ROONIE'S MANSION*

She got her phone to call her bank manager.

*

Roonie'S MANSION*

Roonie met a show when he arrived.

Rook is sandwiched between Axel and Hyce on the couch, and they're busy forcing cups of alcohol down his throat.

"What in Satan's name is happening here?" Roonie said as he fell on the couch in front of them.

Rook is already dead drunk, unable to speak. Just rolling his eyes

"He got a new car, and also, he's getting welcomed to the club. It's a twinning ritual" Hyce said.

"Childish" Roonie scoffed, looking bored as he stared at their drunk party.

Rook slumped back on the couch and slept off after the fifth bottle.

"Can we finally have peace without dealing with a trenchcoat again? Final exams is almost here. I need to do well on my own... I don't want a situation where my bîtchy mother will have the upper hand" Axel said.

"I'm fully anticipating for the wedding though, with the king" Roonie teased.

"Don't!" Axel glared, and Levi chuckled dryly.

"That wedding won't happen"

Hyce remained silent, so they looked at him and saw him into his phone.

"Who messed with his little brain?" Roonie asked, standing to go get himself an apple.

"Isaac took him to visit his sick mother yesterday, and the woman called him her son. He has been running mad since then" Axel replied.

"Understandable" Roonie said, and Axel got a text which made him sigh.

It's from Rebekah.

• Don't step the palace without bringing the ice cream pint with you.

He slightly smiled.

Wasn't she supposed to be obsessed with yogurt and animes?

Letting her taste ice cream was a mistake.

*

NEXT MORNING, LEGACY COLLEGE*

Rebekah arrived first among the girls, and as she waited patiently for Morgan and Pearl at the park, she couldn't help but overhear the passing students.

• Who'd have believed it?

• Lizzy of all people?

• I know, right? The foaming machine. *Laughter*

• She was mad, I'm thankful she's gone, eew!

Rebekah sighed, deciding to turn deaf ears to their chatters.

She was about to dial Morgan on her phone when a new BMW drove into the park, and Sabrina came out of it.

She looks as arrogant as a peacock, and the way she looks at everyone like the dirt below her shoe is already a perfect description of what she's like.

• Geez! Who's that?

• She's gorgeous!

Students stopped to stare.

Morgan came out from the driver's seat. She obviously drove her here.

Sabrina immediately threw her handbag at her, and Morgan caught it.

Rebekah gasped, and then Pearl drove in, joining her.

"Who's that?" Pearl muttered with a crease in her brows.

"There's only one reasonable explanation. She's the witchy sister she talked about" Rebekah replied.

"Follow me, orphan" Sabrina said, walking with model-like steps towards the hallway.

Morgan followed her, carrying her bag like a maid.

"No this is foul!" Rebekah made to go after her, but Pearl stopped her.

"Don't be rashy, we should talk to Morgan before anything" she said, and Rebekah stopped with a huff.

They both head for the bloc together, and Pearl got her phone out of her jacket pocket to see a new text from Roonn.

She smiled widely.

Xhen: How the hell do you eat the damn chocolate? I tasted it and it was like eating pure sugar. . . No exaggerations.

She laughed out, then texted back.

Pearl: Grls code, I'll tell you if you promise to go on a date with me.

Xhen: A date?

Pearl: Yeah...I want one with you.

Xhen: Let's see.

Pearl smiled then remembered something.

Pearl: I forgot to ask your birthday date yesterday.

He took a while before replying this one.

Xhen: September 20... I'll be 25 by then

Pearl: Aren't you already 25?

Xhen: Nah, but since it's my month, the guys already think I am.

Pearl: Your birthday is in a few days then. I can't wait to wish you.

Xhen: I don't do birthdays.

Rebekah's hand suddenly blocked Pearl's forehead, and she looked up to see she almost jammed a pillar.

She was too engrossed in her chat to notice they're already in the hallway.

"Easy. Never knew Banks is so lively to the point of almost hitting a pillar" Rebekah said with a knowing smile, and Pearl blushed.

"And what the hell is happening ?" Rebekah suddenly muttered, looking around.

Pearl did the same, and immediately she saw what's going on, her phone fell from her to her sneakers before landing on the ground.

Posters of Richard are all around the wall, and in the posters... PEARL MUST PAY! was written boldly.

Everyone else is looking, wondering what it means, and as they watched, their eyes darted to Pearl too.

Pearl almost started peeing on herself as she felt the most insane trigger ever, worse than anyone she has ever gotten.

Rebekah quickly pulled her hand, attempting to take her away from the hall, but she already stiffened like a corpse

Her mind travelled far to the past, to the kitchen, when uncle Richard was pounding mercilessly into her....

"Ma!!! Dad!!!!!!! It hurts!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Help me!!!!!! It hurts please stop!!!!!!!!!!!"

Richard hit the rolling stick on her mouth, and she swallowed her own blood.

"Arggghhhgggg!!!! Uncle please!!!"

"Pearl look at me! Pearl!" Rebekah tried to pull her back to the present as tears slipped out of her eyes, and the students around them are starting to multiply.

Meanwhile, Prof Hayden(Richard) is standing at the end of the hallway, watching with a calm expression.

Pearl's eyes are wide as the memories hit her like tornado, it's like she's paralyzed on the spot.

"Pearl!!!" Rebekah screamed into her ear.

Pearl's eyes rolled up to whiteness, and she fell into strong male arms.

Roonie's.

"Banks" Rebekah said breathlessly.

He easily carried her in a bridal style and began running madly fast out of the hall.

Rebekah got Pearl's phone and ran after him.

*