⭐ CHAPTER 5 — Vanessa's Revenge
Vanessa didn't come to school the next morning.
Normally, her absence wouldn't matter.
But this time, it felt like thunder before a storm — the kind that made your skin crawl.
People whispered the second Amara walked through the gate.
Their eyes followed her like she was carrying breaking news on her forehead.
Tolu rushed to her before she could even greet anyone.
"We have a situation," Tolu said, panting.
Amara's stomach dropped. "What happened?"
Tolu pulled her aside. "Vanessa posted something online."
Amara exhaled heavily. "Again?"
Tolu nodded, her eyes wide. "But this one is bad. Really bad."
She opened her phone and handed it to Amara.
There it was.
A long paragraph on Vanessa's WhatsApp status.
Black background. White font. Dramatic as ever.
"Some of you don't know the full story.
Kyle liked me first.
He asked me out.
I said no because I wasn't ready.
Then suddenly, he's 'dating' someone else?
Interesting.
I guess rebound relationships are real."
Screenshots were everywhere.
Students had reposted it.
Some even added comments under it like:
"Knew something wasn't right."
"So Kyle was using Amara??"
"Vanessa is too fine for all this drama."
Amara felt her chest tighten.
Not because she cared about people's opinions…
but because the rumor made her fake relationship look even faker.
Strong footsteps approached from behind.
Amara didn't even need to turn to know who it was.
Kyle.
His voice was low, steady, and frighteningly calm.
"Let me see."
Tolu handed him the phone quickly.
Kyle read Vanessa's post once.
Then twice.
Then his jaw locked so tightly Amara thought it might crack.
"That's not true," Amara said softly.
"I know," Kyle answered.
"This is my fault," she whispered.
Kyle looked up sharply.
His eyes flashed — irritated, offended even.
"How is it your fault?" he demanded.
"Because she hates me."
"She hated you BEFORE this," he said bluntly. "This is just her being desperate."
Amara looked around helplessly.
Everyone seemed to be staring. Waiting. Judging.
"You think she'll stop now?" Amara asked quietly.
"No," Kyle said.
And that scared her even more.
A cold breeze brushed across the hallway.
Kyle exhaled slowly. "Let's go talk somewhere else."
He placed a gentle hand on her arm and guided her away from the stares.
Students parted for them.
Not because they respected Kyle…
but because nobody wanted to be in his way right now.
⭐ UNDER THE MANGO TREE — AGAIN
The same place where everything had started now felt heavier.
Colder.
Kyle faced her, hands in his pockets, frustration written all over his face.
"I'm sorry," Amara said quietly.
Kyle blinked. "For what?"
"People will believe her. They already do."
"So?" he asked.
"It makes you look—"
"Amara," he interrupted gently, "I don't care how it makes me look."
That surprised her.
Kyle always cared about his image. About how people saw him. About everything being perfect.
But today, he looked like he couldn't care less.
"The problem is her using you to get to me," he said.
Amara stared at him.
"That's not the problem," she insisted.
"The problem is people thinking I stole you from her."
Kyle actually laughed — a short, humorless sound.
"You can't steal someone I never liked," he said sharply.
Amara froze.
He'd never said that before.
Kyle ran a hand through his hair. "Vanessa is lying. She knows it. You know it. I know it."
"But the school—"
"I said I'll handle it," he said, stepping closer.
"And I meant it."
Amara swallowed. "How?"
Kyle's jaw clenched again. "First, I'm talking to her."
"Talking?" Amara repeated. "Or fighting?"
"Whatever it takes," he said simply.
That was the first moment Amara truly realized:
Kyle wasn't protecting her for the fake relationship.
He was angry — personally angry.
And that scared her more than Vanessa ever could.
⭐ THE CONFRONTATION
Vanessa returned during break period.
She walked into school with her braids swinging and her chin lifted like she was the main character of a music video.
People gathered around her instantly, whispering, asking questions, consoling her as if she was the victim.
"Oh my God, Vanessa, you're so strong."
"She stole Kyle from you?!"
"Kai, Amara is wicked oh."
Amara sat in the classroom, trying not to cry.
Trying to breathe.
Trying not to break.
Tolu squeezed her hand. "Do you want to go home?"
"No," Amara whispered.
She wouldn't let Vanessa win.
Suddenly, the hallway erupted with murmurs.
Louder.
Heavier.
Kyle was coming.
He walked straight toward Vanessa, eyes locked on her, ignoring everyone else.
The crowd split like the Red Sea.
Vanessa's confident smile flickered.
"Kyle," she said, trying to sound soft and innocent, "can we talk?"
"We can," Kyle said, "but not in private."
Someone gasped.
Someone whispered, "Chai, Vanessa is finished."
Kyle pulled out his phone.
"Delete your status," he said without emotion.
"All of it."
Vanessa blinked rapidly. "I don't know what you mean—"
"You're lying," Kyle said. "Everyone knows it. You know it. I know it."
Vanessa attempted a shaky laugh. "Kyle, I was emotional—"
"You told the entire school I asked you out."
She swallowed. "You… kinda did. Once."
Kyle looked directly at her.
Cold.
Clear.
"No. I didn't. Not once. Not ever."
Whispers exploded around them.
Vanessa's face fell.
"I understand that your pride is hurt," Kyle continued calmly. "But dragging Amara into your lies is disgusting."
Amara felt her chest tighten again — this time for a very different reason.
"And one more thing," Kyle said, taking a step forward.
"In case you're confused — I am not your rebound, backup, or secret fling. I never wanted you."
Vanessa's lips quivered.
It was the first time she looked truly shaken.
"Kyle…" she whispered, embarrassed.
"Don't do this."
"You already did," he said.
"You dragged Amara online. So fix it online."
The hallway held its breath.
Vanessa reached for his arm desperately.
"Kyle, please—"
He pulled his arm away instantly, not aggressively, but with finality.
"Delete it," he repeated.
Vanessa stared at him, humiliation washing over her face.
Her hands trembled as she opened her phone.
The moment she deleted the post, Kyle turned around and walked away without looking at her.
The crowd exploded into whispers again.
People stared at Vanessa — the once-unshakeable queen — now broken, exposed, humiliated.
Vanessa looked around slowly, realizing the school wasn't on her side anymore.
Her eyes finally landed on Amara through the classroom door.
For a moment, their gazes locked.
And Amara finally saw it.
Not hatred.
Not anger.
But humiliation.
Humiliation that would soon turn into revenge again.
This wasn't over.
Not by a long shot.
⭐ AFTER SCHOOL
Kyle found Amara sitting alone outside, her bag on her lap, her mind spinning with too many thoughts.
"Hey," Kyle said gently.
She looked up. "You didn't have to defend me like that."
"Yes," Kyle said softly, "I did."
Amara bit her lip. "She's going to come after me again."
Kyle sat beside her. Close.
Too close.
"Then she'll go through me first," he said quietly.
Amara's heart stuttered.
Kyle wasn't joking.
He wasn't pretending.
His voice had changed again — low, protective, dangerous.
"Kyle…" Amara whispered.
"Yeah?" he asked.
"This was supposed to be fake."
Kyle looked at her — really looked at her — with eyes too soft for a fake relationship.
"I know," he said.
"But she crossed a line."
Amara held his gaze.
And for the first time…
She wondered if the line between real and fake had already been crossed.
Not by Vanessa.
But by them.