitor his every move, demanding to know who he was talking to and where he was going. She would also frequently check his phone and social media accounts for any signs of infidelity.
Ian, initially besotted by Alexandrea's affection, soon began to feel suffocated by her possessiveness. He tried to talk to her about it, but she would simply brush him off, assuring him that her behavior was out of love.
Ian sighed as he looked at Alexandrea. She had been clinging to him all day, demanding his attention and affection. He loved her, but her possessiveness was starting to suffocate him.
"Alex," he said gently, "can you please give me some space? I also have my own life to live."
Alexandrea's eyes widened in hurt. "What do you mean?" she asked.
"I mean that I need some time to myself," Ian said. "To see my friends, to pursue my hobbies. I can't spend every waking moment with you."
Alexandrea's face hardened. "So, you're saying that you don't love me enough to give me your undivided attention?"
"Of course I love you," Ian said. "But I also need to be my own person."
Alexandrea sniffed. "Fine," she said. "Have it your way. But don't come crying to me when you realize that you've made a mistake."
Ian watched her walk away, his heart heavy. He knew that Alexandrea was upset, but he also knew that he needed to do this for his own sanity.
Ian spent the next few weeks enjoying his newfound freedom. He saw his friends more often and went on hikes and bike rides. He felt happier and more fulfilled than he had in a long time.
One day, Ian was walking home from work when he saw Alexandrea sitting on a bench in the park. She looked lonely and dejected.
Ian hesitated for a moment, then decided to approach her. "Hey," he said. "What are you doing here?"
Alexandrea looked up at him, her eyes welling up with tears. "I've been thinking," she said. "And I realize that you were right. I was being too possessive. I'm so sorry."
Ian smiled. "I'm glad you realize that," he said. "I love you, Alex, but I also need my own space. I hope you can understand."
Alexandrea nodded. "I do," she said. "And I'm willing to work on it."
Ian and Alexandrea embraced, sealing their renewed commitment to each other.
Ian remained oblivious to Alexandrea's venomous intentions, her revenge a carefully orchestrated dance behind the curtain of her feigned affection.
She played her role impeccably, her performance so convincing that even the most discerning eye would have been deceived.
But beneath the facade of her sugary smile, a festering wound of hatred and betrayal simmered, waiting to erupt with devastating consequences.