By morning, Ayla's mind was on fire. The note from last night stayed in her pocket. She
read it twice before class. Every word changed how she saw everything.
"He lied that day. You were never the one who cheated."
If Elian didn't betray her, someone else did. But who would gain from destroying her
back then?The school halls buzzed as always. Whispers. Laughter. Elian's name floated between
conversations. He was still the academy's golden boy. Perfect grades. Captain of the
debate team. Headmaster's favorite. The same mask he wore when he ruined her life.
She walked into class with her chin high. If he wanted a game, she'd give him one.
When she took her seat beside him, he smirked without looking up. "You're early.
Planning your next scandal?"
She smiled back, sharp and calm. "I was thinking the same about you."
He leaned closer. "Careful, Ayla. You start something, you won't like how it ends."
She met his gaze. "Oh, I'll love it."
Their teacher, Mr. Rowan, entered, cutting the tension. "You two will be partners for the
midterm project. Choose a theme that matters."
Ayla turned slowly. "I vote for truth."
Elian raised an eyebrow. "Then it'll be a short project. You've never been good at telling
it."
The class laughed. She didn't. She only smiled, pretending his words didn't sting.
After class, she slipped a USB drive into her pocket. She had something he didn't—
access to her old student records. The ones she wasn't supposed to see.
By lunch, she'd already logged into the library computer under a fake ID. She found her
expulsion report. But there was something strange. The file had been edited last week.
She clicked the revision history. The user name blinked on the screen: E.Carter.
Her blood went cold. Elian Carter.
So it was him. Again.
But before she could print it, a hand landed on the desk behind her.
"Breaking into school files already?" Elian's voice dropped low near her ear. "You neverlearn."
She shut the window fast. "You spying on me now?"
He smiled. "No need to spy when you're this predictable."
Her heart raced, but her voice stayed calm. "Predictable people don't surprise you. I
will."
He tilted his head, amused. "Prove it."
She stood. "I plan to."
He blocked her path, eyes hard. "Whatever game you think you're playing, you'll lose.
Again."
Her pulse thudded. "We'll see who burns first."
That night, the school lights dimmed. Ayla slipped a note under his dorm door. Three
words written in black ink:
"Your move, Carter."
Minutes later, her phone buzzed.