The atmosphere at Diamond High was as peaceful as ever. The hallways were filled with laughter and chatter, the students buzzing with the energy of another ordinary school day. Amid the sea of voices and movement, Aiden and his group of friends walked toward the hall, their conversations light and carefree.
Sophia and Marcos, as usual, were at the forefront, teasing Aiden and Mabella relentlessly. Sophia playfully nudged Aiden, a mischievous grin on her face. "So, Aiden, when are you and Mabella going to date together? Bring us together, we want to tag along!"
"Yeah," Marcos chimed in, smirking. "You guys are practically inseparable."
Aiden rolled his eyes, chuckling softly. "Can’t you guys talk about something else for once?"
Mabella, walking beside Aiden, kept her head down, her face flushing slightly at the teasing. Her shy nature made it hard for her to respond, but she felt Aiden’s comforting presence next to her. Despite the playful banter, she felt safe with him.
Meanwhile, Emma, walking a few steps behind them, was trying—unsuccessfully—to get Sophia and Marcos to stop. "Come on, you two, give them a break. You’re always teasing them!"
Gianna and Rohan, the quieter members of the group, followed along silently, their expressions calm and observant, content to let the others carry the conversation. Marcus, who was lagging slightly behind the group, kept yapping about some random topic, seemingly uninterested in the teasing but still part of the scene.
Everything seemed perfectly normal—until a sudden, sharp scream pierced the air, cutting through the harmony like a knife. The noise echoed down the hallway, causing heads to turn as students and teachers alike paused, searching for the source of the commotion.
Sophia and Marcos, ever the busybodies, exchanged quick glances before taking off in the direction of the scream, their curiosity getting the better of them. "Come on!" Sophia called over her shoulder, urging the rest of the group to follow. The others, caught in the sudden shift in atmosphere, quickly followed behind them.
They rounded the corner and were met with the sight of a girl standing in the middle of the hallway, her hand bleeding profusely. Two of her friends hovered around her, their faces pale with worry as they tried to stem the flow of blood. The girl, clearly in pain, was holding her injured hand close to her chest, tears welling up in her eyes.
Aiden’s group stopped in their tracks, stunned by the sight. The hall, once filled with happy chatter, was now eerily quiet, the students around them whispering nervously to one another.
"That’s Lydia, isn’t it?" Marcus asked, squinting as he tried to get a better look at the injured girl. "The basketball player?"
Aiden’s eyes followed Marcus’s gaze, his expression hardening slightly as he recognized the girl. Lydia, a junior known for her skills on the basketball court—and the same girl who had once sent him a love letter.
Sophia, never one to miss a chance for gossip, leaned closer to Aiden. "Oh, that’s the girl who gave you that love letter, right?"
Aiden nodded silently, his attention focused on Lydia as the situation unfolded.
Before anyone could react further, two teachers arrived at the scene—Madam Nina and Teacher Sally. They quickly knelt beside Lydia, their faces filled with concern.
"Lydia, what happened?" Madam Nina asked gently, trying to assess the situation.
Lydia, her voice shaky from both pain and shock, glanced up at the teachers. "Th-there was a box… in my locker," she stammered, her words coming out in gasps. "When I opened it… there was a broken mirror inside. I thought it was a gift… but when I reached in, I cut myself on the glass."
The students around them began whispering in hushed tones, their curiosity and concern mixing with speculation. The hall, once filled with the warmth of a normal school day, now buzzed with uneasy tension.
Marcos’s forehead furrowed, his voice low as he spoke to the group. "Do you think someone did this on purpose? Like, does someone have it out for her?"
Marcus shrugged nonchalantly. "It’s not that weird, right? She’s pretty famous in the basketball team. Maybe someone’s jealous of her."
The others nodded slowly, considering his words. It wasn’t impossible. Lydia was well-known, both for her talent and her popularity. It wouldn’t be surprising if someone harbored resentment toward her.
As the group murmured among themselves, Aiden remained silent, his mind drifting. He couldn’t help but feel uneasy. The love letter incident had happened weeks ago, and he hadn’t thought much of it since. But now, seeing Lydia like this… it felt too coincidental. His jaw tightened, but he kept his thoughts to himself.
Meanwhile, Mabella stood quietly by Aiden’s side, her expression perfectly neutral. She neither joined in the conversation nor reacted to the growing tension around her. She simply watched, silent and composed, as though none of this concerned her. But beneath her calm exterior, her mind was already calculating. Her eyes briefly flicked to Lydia’s bleeding hand, then back to the concerned faces surrounding her.
Lydia, she thought, her heart as cold and still as her outward expression. How unfortunate.
The others didn’t notice her silence, too caught up in their own theories. But Gianna, standing at the edge of the group, glanced at Mabella. She had been quiet the entire time, but now her eyes were fixed on Mabella, a flicker of suspicion crossing her face.
Without saying a word, Gianna observed Mabella’s calm demeanor, the lack of emotion on her face. It was almost unnatural, considering the chaos unfolding before them.
Mabella, unaware of Gianna’s scrutiny, remained unfazed, her gaze now drifting toward the teachers as they guided Lydia away to get her hand treated. The group slowly began to disperse, the hall returning to its usual rhythm of activity. But beneath the surface, a sense of unease lingered.
As they all began to walk away, Mabella’s thoughts remained focused. Things are moving along just as they should.
Her face remained soft, innocent—perfectly in character. But inside, her mind was already planning her next move.