Chapter 16: Acceptance Letter

A week later, it was quite peaceful. Asher and Ethan continued to support Camille despite Cleo's attempt to frame her.

Today, Camille and Shayla decided that they wanted to meet up.

They were currently in a café, and they were discussing among each other.

The smell of coffee was heavy in the air, but it didn't faze the two friends.

"Why didn't you tell me what Cleo did?" Shayla asked, banging her fists on the table which was enough for the people around to hear.

"I'm sorry," she bowed awkwardly before turning to look at Camille who was sipping her drink nonchalantly.

"Why do you look so calm?" Shayla asked, still bothered by what she had heard.

Camille had just informed her about how Cleo had tried to sabotage her on the day of the exam. Cleo would have succeeded if she wasn't a step ahead.

"Because there's nothing for me to say about it, I was able to turn the tables, wasn't I?" Camille asked with a tilt of her head.

"But still, you should have told me about it, maybe I would have given her a punch on her head or something like that," Shayla said, cracking her fingers to show that she meant business.

"Easy there tiger, you don't need to be so violent," Camille chuckled, although her heart felt warm.

She knew that Shayla would always have her back.

"What did you do to her after she failed? At least, you punished her, didn't you?" Shayla inquired.

Camille didn't give her a reply, instead she lowered her head. The look on Camille's face said it all.

"You did nothing, didn't you?" Shayla asked, and the disappointment in her eyes couldn't be hidden.

"I'm so disappointed," Shayla shook her head.

Camille sighed, before holding her hands, "there is nothing I could have done in there, but that doesn't mean I won't do anything to her."

Shayla's eyes brightened at her words.

"What are you planning to do?" She asked.

"You'll see," Camille smiled mysteriously, which only made Shayla eager.

"I can't wait for what you'll do to her," Shayla giggled, eagerly waiting for Cleo's downfall.

"What about your brothers? What did they say? I'm pretty sure they stood on her side," Shayla spat, her voice tinged with hatred.

Camille laughed seeing her that way.

"Contrary to what you think, they did the opposite. They were also annoyed that I didn't pursue the matter," she explained to her.

Shayla's jaw dropped in surprise and shock.

"What do you mean? Your brothers who always trusted Cleo didn't take her side? I can't believe this," Shayla shook her head in disbelief.

"I was also in shock, but Asher was the one who helped me clear my name," Camille replied, tapping her fingers on the table.

"Do you think your brothers might have changed? Or is this just part of a big plot so you can let your guard down?" Shayla asked.

Camille didn't respond, and this was because she didn't have the answer to the question. She had also thought about it.

Her brothers' change was too coincidental, and she didn't know what she was to think about it.

"Let's forget about it, I don't want to think about it," Camille dismissed the matter with a wave of her hands.

Shayla sighed, staring straight at Camille who took a sip from her juice.

"Still planning to go to the same college, isn't it?" Camille asked, changing the topic.

Shayla's mood dampened instantly at Camille's question.

'"I wish I could, but my brother has made sure that I'll study abroad, he doesn't want me in this country, and I don't know why," Shayla replied, fiddling with her fingers.

"Can't you convince him?" Camille asked, the light in her eyes dimming as well.

"I can't, my brother is my only guardian, and I have to listen to his words," Shayla replied while exhaling.

"Do you need me to talk to him? There has to be something we can do," Camille suggested.

In her previous life, she and Shayla drifted apart, she didn't want the same thing to happen in this life as well.

"I am not sure that would be feasible, my letter of acceptance came in yesterday," Shayla confessed.

Camille's breath caught in her throat as her jaw dropped while letting the weight of Shayla's words sink in.

"And you didn't think to tell me about it, what if I hadn't asked you about it? Would you have kept me in the dark?" Camille questioned, her fingers trembling while she felt betrayed.

"I am sorry, but this was the real reason I asked us to hang out, I wanted to inform you," Shayla apologized.

Camille closed her eyes in pain.

Opening them, she asked, "is there nothing we can do?"

Shayla shook her head negatively, and tears escaped from Camille's eyes.

"I hate you," she whispered, tears falling from her eyes.

Shayla chuckled, she knew that Camille meant the opposite of her words.

"And I love you as well," she replied.

Camille glared at her with a tear-stained face, and Shayla giggled to hide the hurt in her heart.

"I still want to see your brother though, I think there should be something we can do, we promised that we would attend the same college, you can't go back on your promise," Camille leaned forward, her voice carrying a hint of indignation.

"I doubt you'd be able to meet my brother, he is a very busy person," Shayla chuckled.

"You can arrange an appointment, I need to speak with your brother, he doesn't get to dictate your life as though it belongs to him," Camille argued.

"It is amazing that you want to stand up for me, but my life has already been set in stone ever since my parents died, I always have to follow my brother's decision," Shayla smiled.

But behind that smile, Camille could see that she wasn't comfortable with her brother dictating her life. It reminded her of herself.

The her who was trapped because she needed to please her brothers, but for Shayla, it felt different. It was like she was stuck.

Shayla was rebellious, yes, but she was trapped. Looking at her, it was clear that she could go against her brother, but she was scared.

"Just one try, if you can't speak to him, I'd speak to him, perhaps his heart would soften, and he would let you attend the college of your choice," Camille tried to convince her.

"Cam...." Shayla was interrupted by the ringing of her phone.

"Speak of the devil, it is my brother," Shayla waved her phone in front of Camille, and the latter exhaled.