Ch. 44
The Last Day of Intramural
The sun was already bright when Selene stepped out of the car. The air was filled with excitement the kind that made the entire academy buzz like a festival. Banners waved in the wind, confetti already scattered along the paths, and music blasted from the main field.
She barely took two steps before an overly familiar voice shouted—
"SELENE!!"
Liana came running from the gate, waving both arms dramatically like a kid spotting her favorite celebrity.
"Guess what! Guess what!" she said, already panting, cheeks red with excitement.
"You could try greeting people normally sometimes." Selene blinked.
"No time! There's so much tea!" Liana grinned, looping her arm around Selene's.
"C'mon, you have to hear the results and wait until you see everyone's faces!"
Selene sighed but let herself be dragged toward the main grounds, her steps graceful even as Liana practically skipped beside her.
By the time they reached the field, the event was already in full swing. The last games had wrapped up that morning, and the awarding ceremony was about to begin. Students crowded the area, some waving banners, others shouting chants for their friends who were still glowing from victory.
Selene took it all in quietly— the laughter, the exhaustion, the pride.
It felt... peaceful, in a chaotic way.
"Okay, recap time!" Liana said, dramatically pulling out a folded piece of paper apparently, she had notes.
Selene gave her a flat look. "You took notes?"
"Of course!" Liana said proudly.
"How else would I remember all the winners?"
She cleared her throat.
"Girls' Volleyball! Class 3A took 1st place! Boys' Volleyball is 2nd Years nailed it!"
Selene nodded politely, scanning the crowd.
"Oh, oh! Basketball 1st Year boys almost won! Second place lang, but still impressive. The MVP was that guy from 4th year who kept staring at you, by the way."
"Excuse me?" Selene's brows twitched. Liana smirked.
"What~? I'm just saying, the boy practically froze when you clapped during the finals."
Selene gave her a side glance sharp enough to kill.
"Focus on your notes."
"Right, right," Liana said, laughing. "Anyway, Chess! Guess who won?"
Selene already had a small smile forming.
"Lina Grey."
"Yup! She was amazing! Everyone was so tense during the finals even the upperclassmen were impressed."
Liana giggled.
"And rumor has it, the boy she beat confessed right after the match. But Lina just said, 'Checkmate means no.' Iconic!"
Selene shook her head, amused.
"That sounds exactly like her."
The host's voice boomed through the mic, announcing the winners one by one.
Names echoed across the campus familiar ones, surprising ones.
"Table Tennis Champion: Ethan Ward, Third Year!"
"Oh— Ethan?" Selene blinked.
"Yup!" Liana said proudly.
"He's the same guy from the debate team, right? Genius and athletic. Kinda unfair, honestly."
Selene remembered his teasing grin backstage yesterday and couldn't help the faint smile tugging at her lips.
"Figures."
"And for Girls' Solo Archery..." The host paused for dramatic effect.
"Liana Cerez!"
"Wha—" Selene turned sharply.
Liana raised both hands like a game show winner.
"Surprise~!"
"You never told me you joined archery," Selene said, genuinely surprised.
"You also never asked!" Liana laughed, tossing her ponytail.
"It's my secret weapon! I might be talkative, but I've got deadly aim, okay?"
Selene could only shake her head, impressed despite herself.
"You're full of surprises."
"Wait, there's more!" Liana said, eyes glimmering.
"Boys' Solo Badminton Champion, Raze!"
Selene froze for a moment.
"Oh, he plays badminton too?"
"Yeah! Didn't you know he joined? He wiped out the competition. Everyone was screaming his name literally, he broke a racket mid-game and still won."
Selene blinked slowly.
"...How very on-brand."
As the last names were called, Selene thought that was it until the host cleared his throat again.
"And for the special awards..."
Her attention drifted.
She was already thinking about heading to the café later when she suddenly heard.
"Best Actress Award— Selene Valen from the Theatre Club!"
Selene's head whipped toward the stage.
"...huh?"
Liana screamed.
"YOU WON!!! I knew IT!"
Before Selene could react, Liana grabbed her shoulders and shook her.
"Best actress, girl!! The villainess herself!!!"
Selene groaned softly, one hand covering her face.
"This must be karma."
Students started clapping and cheering, her name echoing across the crowd. Even some of the teachers nodded proudly. Selene walked up the stage, her movements graceful as ever but her expression unreadable. Her trophy gleamed in the sunlight, and the host smiled as he handed it to her.
"Congratulations, Miss Valen. You stole the show."
She forced a polite smile.
"Thank you."
Inside, though?
I swear, I didn't even audition for this role, she thought.
Why does the spotlight keep finding me? I'm not even an actress, I'm just a boss who loves to work.
After the ceremony, the atmosphere turned festive fireworks prepared for the finale, music blaring from the speakers, and everyone in high spirits.
Selene and Liana sat near the benches, sipping juice boxes like little kids while watching the sun dip below the horizon.
Liana leaned against her.
"Hey, look at that. We actually survived intramurals."
Selene gave a faint laugh.
"Barely."
"Come on, don't pretend you didn't enjoy it," Liana teased. "You made friends, won an award, and totally scared half the school with that 'I'll crush your world' line."
Selene smirked.
"That part was satisfying."
"See? You're a natural." Liana grinned.
For a brief moment, Selene looked out at the field — the students, the laughter, the glowing lights — and felt something unfamiliar.
So warmth.
Even if this world wasn't truly hers... somehow, it felt less foreign now.
Her phone buzzed in her bag.
A new message popped up.