Ch. 41
"Come on! You're gonna pull that cold villainess vibe!"
"I'm not cold," Selene muttered.
"Exactly! That's why it'll be fun!"
Selene groaned, pressing a hand to her temple.
"I can't wait to see everyone's reaction tomorrow!" Liana giggled.
Selene just rolled her eyes. "If I embarrass myself, you're taking the blame."
"Deal!"
Selene crossed her arms, eyeing her friend suspiciously.
"By the way... how did you end up here, Liana? I thought you were with the booth committee today."
Liana pressed a finger to her lips, grinning mischievously.
"Secret."
"Secret?" Selene raised a brow. "That's suspicious."
"Oh, come on~" Liana laughed, playfully nudging her.
"Let's just say fate brought me here!"
"Why do you all like to say fate brought you here.. tsk," Selene deadpanned.
Before Liana could reply, the student director still jittery but now visibly relieved noticed her properly for the first time. His eyes widened slightly.
"Wait... you're Liana Celestine Cerez, right? One of the popular in first year?"
Liana blinked, then flashed her usual sunny smile.
"You know me? Yup! That's me!"
The boy hesitated, looking between Selene and Liana like he'd just struck gold.
"Would you... maybe want to join too? I mean— your expressions are really lively! We could use another actress, especially someone close to the villainess!"
Liana gasped dramatically, clutching Selene's arm.
"Can I? Please, please, please? I'll be your best friend in the play like, your loyal sidekick slash partner-in-crime!"
Selene blinked slowly.
"You want to be my villainess lackey?"
"Obviously!" Liana grinned. "You'll be the elegant villainess, and I'll be the adorable yet dangerous bestie who helps you plot revenge!"
Selene stared at her for a good three seconds, expression unreadable.
"...You're enjoying this too much."
"Totally!"
The director nearly jumped with excitement.
"Perfect! You two will be amazing together! Ms. Liana, you can play the right-hand of the villainess— just stay close to Ms. Selene's character and follow her lead!"
Liana gave a playful salute. "Yes, director!"
Selene sighed again, muttering under her breath,
"This is going to be a disaster."
Liana leaned closer, grinning ear to ear.
"Correction—this is going to be fun."
Fun, really, Selene thought dryly.
If they had known this body was truly a villainess fresh from the book.
That night, Selene stood in front of her mirror, practicing a single line with a deadpan expression.
"I'll crush your world..." she paused, glaring at her reflection, "...no, too intense. I sound like a psychotic ex."
She tried again this time in gentler tone and more elegant.
"I'll crush your world..."
Still too much. After three tries, she finally threw the script on her bed.
"Why did I agree to this?!"
And just as she was about to lie down, her phone buzzed. A message from an unknown number.
Selene blinked.
Wait, who...?
Before she could reply, another message popped up.
Her brows furrowed.
"How the hell did they—"
The chat bubble blinked again.
Selene stared at the screen for a few seconds before muttering under her breath.
"...He got my number?!"
She tossed the phone on her pillow and groaned.
"Great. Now even the bad boy knows about my number."
?? For information:
One of the most prestigious and elite universities in the country, St. Athelene's Academy is known for educating heirs of powerful families, influential clans, wealthy entrepreneurs, and top scholars.
Although called an academy, it is a highly respected university offering college-level education.
The academy follows a flexible academic system, allowing students from different courses and year levels to occasionally share elective subjects, general education classes, university events, organizations, and special programs.