"Julie, look at this," Nicole said, eyes glued to her phone.
Julie leaned in silently. The video played—the girls' voices, their laughter, their cruelty. The conversation of the three was unmistakable. Melissa had been set up.
Julie's frown deepened. Another clip followed—Paulene inside a club, dancing, obviously underage.
"How did an underage girl even get in there?" Julie muttered.
"I don't know," Nicole replied. "But it's obvious now who really sent those things to Raymond."
They both turned to Kelly. Her fists were clenched so tightly her knuckles had gone pale. Without a word, she stood—they already knew where she was headed.
"Hey—don't go there yet," Julie warned, grabbing her wrist.
"I just want to ask. I'm not going to fight," Kelly said through clenched teeth.
"Jonathan said they'll call all of us anyway," Julie reminded her.
"When?"
"Later. They're still sorting out the new issue."
Kelly sighed and sank back down.
"Let's just wait," Julie said.
All three nodded. The silence felt heavy between them.The video wasn't from a dummy account—it was from a real one.
Did someone hack their accounts? And who recorded that video in the first place? Julie wondered.
The bell rang, jolting them back to reality, and they returned to class.
Melissa was still absent, though Julie had already spoken to her—she'd return on Monday.
I need to take notes for her today, Julie reminded herself.
The three girls who had been summoned earlier finally returned. Julie's eyes followed them.
Paulene and Camille glared sharply at her. Julie arched an eyebrow but held back. She wasn't about to cause trouble in her new school.
"Are you happy now?" Dawn suddenly hissed.
Julie looked at her calmly. "What are you talking about?" Her voice stayed level—she refused to take the bait.
"You're happy about this, aren't you? I think you're the one who recorded that video yesterday," Dawn accused.
Julie scoffed. "Seriously? This again? Did we blame you when Melissa's scandal spread? Did we drag you into it?"
"We didn't say a word," she continued sharply.
"Of course you're the ones who would retaliate. You were dragged into it. Who else could it be?" Camille added.
Julie sighed. "You just love blaming others, don't you? That's what you call karma."
"What did you say?!"Dawn suddenly grabbed Julie's hair, jerking it hard—gasps rippled through the room.
"Stop it, Dawn!" Cielo's furious voice boomed.
"She started it, Cielo!" Dawn whined, instantly slipping into victim mode.
"Started it? You pulled my hair, and now you're acting like the victim?" Julie shot back.
"What the hell are you saying? I didn't do anything!"
Julie raised a brow. "Hell? Really? We were literally sitting here quietly."
"You!" Dawn spat.
"Enough! Back to your seats—and you, Dawn!" Cielo snapped, his voice cutting like a blade.
Silence fell instantly.
"Navares, Villa, and Raymond—after class, go to the office," Cielo ordered. "Joel and I will be there. No more bickering. You're all heating up my head."
"It wasn't even our fault," Julie muttered, rolling her eyes at Dawn's group.
Nicole only sighed.
*****
Kenneth sat quietly on the bench, waiting for his bandmates. Practice day again.
"Ha—Kenneth, seriously? You dragged me into this mess too," Gian groaned.
"What? I'm doing good now," Kenneth said casually.
"Doing good, my ass," Gian muttered.
"So? What are you trying to get out of them?" Gian pressed.
Kenneth smirked. "Nothing. I just want my cousin focused on his goals. And Julie… she's the important one here."
"Important? Are you crazy? Are you still hung up on Pop Princess rejecting your invitation?" Gian asked.
"Gian, please. My heart still hasn't recovered."
"Stop obsessing over Pop Princess."
"I only want her in our band. And to help with her charities. I'm a good person, right?" Kenneth said dramatically.
"Yeah, yeah. You're a good person—an impatient one. I didn't expect you to be messing with Dawn again."
"Oh, I'm far from done with her. She's been messing with my cousin Cielo and our little girl Crisha. And for my Pop Princess—no way I'm staying quiet."
"What Pop Princess? Julie is not Pop Princess."
"No… but my gut says she is. And she's the one who'll save Cielo—make him let go of that revenge of his," Kenneth sighed.
"I don't get you anymore. Didn't you say Cielo isn't tied to her family anymore? Since the arranged marriage was canceled? He's been free for a long time now. So why hasn't he said anything? Dawn's the one messing with him."
"He's plotting something personal against Dawn. That's why he stays quiet. I know how he thinks," Kenneth smirked. "He's scarier than me. If he wants to play that role, he's way more cunning."
"But now? I can see he's healing. He's so attached to little Crisha. I know him… maybe his childhood is what will heal him," Gian said thoughtfully.
"Whatever."
"Dave, think about it—my cousin and I, we think alike," Kenneth laughed.
"Well then… Dawn should enjoy her remaining privilege. I'll help them from the shadows too."
"Kenneth, you know people always misinterpret the way you think."
Kenneth just laughed. "Well, whatever."
"Why did you take so long outside?" Jason asked when they finally walked in.
"Yeah, yeah," Kenneth muttered.
He patted Jason's shoulder. He remembered Jason singing at the Pop Princess event.
I'm keeping this guy. He's nice. And he's healing, Kenneth thought.
"We need to get ready," he said.
"We've been ready—you're the one who took forever," another member said with an eye roll.
Kenneth ignored him.
Someday, Pop Princess will accept my request, he thought.