Familiar Silence

Chapter1:The room where everything ended

Victoria knew the moment she walked into the room that something had already died.

Not dramatically, not loudly, just… quietly. The way trust leaves before anyone notices until it's completely gone.

Leila was sitting at the edge of the bed, shaking her legs as though she was nervous but mainly it was anger, quiet but her face had somemuch to say more like a ticking time bomb.

Amelia wouldn’t meet anyone’s eyes. She sat next to Leila but not so close though but she had a more calm countenance, maybe to calm even. Daniel stood by the wall, arms folded, pretending to be calm in a way that screamed preparation. Trying to keep up the innocent unborthered look.

And Alexander, he walked beside Victoria, fingers laced through hers, solid and unflinching.

The kind of strength Victoria needed for the energy she was walking into. She had never needed him to hold her hand like this before. As they walked into the room, Daniel standing standing adjacent Leila and Amelia, their eyes fixated on the pair, each having different facial reactions. Leila had a disgusting look, Amelia more fragile and Daniel had a nervous expression.

Victoria proceeded to sit on the bench and immediately Leila moved hastily in a way to intentionally show Victoria that she couldn't stand her presence let alone sit close to her.

Amelia had the shocking look on her face she couldn't understand how people who called themselves sister could one day have such attitude towards each other but said nothing. No one spoke at first. Silence stretched, heavy and intentional, like everyone was waiting for someone else to be brave enough to begin.

“So,” Leila said finally, her voice light, almost bored. “Why is everyone so interested in my life, It always about Leila". She had some hand gestures while she was making this statement.

Victoria didn’t react. She didn’t sigh. She didn’t look away.

She stared at nothing in particular, her mind replaying moments she hadn’t questioned before. Laughter that lingered too long. Information shared too easily. Affection that always needed an audience. For a moment her eyes were filled with tears not because she was soft but because she saw that her vulnerability has been used again her.

This wasn’t confusion anymore. It was clarity.

Alexander shifted and stood beside Victoria because quiet frankly he could read her emotions. But Victoria had made up her mind not to allow her heartache get the better of her especially not in front of Leila, Daniel or Amelia.

Then Alexander spoke immediately after Leila's statement cutting shut Daniel that was trying to play mediator like he wasn't part of the scheme.

When he spoke, his voice wasn’t raised but it cut.

“You’re upset,” he said, “because for once, no one is competing for your attention.”

The room froze. His deep voice echoed his statement

He spoke not out of spite or anger but out of exhaustion.

Leila laughed. Too fast. Too sharp. “Wow. That’s rich. Coming from you.”

Victoria felt it then the final click. The missing piece of the puzzle are getting fewer.

The picture is becoming clearer

This wasn’t about miscommunication or misunderstanding

This wasn’t about jealousy.

This wasn’t even just about Alexander alone

This was about control.

And she had been giving it away for years.

She finally turned her head and looked at Leila. Really looked at her. Not as her best friend. Not as her protector. Not as the loudest voice in every room. Not as a soul sister

Just as a girl who could not stand to be ordinary.

And at that moment her strength came

“I told you that in confidence,” Victoria said calmly. Her voice surprised even her. “And you tried to use it against me"

Leila didn't flinch, pretending like no one spoke do unborthered like whatever was coming out from Victoria's mouth had no relevance, but in truth she was shocked. This wasn't the Victoria she knew. She stayed quiet all the same

Now Daniel was trying so much to calm everyone say "it's my fault" repeatedly but Victoria wasn't having it anymore.

She voiced out how Leila made her questions Daniel's character making everyone around her believe he was a stalker when in truth it was a mutual feeling, not saying Daniel is a good person but Leila painted him the villan, said he was obsessed with her, so obsessed that he tries to know guys that visited her dorm, cooked for her countless times just go start and grow a relationship. But unknowingly to me she use to cook at Daniel's house, because she usually visited him, made videos in his house shared some personal moment with him where they both shared their secrets.

Finally Victoria said, "I just need one answer" facing Daniel directly "who told you I was disvargined by Daniel" Her voice so steady as she spoke

At this time Daniel is speechless starts to stutter, Amelia looks at him as if to bring out words from his mouth. Daniel's mouth opened and close but words didn't fall off

At this point Leila stands up abruptly to leave the room, Amelia holds her hand trying to tell her to stay back but Leila trying to remove Amelia's grip pushed Amelia and she falls to the ground and Leila storms out of the room.