The Kiss that Sparked it All

From the moment Mara followed Victoria to school, she was constantly reminded not to run off. After all, it was an unfamiliar place, and what if she got lost?

Before heading to school, Mara had promised Victoria that she wouldn’t stray. But once she set foot on campus, it was a different story altogether.

“Maybe I got it wrong,” Victoria thought, trying to shake off her concern.

Just as she was frowning with worry, a friend sent her a screenshot.

[Isn’t this your sister? What’s she doing featured on our school’s forum?]

The figure in the photo wasn’t very clear, but Victoria recognized Mara immediately because she was wearing the outfit she had on that day.

In the photo, Mara was standing in front of Balfour, and the post’s title was bitterly ironic: “Confident New Girl’s Love Confession: What’s Your Take?”

Most of the comments below were mocking Mara in the photo. Victoria felt a pang of discomfort reading them.

So, she lied to her friend, saying that wasn’t her sister Mara, but when did Mara even meet Balfour? And if they weren’t acquainted, how could she be confessing to him? Was this the reason Mara had been hiding?

Victoria’s emotions were a tumultuous mix. She still didn’t understand why Mara had lied to their dad about it.

She had resolved not to dwell on it, to pretend she hadn’t seen the forum post. Arguing with those people would only blow things out of proportion.

Mara wasn’t even from their school, and the gossip would die down soon enough, considering Balfour had no shortage of admirers.

But then, another friend sent Victoria a photo of Mara wolfing down a hefty meal at a diner.

Clutching her phone, Victoria could hardly believe her eyes. Hadn’t Mara claimed she was cooped up in the library waiting for Victoria?

If she was supposed to be in the library, who was this indulging in comfort food?

[Is this your sister? I spotted her at this diner after rehearsal this afternoon. I was checking the photos and saw someone that looks just like Mara. Weren’t you looking for her? Did you find her?]

Victoria replied with a bitter smile. [I’ve found her, thanks for the photo. You’ve been a great help.]

[No problem, glad she’s safe.]

With one piece of evidence piling on top of another, Victoria knew she could no longer turn a blind eye. NôvelDrama.Org (C) content.

She tapped on Mara’s door with her phone, halting Mara’s rolling on the bed. Mara looked up, tidied herself a bit, and then allowed Victoria to come in.

“Victoria, why are you here so late? Don’t be mad at Dad, he was just worried about me,” Mara said with a plea in her eyes that seemed even redder as if she had indeed spent the entire day waiting at the library.

But Victoria felt a chill in her heart. She didn’t understand what was going on with her sister. Why the charade?

What good did she really get out of this?

“Did you really wait in the library all day for me?” Victoria asked.

Mara gave a feeble smile, “Victoria, if you’ve decided not to believe me, nothing I say will change your mind. But I’m home now, safe and sound. I won’t trouble you again, and I won’t set foot in that school anymore.”

Victoria gave a complex smile, “Really? Are you willing to stay away from my school?”

“What?” Mara asked, as if she hadn’t caught Victoria’s meaning, “What are you implying?”

“What do you think I’m implying?”