The next morning at school,
Ami walks through the hallway, trying to act normal.
Sneha and Soha are chatting with her near the lockers.
Soha (grinning): "Look who finally decided to grace us with her royal presence."
Ami (mock gasping): "Excuse me, I was only ten minutes late. That's early by my standards."
Sneha: "You mean you didn't oversleep after all the drama yesterday?"
Ami: "Nope. I sketched until midnight, bled from my nose, and passed out like a true artist."
Soha: "...That was way more than we needed to know."
Just then, Dylan passed by on his way to class, casually waving at Soha.
Soha waved back, a bit too enthusiastically.
Sneha (teasing): "Ohhh~ someone's day just got better."
Soha (flustered): "Oh shut up, it was just a wave."
Ami (grinning wide): "Right. Just a wave. You practically had glitter in your eyes."
Before the teasing could continue, Saad approached-----
As always, he makes an entrance--carefree, smirking, and casual.
He taps Ami on the head.
Saad: "Yo, feeling better today?"
Ami (narrowing her eyes and swatting his hand off her head): "I swear, if you don't stop treating my head like a drum, I will rearrange your teeth."
Sneha (not missing a beat, slapping Saad's hand off Ami's head too): "Boundaries, dumbass."
Saad (pouting dramatically): "Rude. Absolutely rude. Not cool."
Ami (rolling her eyes, smirking): "You're not a puppy, Saad. Stop acting like one."
Soha (laughing): "Actually… you kinda act like a lost puppy. Loud, annoying, and always trying to cuddle people."
Saad (grinning): "You say that like it's a bad thing."
Sneha: "It is."
Saad: "Come on, puppies are cute."
Sneha: "Don't make me throw my shoe at you."
Saad (laughing): "Ahh, friendship. So pure. So violent."
Just then---
Alia walks in with Nyra, heels clicking, face full of fury.
Before anyone can react, Alia shoves Ami hard.
Ami stumbles and hits the floor.
Her notebook goes flying.
Ami: "For chicken's sake---what the hell, Alia?!"
Alia: "The nerve you have, showing your face after what you did to me yesterday, you little bitch!"
Soha gasped and immediately rushed forward, dropping to her knees to help Ami up.
Soha: "Ami!"
Ami winced but took Soha's hand, her jaw tight with restrained fury.
Meanwhile, Sneha's eyes blazed with rage. She stepped forward, fists clenched and ready to throw hands, but just as she lunged---
Before her punch could even find direction, two firm hands slipped under her arms from behind.
Saad.
With one clean motion, he lifted her slightly off the ground, pulling her backwards like a security guard dealing with a rowdy VIP.
Sneha's feet barely touched the ground as she was gently pulled back.
Saad: "Whoa there, calm down,Lady... We don't need violence---we got brains."
Sneha: "Saad, you idiot --get lost. It was fists first. I'm just replying."
Saad (still dragging her back a few steps):
"Nah, not when you're about to go WWE in front of the whole school."
Sneha's feet dangled an inch off the ground, her face fuming red.
Ami stands up, brushing herself off, expression calm but razor-sharp.
Ami:"Alia, when are you going to outgrow this toddler behavior? Or are you still waiting for someone to take your pacifier away?"
Alia: (face red) "Keep poking me and I swear I'll burn your life down!"
Ami: (mock gasping) "Oooooh, someone bring a camera---Alia's trying to land a villain monologue. Let's not miss this."
Alia (snapping): "You know what? Screw you. You've ruined enough already."
(She starts backing away, but turns once more)
Alia: "You're not invited to my birthday tomorrow, you hear me? Don't you dare show your trashed looking face."
She turns with a hair flip and storms off.
Nyra: (awkwardly) "I---I don't know anything about this…"
She rushes after Alia.
Saad: "Damn. What even was that chaos? Felt like I walked into a soap opera with fists."
Sneha (still fuming): "That moron's got some nerve. If you hadn't pulled me back, I swear I would've knocked that fox into next week."
Saad: "I mean, I did save the school from a full-on WWE match, so... you're welcome?"
Sneha (deadpan): "You're lucky you didn't get elbowed in the process."
Soha (rushing to Ami's side, checking her arm): "Ami, are you okay? Should we take you to the nursing room? Did she hurt you?"
Ami: (dusting her skirt) "I fell, not broke. I'm fine. Alia's anger issues need an exorcism."
Sneha: "I say we give her exactly what she's asking for."
Ami (cold smirk forming): "No need to rush. Tomorrow's her birthday, remember?"
Soha (quietly): "You're not planning to actually go, are you?"
Ami (eyes glinting): "Oh, I'm not just going. I'm bringing a party gift--with chaos wrapped in glitter. Be ready guys, we will be crushing that. "
Sneha (grinning): "Now that's the Ami I missed. Count me in."
Saad (raising an eyebrow): "I have no idea what's going on, but 'crashing a birthday party' sounds fun as hell. I'm in."
Soha (sighing but smiling): "You guys are hopeless. But fine. If this is happening… we're doing it smart. No one's getting suspended."
Ami (with a teasing wink): "Of course. We'll make sure Alia remembers her 18th as the night she wished she never threw a party."
Later that night, at home---
Ami: "Father? May I come in?"
Father (without looking up): "Yeah, what is it?"
Ami (smiling softly as she enters): "I just wanted to ask… tomorrow's Alia's birthday, right? Will there be a party for her?"
Father: "Of course. My little girl's turning 18---it's a milestone. The least I can do is celebrate it properly."
Ami (walking over to stand beside him, voice casual): "Some of my friends at school heard about it. They were curious. Can I invite them too?"
Father: (pauses) "Only if they're from decent families. I don't want to be embarrassed by your choices."
Ami: (smiling sweetly) "Of course. You know I'd never bring anyone uncultured."
Father (grunts): "Fine. As long as they don't act like commoners. This is still my house, and my name carries weight."
Ami (smiling wider): "Of course, Father. I wouldn't dare bring shame to your legacy."
[She turns to leave, hiding the tightness in her jaw as she steps into the hallway.]
Ami's POV (while walking away, expression slowly fading to blank):
"Ah, of course. Your name, your face, your pride. Everything has to be polished, pretty, perfect---for show.
[Ami steps out of her father's study, a soft, pleasant smile still resting on her lips. She walks calmly through the hallway, back to her room. The second the door clicks shut behind her---her expression changes.]
Ami's POV:
"He said yes."
"Perfect."
Ami walks over to her desk, pulling the curtain slightly to peek at the moonlight slipping through. Her reflection stares back from the glass--calm, polite, obedient Ami. But beneath that face… something else simmers.
"Let's see how long that 'perfect little birthday girl' keeps her crown once I'm done."
Ami sits on the edge of her bed, unties her hair, and stares blankly at the moon.
"Alia made the mistake of thinking she could push me around forever. That I'd keep smiling while she humiliated me. Hurt me. Mocked my mother's memory like it was nothing. But tomorrow… it's not just a party. It's the beginning of the end."
A slow smirk spreads across her lips as she lays back.
Ami (murmuring to herself):
"Try and stop me, Alia. Let's see who burns first."