Ties of Fate Chapter 3

Elira's order arrived.

It was placed on her table, and the waiter left.

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

(Closes her book, shifts her laptop to the side)

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

(Murmuring) Finally

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

I need something to shut off the headache Serene gave me this morning

A little later, her friend, also a law student, arrived.

Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]

(Approaches the table, placing her bag on the chair beside Elira)

Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]

You always look like you’re two cases away from committing a crime

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

(Dryly) And yet I haven’t

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

That’s the real miracle

Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]

(Snorts, sitting down) You didn’t tell me you’d be eating without me

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

(Takes a bite, not looking up)

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

You were late

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

I don’t wait for anyone

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

Not even you

Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]

(Leans back, arms crossed) Wow

Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]

Cold as ever

Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]

Remind me why I’m still your friend?

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

(Glances at her with a hint of a smirk) Because I help you pass your exams and scare off your exes

Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]

(Mock gasp) So I’m just here for academic survival and emotional damage control?

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

(Takes another bite, casually)

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

Basically

Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]

(Grinning) Fair

Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]

So… what’s with the stress lately?

Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]

You’ve been snapping even more than usual

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

(Pauses, then shrugs slightly)

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

Just… pressure from home

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

You know how the Montemayors are

Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]

(Rolls her eyes) Right

Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]

Prestige, image, legacy. Blah blah blah

Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]

Bet your parents are still trying to control your entire future

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

(Drinks coffee, expression unreadable)

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

Something like that

Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]

(Raises a brow, studying her friend)

Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]

They better not be pushing you into anything again

Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]

You look like you haven’t slept in days

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

(Deflects) Law school exists

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

That’s enough to destroy my sleep cycle

Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]

(Tapping her fingers on the table)

Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]

Anyway, there’s a protest near the west gate

Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]

Some students are rallying again about the election fraud thing

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

(Raises an eyebrow)

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

Let me guess Villanueva’s name came up?

Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]

(Nods slowly) Front and center

Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]

Her mother’s photo is literally on every damn placard

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

(Sighs, eyes narrowing) Of course it is

Meanwhile – At the west gate of the university

Crowd: (Chanting) “No to corruption! Down with Villanueva!”

Student A: (Yelling through a megaphone) Her family’s power won’t silence the truth! The people deserve transparency!

Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]

(Caught near the edge of the crowd, just trying to go home)

Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]

(She hugs her sketchpad close to her chest, keeping her head low)

Student B: (Notices her, whispers to others) Isn’t that… Villanueva’s daughter?

Student C: (Sneers) That’s her. The Omega, right? Pretending she’s one of us.

The crowd shifts, some phones come out, pictures are taken.

Whispers turn into louder murmurs.

Student A: Hey—what’s it like being born from a walking bribe?

Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]

(Stops, jaw tightening)

Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]

I’m just trying to get through

Student C: (Mocking) What? Can’t defend Mommy Governor today?

Someone throws a crumpled flyer at her feet. Another one bumps her shoulder roughly.

Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]

(Stepping back, voice shaking but firm)

Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]

Get out of my way

Student B: (Crossing their arms) This is our protest. You don’t belong here.

Before anything escalates

The other teachers arrived, and because of that, Serene was able to go home.

That night — back at home

Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]

(Unlocks the door, enters quietly, clutching her sketchpad tighter than usual)

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

(Already home, on the couch with her laptop, eyes flick up briefly)

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

You’re late

Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]

(Takes off her shoes without replying, heading straight to the kitchen)

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

(Voice firmer)

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

You were at the protest site, weren’t you?

Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]

(Still didn't answer and got some water)

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

(trying to provoke her) Your face is all over social media

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

Isn't that funny?

Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]

(Gripping the glass tighter) Yeah

Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]

Hilarious

Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]

Being humiliated in public never gets old

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

(closed the laptop) Well, get used to it, you're the daughter of a corrupt governor

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

(stood up and got a blanket) I already cooked dinner, you can eat if you want

Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]

(angrily put down the glass of water) I'm not hungry anymore

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

(Pauses by the couch, holding the blanket)

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

You can sulk all you want, but facts don’t change, Villanueva

Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]

(Turns to her, voice shaking with restrained rage) Stop calling me that like it’s all I am

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

(Calm, almost cold) It is who you are, whether you like it or not

Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]

(Steps forward, eyes glistening but sharp)

Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]

And you?

Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]

Just a Montemayor clone waiting for your parents to finish scripting your entire life?

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

At least I'm making a way for myself, what about you? No matter what you do, you're still the daughter of a worthless person in this world

Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]

(Staring at Elira, voice cold)

Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]

If she’s worthless, then what does that make me in your eyes?

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

(Flatly) Collateral

Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]

(Laughs bitterly)

Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]

You really think I wanted this bond? This house? You?

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

(Steps closer, tone sharper)

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

You live here

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

You eat my food

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

Sleep under my roof

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

If you hate it so much, walk out

Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]

(Face hardens) I would, if it weren’t for your family holding mine by the throat

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

(Crosses arms) Maybe if your Mother didn’t screw half the country over, no one would be holding anyone

Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]

(Eyes narrowing)

Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]

You think you’re better than me because you wear a surname like armor

Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]

But you’re just a different brand of prisoner, Elira

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

(Quiet, but cutting) Then stay in your cell, Serene

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

Just don’t try decorating mine with your pity

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

(returned to the couch and lay down)

Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]

(Still standing, eyes locked on Elira from across the room)

Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]

Don’t worry

Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]

I wouldn’t waste pity on someone who sees the world in black and bloodlines

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

(Lying down, one arm covering her eyes) Good

Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]

That’s one less thing I need from you

Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]

(After a pause, voice lower) I never planned to give you anything

She turns off the kitchen light, leaving only the soft glow from the living room lamp

Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]

(Walking past Elira, tone flat) Next time you want to remind me what I am…

Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]

(Glances down at her) …Try looking in a mirror first.

She disappears into her room, the door clicking shut behind her.

Elira slowly lowers her arm, staring blankly at the ceiling—expression unreadable