EPISODE 4.
As Diana scrolled through Instagram after her call with Sia, a profile caught her eye - Johnson's. His drawings exploded with vibrant colors and textures, each stroke a testament to his unique skill. The artwork seemed to pulse with life, drawing her in with its raw energy. She dove into his followers list, discovering familiar names like Joseph, Scott, Jay, and Dave.
But one notable absence stood out - Michael's profile was nowhere to be found. It seemed odd; a model usually glued to social media, yet invisible online.
After following the boys and spending twenty minutes exploring their profiles, Diana logged out, the glow of her screen fading as she reached for her books.
The familiar weight of them was a welcome shift, signaling it was time to dive into her assignment. Her mom's words echoed in her mind.
"First love never dies." The question still lingered - does it truly exist? Diana couldn't help but wonder if the quote would one day prove true, her thoughts drifting.
********
The next day in school, Diana stepped out of the cab, the school gate looming before her. As she walked towards it, she overheard a group of students talking about a new girl in school who was allegedly trying to seduce Michael. Her curiosity piqued, she wondered who this mystery girl could be. As she scanned the campus, her eyes landed on Sia, hunched over her phone in a corner, her fingers flying across the screen with furious intensity.
Diana quickened her pace, tapping Sia's shoulder to announce her presence. But Sia's expression was tense, her brow furrowed in worry.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Diana asked, noticing Sia's distress.
Sia let out a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of a thousand unspoken words.
"Diana, Zoya just posted something on the school blog," Sia said, her voice laced with concern.
"She claims a new girl is trying to steal her boyfriend. And given what you told me yesterday about running into Michael before she showed up... I think she might be talking about you."
Diana met Sia's gaze, her eyes locking onto hers as she tried to reassure her.
"Sia, I'm not the only new student here. There are others who joined this year too, so it's unlikely I'm the one she's referring to," Diana said, her voice calm and soothing, hoping to ease Sia's worries.
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Benita stood outside the girls' bathroom, witnessing Michael and Zoya's heated exchange.
Michael's voice was low and menacing, his eyes blazing with fury as he towered over Zoya, his imposing figure casting a shadow over her.
"How could you post something so stupid, Zoya? Delete it, now," he growled, his grip on her hand tightening.
Zoya's eyes flashed with anger, but she seemed to shrink under Michael's intense glare, her defiance wavering.
"You know it's true, Micky," she demanded, her voice laced with desperation, her words tumbling out in a rush.
"So tell me, who was that girl with you yesterday?"
Michael's expression turned darker, his eyes narrowing into slits.
''Who I'm with is none of your business, Zoya,"he warned, his voice dripping with threat, each word hanging in the air.
"Delete the post before things get out of hand.""
With a final glare, he released her hand and stormed off, leaving Zoya standing alone, her foot tapping furiously on the floor, the sound echoing through the hallway.
As Zoya's friends, Lori, Andy, and Benita approached her, concern etched on their faces.
""Zoya, are you okay? Did Michael hurt you?"" Benita asked, her eyes scanning Zoya for any signs of distress, her voice soft with concern.
Zoya's gaze drifted to them, her expression unreadable, a mask hiding her true emotions.
"I'm fine, guys. Just a boyfriend-girlfriend spat," she said dismissively, her tone firm but laced with unease.
It'll blow over soon. I have something to attend to, so I'll catch up with you later."
As Zoya walked away, Lori, Andy, and Benita exchanged knowing glances, their eyes speaking volumes.
"Another fight, another day," Andy said with a shrug, her voice laced with resignation. Lori snorted, her skepticism plain.
"I'm starting to think they're not even really dating. Michael seems to have no control over Zoya's claims about their relationship.""
Benita rolled her eyes, her expression a mixture of frustration and amusement.
"Let's not fuel the gossip mill, girls. We have class to attend. Let them s
ort out their issues themselves." As they headed to class.