Oh come in and save the day my girl

"Don't be a loser, Zoan. Come sit with us," Lisa said, waving her over with a sly smile.

Zoan hesitated for a moment before slowly walking over and sitting beside her. Her gaze flickered to Mei, who sat with her head lowered, her posture tense and withdrawn. Desmond and Adonis flanked Mei on either side, their hungry eyes watching her like predators circling their prey.

Zoan's hands curled into fists, her fingers digging into the fabric of her pants. Anger and fear churned in her chest, but she froze when Lisa threw an arm around her neck, dragging her closer and forcing her to lean back against the leathery cushions of the worn-out couch.

"Do you like what you see?" Lisa whispered, her lips dangerously close to Zoan's ear.

"W-What?" Zoan stammered, startled by the closeness and the question.

Lisa's smirk widened, her voice dropping to a purr. "I've noticed the way you look at Mei. Everyone knows you like women. That's why I made her wear that—just for you, Zoan."

Zoan's breath hitched as Lisa leaned even closer, her chin now resting lightly on Zoan's shoulder.

"Do you like it?" Lisa asked again, her voice dripping with a sickly sweetness.

Zoan's throat tightened, and her mouth went dry. Fear coiled in her stomach, paralyzing her as Lisa's words twisted into something she couldn't escape.

—

"Ving?" Zoan mumbled, peering past the wall. She spotted the other girl standing under the bus stop, Vin's bag still clutched in her arm. Ving's eyes darted side to side, scanning the area like someone waiting for someone—or something.

Ving's gaze landed on Zoan as the latter waved and jogged toward her.

"Ving, I've been trying to call you," Zoan said, holding up her phone.

"My phone's dead," Ving replied matter-of-factly, shaking her head. She grabbed Zoan's hand without preamble. "Come with me. I have to show you something."

Zoan frowned but let herself be pulled along. Ving led her toward a decrepit building nearby.

From the outside, the building looked grimy and abandoned. Inside, it was worse—dimly lit, reeking of musk and garbage. Zoan wrinkled her nose at the stench, but it was clear Ving was just as disgusted; she pinched her nose with her fingers as they walked further in.

"Where are we going?" Zoan asked, her voice tinged with unease.

Ving didn't answer, instead guiding her to a door. She turned the knob, and it opened without resistance.

Zoan assumed this must be Vin's place.

The moment they entered, the smell hit her like a fist.

"Ch-Christ!" Zoan groaned, stepping back as her stomach churned. The room was a disaster: beer bottles scattered everywhere, trash bags piled in a corner, and a pervasive stench of mold and decay.

The walls were yellowed with age and grime, and the oppressive air made Zoan's skin crawl.

"Why—where is Vin?" Zoan asked, watching Ving crouch down to pick something up from the floor.

It was a switchblade.

Ving pressed the button, and the blade popped out, sharp and stained with dried blood.

Zoan's eyes widened. "I saw Vin get dragged out," Ving said calmly, slipping the blade into the pocket of her skirt as she stood.

"What?!" Zoan exclaimed, her alarm growing.

"There were at least ten of them," Ving continued. "Aliani and her usual crew. Two of them were boys from the neighboring all-boys school."

Zoan's heart dropped. "We should call the police," she said immediately.

Ving sighed, brushing off her skirt. "I doubt they'd listen to us," she murmured, her tone resigned—as if she'd already tried and failed to go down that route.

"Shit—what do we do?" Zoan asked, pacing as her thoughts raced. "We can't follow them! We're not—"

She stopped mid-sentence when Ving abruptly walked out of the room, her fists clenched tightly.

"Wait—what are you planning? Is there a reason you called me out here?" Zoan demanded, following her out and shutting the door behind her.

Ving turned to face her. "Take out your phone," she said curtly.

"What are you planning?" Zoan repeated, narrowing her eyes but retrieving her phone anyway.

Ving snatched it from her hands, opened the camera app, and handed it back.

"You're going to record everything," Ving said firmly. "Hide somewhere close. If they hurt me, we'll have evidence."

Zoan's jaw dropped. "What?! Are you crazy?"

"I'm going to hit two birds with one stone," Ving explained, crossing her arms as if her plan was the most logical thing in the world. "I'll save Vin Noi and get Aliani permanently suspended. If the violence committee sees this, they'll have no choice but to accept Ms. Atiro's report."

Her lips curled into a smirk. "And if I get hurt, even better."

Zoan stared at her, utterly dumbfounded. "What the hell are you even saying?! Are you a crazy bitch or what?"

Ving scoffed, pushing a strand of hair out of her face. But then she smiled—a genuine, calm smile.

"It's just a day's work as a student council member," she said, as if that justified everything.

"You're going to get yourself killed," Zoan shot back, her voice sharp.

Ving shook her head confidently. "I won't. Trust me." She placed a hand on Zoan's shoulder, her expression steady. "What I'm entrusting you with is far more important. If things go south, you send that video straight to Ms. Atiro. And if it goes really bad…" She paused, chuckling lightly. "Then maybe call the police."

She laughed as if the entire plan were a joke.

Zoan stared at her, equal parts horrified and impressed.

This girl is insane, Zoan thought to herself, watching Ving walk off. Completely insane.

—

Ving knew this was a crazy idea, but desperation had a way of making people reckless. She had been working on Aliani's case for almost two years now—two long years of witnessing her blatant disrespect toward teachers and students alike. Yet, no one seemed willing to stand against her. Aliani's connections protected her from any consequences, and the weight of that power had everyone afraid to speak up.

But who exactly was Aliani connected to? Ving didn't know—and that was one of the main reasons she found Zoan so suspicious. If someone powerful enough to suspend Aliani could do so without interference from those above her, then Zoan had to be a bigger fish.

Still, working with Zoan was... different. She didn't lash out or hurt anyone. If anything, she went out of her way to avoid people. She refused to talk to anyone except Jiho, Jovi, and occasionally Ving—if Ving was persistent enough to force a conversation.

Ving had done her homework on Zoan. Her father was a renowned lawyer, famous for winning cases that toppled legal veterans. Their family was absurdly wealthy, yet Zoan didn't look the part. She didn't flaunt her privilege in the way Aliani so often did.

Zoan's mother, on the other hand, was a mystery. Ving couldn't find a shred of information about her—not in public records, not even on Elias's (Zoan's father's) social media. It was as if she didn't exist. Divorce? Death? An absent parent? Ving couldn't tell.

All signs pointed to Zoan's father as the one who might have suspended Aliani. Before Zoan had even transferred to Golden High, Ving had heard whispers of the Porifera Law Firm—one of the most powerful firms in the city. If Zoan's father was indeed the man behind the curtain, it raised a chilling possibility: Was he also the one helping the school cover up its hierarchy, its bullying, and its mistakes?

Ving hoped not. She wanted to believe there were other law firms tied to Golden High, that someone else was responsible. But deep down, she couldn't shake the fear that Zoan's father might be the root of it all.

"Wait," Zoan's voice broke through her thoughts, and Ving turned to her in surprise. Zoan grabbed her hand, her expression tight with worry.

They had found Aliani and her crew. There were more of them than Ving had expected—at least ten, maybe fifteen if she was unlucky. It was like walking straight into the lion's den.

"What is it?" Ving asked.

Zoan bit her lip, hesitating. "This is dangerous. What if the police don't get here fast enough?"

"There's an office just a few blocks away. They'll come," Ving reassured her.

Zoan exhaled sharply, nodding. "Right… okay. Fine. Go," she mumbled, clearly uncomfortable as she pulled out her phone and pressed record.

Ving nodded back and turned away, her gaze fixed on the dark alley ahead. Aliani was sitting on a chair, legs crossed, while Vin was slumped on the dirty ground, her head bowed.

"You know," Lorelai sneered, sipping from a soda can, "I seriously don't understand where you get the nerve to go against us." She tipped the can over Vin's head, letting the liquid pour down her hair and onto her lap.

Vin clenched her fists, trembling with rage. She tried to move, but one of the guys stomped on her thigh, pinning her in place. She yelped in pain, freezing as tears spilled silently down her face.

Aliani laughed, wiping away a faux tear. "Ah, seriously, Lori, stop that. Don't hurt our poor guest," she said, wagging a finger like a parent scolding a child.

"I suggest you stop that, Aliani," Ving's voice rang out, calm and sharp as a knife.

Everyone froze, turning to face her. No one had noticed her standing there, leaning against the wall of the alley. Her dark eyes glinted with quiet resolve as she surveyed the group.

Saige and another guy stiffened, their fists clenching. The girls beside Lorelai perked up, their postures tense.

"Student Council," Aliani drawled, her lips curling into a smirk. "Good to see you, Ving Lee." She gestured for her crew to settle down, and they obeyed, though their eyes never left Ving.

"You should let Vin go," Ving said evenly, motioning to the girl on the ground.

Aliani glanced at Vin, whose tear-streaked face tilted upward. Her eyes shone with desperation as she looked at Ving, silently pleading for help.

"Why should I?" Aliani asked, her tone playful. "She wanted to work under me, but of course, she thought she could get away with hurting my girls. So..." Aliani pulled out her phone, waving it in Ving's direction.

"No!" Vin suddenly screamed, forcing herself to her feet despite the crushing weight of the guy's boot on her leg. She lunged at Aliani, but the guy grabbed her hair and yanked her back brutally.

"Argh! No!" Vin cried, clawing at his arm and trying to punch him, but her attacks were wild and ineffective. He silenced her with a sharp knee to the stomach.

Vin collapsed to the ground, choking and vomiting from the pain. Her body trembled as she struggled to breathe.

Ving's jaw tightened, her fists clenching at her sides. She cast a quick glance upward, spotting the faint glint of Zoan's phone lens peeking over the rooftop. Good. The recording was still going.

She could do this. She had to do this. She needed Aliani to talk.

"You think that's a reason to blackmail someone? A first-year, at that?" Ving asked, crossing her arms.

Lorelai scoffed loudly. "Aliani, let's just get this over with and beat the shit out of her! I seriously hate this bitch!" she snapped, slamming her fist against a wooden plank.

Ving turned to her, her expression cold. "An idiot should know when to shut up."

Lorelai's eyes widened in fury. She stomped toward Ving, her fists clenched, but Aliani raised a hand, stopping her in her tracks.

"Enough, Lori," Aliani said with a lazy wave.

Lorelai froze, grumbling under her breath as she stomped back to her seat, plopping down like a petulant child.

"That's right," Ving said, her voice dripping with disdain. "Sit down when your master tells you to."

Aliani chuckled, clearly amused. "Who knew you had such a sharp tongue?" she purred, resting her cheek on her palm as she watched Ving with a grin. "You're quite the package. A student council member, a fencer, Golden High's former top rank... though not anymore, right? Zoan Porifera took your place at the top, didn't she?"

Ving didn't flinch, her dark eyes locked on Aliani's as the tension crackled between them.

Her face betrayed no emotion.

"Are you… not angry, at least?" Aliani mocked, tilting her head as Ving watched her carefully.

"Why should I be? A fair person knows when to stop, especially when they understand someone else is better than them," Ving retorted, her voice calm but sharp. She almost smirked as Aliani's expression soured.

"Hn, you're right. But still, doesn't it annoy you that she so easily took it away from you? Who knows, by next year, the president might be Zoan and not you. That… ugly-looking bitch really needs to know her place, no?" Aliani sneered.

"Don't you hate her?" Aliani pressed. Ving's eyes narrowed.

She knew all too well about Aliani's anger toward Zoan—the bitterness of having been suspended by her. Perhaps she should agree, say what Aliani wanted to hear. If she played along, maybe Aliani would let her guard down and reveal something useful for the video.

"Yes," Ving lied, hoping Zoan wouldn't believe her and would keep filming. She glanced discreetly toward Zoan. Her heart sank when she realized the camera was no longer in Zoan's hands. Instead, Zoan was just… watching. Intently.

What are you doing?! Ving's mind screamed. She turned back to Aliani, who was smirking triumphantly. She'll say exactly what I want her to say, and then resume filming! Ving wanted to shout at Zoan, who lingered on the rooftop, seemingly frozen.

"Then help me get rid of her," Aliani said, her grin widening as she leaned closer. The idea of having a Student Council member—Ving Lee, no less—working under her was too delicious to resist. Ving, the golden girl. The good girl. The smart one everyone admired.

"I could even get your rank back. What do you say?" Aliani purred, standing up and walking over to Ving. From beneath her lashes, she cast a gaze that was almost seductive.

Ving's fists clenched. The sight of Vin struggling on the ground ignited a fire in her. All their talk had been a distraction; Aliani still hadn't let go of Vin. And now that Zoan had stopped recording, Ving wasn't sure how much evidence they actually had. Perhaps the first few minutes of footage—showing Aliani and her lackeys hurting Vin—would be enough. Even if it didn't capture Aliani's threats, it might still work.

Without hesitation, Ving's hand shot out, grabbing a fistful of Aliani's hair. She yanked the girl backward, her other hand locking firmly around Aliani's neck.

It exploded into chaos.

Everyone jumped to their feet. The boy holding Vin dropped her in surprise. Aliani shrieked, a mix of anger and panic, as Ving snarled, "Stop right there! I'll let her go if you give Vin back to me!"

Ving's eyes darted to Vin, who stared at her with wide, terrified eyes. Aliani trembled under her grip—whether from fear or fury, Ving couldn't tell.

But then Aliani laughed.

"Oh god, this is hilarious! So, it's just for Vinnie? I can't believe you, Ving." She huffed out a cruel laugh.

"Ving! Behind you!" Vin screamed.

Ving turned just in time to see the glint of metal—a pipe swinging toward her head. She released Aliani reflexively and ducked, the pipe narrowly missing its mark. A boy stepped out of the shadows, one she hadn't noticed before.

Ving reacted quickly, kicking his legs out from under him. As he fell, she kneed him hard in the stomach, then grabbed the back of his shirt and hurled him toward Saige, who was rushing forward.

Saige caught him, but the two of them toppled to the ground in a tangle of limbs.

Nearby, Aliani adjusted her hair, looking none the worse for wear. "Get her, will you?" she snapped, stepping over to Vin. She grabbed a handful of Vin's hair and dragged her aside as Ving fought off the others.

"To think you'd come here just for this bitch," Aliani sighed dramatically.

Ving felt someone grab the collar of her shirt from behind. She was yanked backward and slammed to the ground. Pain shot through her as she grunted, trying to roll away. 

Before she could recover, the boy from earlier moved to stomp on her. She twisted out of the way just in time, wrapping her legs around his torso and using the leverage to pull herself up. She elbowed him hard under the chin, but he retaliated quickly, grabbing her by the neck and slamming her back onto the ground.

This is bad, Ving thought, coughing as pain radiated through her body. The alley was too narrow. There wasn't enough room to move freely, and she was outnumbered. The boys were strong, and even the girls—Saige and the others—were relentless.

A hand wrapped around her throat, pinning her to the wall. She clawed desperately at the boy's wrist, gasping for air.

"This bitch is pissing me off," the boy growled.

Saige stepped forward, wiping blood from her nose. "Who knew you were such a good fighter," she muttered, shaking her head.

Ving glared at her, her legs lashing out in a desperate kick. She caught the boy between the legs, forcing him to release her as he crumpled to the ground. Ving spun toward Saige, landing a punch that was blocked at the last second. Saige grabbed her wrist and twisted it behind her back, slamming her against the wall.

"Aiya, don't hurt her too much. We don't want any trouble," Aliani called lazily. She was crouched in front of Vin now, a cruel smile on her face as she stepped on Vin's hand. Vin cried out in pain.

Ving thrashed under Saige's grip, her body trembling with frustration and rage.

"Vinnie," Aliani said mockingly, gripping Vin's chin and forcing her to look up. "Do you understand what you've done? I thought this was just our little secret."

"I didn't say anything!" Vin whimpered.

"Really?" Aliani pressed harder with her heel, eliciting another scream. "What do you think would happen to your precious piano-playing hands if I decided to—"

"Stop it!" Ving roared, her voice raw. She struggled harder, but Saige held her firmly, forcing her head down.

The sound of heels clicking against the pavement rang out, cutting through the din.

"Hey. I really think you should stop that," a familiar voice said.

Ving froze, lifting her head. At the entrance to the alley, Zoan stood, her phone raised. She was still filming.

"What the—?" Aliani whirled around, her face twisting in fury.

"She's taking a video!" one of the girls shrieked.

Zoan smirked, waving the phone playfully. "Come and get it~."

And then, all hell broke loose.

—

Ving may have passed out—she wasn't sure. There was a brief moment of quiet before chaos erupted. The heaviness on her back disappeared, and Saige went flying.

What just happened? She couldn't tell if she had hit her head during the fight, but suddenly, someone was carrying her on their back.

"I told you not to fight, right?" Zoan mumbled.

"Sorry, they threatened to post the video… thank you for deleting that," Vin said as Ving slowly opened her eyes, focusing on the back of Zoan's head. A hand was under her knee.

"You awake?" Zoan turned her head, and Ving groaned, holding her head in confusion. "Did you—what did you just do?" she asked.

Vin popped up beside her, her face bloodied and her hands wrapped in Zoan's blazer. "She saved us! She was like, bam! Then bam! And then boom!" Vin danced around, trying to mimic punches, but with her hands wrapped together, she just looked awkward.

"You fought? You know how to fight?" Ving asked, dazed. She could faintly remember what happened. Zoan had come in, revealing she was filming the whole time.

Then… she called the police? Ving recalled the blaring sirens before Zoan took her away. But what about the others? What had happened to Aliani?

"She beat them all up," Vin whispered beside her, and Ving's eyes widened. "You got your head knocked out. You tried to help me, but they hit you with a bottle," Zoan explained, and Ving's hand traveled to her head, feeling the pressure of Zoan's vest wrapped around it.

"Ah—I'm sorry for staining your clothes," Ving mumbled tiredly, laying her head back down as dizziness washed over her again.

"Me too," Vin added, and Zoan sighed.

"It's fine. We should go to the hospital for this," Zoan said, but then froze when Ving laid her head on her shoulder. "We should—but you need to explain what you just did, or I'll bother you again," Ving mumbled close to her ear, before closing her eyes.

Zoan scoffed. "Crazy bitch."