Chapter 15

AUTHOR

Hi! Thanks for waiting! Enjoy!

Also, I published another GL story here the name is POLAROID: Not Your Typical Love Story. You should check it out!

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Envy is such a venomous word, slithering its way into the hearts of those unfortunate enough to be ensnared by its treacherous grasp.

How unfortunate.

How unfortunate, indeed. It's also because of envy that Ginny lost the person that she had once trusted—Krystal. Krystal and Ginny were so inseparable, their bond seemingly unbreakable, that Natalie became so jealous that she ignored Ginny for weeks, causing a foolish rift that tore them apart. It was a misunderstanding, one that should have been easily resolved between friends. Yet, as Ginny soon discovered, their friendship with Krystal was nothing but a facade.

It's been so long since she heard that name. After the fallout, she cut all her ties with Krystal, ignoring every attempt at reconciliation. She was so hurt that she ignored every call, message, and visit the latter made for a couple of weeks just to get to talk to her. It was too harsh of her, indeed. But she wanted to convey to Krystal that once trust is broken, there are no second chances. 

The insults from the bullies never stopped, and it only worsened when her best friend, Natalie, got involved as well. This eventually made Ginny snap, tarnishing all their reputations in a day, including Krystal's. With the help of her siblings, she documented and spread their darkest secret throughout the campus, portraying herself as the villain they always made her out to be.

Fortunately, Krystal seemed to take the hint, and all the calls, messages, and visits stopped. Ginny didn't know if she should be happy or sad about it, but one thing was for sure: Krystal was no longer worth any of her concern.

Revenge is usually sweet, but in this case, it tasted disgusting, leaving behind an aftertaste that made her sick to the core. She admits she still has a little bit of concern for Krystal, and she hates herself for it. But the damage had already been done; she couldn't take back her actions.

She knew Krystal had reasons for her betrayal. After her 30-day suspension, she heard from Natalie that the group of bullies with whom Krystal had been exchanging information about Ginny had outed Krystal as a dyke throughout the campus, resulting in even more bullying towards her. She wasn't sure if it was true or not. At that time, she was still a heartless biatch and didn't care.

Ginny didn't do anything when everyone was bullying Krystal. She simply thought at that time that Krystal deserved all of it. Krystal stopped going to school and eventually transferred to another school. Even though Krystal was gone, the bullies never stopped, and Natalie was targeted yet again, which eventually led Ginny to encourage all the students to waterbomb all the bullies. She'd reached the point where she didn't care if she was going to be suspended or not. Apparently, that didn't happen since her mother took care of everything before it got out of hand.

And that's how you become a local celebrity, everybody!

That's how postdramaqueen-Ginny handled drama back then. Now, she doesn't think that way anymore. She'll admit that she grew quite mature, ditching her luxurious lifestyle as she started to live like a hobo nerd. She learned that it's better to be nobody than to have people's attention on her 24/7.

She has to admit that Krystal has a little bit of influence on why she changed. She remembers that some of the hurtful words Krystal said left an ache in her heart. It's hard to acknowledge, but Ginny knew that some of them were true. She's mean, a brat, and condescending. She's very much aware of it. But that doesn't give Krystal the right to expose something personal about her family—even if she didn't mean to, as she always claimed. That doesn't change the fact that she's still a traitor.

As much as she likes joking about it, Ginny doesn't want to forget her past, but that doesn't mean she wants to be that kind of person again. She's no longer a brat; although she's still a little bit condescending and mean, it's not the same as before. She's still the same, but with less glitter and glam.

"A penny for your thoughts?" 

Ginny jolted, the hazy daydream dissolving like cotton candy in rain. Persephone stood right there, closer than Ginny realised, a playful glint in her blue eyes. 

"Jesus!" Ginny almost had a heart attack which made Persephone chuckle slightly.

"Looks like someone got lost in dreamland," Persephone teased, a smirk pulling at her lips. "Need a wake-up kiss, perhaps?"

Ginny's heart hammered against her ribs. "How long have you been there?" she managed, hoping her voice didn't crack.

"Just long enough to see you practically drooling," Persephone chuckled, the sound so melodic yet infuriating at the same time. "It was kind of adorable."

Ginny flushed, a warm heat creeping up her neck. "Haha. Very funny," she mumbled, trying to sound annoyed but failing miserably."You really like messing with me."

"Oh, totally," Persephone said, leaning closer until their faces were inches apart. Ginny could feel the warmth radiating from Persephone's body, a sweet, floral scent tickling her nose. "Teasing you is simply too much fun."

Ginny could only gulp unconsciously, her mind is starting to panic.

"I believe it's pretty obvious why I'm doing it" A low whisper escaped Persephone's lips, her gaze holding Ginny captive. The air crackled with unspoken energy, and for a moment, the entire carnival faded away, leaving only them.

Ah, it's too bright!

Ginny thinks that she's being blessed by a goddess. Why does this person have to be this pretty? It's so illegal. She could only awkwardly laugh in response as she continued to panic more inside. She silently wishes for Ariel to appear—like right now.

Ginny's mind went blank. "I…" she stammered, her voice betraying her racing thoughts. "I wasn't aware."

Persephone's brow furrowed, surprise flickering across her face. "You weren't?"

Ginny cursed internally. She'd blurted that out to stall for time, hoping Ariel would miraculously appear. But now, the silence stretched, heavy and awkward.

"Huh. Maybe I haven't been clear enough," Persephone murmured, a mischievous glint returning to her eyes.

Ginny could only stare, completely caught off guard. Every fibre of her being wanted to step back, to create some much-needed space. But Persephone's presence, so close and captivating, held her rooted to the spot.

"Um…" She stutters like an idiot as Persephone continues to observe her with her dazzling blue eyes and gorgeous smile.

"You look so cute when you blush." Persephone said softly, her hand reaching out to brush a stray strand of hair from Ginny's face. Ginny shivered at the unexpected touch, a delicious spark igniting beneath her skin.

"May I?" Persephone asked, her gaze dropping to Ginny's glasses. Confused, Ginny could only nod mutely like a good puppy.

Soft. Ginny was so distracted by how soft Persephone's hands were.

Persephone gently removed the glasses, placing them on the top of Ginny's head. The way her fingers lingered on Ginny's cheek sent a jolt through her. Ginny felt strangely comforted by the touch, making her panic subsided for a moment. She's definitely being bewitched by this gorgeous being and she's not doing anything to stop her.

"Perfect," Persephone murmured, her voice a husky whisper. She adjusted the glasses on top of Ginny's head, her fingertips brushing against Ginny's forehead. It was a fleeting touch, but it sent a shiver down Ginny's spine.

Persephone leaned in closer, her blue eyes locking onto Ginny's. Ginny's breath hitched. Every instinct screamed at her to pull away, but she found herself mesmerised by the way Persephone's gaze flickered to her lips, then back to her eyes.

Ginny tried to convince herself that Persephone wouldn't do what she was actually thinking right now. Don't look at the lips. Don't look at the lips. Don't look at the lips. She internally recited like a mantra.

In a flurry of panic, she urges herself to concentrate solely on Persephone's stunning blue eyes while instinctively holding Persephone's hand against her cheek. However, she inwardly acknowledges the gravity of her mistake as Persephone leans in even closer. 

Oh, crap. She couldn't help but curse out loud but the timing was so good, her phone rang, indicating that someone was calling her.

"I'm sorry. Let me take this." Ginny let out a sigh of relief. Oh, my god! That was so close! Her insides screamed in a delightful agony. 

Glancing at the caller ID, her brow furrowed. It was Gus, her brother, and the urgency in his voice sent chills down her spine. "She's out there looking for you. I couldn't stop her. Sorry, twerp." Gus's voice was harsh, laced with a breathlessness that spoke volumes.

"Wait. What do you mean?"

Ginny could hear Gus take a breath first before speaking, "Eve," Gus panted. "She's out there and I couldn't hold her off."

Panic clawed at Ginny's throat. She darted her eyes around the crowd, searching for a flash of blonde that screamed trouble. A hiccup escaped her lips the moment her gaze collided with a pair of narrowed, hazel-brown eyes. Eve stood like a predator in the distance, a predatory glint in her gaze that sent shivers down Ginny's spine.

"Oh, shit." She couldn't help but curse in panic. Fortunately, Ariel miraculously appeared, muttering apologies why she was late.

Suddenly, her voice pierced through the rising panic. "Whoa, look at the time! It's already the end of my shift."

Ginny snapped her head towards Ariel, a lifeline thrown in the churning sea of chaos. Relief washed over her as she reached for Ariel's hand. "Thank goodness you're here."

She practically dragged Ariel back to the booth where Persephone stood, flustered but still holding that captivating smile. "Has anyone ever mentioned that you two look good together?" She points at the two of them, trying to play her role as Cupid.

"Ginny, what are you talking about?" Persephone firmly asked.

Ginny barely registered Persephone's comment when Eve's scream cut through the air, sharp and unforgiving. "Ginny!" It was her cue to leave.

"I gotta go." Ginny squeezed Ariel's hand, her voice shaky. "I'm just gonna leave you two here. Have fun!" She didn't dare look at Persephone before she ran off. 

With a frantic look over her shoulder, she bolted, leaving Ariel and Persephone in a state of bewildered confusion. Ginny didn't dare look back, her focus solely on putting as much distance as possible between her and Eve's wrath.

"Ginny!" Eve's enraged voice echoed behind her. "Come back here! I'm not done with you!"

♦

Ginny cursed internally. She'd been hiding from her sister for quite a while now. What in the world had just happened? Her mind raced, a chaotic jumble of near-kisses, unexpected phone calls, and a furious sister chasing her down. Crap, crap, crap! This was turning into a total disaster. This is not what she'd imagined her day would be.

And just like any other day, Ginny found herself entangled in yet another dramatic situation. However, this time, she was the one who started it. Little did Ginny realise at the time that everything was only just the beginning.

As Ginny stood in the dimly lit parking lot near the vibrant carnival, she could feel the tension thickening around her like a suffocating fog. The colourful lights and distant laughter seemed to mock the seriousness of the situation unfolding before her.

Suddenly, a voice cut through the night air, startling Ginny from her thoughts. "Why are you trying to set me up with other people?" The voice was cold yet controlled, sending a shiver down Ginny's spine. It was Persephone, her presence unexpected yet somehow inevitable.

Ginny's heart raced as she turned to face Persephone, her expression a mixture of surprise and apprehension. Persephone's eyes bore into hers, filled with an intensity that made Ginny's breath catch in her throat. She could feel the weight of Persephone's anger, simmering just beneath the surface.

For a moment, Ginny was at a loss for words. She feigned ignorance, letting out a nervous laugh in a feeble attempt to defuse the tension. But deep down, she knew that her aloof demeanour would only serve to aggravate Persephone further.

"Um…" Ginny's voice trailed off, her mind racing as she searched for an explanation. But the truth was, she had no excuse for her actions. She had meddled where she didn't belong, and now she was paying the price.

To be continued…