Warning: This chapter contains scenes and language that might be uncomfortable for some readers. Read at your own risk.
[ Princess Bellania's Point of View ]
"Princess, truth or dare?!" Bella screamed her lungs out and pointed the hammer at me.
Her eyes are terrifying. There's this something in her eyes that makes it so scary, and I can't even explain it.
"Dare," I mumbled silently. I'm so tired, papa, please help me.
"I dare you to kiss Ashton," Bella commanded me.
Is she out of her mind?! Yes, she is definitely out of her mind!
She pushed my chair near Ashton, and I had no choice but to kiss him. I stopped kissing when I realized he wasn't kissing me back.
"What's... what's your problem?" I asked him.
"You liar." He told me.
I let out a deep breath. Unbelievable!
"What do you mean? So... You just loved me because you thought I am a genius?" I asked him, and he nodded.
This is all Bella's fault!
"I don't love you. I was just obsessed with smart people." He spoke.
"But... you can love me for who I am right now!" I cried and screamed at him.
Why?
Bella pulled me away from him, and she started smirking.
"This is all your fault! You'll pay for this!" I screamed at her while tears were flowing out of my eyes.
"My fault? No, I didn't do anything. What's happening to you right now is a product of your sins towards me, and you have no right to complain. Are you sad because Ashton doesn't love you anymore? You deserve it, brat!"
How dare she?
Tears continue to flow from my eyes. I feel like my heart is tearing itself into pieces.
"Ashton chose truth." Bella walked towards Ashton and placed the hammer below his chin.
"Don't hurt him!" I screamed.
"Calm down, I won't!"
"Truth." Ashton tiredly spoke.
"Are the rumors about you true? Are you a r*pist?"
No, he isn't! He won't do that!
He sighed heavily and looked at me, "Yes." He admitted.
...
[ Bella's Point of View ]
"Yes," Ashton consciously admitted.
"What do you think about that?" I looked at Princess, whose eyes kept releasing tears. She was dumbfounded and couldn't speak any word.
"Is that how people fall in love? You turn a blind eye to their natural characteristics and mistakes?" I asked her.
"No, he's lying." She muttered.
"HE IS NOT LYING! DO YOU WANT ME TO SHOW YOU ANOTHER PROOF?!"
I tapped through my phone and dialed the girl from the lower year, a newspaper club member, who has reportedly experienced the most abuse from Ashton.
"Hello, Marie," I spoke.
"Hello? Why are you calling, Bella?" She said on the other line. Her voice sounded much more relieved than the last time I spoke to her.
"Well, someone here with me right now doesn't believe anything about what Ashton did to you. What can you say about that?"
She stopped for a minute and exhaled.
"Everything he did to the other members and to me was true. I have... I have a clip here with me. He deserves to die." Marie finally uttered.
I ended the call instantly and was surprised by Princess Bellania, whose lips were parted.
"So, you still don't believe me? You're so pathetic, Princess. Your boyfriend doesn't love you and cheated on you multiple times."
She started wailing loudly. Her voice made me infuriated.
"SHUT UP! Now it's your freaking turn. Truth or dare?" I asked and walked towards her.
"Let's... let's just stop this ridiculous game, Bella. You win, okay?! You win! I won't bother you anymore. Let's... let's just stop." She begged, crying.
I chuckled at what she said. "Do you think I will stop now that everything is getting more and more interesting?" I pointed the hammer at her.
"Please... I'm begging you."
"I don't fall for people who beg. Truth or dare, come on." I tapped the hammer in front of her.
"Dare."
"Great! I dare you to push Ashton down this roof." I commanded her.
"WHAT? ARE YOU NUTS?!" She shouted at me in disbelief.
"Yes, I am nuts, so come on, do as I say."
I removed the chair attached to her and pushed her towards Ashton. She started crying, again and again.
She was saying something to Ashton, but Ashton wasn't responding to anything she was saying. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, so I went away and let them talk among themselves.
"Bella, what happened?" Niana asked me. Her hands were freezing.
"I thought you were paying attention? Don't worry, everything's going to go as I planned."
Minutes passed, and I went back to check Ashton and Princess. However, I just saw Ashton. He was standing at the edge of the roof while his hair was being moved by the wind.
"Are you happy now?" He asked without turning back at me.
"Oh, what a twist. I thought you would die."
He looked at me with a gaze of disgust and suddenly marched towards me. He aimed to strangle me, but I pointed the hammer at him.
"Just one more move, and I will swing this hammer to your head."
He fell on his knees, crying like a child.
"I killed her." He mumbled.
"Yes, you killed her."
[ Ashton's Point of View ]
"Ashton, don't you love me?"
I just stared at this woman standing in front of me. She looks so pathetic, begging for my attention.
"Ashton, please, let's get out of here." She removed the ropes tying my arms and legs.
"Look, I don't love you, okay? Just... Let's just stop this. You will live a better life without me." I told her as soon as she released me.
"No, Ashton, I won't! You are the only person important to me right now, and I can't manage to live a life without you!"
She went to the edge of the rooftop. I gasped.
"Hey! Don't... Stop right there!" I reached my hands to her, but she kept shaking her head while crying.
"Don't come near me! Answer me truly this time, don't you love me? Can't you even love me?" She said while crying, her voice is hoarse.
"Princess, please, I don't love you, and I can't love you, so let's go now and talk about this-"
"Goodbye, Ashton."
She fell from the roof the next thing I knew, and I tried to catch her.
But it was too late.
...
[Bella's Point of View]
People chose their own fate. Whether it may be of their liking or not, it's their choice.
Princess Bellania died from the fall. Despite everything she has, she still chose to die an awful death.
"Bella, won't you go to Princess' funeral later?" Niana asked me.
"Should we go? I mean, it wouldn't be a problem for me." I replied.
"Don't you feel any remorse?" She asked again.
I looked at her and grinned. "I don't. Why would I feel guilty when I know to myself that I was not responsible for anything that has happened?"
She shook her head and looked away.
"You know, Niana, Princess chose to kill herself because she was too in love with a horrid guy. I didn't do anything. I just revealed the secrets they were hiding."
"What if I reveal your secrets too, Bella? What will you do?"
"Then go ahead. Do you think people will believe you? After all, I can manipulate everyone and tell them I was a victim, which is true."
"You're pathetic."
"I know, right? People choose their own journey. Even if there is something out there destined for us, we still choose the path we will take. If I didn't fight back against the people who abused, hurt and broke me, I am probably dead by now. That's why I chose to fight back, to live."
She didn't say a word after that.
We went to the funeral of Princess after class. Other schoolmates were here too. I wonder where is Ashton right now.
I remember that night, I left him crying in the dark. He didn't go to school for days. Of course, who would have the guts to go to school now that everyone thinks he killed Princess.
I placed white roses on top of Princess' coffin. I stared at her face and thought that she could've lived a better life if she wasn't so rude to me.
"You're so pathetic, brat," I whispered.
I looked around the place and saw a guy with a familiar face. He was wearing a black hoodie.
"Ashton?" I mumbled.
He went away, and I saw him holding a knife in his hand. I followed him quietly while he was going deep into the woods.
I halted as soon as he stopped walking. I can hear him crying. He was saying words I couldn't understand.
"I deserve to die, right?" He asked.
"I'll end everything. Bella was right. I deserve to die."
He held on the knife tightly and sliced through his right wrist. He yelled in pain.
I just watched him gasp for air as he was taking his own life. He fell to the ground, and I walked towards him.
"Star-crossed lovers, huh?" I uttered while staring at him, fighting for his life.
"B...Bella?" He muttered.
"Yeah, look at you dying. I never thought you would die this way, but, ugh, anyway, goodbye. You'll rot in hell."
I went back to Princess's funeral and told the people there that I saw a dead body while roaming around the area. They called the police, and Ashton's body was cremated.
...
"Bella, was everything worth it?" Niana asked.
"Yes."
Everything is worth it.