During lunch break, Nick Putian stealthily read Shadd's letter before heading toward the buffet section. As a well-renowned sports captain, Nick enjoyed certain privileges at school—one of them being the ability to skip cafeteria queues. He often took a couple of friends along, a quiet flex of his status.
Today, however, he noticed both Jasmine and Elizabeth Shadd standing in the lunch line.
"Hey, you two—come over here!" he called out.
"Thanks for calling us over!" both girls chorused as they reached him and were served immediately.
"Would you two mind joining me at our corner table—the leaders' table?" Nick asked casually.
That corner was reserved for senior leaders like Tiffy. Though it was exclusive, leaders were allowed to invite few selected guests. The benefits? Unlimited access to fruits, drinks, and premium meals.
Jasmine and Shadd exchanged uncertain glances. But before Jasmine could whisper another word, Shadd stepped forward with sudden bravado.
"We won't mind at all!"
Jasmine elbowed her, whispering with a smirk, "Think about Tiffy… Tiiiiiify."
Ignoring her, Shadd turned with feigned innocence. "Jasmine, please accompany me to the corner table."
Jasmine's eyes widened, her mouth clenched tightly. "Sure… I won't mind," she replied, clearly reluctant.
---
At the table, Tiffy was anticipating to sit next to Nick. He introduced the girls as they arrived.
"Hey guys, I'd like you to meet Jasmine and Shadd. I'm sure you've heard of Shadd—the spinning girl!" he joked, prompting light laughter.
"They're both under the leadership of my girl, Tiffy. Don't be surprised to see them dining here. I ran into them earlier, we struck a good vibe, and I decided to invite them over. They're kind-hearted and warm."
The girls took their seats after the introductions. Tiffy, however, kept shooting Shadd with sharp, scrutinizing glances as she ate. The conversation among the others flowed with ease, but a tense silence hung over Nick, Jasmine, Tiffy, and Shadd—each silently aware of the underlying friction.
Tiffy broke the silence abruptly.
"Shadd! Did you finish writing the letters?"
"I'm almost done. I've learnt my lesson."
"Really? Learnt your lesson?" Tiffy asked, her voice rising in volume and tone.
Nick interjected calmly. "Babe, she meant it. Why keep pressing her with the same questions?"
"I wasn't talking to you, Nick! And why are you suddenly jumping to defend a junior student?"
"I'm not defending her. I'm simply trying to be neutral. The issue was handled, she admitted her mistake, and she and Jasmine are clearly trying to move forward. Why are you making it personal?" Nick replied, gesturing diplomatically.
"Nick… Nick… Don't you think I know about your little secret date at Pizza Inn with Jasmine and Shadd?" Tiffy said, chuckling darkly.
Shadd, sitting across from Nick, immediately stepped on his foot—perhaps signaling him to deny everything.
"How did you find out?" Nick asked carefully.
"Faith—the cheerleading captain from Malacca High. She saw Shadd in the restroom acting strange, then spotted her leaving with Jasmine. And guess who followed them up in a rush? You."
"Me?! Babe, I would never—"
Tiffy cut him off. "Nick, everyone knows you're a playboy. You can't talk your way out of this one. Jasmine, tell me—did you go out with Nick to Pizza Inn?"
Jasmine paused, torn between defending her best friend or telling the truth.
"False! It must've been a case of mistaken identity!"
Tiffy exhaled sharply. "Fine. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt—for now. But don't think you're off the hook. If I catch you with Shadd again, it's over between us. And Shadd—if you're the reason Nick and I break up, I swear I'll make your life miserable."
"Don't say that, Tiffy," Nick pleaded. "You know I love you. Being labeled a playboy just means I'm friendly—nothing more. I've never crossed any lines. But why are you only targeting Shadd? I hang out with Marie all the time, and you're fine with that."
"Because there's a difference between friends and people in love. And you and Shadd? It's obvious. She's a threat. I'm only asking that if you must befriend her, do it in my presence. I want to be there as a moderator."
Nick sighed deeply. "Fine. If it makes you feel better, you can moderate our interactions." He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek—perhaps to show loyalty.
Silence fell over the table again.
Shadd sat in quiet turmoil. Tiffy's threat echoed in her mind. She didn't want to be the cause of a breakup, nor did she want to become Tiffy's prime target. Tiffy was powerful and well-connected—a true analogy of Goliath versus David.
Nick broke her thoughts.
"Shadd? Shadd!"
"Oh! Sorry… I was a bit absent-minded."
He smiled. "How's Lawrence? Your superstar brother?"
"He's doing great. Winning the MVP really boosted his pride and motivation."
"I bet! How do you two train together—cheerleader and basketballer?"
"We host backyard practices with Faith, Jasmine, and a few others every weekend. Sometimes, I even practice privately in my room."
"Wait—you're saying Faith trains you guys?"
"Yeah," both Jasmine and Shadd replied.
"She taught us ballet," Jasmine added. "Especially the toe-pointing and grace elements."
"That's awesome! I think you two should bring your creativity into our cheerleading routines. Tiffy—what do you think?"
Tiffy paused, then replied reluctantly, "It's a good idea. Variety is good for the team."
"You heard that! Looks like you'll be teaching some new moves soon," Nick said, smiling at them.
"Maybe one day, Tiffy and I could visit your backyard and watch your sessions."
"You're welcome anytime," Shadd replied, handing him a slip of paper. "Here's my contact. Call for directions."
Tiffy nodded. "Okay, let's head to class. Nick and I are looking forward to the visit—and to learning new skills from you two."
---
As they walked to class, Jasmine nudged Shadd.
"Waah! Tiffy really flared up. I told you she'd get personal. Your status isn't exactly helping."
"Relax. As long as I keep my distance, she'll cool off. Plus, we've been given a chance to teach—thanks to Nick."
"He's definitely into you. Doesn't that bother you?"
"I'm keeping boundaries. I won't cross Tiffy—at least not openly."
"But what if Tiffy digs deeper—like asking Faith for cctv footage from Pizza Inn?"
"Nick's on our side. Unless Faith actually gives her proof, we can deny everything. The real danger is if Faith cooperates."
"And if that happens, you'll be her main target."
"Let's just get to class," Shadd muttered, trying to escape the stressful chats.
---
That evening at home, Shadd waited for Lawrence to arrive.
"Welcome home, brother. How was your day?"
"Weird question, sis. But it was fine."
"Come sit. I need to ask you about Faith."
He raised a brow but joined her.
"Today, things escalated. Tiffy accused me of dating Nick and threatened to ruin my life if I came between them. She said Faith told her about seeing me, Jasmine, and Nick at Pizza Inn. Do you know how often Faith sees Tiffy?"
"Whoa. First—sorry you're going through that. I know I told you to stand up to her, but be cautious. Tiffy's powerful. Faith sometimes visits her place—her dad's a local congressman. It's possible your name came up casually."
"Can you ask Faith to drop the subject? Tell her I'm distressed and don't want things to escalate."
"Sure. I'll talk to her. I'll make sure she understands."
"Also… Nick and Tiffy might visit our backyard soon. I gave Nick my contact info."
"Nice! I can't wait to challenge Nick one-on-one!"
"Guess what else—Nick convinced Tiffy to let us tutor the cheer squad!"
"That's amazing! You'll be showcasing your creative moves!"
"Exactly! I learn fast—from social media to hands-on training—I can create my own styles!"
"That's my sister!" Lawrence said, hugging her.
"By the way, have you given Tiffy her letter yet?"
"Only Nick, for now. I'm waiting for the right moment to approach Tiffy—once she cools off a bit."
"And your other plans—the quiet retaliation?"
"After suspension, I'll regain her trust. Then slowly, I'll push for a deeper connection with Nick—secretly. What happens next… will depend on fate. But I'm optimistic."