Chapter 6 FLASHBACK
THIRD PERSON’S POV
Warning: Disturbing scene ahead. Read with caution.
Giselle glanced through the script, her lips muttering inaudible words... Spy X Romance.
It didn’t take a second before she slammed the script onto the desk. Her eyes darkened as she turned to the staff beside her, who flinched at her sudden outburst.
“Get me an ice-cold banana smoothie,” she said sharply, and the staff hurried away.
Once she was gone, Giselle reached for her phone, scrolling through social media. For some reason, the script felt cliché and annoying.
She was the female lead, yet the role painted her as rude and bossy. This wasn’t her kind of role in the entertainment industry, but her manager had convinced her to accept it—clearly because of the huge pay and the popularity she could gain, especially since Jaxon was the male lead.
Her eyes froze when she noticed the date... something in her chest thud instantly.
This was the day her dear Celina jumped off the bridge.
She sneered. To be honest, she had loved the fact that Celina died. The girl was a pain.
She hated how teachers always compared Celina’s intelligence to hers—how Celina was tagged the “good girl,” while she was treated like a side character.
Thinking back on the past made her remember that exact day, when Celina won the award for “Best Student” for the seventh time in a row throughout high school.
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(FLASHBACK-YEARS AGO)
“CELINA DAVINCI!”
The principal, Mrs. Selente, announced, and the whole hall erupted in applause. Giselle stood behind the crowd, her face twisted with jealousy.
“Gosh, she gets first place every year,” a girl whispered beside her and Giselle frowned deeply.
She hated how everyone praised Celina, how they flooded around her like she was some goddess.
“She’s really smart. I wish to be like her in my next life,” another girl said dreamily.
“Be like her?” Giselle snapped coldly. “She’s a slut.”
The girl froze, staring at Giselle like she was a monster.
“She’s your friend,” the girl muttered, but Giselle just rolled her eyes and walked off in anger.
She climbed to the rooftop, lighting the last cigarette in her backpack. Smoke filled her lungs and nose; this wasn’t her first time.
“This is unexpected,” a voice said behind her.
Giselle turned, eyes dark. “What do you want?” she asked, cigarette still between her lips.
The silhouette of a figure stepped closer, smiling.
“You don’t like her, do you?” the girl asked, her tone teasing.
Giselle scoffed, glaring. “So? You planning to beat me up for that?”
The figure chuckled. “No. But I want to hurt her. Today, Celina will leave through the back alley. You hate her, right? I do too.”
Giselle raised an eyebrow, scanning the figure from head to toe. “So?”
“Let’s give her a little smack,” the girl said, her voice venomous. “She keeps stealing my spotlight. I should be the one up there.”
Giselle smirked. “Sure. What do you have in mind?”
The figure smiled—a deadly smile.
Earlier That Day
“Bye! See you tomorrow!” Celina waved cheerfully.
“Congrats on topping everyone again!” Giselle yelled, forcing a sweet smile.
“Come over tomorrow for dinner! My Mom’s making your favorite!” Celina replied brightly.
Giselle giggled excitedly, but deep down, her teeth clenched tight.
She watched Celina ride off on her bicycle with Aurora. Why only her? She had perfect grades, the teachers loved her, and her mother adored her. It made Giselle’s stomach twist with hate.
She turned sharply, meeting up with the male bullies she had called.
“So, why did you call us?” the leader asked.
“Can’t I call you anymore?” she said lowly, trailing her hand over his chest, her tone suddenly seductive.
“Damn, the hottest girl is hitting on you!” one of the boys laughed.
“Stop it, you guys,” Giselle said shyly, pretending to blush. Her hands trailed down his shirt to his trousers. “You know… my house, tonight.”
The boys cheered.
The leader grinned. “And what do I do in return?”
Giselle smiled, her fingers brushing over his pants before stepping back. “Just bully her. Leave Aurora alone. I only want Celina to have… a little scratch.”
He smirked. “Consider it done.”
“Let’s go!” he barked to his crew, and they sped off on their bikes.
Giselle watched them go, her expression darkening. She wiped her hand on her skirt, disgusted. “Pathetic,” she muttered—but a cruel smile tugged at her lips.
“Hey! Stop right there!”
Celina froze at the sudden yell from behind. She turned, fear flooding her eyes as the gang of boys rode closer.
She tried to pedal faster, but two of them cornered her. Aurora rode ahead, unaware. Celina didn’t scream—she didn’t want to endanger her friend.
“Please, let me go! I didn’t do anything!” she begged.
The leader laughed. “I like bullying for no reason and you just gave me a perfect one.”
“Please—” she started again.
But he kicked at her bicycle tire, hard.
The impact sent her crashing to the ground, her head striking the pavement. Everything went black for a moment before she blinked back to awareness....blood trickled down her temple.
“Boss, she’s bleeding!” one boy shouted, but the leader glared at him.
“When Giselle says ‘a scratch,’ she means to hurt her,” he snapped.
“Stomp on her!” he ordered.
Three boys rushed forward, kicking her as she whimpered helplessly.
“Plea—”
A harsh kick silenced her cry, her nose bleeding as she shielded her face with trembling hands. Another blow landed on her stomach.
Max, the leader—Climbed down his bike, his eyes filled with hate. Giselle’s words weren’t the only reason he wanted this. He had once asked Celina out, and she had rejected him flatly.
Now, he would make her pay.
He grabbed her shirt, tearing it open. Celina fought weakly, sobbing, but he was stronger. He ripped her blouse, then reached for her skirt, yanking off her strawberry-colored underwear.
“HELP!” Celina screamed hoarsely, but Max silenced her with a brutal slap that made her vision blur.
He unzipped his pants but then....
THUD!
A stone hit his head, he stumbled, turning sharply.
Aaron stood there, glasses crooked, his chest panting.
“Raping a woman is against the law,” he said shakily. “Rape is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for three, six, or eight years.”
“You bastard nerd!” Max roared, rushing at him and kicking him hard in the chest. Aaron fell, gasping for air.
“Stop! Don’t hurt him!” Celina screamed weakly, but they ignored her, their kicks raining down on him.
“Run!” Aaron mouthed through bloodied lips.
Celina forced herself up, staggering toward the street. Her legs wobbled, her vision spinning, but she looked back once, tears blurring her eyes. Aaron was bleeding from the nose, still trying to move.
“Fvck!” Max cursed, realizing she was gone. He turned back to Aaron, who smiled faintly through the blood.
“Die!” Max screamed, punching him again and again until Aaron went limp, choking on his own breath.
But then, a police siren wailed in the distance.
“Run!” Max barked, and the boys fled on their bikes.
When they disappeared, Celina crawled out from her hiding spot, holding her phone, the sound of the “police siren” she had played through her phone speaker.
She stumbled toward Aaron and fell beside him. “Are you okay? Please… please be alive,” she whispered, her voice breaking.
She shook him desperately, tears streaming down her face....Then Aaron’s eyes fluttered open. “I’m… okay,” he murmured weakly.
“Thank good—” Celina began, but collapsed before finishing.
Beep! Beep!
Giselle snapped out of her thoughts, her phone vibrating.
A reminder flashed on the screen: “Mock and laugh on Celina’s grave.”
Her lips curled into a wicked smile.