Alia's third day at school began like any other.
She arrived earlier than most of the students.
Not because she wanted attention, but because Alia still wasn't used to her new school. She preferred arriving early so she could enjoy the quiet atmosphere before the halls filled with students.
That morning, Alia walked through the gate with a light step.
But after she had gone only a few yards inside, she began to notice something.
Several students were watching her.
Some whispered.
Some turned to look.
Others immediately looked away whenever Alia happened to meet their eyes.
Alia thought nothing of it.
Maybe it was because she was still the new student.
She didn't think too much about it.
Not until she entered the classroom.
Naya was already sitting at her desk.
"Alia!"
Alia smiled.
"Morning."
"Morning."
Naya then studied Alia's face.
"You look really cheerful."
"What do I usually look like?"
"Like someone who wants to go home."
Alia laughed.
"It's not even been a week."
They chatted as usual.
But not far from where they were sitting, three female students were watching Alia.
They were first-year students too.
Their names were Selina, Keira, and Mona.
All three were fairly well-known at school because they often hung out with second-year students.
Especially the girls who liked Ravian.
Selina looked at Alia with open dislike.
"Her again."
Keira followed her gaze.
"Why?"
"Ever since she arrived, everyone has been talking about her."
Mona leaned back in her chair.
"She is pretty."
Selina snorted.
"That's exactly what annoys me."
"Why?"
"Because she's always near Ravian."
Keira raised an eyebrow.
"Are you sure?"
"Everyone saw it during gym class."
Selina clenched her fists.
"Ravian even drank from her bottle."
Mona gave a small laugh.
"Maybe they're close."
Selina immediately glared at her.
"That's why I don't like her."
No one knew the real reason.
No one knew that Alia and Ravian were siblings.
All they saw was a new girl who had somehow managed to get Ravian's attention.
For Selina and her friends, that was enough to make them dislike Alia.
The first class passed peacefully.
Alia took notes on the material the teacher presented.
She occasionally asked Naya whenever there was something she didn't understand.
But when the bell rang for break, Alia found something strange.
She opened her desk drawer.
It was empty.
Alia frowned.
The notebook she had put in the drawer earlier was gone.
She checked her bag.
Nothing.
She searched under the desk.
Still nothing.
"Naya."
"Hmm?"
"Have you seen my notebook?"
"The one with the blue cover?"
"Yeah."
"It was on your desk earlier."
Alia nodded.
"I remember that too."
Naya helped her look.
But they couldn't find anything.
Alia finally sighed.
"Maybe I left it in the teachers' lounge."
She was about to leave.
But when she opened the classroom door, she saw a book lying near the trash can.
Alia recognized it immediately.
"That's my book."
She picked it up.
The cover was dirty.
Some of the pages were even folded over.
Naya fell silent.
"Who did this?"
Alia shook her head.
"I don't know."
She wiped the book clean with her hands.
She didn't want to cause trouble.
But from the corner of the classroom, Selina watched them.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
At lunchtime, Alia and Naya went to the cafeteria.
They had just picked up their food when a voice rang out.
"Sorry."
Alia turned around.
Selina was standing behind her.
She was holding a glass of juice.
Selina accidentally bumped Alia's shoulder.
The drink spilled all over Alia's uniform.
"Oh!"
Naya immediately stood up.
"Hey!"
Selina put on a shocked expression.
"Oh my gosh, I'm sorry. It was an accident."
Alia looked at the stain on her uniform.
She drew a breath.
"It's okay."
"It really was an accident."
Selina smiled.
"Don't be mad."
Alia simply nodded.
"It's fine."
She grabbed some tissues and began cleaning her uniform.
Naya still looked upset.
"You did that on purpose."
Alia held her back.
"It's fine."
"But..."
"I don't want to cause trouble."
Selina, who had heard her, smiled.
"Good. At least you know your place."
Alia stopped cleaning her uniform.
She stared at Selina.
"What does that mean?"
Selina stepped a little closer.
"You're still new here."
"I know."
"So don't get too close to certain people."
Alia furrowed her brow.
"Who?"
Selina only smiled.
"You know who I mean."
Then she left with her two friends.
Naya glared angrily at their backs.
"She was obviously talking about Ravian."
Alia fell silent.
She didn't know how to respond.
Because Ravian was indeed the person Selina meant.
But no one could know that he was her older brother.
That afternoon, Alia went to the library to return a book.
As she left, she heard someone's voice.
"Alia."
She turned around.
It was Daren.
"Are you alone?"
"Yeah."
Daren walked closer.
"What happened to your uniform?"
Alia looked at the stain that was still there.
"I accidentally got some juice on it earlier."
"Who did it?"
"A friend."
"A friend?"
Alia gave a small smile.
"Forget it."
Daren studied her.
He felt that Alia was hiding something.
But he didn't want to pressure her.
"If anyone's bothering you, tell me."
Alia let out a small laugh.
"You've only known me for three days."
"So what?"
"Why are you already acting like an old friend?"
Daren smiled.
"Because I think you're easy to be friends with."
Alia was silent for a moment.
Then she smiled.
"Thank you."
They walked together toward the hall.
Without realizing it, they were being watched by Selina from the end of the stairs.
Selina's expression grew even more hostile.
"It's only been a few days."
Keira stood beside her.
"What?"
"She's already gotten close to Daren."
Mona giggled.
"And Ravian."
Selina bit her lip.
"Does she think she can get every guy in this school?"
That night, Alia went home as usual.
She didn't tell either of her parents about what had happened at school.
She didn't say anything to Ravian either.
As far as she was concerned, the problem was too minor to matter.
She didn't want to worry her family.
But while they were eating dinner, Ravian suddenly asked,
"What's wrong with your uniform?"
Alia stopped chewing.
"What?"
"There's a stain."
"Oh."
Alia looked at her uniform.
"I got some juice on it earlier."
"Who did it?"
"It was an accident."
Ravian stared at his younger sister.
"Who?"
Alia shook her head.
"It's fine, big brother."
Ravian said nothing.
But his gaze changed.
Alia knew that look.
"Don't do anything, big brother."
"I'm not doing anything."
"Don't look into it."
Ravian was silent.
"I can handle it myself."
Ravian finally nodded.
"Okay."
Alia smiled in relief.
She didn't know that her older brother didn't truly believe the problem was over.
Ravian was only waiting.
Waiting until he found out who had dared to bother his younger sister.
The next day, things got a little worse.
When Alia entered the classroom, several girls deliberately whispered loudly enough for her to hear.
"If you're new here, you should know your place."
"Yeah."
"Don't act so familiar with the upperclassmen."
Alia stopped.
She turned around.
But they immediately pretended to be busy.
Alia sighed.
She was beginning to understand something.
This really was connected to Ravian.
But the more she tried to avoid it, the more people seemed determined to make her feel unwelcome.
During break, Alia even found that someone had scribbled all over her chair with ink.
Large words stood out clearly across the desk.
"Stay away from Ravian."
Alia stared at the words for a long time.
Naya arrived and was immediately shocked.
"Alia..."
Alia didn't answer.
She took a tissue and began cleaning the desk.
"You don't want to report it?"
Alia shook her head.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because if I report it, the problem might get worse."
Naya took Alia's hand.
"Don't face everything alone."
Alia smiled.
"I'm fine."
But deep in her heart, Alia was beginning to feel afraid.
Not because of the words on her desk.
Not because of the spilled drink.
But because she was beginning to realize that the people who disliked her might not stop there.
And sure enough.
At the end of the hall, Selina stood watching Alia.
There was something different in her expression.
It was no longer mere annoyance.
It was a plan.
A plan that would make Alia's life at school far more difficult.
And without Alia realizing it, the days ahead would bring her closer and closer to something she had never imagined.
An event that would eventually expose the biggest secret she and Ravian shared in front of everyone.