Extra's Ascent

The sight of Selina and her entourage stepping into the cafeteria immediately drew unnecessary attention, as it always did.

Eyes gazed, whispers circulated, and heads turned to watch the scene unfold.

Selina scanned the room, her gaze settling on Fiona, sitting alone in a corner, eating her meal.

Upon spotting her, Selina's destination was set.

She walked through the cafeteria with her entourage, their presence like a storm, drawing gasps and muttered comments of surprise.

"Well, well, well. Look who it is. If it isn't the bitch of a boyfriend stealer," Selina said, her words wrapped in faux politeness but dripping with disdain.

"If you're here to cause trouble, Selina, don't bother. As you can see, I'm busy," Fiona's attention remained on the food in front of her.

With a spoon in hand, she scooped another bite, unfazed by the venomous words.

Selina, however, paid her warning no mind.

She and her four companions took their seats, Selina directly across from Fiona.

"Why did you come back?" Selina asked, her voice soft but sharp, her eyes narrowing as she studied Fiona's every move.

"I didn't come back for you if that's what you're worried about," Fiona replied, keeping her gaze fixed firmly on her meal, refusing to give Selina the satisfaction of reacting.

"Oh really? Then why come back at all? To finish what you started? To spread your waywardness to those around you?" Selina pressed, her calm demeanour belying the venom in her words. "As if you haven't done enough damage already."

Fiona paused, her spoon halfway to her plate.

She slowly set it down, her expression unchanged, a silent air of defiance in her eyes.

Inside, she wasn't as unaffected as she appeared.

After a long, exasperated sigh, Fiona finally met Selina's gaze, her eyes unwavering as she spoke.

"I didn't want to come back, Selina. Believe it or not, that's the truth. The only reason I'm here is because my parents forced me to. If it were up to me, I'd disappear and never set foot before you… ever again."

Selina was taken aback.

The truth of Fiona's words struck a nerve, but rather than soften her anger, it only fueled it.

In a fit of rage, Selina shot to her feet, her movement swift and violent.

With one powerful sweep of her hand, she knocked Fiona's food off the table, sending it tumbling to the floor.

"Fine then, go! Go ahead and disappear. Go out of my sight—out of everyone's sight—and never come back. You're repulsive enough as it is. The best thing you can do is vanish, or better yet, die off somewhere else," Selina spat, her words laced with venom.

Her entourage followed her rise, standing in solidarity, but keeping their distance.

With the last of her harsh words spoken, Selina turned on her heel to leave, but then...

"I'm sorry, Selina. It was never my intention to betray you the way I did," Fiona's voice broke the silence, her words unexpectedly soft.

That one simple phrase was all it took to send Selina's anger spiralling to new heights.

With a twisted sneer, Selina turned back, her fury evident on her face.

She swiftly overturned Fiona's food again, the ones that remained. And this time with an even greater force, before raising her hand to strike Fiona across the face.

"Sorry?! How dare you patronize me with that pitiful excuse of an apology?!" Selina's voice was a full roar now, her slap landing with a sharp crack across Fiona's right cheek.

Her entourage, who had been silently watching, gasped in shock, their mouths agape.

This wasn't the scene they had expected.

But Fiona didn't flinch.

She took the slap without protest, without even a hint of resistance.

Her face remained impassive, almost as though she believed she deserved it.

Fiona slowly stood, towering over Selina by a noticeable margin, but the calm in her eyes was far more intimidating than her height.

"I mean it, Selina," Fiona said quietly, her tone almost apologetic. "I left because I wronged you. I wouldn't have come back if my parents hadn't forced me. But I did wrong you, and I'm sorry."

Selina, however, could no longer contain herself. The apologies were like fuels to a flame.

Her anger surged again, even more potent than before, and she raised her hand to slap Fiona once more.

Just as she was about to strike, a firm hand caught her wrist, stopping her mid-motion.

"Whoa there, miss," a voice interrupted.

Aldrich stood there, his grip firmly holding Selina's wrist, preventing her from delivering another blow.

His eyes briefly met Fiona's, silently asking if she was okay.

Selina struggled, pulling at her wrist, but Aldrich's hold was unyielding.

She grumbled in frustration, but it was no use.

"Come on, Selina," His voice calmer now, but still firm. "Cut the woman some slack. You've done enough."

Selina shot him a glare, her voice with disdain. "And who the hell are you to interfere in something that doesn't concern you?"

Aldrich hesitated, his eyes briefly flicking to Dante, who was watching from his seat with an amused smile.

Dante's presence lingered like an unspoken challenge in Aldrich's mind.

'This should have been you here, Dante,' Aldrich cursed inwardly, letting out a long sigh.

"What? Me?" Aldrich finally responded, his voice taking on a slightly resigned tone.

He knew he had no way around this anymore, he had to play the role he was thrust into.

"Yeah. I'm her boyfriend," the words sounded almost foreign to him like he was convincing not just Selina but also himself.

"As her boyfriend, that gives me every right to step in when I see someone harming her. Right, Fiona?"

He glanced at Fiona, silently urging her to play along, to help him keep this facade intact.

Fiona, ever the considerate one, nodded in silent agreement.

"See that?" With a grin, he turned his attention back to Selina. "Now, why don't you just walk away, and we can all forget this ever happened. How about that?"

He slowly released her wrist, a gesture that signified his intent for peace, hoping Selina would take the hint.

"Pathetic!" Selina hissed, her face twisted with disgust. "Of course, you'd stoop this low, Fiona. Dating some nobody, a worthless piece of trash like him. What else would I expect from a slutty bitch who steals her best friend's boyfriend without a hint of guilt?"

With one final, venomous glare, Selina turned and stormed off, her entourage trailing behind her.

"And where do you think you are off to?" Aldrich called after Saldrich who was about to make her exit following behind Selina.

"Out of my way, Al!" Saldrich demanded urgently, her eyes full of distress.

"Are you serious?" Aldrich's voice was laced with disbelief. "You're going to follow her after everything that just happened?"

He had understood why Saldrich ignored him earlier in the class.

Selina was a force to be reckoned with, and everyone knew it. But this? After what had just gone down? She shouldn't be doing that.

"We'll talk later, Al. I promise," Saldrich said, her voice frantic as she tried to push past him. "Please just let me go for now, okay..."

Aldrich, though confused, stepped aside, finally understanding.

He saw the worry in her eyes. Selina was a storm, and Saldrich had to face it to ensure a conducive learning environment.

Saldrich rushed off, leaving Aldrich standing alone, watching her leave.

After a moment, Aldrich turned back to Fiona, who remained silent, clearly uncomfortable in the wake of everything that had transpired.

"Crazy stuff, huh?" Aldrich muttered, breaking the silence.

Fiona didn't answer.

Unable to bear the tension any longer, she suddenly bolted from the cafeteria, leaving Aldrich standing there, wondering what had just happened.

The room buzzed with whispers, but the two of them were left to contemplate the fallout of the scene that had just unfolded.