Deferred Freedom

Jealousy in Full Bloom

Ulyssa’s pov,

The next morning hit me like a truck.

I had barely slept. I spent the entire night tossing and turning while jealousy ate me alive. By 6:30 a.m., my eyes were swollen and my head was pounding, but I still had an 8 a.m. Literature class.

I dragged myself out of bed feeling nothing but anger and bitterness.

I did not want to walk with Gemma anymore.

Not to class, not to the cafeteria, not anywhere.

She dimmed my light, whenever she was around, guys barely even noticed me it was like I became invisible.

And now she was trying to take the one person who had finally seen me.

At exactly 7:30 in the morning, the girls came into my room like they always did.

“Ulyssa, let’s gooo!” Talia said, already dressed and looking flawless.

Aria smiled softly.

I sat on the edge of my bed, holding my stomach dramatically.

“Guys… my stomach is killing me i think i need to go to the medical center first, i’ll meet you girls in class, okay?”

They all looked worried.

Gemma even stepped closer.

“Do you want me to go with you?”

“No!” I answered too quickly before softening my tone. “I’ll be fine, Just go ahead, i’ll catch up soon.”

The moment they left, i let out a long breath of relief.

At least I would not have to fake smiles and laughter beside her this morning.

I got to class twenty minutes late.

And that was when I saw them.

Just behind the lecture hall, under the same almond tree Kael and I used to sit beneath, Gemma and Kael were together.

Laughing.

Smiling.

Giggling like they had known each other forever.

Kael leaned closer to say something that made Gemma throw her head back in laughter.

My chest tightened so painfully I could barely breathe.

Tears rushed to my eyes before I could stop them.

How could she?

How could she sit there with my man like I meant nothing?

I turned around quickly and rushed straight to the girls’ restroom. Locking myself inside the toilet, I splashed cold water on my face again and again until the redness in my eyes faded.

I had a long day ahead of me.

I could not let anyone see me breaking apart.

By evening, we were all back in the dorm common room, and I could not hold it in anymore.

I stood in front of Gemma while the others watched nervously.

“I saw you with Kael this morning. What exactly were you doing with him?”

Gemma blinked, looking genuinely confused.

“Huh? He just sat beside me, that’s all… i mean… you guys are not even dating yet,he never asked you out to be his girlfriend so what’s the issue?”

Her words felt like a slap across my face.

“You are not even dating yet”.

My head spun so badly I could barely think straight.

Without saying another word, I eyed her, turned and walked out of the room, ignoring Talia calling my name behind me.

Later that night, I texted Kael.

Me: Hey… please can we talk?

Me: Kael?

Me: Hello?

Me: Why are you treating me this way?

He read every message.

But he never replied.

That was when the anger inside me turned ice cold.

I sat on my bed in the dark with my knees pulled tightly to my chest.

Fine.

If they wanted to play games, then I would play better.

I wanted to ruin them both.

I wanted the whole school to turn against Gemma.

And the perfect way?

Leaking her private photos or nudes, even better.

Everyone would see her differently after that. Her reputation would be destroyed.

But I have to do this without any traces so she could never suspect me.

First, I needed to get back into her good graces.

I needed her to trust me again.

I took a deep breath, wiped my face, and stood up.

It was almost 10 p.m. when I walked down the hallway to Gemma’s room and knocked on the door.

When she opened it, I gave her my sweetest, most apologetic smile.

“Hey… can I come in? I’m really sorry about earlier, i overreacted. I was just scared of losing him.”

Gemma’s expression softened immediately.

“Of course, babe. Come in.”

I stepped inside, still smiling on the outside.

But inside, the plan was already beginning to form.