Alia stood with her back against the bathroom wall.
Her hand still gripped the strap of her bag tightly.
Selina stood in front of her with Keira and Mona.
There was no one else around them.
The bathroom, usually so crowded, now felt completely silent.
The only sound was water slowly dripping from the faucet.
"Why are you doing this?"
Alia's voice was soft.
Selina stepped closer.
"You're still asking?"
"I don't understand."
"Don't play dumb."
"I really don't know."
Selina laughed mockingly.
"Ever since you arrived, all the attention has shifted."
Alia frowned.
"What attention?"
"Ravian."
Alia fell silent.
That name again.
"I told you, I never approached him."
"But he's the one approaching you!"
Selina raised her voice.
"You think we didn't see it?"
Alia lowered her head.
She actually wanted to explain.
But how could she?
There was no way she could tell them that Ravian approached her because they were siblings.
"He was just helping me."
"Why does it have to be you?"
"I don't know."
"Because you're pretty?"
Selina moved closer again.
"You think every guy has to pay attention to you just because you're pretty?"
Alia lifted her head.
"I never thought that."
"Don't lie!"
Selina shoved Alia's shoulder.
Alia staggered back several steps.
She quickly caught herself to keep from falling.
"Don't push me."
Her tone began to change.
Selina smiled.
"Oh, so you finally have the guts to fight back?"
"I don't want to fight."
"Then listen."
Selina pointed at Alia's face.
"From now on, don't talk to Ravian."
Alia said nothing.
"Don't go near him."
Alia remained silent.
"And don't ever make him pay attention to you again."
Alia finally raised her face.
"I can't."
Selina looked shocked.
"What?"
"I can't do that."
"Why not?"
Alia held her breath.
She had almost told them the truth.
Because he's my older brother.
But the words never left her mouth.
Alia chose to remain silent.
Selina grew even angrier.
"You're so stubborn."
She shoved Alia again.
This time, harder.
Alia lost her balance and fell onto the floor.
Her bag slipped from her hand.
Her books scattered everywhere.
"Alia!"
Mona looked slightly startled.
"That's enough, Selina."
"Stay out of it."
Selina stared at Alia, still sitting on the floor.
"Get up."
Alia didn't move for several seconds.
Not because she couldn't.
She was just humiliated.
During all her time in London, she'd never been treated like this.
At her new school, after only a few days, she was already being treated like an enemy.
Alia finally got to her feet.
She picked up her books one by one.
Her eyes began to well up.
But she held back her tears.
She didn't want to cry in front of them.
"Are you done?"
Selina smiled.
"Not yet."
Selina picked up one of Alia's books.
Then she threw it onto the floor.
Alia stared at the book.
"Why?"
"So you'll understand."
Selina stepped closer.
"There are unwritten rules at this school."
Alia frowned.
"What rules?"
"Don't steal someone another person likes."
Alia sighed.
"I'm not stealing anyone."
"Then prove it."
"How?"
"Stay away from Ravian."
Alia fell silent.
Selina then grabbed Alia's bag.
She threw it into the sink.
Everything inside spilled out.
Pens, books, a small wallet, and several personal items fell onto the floor.
Alia immediately rushed to pick them up.
"Don't!"
She tried to save her things.
Selina laughed.
"Why? Are you scared?"
Alia bit her lip.
Her tears were about to fall.
But she held them back.
"I'm not scared."
"Then don't cry."
Alia wiped the corner of her eye.
"I'm not crying."
Keira and Mona began to feel uncomfortable.
"Selina, enough."
"Let's just go."
Selina shook her head.
"Not yet."
She was about to approach Alia again.
But before she could do anything, footsteps sounded outside.
The footsteps drew closer.
Selina stopped.
Keira turned toward the door.
"Someone's there."
Mona looked panicked.
"What if it's a teacher?"
Selina quickly composed herself.
"No way."
The footsteps stopped right outside the door.
Alia was still crouching on the floor.
She raised her face.
The bathroom door slowly opened.
Someone stood in the doorway.
A tall figure.
A school uniform.
A face every student knew.
Ravian.
Alia's eyes widened immediately.
"Big brother..."
The words escaped before she could stop them.
Ravian didn't answer.
His gaze was fixed on Alia.
Then on the books scattered across the floor.
The bag that had been thrown aside.
And his little sister's face as she tried to hold back her tears.
Ravian's expression changed.
Cold.
Ice-cold.
Selina, who had been so bold moments ago, suddenly lost her nerve.
"Ra... Ravian?"
Ravian didn't answer.
He walked inside.
One step.
Two steps.
Three steps.
Until he finally stood in front of Alia.
Ravian bent down and picked up one of his little sister's books.
He brushed the dust from its cover.
Then he handed it to Alia.
"Here."
Alia accepted the book with trembling hands.
Ravian straightened.
His gaze shifted to Selina.
"Who did this?"
No one answered.
Selina swallowed.
"We were just..."
"Who?"
Ravian's voice was low.
Not loud.
And that was precisely what made the atmosphere even more frightening.
Selina lowered her head.
"We were just joking."
Ravian stared at her.
"You call this a joke?"
Selina couldn't answer.
Ravian looked at Alia's bag near the sink.
Then he looked at Alia's face again.
"She's crying."
Alia hurriedly shook her head.
"I'm not crying."
Ravian looked into his little sister's eyes.
"Don't lie."
His voice was gentler.
But only for a few seconds.
Ravian's gaze turned cold again as he faced the three girls in front of him.
"I'm asking one more time."
He stepped closer.
"Who did this?"
Selina backed away.
"We..."
Ravian stopped right in front of her.
"Why are you bothering her?"
Selina fell silent.
Ravian shifted his gaze to the other two girls.
"You two, too?"
Neither dared to answer.
Alia stood behind Ravian.
Her heart was pounding violently.
She knew it was too late.
Ravian had never called her his little sister at school.
He had never shown their relationship.
But this time, his anger was far greater than the secret they had kept.
Selina was still trying to come up with an excuse.
"Ravian, we didn't know she was..."
Ravian cut her off.
"She was what?"
Selina fell silent.
Ravian then looked at Alia.
Alia met his gaze.
They both knew.
Their secret would end now.
Ravian drew a deep breath.
Then, in front of Selina, Keira, and Mona, he said the words that froze all three of them in place.
"Why are you bothering my little sister?"
Silence.
Not a single sound.
Selina's eyes flew wide.
Keira covered her mouth.
Mona even took a step back.
Alia simply stood there in silence.
The secret they had kept all this time had finally been exposed.
And Ravian's words would change Alia's entire life at school.
Not just Alia's.
But everyone who had thought that beautiful girl was nothing more than an ordinary new student.