The story of food

Liora lingered near the corridor where she had dashed into Nova before. The small tube of ointment clutched tightly in her hand, its cool metal pressed against her palm, reminding her of the ridiculous agreement she had somehow gotten herself into.

'Thank God Yo always carried an emergency kit—otherwise, she wouldn't have this.'

She shifted on her feet, glancing around. The minutes stretched, yet Donovan never appeared.

'Was I supposed to meet him somewhere else?' she wondered, frowning. Near the river stream, maybe? Her brows knitted as realisation struck. They had never actually discussed a meeting place.

A sigh left her lips. This is a chance to escape, at least for today. 'Great! If he asks me tomorrow, I'll just tell him I waited. It's not my fault he didn't show up!'

Adjusting her tote bag over her shoulder with a serene smile, she turned on her heel to leave. As she passed the parking lot, a familiar figure caught her eye and her heart lifted instantly.

"Daran!" she called out loud. The excitement laced her voice as she rushed toward him.

Daran stood casually, talking to Rachel, but as soon as he heard her voice, he turned, flashing a lopsided grin.

"Liora!" he greeted, clearly amused by her enthusiasm.

She folded her arms in mock annoyance as her eyes flickered. "Why aren't you studying here?"

Daran chuckled, leaning slightly closer as if to taunt her. "Oh? Didn't know you would miss me this much, Liora. If I had, I would've kept my distance sooner just to make you realise my worth."

Liora huffed, rolling her eyes, but the warmth of their easy banter settled deep in her chest. She had missed this. Missed him. Back in Elite School, they were inseparable. Even with Sia and Yo by her side, Daran held a place in her heart no one else could fill. He was the one who stayed beside her in that endless, harsh desert. She was grateful to him.

Rachel smirked, watching the two with a knowing look.

"Come on, let's grab something to eat," Daran said, turning over heels while Rachel left as she needed to be somewhere else.

They both headed to the nearby food street, a vibrant spot adored by students for its diverse, pocket-friendly dishes from around the world—American, Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, Lebanese, Italian, and French. You name it, and it was there!

The place buzzed with young energy. Everyone was engaged in lively discussions, and laughter could be heard through the open-air seating.

Liora had been craving churros since she arrived in Valtham, which made them choose a Spanish café over others. The café looked vibrant with colours. The sound inside were filled with sizzling food and cheerful Spanish music. They picked a corner table, ensuring they could speak freely without worrying about being overheard.

"So, how was your day?" Daran asked, leaning back in his chair.

"Eventful, to say the least. I ran into Nova, the psycho bear. Quite literally," Liora sighed, still reeling from the unexpected encounter with him.

Daran chuckled. "Did you recognise you?"

Liora groaned dramatically. "Luckily not! But I fear next time, if I cross him, I might just end up hanging from a tree upside down."

"I don't think he's that bad." Daran furrowed his brows.

"Daran, there's a reason I call him Psycho. He does what he wants when he wants. And he is somehow acting so out of him. His brain doesn't operate like a normal person's," When Liora said those words, she recalled the strange mix of coldness and warmth in Donovan's behaviour.

Daran laughed. "Okay, if you say so."

Before their conversation could divert, Liora pulled a card from her back pocket and placed it between them.

"Look at this. Sven gave me his visiting card and said he would lend me money or a job if I ever needed it. As if I would ask him to lend me my father's money, which he enjoying right now after stealing from him." And Liora's demeanour changed from bubbly to grimace.

Daran scrutinised the card, his lips pressing into a thin line. "This guy is definitely running a scam, offering students jobs and loans."

"That's what I thought, too," Liora agreed as she leaned in conspiratorially. She added, "I have a plan. I want to send him to a mental asylum."

Daran's eyebrows shot up. "That's… ambitious. How do you plan on doing that?"

Liora smirked, lowering her voice just above a whisper. "I'll make him question his own mind."

Daran leaned in, his curiosity piqued. "Like what?"

Before she could answer, the waitress arrived, placing a plate of churros and two glasses of lemonade on the table.

Liora's eyes gleamed as she grabbed a fresh churro, coating it in cinnamon sugar before taking a bite. The crunchy outside surrendered to a warm, tender inside. "Delicious!"

Although it was steaming hot, scalding her tongue, she was indifferent. She had an intense craving for churros, and she could consume hot food and drinks much better than most people.

She took another bite before refocusing on their conversation. "I will make him believe he is being hunted."

Daran let out a low whistle. "Liora, coming up with an actual plan? I'm impressed!"

She rolled her eyes playfully. "Rude."

They continued exchanging ideas with growing excitement. Around them, the café remained lively—students laughing, glasses clinking in toasts—but they were too immersed in their scheming to notice much else.

Across the room, Kai and Logan sat at another table, their eyes locked on Liora and Daran.

"That's Liora," Kai murmured. "And that guy is Daran."

Logan's eyes narrowed. "Why is she in disguise?" Logan observed, watching the intensity of their hushed conversation. "To me, it looks like they are planning something."

"Definitely," Kai replied.

"Wasn't Daran her boyfriend back in school?" Logan asked, frowning slightly.

Kai's smirk faded slightly as he leaned back in thought. "Let's find out more before Don does. If she's still with Daran, we'll have to do the unthinkable—for Don's sake."

The following day, Liora woke up early for her morning run, determined to make it a routine like she had back home. After breakfast, she headed straight to Caspian's locker, slipping a letter inside, urging him to cancel the party. She made it clear—she didn't want him to get into trouble because of her. If he refused, she wouldn't attend the party, no matter what.

She knew Caspian was stubborn, but for now, her disguise gave her the upper hand. She would deal with the consequences later, but for now, she had control.

Classes went on as usual, and soon lunch break arrived. Liora, Sia, and Yo made their way to the cafeteria, filling their trays with their favourite meals. Since the outdoor seating was already packed, they opted for a table inside.

As they moved to find seats, Liora caught sight of Sven walking with a male student, heading in the same direction she had seen him go last time—with Sofia. She was so focused on Sven that she did not see that the juice had spilled on the floor. She stepped on it and almost slipped.

And then it happened.

Before she could regain her balance, her entire tray of food flew straight onto someone's back, and the sound of metalware crashing against the tiles grabbed everyone's attention, and gasps filled the room.

Sia and Yo froze behind her, their own trays clutched tightly in their hands, eyes wide in horror.

Liora swallowed hard, her heart plummeting.

The person she had just doused in food turned around with a thunderous expression. Light grey eyes burned into her with cold fury.

Rihana.

And standing beside her, witnessing everything, was Donovan, flanked by Kai, Logan, and their girlfriends.

Liora felt her stomach drop to the floor.

She had just made a very, very big mistake.