the truth (14)

(The courtyard is filled with the usual morning chatter. The sun casts a warm glow over the school, but for Liam, Mia, and Ava, things feel... off. They sit on a bench, rubbing their temples, their expressions troubled.)

Liam:

"Ugh… my head. It's like I'm remembering something, but… it's just really blurry. I can't make it out."

Mia:

"Yeah… same here. It's like something's right there, just out of reach."

Ava:

"I don't like this feeling. It's like... I know something, but I don't know what it is."

(Dakota leans against a tree nearby, watching them carefully. A slight smirk plays on his lips, but his tone remains neutral.)

Dakota:

"Just don't think about it right now. You'll find out later."

(The three look at him with slight confusion, but before they can question further, Dakota steps forward.)

Dakota:

"Anyway… let's move on."

(He pulls another memory and start's to play it, . The surroundings blur, and the world shifts around them.)

(The courtyard fades away, replaced by the familiar school setting. Students are seen walking the hallways, chatting, laughing—completely unaware of the moment about to unfold.)

(Michael is at the center of the scene, sitting at a cafeteria table with Alex, Marie, and the others. They're engaged in their usual playful banter.)

Alex:

"So, Michael, are you ever going to admit that you and Emily totally went on a date?"

Michael:

"Shut up, Alex."

Marie:

"He didn't deny it!"

(Michael rolls his eyes while the group laughs. But then—Lisa suddenly speaks up, cutting through the lighthearted conversation.)

Lisa:

"Michael."

(Her tone is calm, serious. Michael looks over at her, raising an eyebrow.)

Michael:

"Yeah?"

Lisa:

"I want to talk to you. Privately."

(The table goes silent. The group exchanges glances, sensing something unusual in Lisa's voice. Michael, though slightly surprised, shrugs.)

Michael:

"Ah, okay. Sure."

(He stands up, following Lisa as they walk away from the group. The others whisper among themselves.)

Alex:

"That was weird."

Marie:

"What do you think she wants?"

Ethan:

"Only one way to find out."

(Meanwhile, Michael and Lisa stop at a secluded area of the school, away from prying eyes. Lisa turns to face him, her expression unreadable.)

Michael:

"So, what's up?"

Lisa:

"Michael, how about we have a challenge?"

(Michael blinks, taken aback.)

Michael:

"A challenge?"

Lisa:

"Yes. A test of skill. You versus me. Let's determine who is better."

(Michael looks at her, confused. Then, a smirk spreads across his face as he chuckles.)

Michael:

"Lisa, I know you're smart, but come on. You know I'm the smartest in this school. No one can beat me. I'm called 'Michael the Genius,' 'Michael the Undefeated' for a reason."

(Lisa's expression remains steady, unwavering.)

Lisa:

"I think I can beat you."

(Michael's smirk falters for a second. Then, he crosses his arms, intrigued.)

Michael:

"Oh? You're that confident?"

Lisa:

"Yes."

Michael:

"Alright, then. Challenge accepted. What's the competition?"

Lisa:

"The upcoming exam. The hardest exam of the year. Whoever gets the highest score wins."

(Michael grins, excitement flickering in his eyes.)

Michael:

"Fine by me. Just don't get upset when you lose."

(Lisa simply nods. The challenge is set.)

(The classroom is filled with tense energy as students sit at their desks, preparing for the hardest exam of the year. Michael sits comfortably, arms crossed, completely relaxed. Lisa, beside him, maintains her focus, determination burning in her eyes.)

(The teacher hands out the exam papers. A silent agreement passes between Michael and Lisa as they pick up their pens.)

(The moment the test begins, Michael moves like a machine—his pen gliding across the paper with perfect precision. Within ten minutes, he's done. He flips his paper over, leans back, and smirks.)

(Lisa, on the other hand, takes longer. She's confident, but it still takes her thirty minutes to complete the test. When she finishes, she exhales, feeling satisfied.)

(Then comes the results.)

Teacher:

"Alright, class. The scores are in."

(The room tenses as the teacher announces the top scores.)

Teacher:

"Lisa, 95%."

(Lisa smiles, pleased with herself. But then—)

Teacher:

"Michael… 100%."

(The class murmurs in shock. Lisa's eyes widen slightly. She turns to Michael, who's grinning like a victorious king.)

Michael:

"Like I said—Michael the Genius, undefeated."

(Lisa, still smiling, nods.)

Lisa:

"I'm sorry. I lost."

Michael:

"No worries. You did well."

(Lisa gives a small, seemingly genuine smile before turning around and walking out of the classroom. But as she steps into the hallway… her smile disappears. Her expression darkens. She clenches her fists and walks away without looking back.)

(Michael watches her leave. A sudden chill runs down his spine, an eerie, ominous feeling settling over him.)

Michael (thinking):

"Whoa… what was that? Why did she seem… angry that she lost? I mean, she smiled, but… something felt off. Well, whatever. I'm not going to think about it too much."

(But deep down, something nags at him. A warning. A sign he chooses to ignore.)

(Then, Dakota's voice echoes in the present, watching the memory with his usual knowing smirk.)

Dakota:

"You should have thought about it, Michael. You should have noticed that her behavior was weird. If only you noticed. If only you did something… but your pride, your damn confidence, your arrogance—"

(Dakota's voice darkens, his expression unreadable.)

Dakota:

"—made her defeat you, Michael."

(The memory fades. The group is left in stunned silence.)

Dakota thinking: yes it made her defeat me, my arrogance my pride made her defeat me In high school, it made me suffer and made my friends suffer. My damn pride and arrogance, if only I let my friends help me and I didn't go at it alone, many my friends and I wouldn't have broken up, maybe my friends wouldn't have hated me. But unfortunately I did not ask for their help and went at it alone... And that decision cost me severely. I regret not asking for their help... But now that my friends are here watching my memories... Maybe they will understand that I did not betraye them, and it was that bitches fault after all this time.