Chapter 28 Confrontation
This was going better than she imagined. The shock. The gasps. The way they immediately believed it. Kai hid her smile behind trembling fingers, counting her breaths carefully. Not too calm. Not too dramatic. Just enough pain to make them rally around her.
“Look at them”, she thought. “They already chose a side.”
Selene always thought she was smarter. Always thought she was ahead of everyone else. But Selene didn’t understand how easy it was to guide people when you gave them exactly what they wanted. A story, a villain, and someone to pity.
She felt a thrill coil in her chest as voices continued to rise in her defense.
“Christopher doesn’t deserve that.”
“Her own sister is not even aware…”
“How cruel.”
Kai pressed her lips together, forcing her breathing to hitch.
“Good,” she thought. “Hate her for me.”
She lifted her head just slightly, letting a tear slip free.
“I just don’t understand,” she said softly. “If she was unhappy… she could have talked to me.”
The room softened instantly.
“This is only the beginning,” she told herself. “By the time the Rite ends, she won’t have anyone left.”
The classroom door opened.
The sound wasn’t loud.
It didn’t slam or creak dramatically.
It simply opened.
Every voice died mid-sentence.
Selene stepped inside.
She didn’t rush. She didn’t hesitate. Her posture was relaxed, her expression neutral, her eyes clear and steady as they swept across the room. She took everything in at once. The clustered students, the sympathetic faces, the tres marias standing just a little too close together, and Kai seated at the center of it all, fragile and shaken.
Selene closed the door behind her.
Click.
The sound echoed louder than any accusation.
Kai looked up slowly, eyes widening as if she hadn’t expected Selene to appear at all.
“S-Selene…” she whispered.
Selene met her gaze calmly and then she smiled politely.
“Wow,” Selene said softly, her voice carrying effortlessly through the silent room. “I was gone for a few days, and suddenly I’m the most interesting story on campus.”
No accusation. No raised voice. Just curiosity.
She took a few steps forward, stopping near the center aisle. Her eyes flicked briefly to Marionette, Julian, and Maria.
“You know,” Selene continued lightly, “it’s impressive how detailed a story can get when I wasn’t even there to help write it.”
A few students shifted uncomfortably. Kai’s fingers tightened around the edge of her desk.
Selene tilted her head slightly, gaze returning to her sister. “Kai,” she asked gently, “are you okay?”
The question landed like a blade wrapped in silk.
Kai swallowed.
“I—I’m fine,” she said softly, shoulders trembling just enough to sell the image. “I was just… shocked. I didn’t expect people to say such things about you.”
Selene hummed, as if considering it. “Such things,” she repeated. “Interesting.”
A girl near the back cleared her throat. “Selene… if it’s not true, then why are people saying it?”
Selene turned her head slowly, gaze landing on the speaker with calm precision. “Because people talk,” she replied. “And because some people confuse repetition with proof.”
“But they said they saw you,” another voice insisted. “With him.”
Selene blinked once. “With him?”
The room stirred.
“Ryzen,” someone said quietly.
Selene let out a soft laugh—not amused, not angry. Just surprised.
“Ah,” she said, nodding slowly. “So this is about that night.”
Her eyes flicked briefly toward the window, thoughtful. “I was wondering how long it would take.”
Whispers erupted instantly.
“That night?”
“So it’s true?”
“She didn’t even deny it—”
Selene raised a hand, cutting through the noise without effort.
“Relax,” she said lightly. “If walking and breathing near another person counts as betrayal now, then I suppose half this room is guilty.”
Marionette flushed. Julian crossed his arms. Maria stared at the floor.
“So let me get this straight,” Selene continued, pacing slowly between the desks. “I’m accused of cheating because I was seen walking. Outside. On university grounds.” She paused, tapping her chin. “Truly scandalous.”
“That’s not what we meant,” Ana said quickly.
“Oh, I know,” Selene replied pleasantly. “You meant to imply motive. Intent. Moonlit secrets.” She shrugged. “Very poetic.”
Kai stood abruptly, stepping forward as if to shield her.
“Everyone, please stop,” she said, voice wavering. “This is getting out of hand. Selene doesn’t deserve this.”
Selene glanced at her, eyebrow lifting slightly. “How generous.”
“I just don’t want people hurting you,” Kai said softly.
“I appreciate the concern,” Selene replied. “Though it’s interesting how it arrived right after the rumor.”
A murmur rippled through the room and before Kai could respond, the door swung open again.
Kate stepped inside. Her eyes locked onto Selene immediately.
“There you are,” Kate said sharply. “So you finally decided to show up.”
Selene stopped walking. “Should I have scheduled it?”
Kate ignored the jab, turning to the class. “Don’t let her twist this. It’s true. She was with him.”
Selene folded her arms. “You saw me walking,” she corrected calmly. “Which I do quite often.”
Kate scoffed. “Don’t act innocent. Sneaking around with another man while your mate is busy with the Rite. Do you really have no shame?”
Gasps followed.
Kai spun toward Kate.
“Kate!” she exclaimed. “That’s enough!”
“I’m defending you,” Kate snapped.
“I don’t need defending,” Kai said quickly, pressing a hand to her chest. “Selene is my sister.”
Selene watched them with quiet interest.
Kate turned back to her. “Just admit it. If you have nothing to hide, why not say it?”
Selene stepped closer, stopping an arm’s length away.
“Because,” she said evenly, “I don’t owe confessions to rumors.”
Kate bristled. “So you’re denying it?”
“I’m denying you,” Selene replied smoothly. “There’s a difference.”
The room fell silent.
Kai stepped between them, hands raised.
“Please,” she said softly. “Selene, if there’s something going on, you can tell me. I won’t judge.”
Selene studied her sister for a long moment then she smiled.
“That’s kind,” she said. “But if I ever had something to confess, I wouldn’t do it through a chorus.”
Footsteps echoed from the hallway.
The classroom door opened once more.
Christopher stood there, chest rising sharply, jaw tight, eyes blazing as they swept across the room. Kate near the front, Kai with tears on her cheeks, and Selene standing calm at the center of it all.
The tension snapped.
“What’s going on here?” he demanded.
No one answered.
His gaze locked onto Selene.
His voice dropped, rough with anger and something dangerously close to fear.
“Selene,” he said. “Is the rumor true?”