"I didn't expect you to be so harsh…" Patricia's voice wavered with hurt.
"I guess you really wanted that role, not caring if you hurt—"
Harmony laughed, cutting her off, "Don't push me to reveal what you truly desire. It was you who wanted that role, not me."
"What are you talking about? I'm busy being the director—"
"Yes, but the day after Miss Falcon got hurt, you were ready to offer yourself for the role. After all, weren't you the director who read the script over and over again, memorizing every line in the end?"
Patricia bit her lower lip.
"It's unfortunate that no one noticed your intentions back then. But as someone who provided the script, I cannot allow you to take that role," Harmony said, closing the distance between them.
"I—"
"You can't act, Miss President. Have you forgotten last year's performance? Everyone catered to you because you couldn't act and deliver your lines like a robot?"
Patricia's eyes widened in shock.
"They were being kind to Miss President because they saw how much effort she put into the play. But what did you say afterward? Sadly, most of us couldn't deliver our lines properly."
Harmony laughed again, "Most of us? You were the only one who couldn't do it properly."
"No, that's not true."
"Believe what you want, but even if someone were to vouch for you, I would still reject it. I would pull the story."
"Our classmates—"
"Our classmates wouldn't be able to do anything. We're in the real world, and technically, I have the final say in this story."
Patricia's control over her emotions was slipping.
"You see, even if you hadn't injured the main lead, you still wouldn't have been able to take that role."
"What are you talking about?!?" Patricia looked horrified.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about. I did indeed walk up those stairs in my gym uniform, but that was the day before Miss Falcon was pushed off them. Two of those pictures were taken the day before the incident, and the other two were taken on the day of the incident."
"Are you accusing me right now?" Patricia's face turned pale.
"I'm not accusing you. I'm saying it was you. You're the one who pushed her and then blamed it on me. Getting my notes was easy because I left them out in the open."
"You have no evidence of this. This is defamation."
Harmony's confident smile spoke volumes without her saying another word.
Patricia shook her head slowly, "No. You have no evidence."
"…"
Her words faltered as she stared straight into Harmony's eyes.
"We are students in this school. This school is known for keeping quiet about a student's background. Do you think you're the only one who can silence a few teachers? Do you think you are the only one who can do something?"
Patricia's face went even paler.
"You don't know the backgrounds of the others. You don't even know Miss Falcon's background. You really should be careful. You don't know who you might be up against."
Patricia took a step back, "You—You don't know who I am either."
Harmony looked at her with mockery, "Yes, and I don't care. What I'm saying is, if you don't stop this, you might end up falling harder than you expect."
"You—I—I didn't do anything. Why do you keep saying I did?!?" Patricia's voice was filled with anguish.
She raised her voice, intending to draw others' attention to the confrontation.
Harmony tilted her head, "Are you sure you want to do that? I warned you. If you don't stop, you might fall harder."
"!!"
Patricia nervously glanced at the door.
She looked back to find Harmony giggling. The sound was mocking and unsettling.
"If you want to play a game, you should be prepared to bet everything. I was planning to finish high school quietly and return to my peaceful life after the play. But you chose to challenge me…"
Harmony stepped closer, her eyes narrowing, "…You should stop trying to wake a sleeping tiger."
Patricia swallowed hard, unable to respond.
"Also…" Harmony moved even closer, towering over Patricia.
She leaned in to speak coldly in her ear, "Why am I not seeing any remorse from you when a life was endangered because of your greed? I may seem indifferent, but are you aware how much it angers me that you act so nonchalant after causing such an incident?"
Patricia shivered at the chill in Harmony's voice.
Harmony straightened up, "What I hate the most is someone who disregards life."
She took a step back, "Stop this act. Stop dragging me into your schemes. You really wouldn't want me to act."
Patricia's knees gave way, and she dropped to the ground.
Harmony looked down at her, "My last straw was you causing me injury. I have my own reasons for not letting it pass."
"I—I wasn't the one who pushed you—"
Harmony laughed coldly, "Pathetic. You started all this. So all the blame falls on you. I warned you—if you want to start a game, be ready to bet everything on it."
Patricia, on the verge of tears, felt like she was facing a hungry tiger.
"Don't try anything else. Unless you want me to bare my fangs at you. You wouldn't like it one bit."
Harmony crouched down and looked directly into Patricia's eyes.
"Don't act nonchalant about what you've done. That was a life. Keep that in mind."