In between breaks after lunch, Care spread the word to female members of elite clique to exclude Madelaine Salvador as well as her social climber minions to their social activities indefinitely. It went smooth because even though they backstabbed her, they hoped to be on her good side. This move won't hurt her, anyway. Turning somebody into a social pariah is an unspoken agreement between those who belong to the inner circle. Besides, Salvador rose through political power not because they originated from an old rich clan.
I'm barely warming up, she thought.
Evening came. Everyone attended a party hosted in Roux' penthouse. Because they were sucker to themes: tonight was bohemian escapade. Care arrived early bringing Aster along. She wanted her to badly witness how Mandy 'feeling chummy' to the clique would react the time she learns she became a social pariah.
"Care, you swore we'd go home by 8." Aster reminded her when the clock struck 7:59 pm.
"Sorry, wait a little longer. Promise we'd go after tonight's brief amusing show." She replied.
Aster raised her brow at her ambiguity. She meant to probe however Mandy crashed the party wearing a magenta sequined ball gown. Her head immediately titled towards Care and her heart raced due to the evil smirk plastered on her face. Aster was about to confront Care but her voice got drowned by numerous fits of laughter from attendees.
First step towards becoming a social pariah is public humiliation.
After three days of cold shoulder treatments from various pips, Mandy and her group finally grasped what was happening. No invites, insider news or the usual perks they enjoyed before!
"What do I do?" Mandy yelled, frustrated, as she exited the toilet cubicle.
She was helpless despite bearing the surname Salvador.
Marigold walked in treating her non-existent. It destroyed the little ember of hope she clung to that everything was a bad nightmare she will eventually wake up from! She mustered up the last ounce of courage left on her.
"Marigold..." She softly addressed her name.
The bitch continued to apply lipstick on her pouty lips, forsaking her even a sideway glance.
"C'mon, hey! Just this one time, beauty! Why? What did I do? Please, say something!"
The plea on her tone squashed her pride like a pumpkin. And she would get down on her knees if she must.
"Alright, since I enjoyed Camaraderie in your mansion! You angered Aphrodite, fool."
For a minute, she was dumbfounded while staring at herself in the full length mirror.
"Aphro what.. Oh?! Caress!?" she exclaimed when it dawned on her.
Right after class, she headed to the venue of the prestigious AU drama club admissions she dreamt so bad since highschool. How unlucky for her that Caress Aragon is a co-facilitator although she is also a freshman. Calling the situation unfair won't even suffice.
The second she saw Care surrounded by people, her heart turned to a drum being beaten mercilessly. She faked a cough to steal their attention yet everybody in the auditorium seemed in cahoots because no one looked at her. It was the first time she inched close to bawling her eyes out for being blatantly ignored. As a Mayor's daughter, she never expected this coming!
"UGH! How dare all of you? I swear on the name of Salvador, I'd shame you ten times harder. What a bunch of losers licking the feet of that damned entitled bitch!" Mandy screamed at the top of her lungs, pointing her index finger at Care.
Silence roamed the auditorium momentarily. People halted their movements, breaking conversations at the same time. Just as she thought they would at last acknowledge her existence, they returned back to their own business.
"Was I only a passing wind?" she revolted.
Pent up frustration caused her mind to snap, losing the ability to be rational. The first plastic chair she grabbed and hurled hit the girl Care was conversing with. Now, she gained the spotlight! Their frog-look-alike dilated eyes followed her movements. Their shocked faces further triggered her to extend the show. She stomped a couple of standees and smashed an LCD projector before two men were able to pin her body against the wall as though she was a crazy mental patient who escaped.
"Let's save ourselves the trouble. Escort her outside." Care instructed, intentionally letting her lopsided smile slip. Then, she leaned and whispered, "How does it feel to be in the outcast's shoes?"
Her knees suddenly become wobbly that she probably would fall if not for the guys holding her. Tears blurred her eyesight as regret washed over her senses.
What did she gain from her outburst?
She only made herself a sore loser!
They gently nudged her towards the egress while Caress Aragon stood undaunted behind them. Without anything to lose, she went down with bent knees realizing this should have been her first stunt earlier.
"Remember Confucius? Don't do unto others what you don't want others to do unto you. Grovel, Madelaine."
She watched Care turn her back and later sashayed her way inside.
Ever heard of a saying when a bully meets a greater bully?
That was what hit her straight to the core at that moment. She cried like a baby with dignity in shredded pieces, morale impossible to recover.... feelings in haywire.
Her need for consolation grew that she did not think twice but dialed her father's number. Her old man picked up faster than she anticipated.
"Daddy, help me! Ruin Caress Aragon! She's hurting me. I've never been bullied or treated like shit! Please, kick her out of Aurum! I want her gon---"
"Mandy!" his voice boomed on the other line rendering her speechless, "Listen, child. Don't do anything to anger Caress. Aragons are our major political supporters. Losing them is the same as losing a foothold. Better put in mind what pays your luxuries. Understood? Don't discuss this ever again."
The call ended. No goodbye, no fatherly comfort or whatsoever that she needed the most.
"Screw you!" she screamed, never minding if her throat hurt or her voice became hoarse.
Then, she threw her phone. It crashed on the wall thus resulting in the screen breaking. She couldn't care less knowing the gadget was expensive, recently bought and the latest released model! What pays for her luxuries barely satiates the insatiable hunger of her heart.