All it takes is one moment... for loyalty to become embarrassment."
Chapter 4: "The Clown Wakes Up"
> "All it takes is one moment... for loyalty to become embarrassment."
---
[Scene: Thursday – Lyserra Academy, Courtyard – 10:42 AM]
Tony strutted through the courtyard, hoodie tied around his waist, AirPods blasting trap beats.
He was laughing, bouncing into class late like always.
> "Yo! Get out the way, peasants, the talent just arrived."
Some guys chuckled.
Some just stared.
He didn't catch it.
But the vibe had already shifted.
---
[Scene: Arisa – The Night Before]
Arisa sat in her room. Soft jazz playing.
iPad open. Tabs everywhere.
One: Clip of Tony laughing while Riven roasted a classmate.
Two: Voice memo she recorded at lunch — Riven saying: "Tony's whole personality is volume."
[Scene: Morning – The Explosion]
By the time Tony reached campus, it had 20K views.
The video hit hard:
First clip: Tony hyping Riven
Next: Riven roasting him with a voiceover that says:
"He barks loud because he's scared to be silent."
Edits. Clown makeup. Trap beat.
The comments were vicious:
"Tony really Riven's PR guy 😭"
"This the definition of 'he think they friends'."
"Dog barks, master smiles."
[Scene: Bathroom Mirror – Break Time]
Tony leaned over the sink, breathing heavy.
His phone kept buzzing.
Group Chat:
James: "Yo... you seen this?"
Samuel: "Don't let it get to you, bro."
Riven: No response.
Tony stared at himself.
Laughed bitterly.
"They really clownin' me like that?"
He opened DMs.
From Arisa:
"I'm so sorry this happened to you.
You didn't deserve to be used like that."
Tony's jaw clenched.
He didn't respond.
[Scene: Cafeteria – Lunch]
Riven sat alone.
Coffee in hand. Shades on.
Tony stomped over.
"Yo, what the hell is that video?"
Riven tilted his head, sipping calmly.
"You think I made a meme? You know I don't edit, bro. That's your hobby."
Tony's voice rose. "So all that sh*t in the DMs? You said it?"
Riven didn't flinch. "You believe screenshots more than ten years of friendship?"
Silence.
Tony stared.
Riven didn't blink.
"Then congratulations," Riven said, standing up.
"You're already gone."
He walked past him. Calm.
But Tony felt it —
like being dismissed by a king.
[Scene: Forum Post – That Evening]
Tony's Public Post:
"Some people build their whole identity off controlling others.
I thought I was in a real squad.
Turns out I was just a loud prop.
I'm out."
Over 400 likes.
Arisa's burner account comments:
"Stay strong, Tony "
Some cheer.
Some laugh.
Tony left the group chat.
[Final Scene: Riven's Dorm – Night]
Riven sat on his bed, hoodie on, headphones dangling.
He stared at the screen.
Read the post again.
Smiled faintly.
"One clown down.
Two dogs left.
[Scene: Thursday – Lyserra Academy, Courtyard – 10:42 AM]
Tony strutted into the courtyard like he owned the damn place. Hoodie slung around his waist, gold chain bouncing against his chest, AirPods in. Trap beats blasting. Swagger on max.
He waved at a few girls, winked at a junior, and threw a peace sign to the guy behind the coffee cart.
"Yo! Get out the way, peasants, the talent just arrived," he shouted with a grin.
A couple of people laughed. Most just... looked.
Tony didn't notice the shift. Not yet.
He was the loud one in the group. The energy. The hype. Always had been. And Riven? He was the king. The untouchable center.
But today, something was off.
People weren't reacting the same way. A few glanced at him, whispered. One girl in the corner pulled her phone up, clearly recording.
Tony caught it.
"Y'all better tag me if you're filming," he joked, striking a fake model pose.
But something in his gut twisted.
[Scene: Arisa – The Night Before]
In her dorm room, Arisa sat on her bed like a calm storm. Jazz music playing from a tiny Bluetooth speaker. The soft clink of ice in her glass.
She wasn't angry. She wasn't jealous.
She was focused.
Her iPad sat open on her lap. On the screen were timelines, clips, fake message templates, and audio files. Tabs everywhere.
One: A TikTok of Tony and Riven roasting Samuel in the hallway.
Two: A voice memo Arisa had secretly recorded during lunch. Riven's voice, casual, sarcastic:
"Tony's whole personality is volume. You mute him, he's gone."
Three: A fake DM:
RIVEN: "Tony's loyal 'cause he doesn't have any other options."
She dragged the files into CapCut. Clipped. Cropped. Color-adjusted. Overlayed with circus music.
Added a caption:
"When you realize you're just the backup dancer."
She posted it from her burner account: @LyserraLeaks.
By morning, it had over 20K views.
[Scene: Courtyard, Later That Morning]
Tony's phone buzzed nonstop.
Notifications. DMs. Memes.
He opened Insta. Froze.
The clip played with perfect timing:
Tony: laughing, doing his loud act.
Riven: joking, eyes shaded.
Cut to the audio:
"Tony's whole personality is volume."
Cut again. Clown makeup edited on. People laughing in the comments:
"Riven's pet finally got a mirror." "This aged like spoiled milk." "Bro thought he was part of the squad, he the jester."
Tony's heart dropped. He refreshed. More shares. More laughs. His name trending in school chat groups.
[Scene: Bathroom Mirror]
Tony stared at his reflection.
The swagger was gone. Chain tucked. Hoodie on. AirPods silent.
His jaw tightened. Fists clenched.
Group Chat:
James: "Yo... you seen this?"
Samuel: "Don't let it get to you, bro. People wild."
Riven: — nothing.
Tony DM'd him directly:
"You say this shit about me?"
No reply.
[Scene: Arisa's Move]
Arisa waited.
Then sent Tony a message.
"I'm so sorry this happened to you. You didn't deserve this. Maybe it's time you stopped letting someone else define you."
And that was it.
Just enough.
[Scene: Cafeteria]
Riven sat at his usual table, sipping from a coffee cup like he had all the time in the world.
Tony walked up, eyes burning.
"Yo, what the hell is this? You say this shit?"
Riven looked up.
Pulled off his shades.
"You think I made that video?"
Tony gritted his teeth. "You said that stuff though."
Riven stared at him. Calm. Still.
> "You believe screenshots more than ten years of loyalty?"
Tony didn't answer.
"Then congrats," Riven said, standing. "You already left."
He walked past. Smooth. No fight. No fire. Just silence.
[Scene: That Evening]
Tony posted a statement on the Lyserra student forum.
> "Some people build their whole identity off controlling others. Thought I was part of something real. Turns out I was just the punchline. I'm done."
The comments rolled in:
"Tony finally waking up"
"Damn bro took long enough"
"Good. Riven been using y'all."
@LyserraLeaks liked the post.
Tony left the group chat.