❤️HEARTSTRING❤️
(Lovemelody………..)
Chapter35&36
By Triplewealth.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
The next day the school grounds were quieter than usual. The soreness from yesterday lingered, but so did something else—something unspoken.
Whispers.
Glances.
A photo of Kingsley carrying Sylvia had made it to the school’s online bulletin.
But Sylvia kept her head down as she walked into class.
Kingsley wasn’t in his seat yet.
Mr. Mordi stood at the front of the classroom, clipboard in hand and a box full of paper slips.
“Today, we continue our solo presentations. Two minutes each. Topics are random—no switching, no skipping.”
Sylvia’s stomach twisted slightly as the box neared her row.
“Sylvia Kelly,” Mr. Mordi called. “You’re next.”
A quiet “ooh” echoed somewhere from the back. She ignored it and stood.
She reached into the box and unfolded her topic.
Her eyes widened.
“A time I wanted to give up.”
Her throat went dry.
The room quieted. Even Lisa stopped scribbling in her notebook.
Sylvia glanced briefly across the room—and froze for half a second when her eyes caught Kingsley’s.
He wasn’t smirking like usual.
He was just… watching.
She walked slowly to the front of the class.
Set her hands on the lectern.
Swallowed once.
Then spoke.
“A time I wanted to give up…”
“Wasn’t dramatic. It wasn’t life or death.
But it felt like everything.
I had trained, I had focused. I wanted to prove something—to my team, to everyone, maybe even to myself.
And then I fell.
Right there, in front of everyone.
The first thought I had was… stay down. Pretend it didn’t matter. Pretend it was fine.
But then someone stood.
Not to drag me up.
Just to tell me I could still run.
Sometimes… strength isn’t loud.
It’s not trophies.
It’s deciding that even after you fall, you’re still worthy of finishing the race.”
Silence.
No one moved.
Even Davis usually cracking jokes, sat still.
Kingsley didn’t blink.
He didn’t smile or smirk or cross his arms.
His expression was unreadable—but locked entirely on her.
Mr. Mordi finally spoke.
“Thank you… Sylvia. That was brave.”
She gave a small nod and returned to her seat.
Lisa squeezed her hand under the desk.
“That was beautiful,” she whispered.
From behind her, a student muttered, “Dang that’s gave me goosebumps.
Mr. Mordi gave a small nod.
“Next, Lily Noel.”
She stood, wobbling slightly like her knees were made of jelly. The class already had their smirks ready.
Lily faced them with a dramatic sigh and unfolded her paper.
“So… my topic is ‘A moment I totally lost control—in the most awkward way possible.’
And yes, it involves a boy.”
Giggles.
“It happened during science class. We were assigned lab partners. I was praying for someone as my partner
And I got paired with my long-time crush,the kind of guy who makes girls forget their Wi-Fi passwords just by blinking.”
Everyone leaned in. Some exchanged looks, wondering who she meant.
“So there I was, sitting beside him. Breathing the same air. Trying to act like I knew how to handle a Bunsen burner when I can barely handle my own hair.
I kept glancing at him, thinking: Wow. His eyelashes are like poetry and his voice was like melted chocolate.
What if we got married and raised kids together?”
Laughter broke out. Even Sylvia clapped a hand over her mouth.
Lily shook her head dramatically.
“And then—while daydreaming about our fictional wedding I tripped Full-on, arms-flailing, face-doomed-to-hit-the-floor trip.”
The whole class gasped and laughed at the image.
“But guess what?”
She raised one eyebrow.
“He caught me. He literally caught me. Like one of those dramatic movie scenes—except I was the clumsy disaster and he was the calm, cool hero.”
Now her voice dropped a little, more thoughtful.
“He didn’t laugh. He just steadied me and said, ‘Careful. You okay?’
And I swear, my soul left my body for a full eight seconds.”
More laughs, softer this time.
“It was the most embarrassing moment of my life… but also kinda the best. Because sometimes, losing control leads you straight into someone’s arms. Literally.”
She gave a sheepish smile.
“Anyway. I still don’t know if he ever noticed how red I turned. But if he did… thanks for not letting me fall.”
She gave a slight bow and walked back to her seat to loud applause, whistles, and playful teasing.
Mr. Mordi looked up from his clipboard.
“Lisa Murano, you’re up.”
There was a small stir. Whispers danced across the class. Everyone expected a flashy, sarcastic speech.
Instead, Lisa walked slowly to the front, no makeup touch-up, no attitude—just a folded piece of paper in her hand and a tight grip around it.
She looked more nervous than anyone had ever seen her.
“My topic is… ‘The moment I realized I was the villain in someone else’s story.’”
That got everyone’s attention.
Lisa glanced up, just briefly, then looked down at her notes.
“When Sylvia first came here… I didn’t know her. But I judged her anyway.
I joined in when people whispered. I laughed when others insulted her. And I didn’t stop my friends when they made her life harder than it already was.
I called it jokes. I thought it didn’t matter. But the truth is—it did. And I was part of the reason she never smiled during those first weeks.”
The classroom was silent.
“I think… it took someone showing me the mirror not directly,not with lectures or shouting but just… quiet honesty.
There was this one person—he probably doesn’t even know how much his words meant. But he made me realize I was being used.
I thought I was part of Queen’s circle. Her team,her friend but I wasn’t.
I was a tool,a backup bully to do her dirty work and someone to laugh when she snapped her fingers.
And I hate that it took someone else pointing it out for me to even see it and a video of them saying they used me
Her voice cracked slightly. She glanced at the back of the room, but didn’t name him.
“So… to the guy who opened my eyes without needing attention—thank you. You know who you are.”
Some students glanced around. One or two looked toward Davis, who stayed quiet, chin resting on his hand, unreadable.
Lisa took a breath.
“And to Sylvia…”
She looked at her, finally,no sneer or shield but just honesty.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.
I let others push me into treating you like less. I watched you get hurt, and I did nothing.
You never did anything to deserve it.
And if you don’t forgive me, that’s okay. But I needed to say it. Out loud.
In front of everyone who saw me do the damage.”
She folded her paper, her voice quiet now.
“I don’t want to be her puppet anymore. And I don’t want to be the villain again.”
She returned to her seat—no eye contact with Samara, who was stiff and silent. Lisa sat down, exhaling deeply, eyes on her hands.
The room stayed quiet for a long moment.
Sylvia looked down… then slowly looked back at Lisa.
Lily leaned over and whispered to Sylvia:
“Okay, plot twist. Did Lisa just drop a full character development arc right in front of us?”
Even Mr. Mordi looked shaken. He made a soft note on his clipboard, saying quietly:
“That was… brave. Thank you, Lisa.”
The bell rang to signal break. Chairs scraped, murmurs rose. Mr. Mordi dismissed the class for a short recess, and students spilled into small groups, buzzing about Lisa’s unexpected speech.
Lisa stayed seated.
She didn’t want applause.
She didn’t want Samara’s fake hug.
And she definitely didn’t want to talk about it.
But someone stopped by her desk.
Davis.
He didn’t sit. He didn’t even face her directly—just leaned slightly on the desk beside her, arms crossed, eyes focused on the chalkboard.
“Didn’t expect that from you,” he said simply.
Lisa kept her gaze low, fingers curling into her sleeves.
“I didn’t expect it from me either,” she whispered.
“I just… couldn’t keep being her shadow.”
Davis nodded, still not looking at her.
“Took guts rpecially when people like her don’t forgive disloyalty.”
Lisa glanced sideways at him, searching.
“Was it really that obvious?”
“That Samara and Tiffany were using me?”
He gave a quiet, almost tired laugh.
“To some of us. Yeah.”
She hesitated.
“Why’d you say something? Why even care?
Now he looked at her—just for a second.
“Because I know what it’s like to wake up one day and hate the person you’ve been pretending to be.”
Then he pushed off the desk and walked away, just as quietly as he’d come.
Lisa sat frozen, blinking fast.
And for the first time… she didn’t feel angry.
She felt free.
Minutes later, Lisa was pulling her notebook from her locker when she heard the sharp clack of heels and the venom-laced voice behind her.
“That was cute,” Samara said.
Lisa turned.
Samara and Tiffany was standing there, arms folded, red gloss perfect, her posse lingering behind her awkwardly.
“You think a little speech makes you brave?” Samara scoffed.
“You humiliated yourself over what? Some orphan scholarship girl and a guy who barely knows you exist,Tiffany added
Lisa didn’t flinch.
“No,” she said calmly. “I just finally realized I’m not scared of you anymore and point of correction she isn’t an orphan and we both know thats”
Samara stepped closer, her voice cold.
“You think people will respect you now? They’re only talking to you because you made yourself a sob story and when it’s fade……
“I’ll still have my conscience,” Lisa interrupted.
“And stopped trying to make Kingsley take you back cuz you don’t worth to be seen around him talk more of being together and let me remind you lost him due to your cheating so deal with the consequences
Samara’s glare cracked, just slightly.
Her painted lips parted—but no words came.
Lisa smiled, not with cruelty… but with peace.
“You’re not the queen anymore but just just a piece of trash trying to feel among and I’m done with you both,Lisa added
And with that Lisa shut her locker, turned, and walked away.
With her head high and a new confidence ignited in her………………….
T.B.C
