Aria's POV____
What just happened?
Oh god… why is my heart still beating this fast?
Zorvath… is he mad? Am I mad?
Did I actually enjoy it?
No, no, no. I was forced.
Well… not that much, but still… I was...
Ahhhhh, Zorvath, you've made me so embarrassed!
Why did they have to show up at that moment?
Ughhh.
I walked back to class. Sona, Sreya, and Danvy were already there.
"Where were you?" Sreya asked.
"Oh... I just went to the washroom," I replied quickly.
Why did I lie?
Wait… where were they?
"Wait, where were you guys?" I asked, looking at them suspiciously.
They exchanged glances before Sona sighed deeply.
"There's something we haven't told you, Aria," she said seriously.
I tilted my head, confused.
"There's a hall in KHSS… the Room Zero."
"Room Zero? What's that?" I asked.
"You might not know this," Sreya began, "but this school only has 94 students. It's almost on the verge of shutting down."
"And there are only three teachers," Sona added. "So we students basically run the place."
"Yeah, I already know that," I said casually.
Sona smiled.
"We figured. But Room Zero is different. It's fun… yet dangerous. Most students here don't even bother going to class. They come to Room Zero," she said.
"What's in there?" I asked.
"Everything," Danvy replied.
I blinked. "Everything?"
What does that mean?
"We can't really describe it," Sreya said. "You'll understand once we get permission from the King or the Warrior. Then we can go together."
"King? Warrior?" I repeated, confused.
"Yeah," Sona nodded. "They rule KHSS. The King has the most power. There's also a role called the Queen, but that post is currently empty. A lot of girls are trying to claim it."
"Did you guys ever try for it?" I asked as I sat on a random bench.
"That role is a bit… complicated," Danvy replied. "You'll understand more once you enter Room Zero."
"Hmmm…"
"But here are some basics," Sreya continued. "The King is chosen through the Iron Reign—a dark, dangerous fighting game inside Room Zero."
"There's another game too," Sona added. "It's called Deadlock. It's even more dangerous and has only happened twice in KHSS history. It's a fight for the Queen."
"So… what's the role of the Warrior?" I asked.
"The Warrior is like the star of the school—an assistant to both the King and the Queen. There's a tradition: when a Queen is chosen, the students try to pair her with the King or the Warrior. If the King bows to the Queen—called the Cure—then she gains all his power. But that's never happened before," Sreya explained.
"Why not?" I asked curiously.
"Think about it," Sona said. "No one wants to give up power. Besides, most of the Queens in the past were forced into the role. Even if the King and Queen had a good relationship before, once they get their titles… it all changes. Either because of pressure, or maybe even greed, their love always fades. In KHSS history, the Queen always ends up suffering. The King's love never lasts after becoming King."
She paused, then continued.
"There's another crazy tradition. It's called the Catalogue. If it's triggered, the one who wins in the deadlock gets to keep the person they fought for. Even if the other doesn't love them… they're forced to go with them.i mean the queen will suffer "
"What??" My head was spinning.
This was all too much.
I needed a break.
Sona, who was sitting on a desk, stood up.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier," she said.
I smiled.
"It's okay... I know I'm not trustworthy," I replied.
Sona has a point. One day, I will leave them—for my future, for him.
When that time comes, I don't want the burden of their secret.
But now that I know this... I can't sleep without knowing more about Room Zero.
I sighed.
"We thought you'd leave for GHSS soon, so we didn't…" Danvy began.
"But after Zorvath said what he did… we trust you now," Sreya added.
"And we're not going to let that Sinas come near you," Sona said.
Wait—what's happening here?
When did Zorvath say something? Why? What did he say?
"I…" I started to ask, but Sona interrupted me.
"We know you had a crush on Sinas," she said. "But that's the past. He's not the boy you see on social media anymore. You've figured that out by now, right?"
Oh no.
But I wasn't trying to—
How can I explain that I still love him?
How do I explain that I'm just trying to fix a huge misunderstanding…?
Forget it. Once I know the truth , I can make everything clear.
Then, my future will be safe—with GHSS, with my sweet Sinas, and with my true friends.
I looked at them and smiled.
But… why does it feel like I'm betraying them?
No. I'm not.
"So now," I asked, "can you finally tell me the story?"
All three of them said in unison: "No!"
Whyyy…?!
I didn't ask again. I was already too tired of begging.
LATER___
"Heyyy, I'm hungry," Sona mumbled.
Yes! I had his card. I jumped from my seat.
"Sreya, call all the KHSS students. I'm treating them! Order whatever you want!" I said proudly.
The three of them stared at me in shock—then immediately got to work ordering food.
Sreya started texting in the school group. I sent a message too, confirming everything.
Seconds later…
"Heeeyyy! Come quick! Treat! Treat!"
I heard loud cheers from Varatha's end of the corridor. Soon, the whole school was rushing in.
Sona and Sreya were still busy ordering food like maniacs.
I looked at them.
They'll definitely make Zorvath's wallet go empty.
A sinister smile appeared on my face.
Authors pov ___
The ground shook.
Footsteps thundered toward the class.
"Treat! Did someone say treat?"
"She's seriously doing it?"
"I'm not missing this!"
A stampede of students rushed down the hall.
Before they could crash into the room, Danvy jumped forward like a soldier at war.
"LINE UP!" she shouted.
She dragged two benches and a desk to block the entrance and dropped a metal scale tray like a boss.
"This is the KHSS Treat Counter! Stay behind the bench-line or starve like commoners!"
Some students skidded to a stop.
"What the heck is this?"
"Bro... is this a restaurant or a riot?"
Inside the desk barricade, Aria, Sona, Sreya, and Danvy sat behind separate desks, legs crossed like judges in a cooking show.
"QUIET!" Sona barked.
Sreya adjusted her pretend glasses. "State your name and order."
"Wait, is this real?"
"She's actually giving a treat??"
"Is she rich?"
"No way she's using her own money…"
Aria stood up, chin tilted confidently.
"I'm in charge today. One by one, line up. No chaos. We'll approve what you get. Sit down if you're annoying. And yes—it's my card. Deal with it."
The class exploded.
"MA'AM YES MA'AM!"
"I want five burgers!"
"Respect!"
"She's our queen now!"
And with that, the ordering madness began.
Later After Orders __
The room looked like a mini carnival.
Food packets, wrappers, and drinks were everywhere.
Students sat on the floor, laughing, eating, taking selfies, and cheering.
Aria sat in the middle like a casual empress, handing out fries from her desk.
"You're seriously insane," Sona whispered.
"Totally worth it," Danvy said, chewing.
"I didn't even know KHSS had this much joy left," Sreya added.
Suddenly, the room fell silent.
The crowd shifted.
Leo, Rithul, Aswin, and Mirzand walked in like a scene from a movie.
Their presence made people instinctively step aside.
"Oh no," Sona muttered.
Mirzand raised an eyebrow as he looked around.
"Wow. She emptied half the school's stomach and the entire Room Zero in one shot."
"I'm scared," Aswin said. "Next she'll conquer the roof…"
Sona narrowed her eyes. "What roof?"
Aswin opened his mouth but Mirzand casually bumped his elbow—not now.
Leo leaned forward with a teasing smile.
"You didn't tell us you were planning a festival."
"You didn't ask," Aria replied, sipping her drink.
"That confidence," Leo grinned. "Dangerous. I like it."
Sona glared at him like she wanted to break his nose with a tray.
Rithul stepped up beside Aria, calm and kind as ever.
"I don't know what you're trying to do here… but you made everyone smile today. That matters."
One of the younger boys in the back suddenly yelled,
"Can we keep her?!"
Everyone laughed.
Sreya raised her cup. "To our host, the one and only—Aria!"
"To Aria!!" the room echoed.
In the middle of the loud, happy, snack-filled class, Aria leaned back in her chair.
For the first time in KHSS, she wasn't just the new girl.
She was part of the mess.
She was one of them.
And maybe, just maybe…
They were becoming hers.