The bonfire crackled, the warm glow contrasting the icy dread in Irene's chest. Even after Rina had pulled her away from Bella's outburst, the weight of the humiliation still clung to her like a heavy chain.
She could hear them still—murmurs, laughter, mockery.
> "Michael didn't even defend her."
"Bella's right. She is desperate."
"She acts so innocent, but she threw herself at him in the waterfall."
Irene squeezed her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she and Rina reached their tent.
Rina let out a sharp breath and turned to face her. "Are you okay?"
Irene forced a nod. But the truth was—she wasn't.
She was drowning in fear.
Not just of the gossip, but of Bella.
Something about Bella's rage wasn't normal. It wasn't just jealousy. There was a dark, calculated edge to it, and Irene felt it in her bones.
"What just happened back there… it won't be the end of it," Irene murmured, voice hollow.
Rina hesitated, then placed a hand on her shoulder. "Irene, listen to me. You're letting her get into your head. You're stronger than this."
Irene let out a bitter laugh. "Am I?"
Rina's gaze hardened. "Yes. The Irene I know wouldn't be sitting here trembling over Bella's threats. She'd stand up and fight."
Irene wanted to believe that. But she couldn't shake the feeling that Bella wasn't done with her.
And when Bella made her next move, Irene wasn't sure she'd survive it.
---
Mockery & Attention Games
As the night deepened, most of the students returned to the bonfire, but Irene refused. The thought of facing them, of seeing Bella's smug face, was unbearable.
But avoiding everyone didn't stop them from talking.
Laughter echoed from the firepit, and though she couldn't see them, she could hear Zoko and Mavins loud and clear.
"Damn, Irene's got some guts though," Mavins snickered. "Throwing herself at Michael twice? That's some dedication."
Zoko chuckled. "Maybe she thought he'd pick her if she kissed him enough times."
Mira giggled, leaning into Zoko. "Be nice. She's just… ambitious."
Ivana smirked. "Or delusional."
The group erupted into laughter.
Rina, who had been sitting beside Irene, clenched her jaw. "They're assholes. Don't listen to them."
Irene wanted to ignore it, to block it out. But every word hit like a fresh wound.
Michael hadn't defended her.
Bella had humiliated her.
And now, the whole school was laughing.
She hated how powerless she felt.
---
Michael's Private Approach
Sometime later, after most of the students had begun winding down, a shadow loomed outside her tent.
"Irene."
Her breath caught. She knew that voice.
Michael.
Rina frowned but didn't stop her when Irene stepped outside.
Michael stood there under the moonlight, hands shoved into his pockets. He looked… conflicted. As if even being here was a bad idea, but he'd come anyway.
Irene crossed her arms. "What do you want?"
Michael studied her for a moment before stepping closer. His voice was low, almost teasing.
"You're a really good kisser, you know."
Irene's stomach flipped.
She glared. "Is this a joke to you?"
He smirked. "No. I meant it." His eyes darkened slightly. "Your lips… they're so soft. I haven't stopped thinking about it."
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
He was playing with her. He had denied her in front of everyone, humiliated her. And now, in the dark where no one could see, he was saying this?
Irene clenched her fists. "Then why did you let Bella humiliate me?"
Michael sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's complicated."
Irene scoffed. "It's not complicated, Michael. You kissed me back. Then you turned your back on me. You let them mock me."
His jaw tightened. "I had to."
She stepped forward, her anger flaring. "Why? Because of Bella?"
Michael didn't answer.
That silence told her everything.
Her chest tightened, hurt slicing through her.
"I was stupid to think you actually cared," she whispered, turning away.
But before she could step back into her tent, Michael grabbed her wrist. His grip was firm, his body close.
"I do care."
Irene froze.
Michael's fingers brushed against her knuckles, a softness in his touch that contradicted the chaos he was causing inside her.
"Irene," his voice was almost desperate. "I can't—"
A sudden snap of a twig made them both jerk apart.
And standing there, staring at them with eyes blazing with fury—was Bella.
---
Bella's Scene & Public Embarrassment
"Oh. My. God."
Bella's voice dripped with venom.
Irene's stomach dropped.
Students from the bonfire turned at the sound, eyes locking onto the scene unfolding before them.
Michael quickly stepped back, but the damage was already done.
Bella's lip curled into a cruel smirk. "You're seriously still chasing after my boyfriend?"
"I wasn't—" Irene started, but Bella didn't let her finish.
She turned to the crowd, loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Guys, look at this! Little Irene just can't get enough of Michael!"
Whispers turned to outright laughter.
Mavins nudged Zoko, grinning. "Damn, she's persistent."
Ivana scoffed, crossing her arms. "Pathetic."
Irene felt like the ground had been ripped from beneath her.
Bella stepped closer, lowering her voice so only Irene could hear.
"I warned you," she whispered, eyes gleaming with something dark.
A shiver ran down Irene's spine.
This wasn't jealousy anymore. Bella wanted to destroy her.
"Let's go," Rina snapped, grabbing Irene's arm and yanking her away.
As they disappeared into the tents, Irene heard one last thing—
Bella's quiet laughter.
Like she had already won.
And maybe… she had.
For now.
The bonfire burned low, casting eerie shadows on the students as the night stretched on. The atmosphere had shifted since Bella's outburst—some students were still gossiping, others had returned to their usual games, and a few were keeping an eye on Irene, waiting for more drama.
Irene sat on a log near her tent, arms wrapped around her knees. She couldn't shake the humiliation from earlier. Bella had made a spectacle of her, and Michael had done nothing to stop it. Yet, when she thought about the way he had touched her lips under the waterfall, his words echoing in her mind—*"You're such a good kisser"—*her heart betrayed her.
Rina sat beside her, offering a water bottle. "Drink. You look like you're about to pass out."
Irene took it but didn't sip. "Why does she hate me this much?"
Rina scoffed. "Because she sees you as a threat. And because she's insecure. You actually have Michael's attention, and she knows it."
Irene shook her head. "He was just playing with me."
"Was he?" Rina arched a brow. "Because from where I was standing, it looked like he didn't want to stop."
Irene bit her lip, not knowing what to say.
Rina sighed, lowering her voice. "Irene, I won't tell you how to feel, but you need to be careful. Bella's planning something—I can feel it."
A shiver crawled up Irene's spine. Me too.
A few feet away, Ivana and Mira were in their own little world, giggling as they sat close to Zoko and Mavins.
Mira, who had been trying to get Mavins' attention all night, playfully nudged him. "You were laughing pretty hard back there. You enjoy Bella's little show?"
Mavins smirked, stretching his arms lazily. "Can you blame me? Drama makes everything interesting."
Zoko chuckled, flicking a small twig into the fire. "You just like watching girls fight."
"Not my fault it's entertaining," Mavins replied.
Mira rolled her eyes but leaned in a little closer. "So, what do you find more entertaining? Fights… or a cute girl asking you to take a walk with her?"
Mavins tilted his head, smirking at her boldness. "Depends. Are you the cute girl?"
Mira laughed, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "I don't see any other contenders."
Zoko groaned. "God, can you two flirt somewhere else?"
Ivana, who had been quiet until now, turned to him with a teasing smile. "Jealous, Zoko? Or do you just want my attention instead?"
Zoko met her gaze with amusement. "Oh, so now I'm the target?"
Ivana shrugged. "You are kind of my type."
Zoko raised a brow. "Kinda?"
"I like a challenge," Ivana admitted, her tone playful.
Mavins let out a laugh. "Damn, Zoko. Looks like you've got a fan."
Zoko smirked but didn't respond, only giving Ivana a knowing look. She didn't miss the way his gaze lingered on her lips.
Mira nudged Ivana, whispering, "I think he's interested."
Ivana smirked. "Of course he is."
Meanwhile, Michael had been watching Irene from a distance. Guilt gnawed at him. He had let Bella humiliate her. Again.
Without thinking, he got up and walked toward her tent.
Irene saw him approach and instantly stiffened. Rina, noticing the tension, sighed and stood. "I'll give you two a minute," she muttered before disappearing.
Michael stopped in front of her, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Hey."
Irene didn't look at him. "What do you want?"
He hesitated before sitting beside her. "Are you okay?"
She let out a dry laugh. "Wow. You're asking that now?"
Michael sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't mean to—"
"Didn't mean to what, Michael?" Irene snapped, finally looking at him. "Didn't mean to kiss me? Didn't mean to let Bella humiliate me in front of everyone? Or didn't mean to act like nothing happened between us?"
He clenched his jaw. "You know why I did that."
"No, I don't," she shot back. "Because one minute, you're telling me how soft my lips are, and the next, you're pretending I don't exist."
Michael exhaled sharply, lowering his voice. "Irene… Bella is dangerous. You don't understand."
Irene's stomach tightened. "Then explain it to me."
Michael hesitated. For a moment, she thought he might actually open up. But then he shook his head. "I can't."
Irene scoffed. "Of course you can't."
He reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. The touch sent shivers down her spine. "I wasn't lying about the kiss."
Her breath caught.
Michael leaned in slightly, his voice barely above a whisper. "And if things were different… I wouldn't be fighting this."
Irene swallowed hard, her heart hammering against her chest. What does that even mean?
But before she could say anything, a voice shattered the moment.
"Oh, look at this. Sneaking around again?"
Bella.
Bella stood with her arms crossed, her expression one of pure venom. A few students had turned to watch, sensing another fight.
Michael stood immediately. "Bella, don't—"
"Oh, don't what?" she sneered. "Don't call out the little slut who can't keep her hands off my boyfriend?"
Irene flinched. Slut. That word hit harder than she expected.
Rina, who had just returned, immediately grabbed Irene's arm. "Don't do this, Bella."
Bella ignored her. "You're pathetic, Irene. Do you like being everyone's joke? Because that's what you are."
Michael's fists clenched. "That's enough."
Bella turned to him, her eyes flashing. "You always defend her, but never me."
Michael exhaled sharply. "I'm not doing this with you right now."
Bella scoffed. "Fine. Stay here with her then. See if I care."
She turned on her heel and stormed off, Mira and Ivana trailing after her.
Zoko and Mavins, who had been nearby, exchanged amused glances.
"Damn," Mavins muttered. "Irene really knows how to steal the spotlight."
Zoko smirked. "At least she keeps things interesting."
Ivana shot Irene a look before flipping her hair. "Ugh. Let's go."
As the crowd dispersed, Rina pulled Irene into a tight grip. "That was brutal."
Irene swallowed the lump in her throat. "I don't think she's done with me."
Rina's voice dropped. "No, she's not."
And Irene wasn't sure she could survive whatever Bella had planned next.