Rina’s POV

It’s my first time in Cebu, and I hope the people here are better than those in my province. I hate having to deal with too much. It’s still early, so I decided to go to the canteen to buy something. This mask I’m wearing makes it hard to breathe, but I’d rather struggle to breathe than let people criticize the way I look.

When I arrived at the classroom, I saw four girls staring at me, but I ignored them, thinking it was normal. I sat beside a girl who was playing with her phone. She looked cool and kind—maybe sitting beside her would make my school day feel less lonely.

Our first subject teacher walked into the classroom, and since I was sitting in front, she asked me to introduce myself.

“Um… Good evening, I’m Rina Apolo. I’m from Mi—” my words were cut off by the teacher. Rude.

“Remove your mask. COVID doesn’t exist anymore." I paused for a moment, then continued my introduction. How rude of her to interrupt me while I was talking.

I didn’t take off my face mask and continued introducing myself, even though all I got were judgmental looks from my classmates—and even my teacher.

The class went on, and not much happened. I breathed a sigh of relief when the teacher finally dismissed us. I was about to stand up to go to the restroom, but I ended up sitting back down when I felt hands on my shoulders.

It was one of the four girls who had been staring at me when I first walked in. The four of them surrounded me—one sat on my desk, another slung an arm over my shoulder, one stood directly in front of me, and the last one pulled up a chair, sat down, and placed her feet on my lap.

“Where were you going?” the girl sitting at the desk asked.

“C-comfort room,” I answered, almost out of breath.

“Can you buy food for us?” another one asked.

“W-why?”

“What do you mean ‘why’? Girls like you—” she paused, then continued, “We want to be your friends. It’s our way of letting someone into our circle. Right, girls?” she said, wearing that weird-looking smile of hers.

I stared at the girl sitting beside me. She was looking at me too, but her expression was blank—it didn’t look normal at all. I kept my eyes on her for a moment before finally standing up to buy those girls the food they wanted.

I forgot to ask them for money, but maybe I shouldn’t have. They looked like they were about to beat the shit out of me if I said the wrong thing.

The girl beside me is utterly weird. Her pretty face and cool aura are kind of scary.

“Is someone like her even normal?” I muttered to myself as I removed my mask.

I paused by the glass window and caught myself smirking.

She’s interesting.

It was already 9 in the evening when we finally finished class. The girl who had been sitting beside me—Kresta—I only found out her name when the teacher called on her. During the introductions earlier, I wasn’t paying attention because I was too tense.

Kresta left the classroom, and I followed her. I didn’t know why, but even though I was sure she knew I was tailing her, my feet just kept moving on their own. She walked straight to the parking lot, and in the blink of an eye—she vanished. She disappeared from my sight, and what happened next almost killed me.

Someone choked me from behind, and I could barely breathe.

“Why are you following me? What do you want?” she asked.

“I—I ca...n’t breathe...” I struggled to get the words out.

She let go of me, and only then was I able to catch my breath.

“Why are you following me?”

“I-I’m sorry,” I muttered, still catching my breath.

“I was just curious about you, that’s why I followed you… but I didn’t mean anything bad.”

Kresta didn’t respond. Her face remained blank, and her aura suddenly shifted—being around her felt heavy.

She got on her bike and drove off.

Her grip was insanely strong.

It didn’t feel like it was her first time choking someone.

As soon as I got home, I went straight to my room and checked myself in the mirror. Kresta’s grasp had left a bruise on my neck. I was a bit worried, but I had other things to do that night.

---

The Day After

The moment I stepped into the classroom, the girls were all trying to avoid me. I noticed a few bruises on their faces, and they couldn’t walk properly. They’d been avoiding my gaze ever since I got here. I had no idea what happened. I didn’t do anything wrong—well, not exactly. I just did a few things here and there. But those bruises weren’t from me.

As far as I remember, they were the ones who offered me a spot in their circle.

And now… they can’t even look me in the eye.

We waited a few minutes for our teacher.

Suddenly, two girls entered the room, laughing.

I felt a chill run down my spine when my eyes met one of theirs. Her eyes weren’t blank, but they were unreadable. She was laughing, yet there was nothing in her gaze you could hold on to. No joy, no malice—just… nothing you could understand.

Rhiane's POV

I can’t help but laugh whenever I remember what happened last night. I shared it with my friend Yvaine, and now she can’t stop laughing either. We were still giggling as we walked into the room—until my eyes landed on someone.

She looked like a loser.

She was wearing a mask.

Who even wears a mask in weather like this?

My brows raised, and she instantly avoided my gaze. Yvaine and I headed to the back since that’s where our seats were. That’s when I noticed the bruises on the four girls known as the mean bitches of the class. I think Yvaine noticed them too, since she was about to approach them.

“Stay back. Don’t bother—the instructor is right over there,” I said.

It’s in Yvaine’s nature to check on people, to ask if they’re okay or not. What kind of attitude is that, right?

I didn’t bother with them and turned my focus to the front.

The instructor arrived and started the lesson. She even asked questions—and the girl wearing the mask? She answered every single one correctly.

An hour and a half passed, and finally, it was break time. Yvaine didn’t hold back—she approached the four girls.

Why is she even interested in them? They’re already broken, for fuck’s sake.

“Hey, what happened to you guys?” Yvaine said, taking a seat in front of them. Their bruises looked oddly sexy, especially the one around the eye.

“It looks painful. What happened?” I added, smiling. I was trying to be fucking kind—and they just ignored us like we were the ones bothering them?

I noticed one of them staring blankly ahead. That’s when I saw Kresta grinning—staring at the four girls sitting right in front of me.

Kresta is known for being mysterious, but Yvaine and I know her.

She just doesn’t know us. Yet.

“What happened to you?” I asked again.

Still no response—as expected.

I turned my gaze to Kresta, and I noticed her smirk fade.

She looked… threatened.

I smirked back.

Knowing Kresta’s true nature made me feel superior.

I knew what she did.

---

Flashback

I was walking behind the school at around 10 in the evening. In the dark alley, I heard the sound of punches and gasps. I peeked around the corner, and there I saw a girl—tall and intimidating.

The view was… interesting.

Watching four people get beaten up was, strangely, more captivating than the view from the hill. And beside her stood another girl—so beautiful, so innocent-looking, almost angelic. The kind of girl you'd never imagine enjoying something so brutal. And yet, there she was, watching with quiet delight.

The tall girl grabbed one of the victims by the face and kept beating her. I even heard something crack.

Was that a bone?

God, I was starting to love it.

I wish I had brought popcorn.

“Please spare us! Forgive us! We’ll do anything!” one of the girls pleaded. She sounded like she was barely breathing. Honestly, I thought she’d pass out any second.

Then I heard the girl laugh. She kept punching and beating them up. And I just stood there… enjoying the view.

I didn’t help—because it wasn’t my business. Besides, their cries of agony? Kinda satisfying.

The angelic girl stepped forward and whispered something to one of the victims. Whatever she said made the poor girl cry harder—from fear, not pain. I’ve always believed mental abuse cuts deeper than physical pain.

And her words? Pure knives.

Those tears? Beautiful.

One of them loved violence. The other? She used words to rip someone apart.

Who were they?

I knew Yvaine would love this tea.

---

Present Time

I still don’t know who the other girl was, but she was incredibly talented, too.

After class was dismissed, I didn’t wait for Yvaine. I stepped out of the classroom and accidentally bumped into someone.

I furrowed my brows and looked down at the girl with a dull expression.

“Lilith,” I read from her name tag.

I chuckled to myself.

What is she, a kindergartener? Wearing a huge name tag like that?

“I—I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to,” she apologized immediately.

“Watch where you’re going,” I said calmly, though I was actually annoyed.

Yvaine and I hurried home—we had things to do.

Fun things, of course.

I smirked to myself.

Later that night, I got hungry and decided to head to the convenience store just a few blocks away from our apartment. The streets were quiet. The usual buzz of the day had been replaced by the occasional bark of a dog and the soft hum of streetlights.

It was kind of peaceful—the kind of silence that either clears your head or drives you to overthink.

Yvaine and I share a small apartment. She’s a working student.

Honestly, I admire her sometimes. She works hard, barely complains, and still manages to stay on top of everything.

But me? I’ve always taken a different route.

I rely on my parents to send me money so I can keep studying and surviving out here. Rent, food, tuition—it all adds up. Thankfully, they’re still willing to support me. For now.

It’s not like I can’t work. I can. I’ve thought about it a lot.

But the idea of waking up early, going to class, working afterward, coming home exhausted, then still having homework?

Sounds like hell.

Maybe it’s laziness. Or maybe I just know myself well enough to avoid burnout.

And let’s be honest—salaries in the Philippines? Trash.

You work your ass off for hours and still barely make enough to survive. That’s not the life I want.

If I’m going to get my hands dirty, I’d rather do something risky. Something that pays off big and fast.

Yeah, maybe that sounds selfish. Shady, even.

But sometimes, hard work doesn’t pay off the way they say it will.

I walked into the store, the fluorescent lights buzzing softly. I wasn’t sure what I wanted—maybe chips, maybe a microwaveable meal. Something to quiet the growling in my stomach and the chaos in my head.

Once I’d eaten, I started walking home. The streets were still mostly empty, just the occasional passing car and rustling leaves in the breeze.

I walked slowly, enjoying the cool night air.

Then, as I turned into the dimly lit alley near our apartment—

Everything happened so fast.

Someone grabbed me and shoved me hard against a wall.

My back hit the cold concrete with a dull thud. It knocked the breath out of me.

“You’re really brave, going out alone at this hour,” the person said.

I caught a glimpse of her face—and laughed.

“And you’re pretty brave yourself, suddenly attacking someone you don’t even know,” I said playfully.

“Do you want to get beaten up?” she asked, clearly annoyed.

“Try me. Maybe tomorrow I’ll get back at you, and you’ll go home with your head hanging off your neck… sounds exciting, doesn’t it?”

“Feisty. I like that. I saw you earlier, staring at me—what’s your problem?”

“Let’s just say… we have a few things in common. Like how torturing people can be… pleasurable. The screaming, the heavy breathing, the crying—it’s all fucking amazing, isn’t it?” I said.

She let go of me and turned to face me, a smirk forming on her lips.

“I’m never wrong,” she said, pulling a pack of candy from her pocket and popping one into her mouth. I gave her a confused look, and she smiled.

“I saw you that night. I just ignored you. I saw how turned on you were, watching those girls.”

“I knew your name,” I said. “And I saw you with another girl that night. She knew exactly how to drive people insane with just her words. Who is she? And do you know what she told those girls?”

“You already know her,” she replied. “She knew all their secrets—how they were selling drugs, and that they had sex tapes… all kinds of shit. She threatened them with that.”

I stared at Kresta, still smiling.

These girls were very interesting.

I still didn’t know who the other girl was,

But I had no doubt—

I’d find out soon enough.