"Miss Miller, are you aware of the time the class begins?" Professor Rubik asked, glaring sharply at Eveline.
Professor Rubik valued punctuality more than the flimsy excuses students offer for missing class. But glancing at Eveline's pale complexion, he wondered what might have happened to her.
Despite the accusing looks directed at her, Eveline didn't waver and said, "I apologize, Professor. I was running behind schedule because of an urgent matter."
Students began to whisper hearing Eveline's response. Some even threw disgusting stares at her that caused Professor Rubik to raise his voice.
"Silence!" Scanning the entire room with his stern eyes he silenced them before bringing back his gaze on Eveline.
Eveline would not have been spared by Rubik, but he could not just stand by and watch one of the top students miss such an important class, so he allowed her to go to class without saying anything else.
Because of Eveline's outstanding academic record and flawless study habits, all of the professors acknowledged her, and as a result, Rubik waived his rule and let her attend the lecture.
"Enter, but make sure you will not be late the next time." Eveline nodded contentedly in response to Professor Rubik's firm tone before taking her place at the desk.
"Such a shameless girl. I assumed she would have fled, covering her face, after being discovered shamelessly. Nevertheless, observe how unperturbed she is." A student seated behind Eveline mumbled.
"I am curious as to why Gabriel found her attractive. She is such a cheapo, always clinging to boys. Is he even aware that she is also having affairs with Daniel and Stefan?" the other said.
The girls made crude remarks about Eveline while she sat there in silence, but Tiffany's lack of interest in their comments made her curious.
Despite sitting next to her, she did not even dare to look at her.
'Tiffany, I will not let you win this time. You did everything to ruin my life, but not anymore. Now that I am back, I won't let you destroy me this time
Eveline promised herself before darting her gaze back at the podium.
****
After hearing from Stefan that Eveline had decided to attend the class, Gabriel waited for her outside the college building. Though he was irritated by her intransigence, he was unable to force his way into the classroom and confront her.
But more than just venting his annoyance, he was curious as to who took those photos.
Gabriel recalled that when no students were loitering around the girls' restroom, it was puzzling that those images were taken so close to the location.
"Why did you tell me that Eveline wasn't the one to post those pictures" Gabriel suddenly snapped darting his infuriating gaze towards Stefan.
Stefan, who was preoccupied with something on his phone, suddenly bolted out of fear.
"What?" Stefan gasped in exasperation.
"Why did not you confront me when you knew that Eveline was not the one who posted those pictures and disclosed her feelings for me?" Gabriel repeated as he lunged towards Stefan and stood in front of him like a furious beast.
Hearing his disapproving comments, Stefan straightened up and crossed his hand over his chest, his expression hardening. "And you would have believed me?" he inquired.
Stefan's icy comment caused Gabriel's face to wrinkle and he clenched his teeth in fury.
"Why wouldn't I believe you?" he asked through his gritting teeth.
Stefan's words felt even more suffocating to Gabriel, like an arrow straight through his chest.
"Because you didn't believe the girl whom we practically grew up with. How conveniently you blamed her for revealing her emotions when you knew Eveline would not do anything that would upset you," Stefan said, raising his voice a little as he addressed Gabriel directly.
Gabriel's eyes flitted in shame as his words caused him to feel guilty once more.
Out of every girl who ever tried to get close to him, Gabriel had always been comfortable with Eveline. Why? Because he had known her since he was a young child, but because of a chance conversation, he misunderstood her and incorrectly accused her.
"I did not think you would condemn her," he continued.
Hearing Stefan's harsh words, Gabriel's heart fell, realizing what a huge type of fool he was.
"Is this the reason Eveline has been acting so aloof toward me?" he wondered.
Gabriel sighed and lowered his gaze, embarrassed.
He wanted to apologize to Eveline and clear up any confusion, but would she accept his apology? Should she persist in acting as though she is unaware of his presence, causing him to regret every moment they spent together?
Gabriel turned to face Stefan just as he opened his mouth to speak when he suddenly spoke.
"There she is"
Gabriel quickly looked in Eveline's direction as she was about to exit the building, but before she could get there, someone stopped her.
"Eveline, how are you doing? I heard you passed out." Tiffany inquired while feigning ignorance of the situation, even though word of it had already spread throughout the college.
Grinning, Eveline stared at Tiffany as she attempted to break through her act.
"I thought you took my words seriously the other day?" Eveline stated, causing Tiffany to be circumspect in her speech.
She went on, "That is why you even gave me a quick glance during class."
Tiffany's face twisted at Eveline's audacious comment.
She indeed turned a blind eye because she was anxious about Eveline's presence, despite being publicly humiliated by those photos.
After what Eveline had done to her on the staircase, Tiffany mistakenly believed that she had avenged her. It was shocking to learn that Eveline was a thick-skinned girl who hardly ever displayed signs of shame because the last time she had done this, her friend vanished for several days before reappearing.
Tiffany did not think Eveline had changed her behavior toward her abruptly because she had somehow figured out what her motivation was.
"Did Gabriel warn her about me?" she wondered, thinking back to how she had brainwashed Gabriel while Eveline was away by giving him false information.
Tiffany cast a quick glance at her, wondering if she should investigate and validate her own doubts.
"I was worried for you and I am sorry that I couldn't talk much. You know that Professor Rubik does not give students much leeway when they disrupt his class," Tiffany said, putting on a pitiful look.
Eveline squinted her eyes and nodded.
"Now, what do you want from me?" Eveline asked.
Tiffany scowled, offended by Eveline's impoliteness. Although she had been attempting to be patient with her, her haughtiness was gradually getting the better of her.
"Why do you keep saying the same thing to me again and again? You believe that the only reason I speak with you is to get something from you," she asked.
With Tiffany's expression changing, Eveline grinned and said, "Am I wrong because you always come to me when you need something from me? But you know what, I am over this self-serving behavior. So let me come straight to the point. I no longer want to be friends with you"
Tiffany widened her eyes upon hearing Eveline's comment and she quickly grabbed her arm.
"W-What did you say?" Tiffany inquired clutching her hand tightly.
Eveline frowned as she observed Tiffany's vulnerable side, but she secretly wished for her to respond in this manner. Eveline had to provoke her to show her that she was not the same girl she had been fooling for years.
"Did you not befriend me to get close to Gabriel?" Eveline said, leaving Tiffany speechless.
Eveline could no longer play that innocent girl who easily let anyone fool her. She wanted to warn Tiffany now that she had reached her limit.
Tiffany's face turned pale. She could tell that Eveline wasn't joking with her this time and she had somewhat found her true intention.
'No, she just can't know about me? And how would she, I have been very careful?! No, I just can't let her ruin my plan.'
Tiffany shook her head, denying her accusation, and grabbed onto her hand again.
"No, Eveline. You are getting me wrong? Why would I do that when I know how much you love Gabriel?"
Eveline became enraged as she watched her pretend to be innocent. All of the innocent things she had done in the past had clouded her judgment, and she became so furious that she pulled her hand away from Tiffany, causing her to fall.
"Ahh!"