11.1

 

"Looking for something?"

 I looked over to the top of the staircase, finding a well-dressed blonde guy who seemed about my age. He held a slight smug, as his hands remained in the pockets of his high-end blazer coat— I couldn't help but feel suspicious of this guy, despite him looking like another rich kid from this event.

 Caught off guard, I found myself rummaging through my inner questions— ..Who the hell is this guy?! How did he find me here? Does he know where my phone is? 

 I didn't get it at all, and I couldn't waste time thinking about it— If this guy had my phone, I could finally leave Guevarra for good. So I wiped my tears and cleared my running nose, finally getting myself together.

 "Oh, do you know where my phone is?" I stood up and asked, "I dropped it inside the Dining hall—"

 "Catch~"

 My phone came flying towards me— My heart raced as I watch its fragile form swirling through the air- Why did he toss it like that?! I panicked.

 I caught my phone mid-air, "Hey- What the hell?!" I yelled, then shot him a scowl. "You can't just toss it like that!"

 

 "Hehehe..." He chuckled, as if there was something amusing about throwing a stranger's phone. "You should be thanking me, y'know?" 

 He sat on the steps above, adding, "Your phone almost ended up in the wrong hands..."

 I caught my breath on my throat, gulping as he finished his statement. His tone and aura shifted, becoming low and serious. Supposedly, I needed to leave now that I had my phone. Yet, I couldn't help but remain, asking for more...

 "How did you find it?" I asked.

...

 "Well, in the dining hall..." He began, lowering his gaze as he replayed the scene in his mind.

 "I noticed Melvin... secretly trying to snatch it from the floor."

 A slight smirk formed on his lips, recalling the thrill and chaos.

 "So, I kicked it away from him," With a flick of his wrist, he mimicked the movement swiftly. "And got hold of it before he could."

 "Of course," He continued, "I wouldn't let it get into his hands."

 He then gave me a decisive stare—

 "It holds... a very important collection of evidence, doesn't it?"

...

 My eyes widened in shock, my jaw dropping slightly as my breath cut through my throat— I..Important evidences? How did he know that?! and I barely showed Melvin the video! My mind raced, trying to make sense of what the hell I just heard-

 "Calm down..." His voice tinged of disappointment, "Just who do you think has been sending you all of those pictures and videos of the twins?"

 ...Huh?

 "What?! There's no way!" I exclaimed in disbelief. 

 I glanced at my phone, my eyes twitching as the truth settled in. My body tensed, and I struggled to speak out even a single word- 

 "S..So that..." I stammered, "That anonymous number that's been texting me..."

 "Is me." He concluded my statement.

 WHAT?!

 It quickly became hard to believe- This guy? Him? The one that's been stalking the twins and gathering close shots of their activities? The one who gathered evidence of Dan Guevarra's corruption? The same person who'd somehow figured out my hatred towards Megan, and had been sending his findings to me FOR THE PAST MONTH!?

 He seemed about my age, an affluent kid at that. I began to connect the dots, and realized he's here for the entrance ceremony- one of the privileged who had been accepted. Yet, my mind filled itself with more questions— So why would he do this? In a world where the rich like the Guevarra's are loved, why would another one of wealth be against them?

 "Who are you?" I demanded, a stern tone. "And what is your relationship with the twins?"

 "Woahhh... Getting serious now, are we?" He responded with a sly, squinted smile.

 ...

 "What you've been through, Grace..." He said slowly, a darkened expression shadowing his features.

 "..Is nothing like what their dad put me through."

 Chills rose up my spine, and I was terrified once again- Yet, I remained calm, continuing the conversation.

 "Are you close with them?" I asked, clenching my fists.

 He had to be close with them, one way or another. He wouldn't be getting all of those close evidences otherwise, the twins are so reserved!

 He retorted, "Absolutely not..."

 "I don't like people who become ringleaders that let others do their dirty work."

 He gaze drifted to a distance, a billboard that was getting prepared by school-staff, the words "Congratulations Megan Guevarra for securing victory as the Champion! You're a great artist! 🥇" glaring back at him, as he stared longingly at the image of her.

 "It's really disappointing..." He sighed softly, averting his gaze away. Hints of acceptance and resignation evident in his softened, cat-like eyes.

 "..But I guess that's how it is now."

 The breeze rustled through his hair, as he drifted into his own thoughts- perhaps old memories? It became obvious to me that this guy used to be close with the twins, yet somehow drifted apart with them. Well, whatever it is that happened, I should ask him what his plans are from now—

 He handed me a flash drive, 

 "You should have this." He said, "You'll personally benefit more from it than I will."

 He continued, "I've spent some time creating edited videos, articles, blogs and more to expose the twins' school life and their dad's corruption."

 "But now... I realized... it's not really my place to post these."

 I stared at the flash drive on my hand, feeling the weight of its importance. From all the bullying I've been through, to witnessing Megan's false victory firsthand... I clenched it tightly, filled with determination, thinking of all the things I could do with this. I could finally be Megan's karma once and for all... But why me? I wondered what he meant by saying it wasn't his place, but I was too overwhelmed to ask.

 He began walking down the stairs, giving me a last glance.

 "Don't give up, Grace." He said, "You're the only one who can do all of this." 

 "And... Don't give up on her... she needs you."

 !!

 My heart skipped a beat as I knew who exactly he was talking about— Brielle. I shot my foot upwards, running up the stairs to return to the Guevarra campus. But then... a sudden realization hit me— I still had no idea who this guy was! I didn't even ask for his name! 

 I turned around and glanced down at the stairs once again—

 Huh?

 The guy was nowhere to be seen, as if he vanished into thin air.

 "Ugh, damn it..." I sigh out of frustration.

 But either way, I had to focus on the task at hand... I tucked the flash drive into my pocket, and began my search for Brielle!

11.2

 "Finally... my kids are now studying in the school that I have full control of."

 

 Dan Guevarra remarked, observing the school's campus through the window of his prestigious office. Turning around, he gazed at his twin children...

...

 Megan and Melvin stood in silence, tension filling the air as they awaited their father's next words. Their heads lowered, and their hands remained clasped behind their backs. Though they felt unease and apprehended in that moment, they must remain in deference.

 !!!

 Dan's eyes widened in shock, taking notice of Megan's eyes- dull, lacking of any light and passion that should have followed after achieving such prestigious reward. It irked him deeply, his facial muscles twitching in anger as frustration stirred within.

 He seized a nearby flower vase- throwing it with aggressive force as it shattered on the ground where Megan stood. 

 "Megan, are you okay?!" Melvin rushed to her side, protectively holding her in his arms as she recoiled in fear.

 Dan's voice roared in rage, "Do you take our family as some kind of joke?!"

 With clenched fists and seething anger, he began to slowly approach the twins. Melvin's eyes fixed on him with terror, holding onto Megan as they both crumpled onto the ground. 

 "You used another person's painting!" He remarked, "A poor person's at that."

 He stopped in his tracks and stood over the twins. Melvin gulped, blinking rapidly as he stared up at his father- Please, calm down... He signaled to him, attempting to ease his nerves. Yet, Dan remained in anger-

 "Just because your victory is guaranteed by me," He ranted, his voice rising in frustration. "It doesn't mean you shall throw your pride away!"

 Megan crumpled further, her body trembling as she struggled to hold back her tears. She and Melvin were all too familiar with these kinds of situations- Their father's strictness and the expectations he had forced upon them. He wanted them to be perfect, molding them to fit the Guevarra title- Polished appearance, wealthy lifestyle, intelligent and most importantly, mastery in the arts. 

 However, he especially wanted them to be the best of them all- Taking all opportunites and advantages to have his children remain at the top. With his wealth, influence and connections- the twins were able to achieve so much as he relentlessly schemes behind the scenes. Though the twins knew of their advantages, the weight of his expectations would still become too much to bear.

 They knew it was best to not complain, opting to fulfill his every wish. They feared situations where his rage would get uncontrollable- Yet, no matter how flawless they strived to be... and even if they surpassed all others... these outbursts would happen anyway. 

 "This is an insult to Leon Guevarra!" He continued, "You are lucky to inherit a legend's skills, yet you engage in such shameless acts!"

 BAAM!

 He stomped on the ground beside Megan, his rage intensifying- "Do you think I wouldn't notice that your submission wasn't yours?!"

 "How dare you become lazy and resort to bribery for such an important event!" He scolded, "You are among the chosen few of the Guevarra Bloodline, so you must become a painter!"

 Megan raised to her feet, "AGGGHHH!!!" She cried out, unleashing all of her contained emotions. "Guevarra this, Guevarra that- I can't stand it anymore!"

 She yelled at Dan, her breakdown making him stunned. His expression twisted with horror as he watched his daughter unleashed her raw emotions. 

 "So what if we're his descendants?!" She yelled, "I don't care about painting- I don't want to paint anymore!"

 "I tried my best and won awards my whole life, I did everything for you!"

 She lowered her head, her voice trembling in sadness. "And no matter what I've done, y-you never praised me... n-not even once."

...

 "Do you think I still want to do this?!" 

 Megan's voice quivered as she looked up into her father's eyes, she held her furious expression- Desperate to stand up for herself once and for all. Dan had controlled her for far too long, and every single day, she yearned to break free from the chains of his expectations.   

 "But..." Dan responded, an patronizing tone. "What else can you do, Megan?"

 His response hit her like a truck, and her heart sank after coming to a realization. Throughout her entire life, she had been pushed to fulfill his wishes- To become the next legendary artist alongside her twin. Everyday was a relentless grind of honing her painting skills, and striving to outshine every artist in competition.

 She absorbed countless lessons from her father, his words stuck within her conciousness; "Your best will never be enough." "You must work harder." - His constant pressure would always burden her, leaving her dissatisfied with her own efforts as she knew the difficulty of gaining his approval. ..If father's not satisfied, then what's the point? Would be her way of thinking, even after achieving awards.

 She had always felt as though she could never truly be herself- It was always painting this, painting that. And no matter how much she would rebel- skipping classes and going to hangouts... and how much she would get away with- being the ringleader of her dirty work... She still would feel lost in this world.

 "..It's your fault that I'm like this.." She muttered in helplessness. 

 Her expression darkened as she lowered her head, leaving a creeping smile that could only be seen-

 "If only... you didn't take mom's life..." She whispered, "..I would still be happy to ..paint."

 Megan clutched her head as vision began to blur, scrunching in pain as her ears began to ring. Her senses became whelmed by dizziness, her surroundings spinning around her as she struggled to keep herself standing—

 " M-M e g a n ! " Melvin's voice echoed in her mind, as he rushed to carry her.

 She stared lifelessly at the ceiling— and began to see glimpses of the past—

...

..

.

 It was dark... in the middle of the night. Yet, she roamed— something she wasn't supposed to do.

 Pushing open the double-doors, she glided through the mansion's grand hall, its opulent space unfolding before her.

 As she moved across the room, her delicate footsteps were muffled against the stretched, maroon carpet. Though none but silence filled the air, she longed to not hold herself back any longer. Bathed within the moonlight that illuminated through tall windows, she continued her dance, her graceful movements casting a moving shadow along the walls.

 Embracing the moment's freedom, she moved along the towering pillars, swirling below the crystalline chandeliers that dangled like suspended stars. Framed portraits of her ancestors lined across the walls, their stern eyes following her every move. Although she knew of her eventual destiny, she longed to be understood- a chance to pursue her own desires.

 She lifted her leg and raised her arms, spinning in a ballerina's elegant motion. And thus, her dance reached its climax- With a melancholic smile, she bowed before the portraits, a silent plea for acceptance and understanding towards her forbidden desires.

 "AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!"

 She quickly turned toward the direction of the sudden scream. The scream of her mother who had been gone for 

days. She lost her patience, and her heart pounded in her chest as she sprinted down the hallway, desperate to see her again.