Extra's Ascent

The blaring modern music dominated the room, the sharp, abrasive tones reverberating through the loudspeakers, making it nearly impossible to carry on a conversation.

Teenage girls clad in revealing outfits took to the stage, their movements accentuating the ample curves they were blessed with, while the teenage boys lounged at the bar, their eyes fixed lasciviously on the dancers below.

Others occupied tables, engaging in hushed conversations, their drinks and refreshments scattered across the surface, a backdrop to their idle chatter.

Above them, in the VVIP section, she stood alone at the edge, her elbow resting on the polished railing as her piercing gaze swept over the scene below.

Her white-striped short gown shimmered under the dim lights, its emerald lace accents giving it a luminous, almost otherworldly glow.

Her long, lustrous black hair cascaded down her back in waves, its sheer length and fluid motion drawing all eyes, though no one dared approach her.

She was the queen bee, the one who commanded the room with a mere presence, an unapproachable figure whose allure was matched only by her reputation.

Men stared, entranced, but none dared to cross the invisible line that kept them at bay.

Then, as if out of nowhere, a figure emerged, a cute boy, dressed sharply, his steps deliberate and confident.

He crept up behind her, his presence unnoticed until it was too late.

With a swift movement, his arms encircled her waist, pulling her effortlessly into his embrace.

"Tonight... you are the most beautiful," he murmured, his voice low and seductive, his breath warm against her ear.

Most girls would have melted at such a comment, especially coming from someone like him.

But Selina remained unmoved.

Her stoic gaze stayed fixed on the revelry below, unperturbed by the attention she had just received.

"Wait until you see Fiona. I bet you'll find her more attractive than me," she replied coolly, her voice almost playful, but laced with something more.

The comment struck a nerve.

An uncomfortable silence hung in the air.

"Selina," he said, his voice laced with dismay. His tone softened, but there was a hint of frustration.

"I met with Fiona yesterday, and we had a heart-to-heart conversation."

"You two talked?" Edward's eyes widened, shock spreading across his face. "What did she say?"

Selina turned her gaze from the crowd to face him, her expression unreadable, her eyes heavy with thought.

"She said it was never her fault," Selina continued, her words slicing through the tension. "That I had blamed her while forgiving the one who was truly responsible. And you know what? That made me think..."

She paused, allowing her words to settle before she finally turned to face him fully.

Her eyes locked onto his, no longer a trace of amusement in them.

"Why did you do that, Ed? Why go after Fiona... knowing it would break my heart? Why choose her over me?"

It was a question Selina had never asked before.

When the incident occurred, they had both moved on, brushing it aside as if nothing had happened.

Selina had directed her anger at Fiona, while Edward had been given a free pass.

"Tell me, Ed, was I not enough? Was I not the girlfriend material you wanted? Did I not show you how I felt about you?" Her voice cracked slightly, revealing the raw emotion she had buried deep inside.

She had always been the one to pursue the relationship, the one to put in the effort to bridge the gap between them.

Even after the betrayal, Selina had looked the other way.

She did so not because she didn't know what had happened, but because acknowledging it would force her to confront the reality of Edward's infidelity.

And that, she couldn't do.

If she admitted to the betrayal, it would give her a reason to end the relationship, something Selina feared more than anything else.

She didn't want to lose him, not after everything.

Edward was silent, lost for words, as he gently placed a hand on her cheek.

His fingers brushed down a stray lock of her hair, his touch tender as he whispered, "It was nothing more than a momentary lapse, brought on by my ignorance of how deeply I love you."

His hand moved to the back of her head, and in one smooth motion, he pulled her toward him.

Their lips met in a soft but deep kiss, a wordless promise that lingered between them.

For a moment, the world seemed to fade away as they held each other, their mouths locked in a slow, heated exchange that lasted far longer than it should have.

When they finally pulled apart, both were breathless, the silence between them thick with unspoken words.

"I love you," he murmured, his voice full of conviction. "That's all you need to know, Selina."

The words brought her a strange comfort, though they left her with more questions than answers.

If only for that moment, they were enough.

Selina nestled into his embrace, resting her head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart.

But their peace was short-lived.

A sudden commotion broke the intimate moment between them.

Edward's face twisted in confusion, his expression darkening as he muttered, "Isn't that... What is he doing here?!"

Selina pulled away, her gaze following his, only to see a familiar face making its way through the entrance of the club.

A figure that stood out not only for his silver lining appearance but for what he was carrying.

"Fiona's boyfriend? And what is that he's holding?" Edward's voice was laced with disdain.

Selina's eyes narrowed as she looked down at the entrance.

Aldrich had just walked in, carrying a peculiar egg strapped to his waist in a baby carriage, a sight that seemed utterly out of place for a night like this.

"Who invited him?" Edward spat, clearly irritated by the sight of him.

"He's a first-year transfer student," Selina replied coolly, her tone unbothered. "Like anyone else, he has the right to be here."

The club was, after all, open to all first- and second-year students, and tonight was supposed to be a welcoming celebration for them.

Edward's frustration didn't abate. "And where are you off to?"

Selina turned to walk away, but Edward stopped her, his hand gripping her arm gently.

"To teach our newcomer a lesson in hierarchy," Selina said with a mischievous smile, her tone filled with intent. "He needs to learn respect. For who and where it's due."

Edward's eyes narrowed. "You're planning to mess with him to get to Fiona, aren't you?"

Selina's lips curled into a conniving smile. "Why, can I not?"

She had quickly taken on an assumed stance that Edward was trying to cover for Fiona.

"I am not saying you can't. All I am saying is you need to be rational about it."

Frankly, Edward is a bit ticked off by Aldrich's presence, and even more so when he thinks that Aldrich and Fiona are together.

A misclouded conclusion that came about to be in the minds of people after Aldrich had inconsequentially blurted out he and Fiona were dating, and Fiona agreed with him.

That pisses off Edward as much as he hates to admit it.

But at the same time, he knows to be cautious of Aldrich being that they are both S-class members.

If he is in the same class as he is, then there has to be something distinct about him that makes Aldrich deserving of the class.

"Oh, sweet, sweet, Edward of mine. To see you worry about me is a delight I will never get tired of." Selina mused.

"But you don't have to be, because there are more than a lot of ways to put a disobedient dog in his place. And mine does not involve physical aggression."

With such a claim, she gave Edward a peck on the cheek before she left him to go attend to the issue.