Masquerades

Chapter 17

This guy actually had the audacity to do this?! She internally screamed before pushing Arcane away. Students were now slowly forming a crowd around them, and she could see the surprise and intrigue in their faces. The Wong heir had been uncharacteristically different the past few days, even she couldn’t believe it.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Her brows instantly furrowed, annoyed with the guy’s hypocrisy.

She watched as he finally seemed to come back to reality, sighed and rubbed his face. This was the first time she saw him distressed like this, not to mention the dark circles around his eyes. Is he so affected by the news that she’s alive to the point that he can’t sleep? Why?

Ah… how can she forget? They were the ones who planned her death and her parents.' The snakes must be so wary now that their crime might be uncovered soon.

“Alice, let’s talk somewhere, hmm?”

She stilled, hearing her childhood nickname, and almost lost her temper. When was the last time she heard someone calling her that way? It was her mom who used to fondly call her that, and she couldn’t just let anyone – especially this devil incarnate – tarnish the good memories she had with that nickname. But no, she shouldn’t show that she’s affected or else the game will be over before it can even start.

“I believe we don’t have anything to talk about and…” she drawled, giving him a fake smile. “I also prefer you calling me by my name, Calista, and not just some made-up nickname you suddenly thought of. We’re not that close to have such endearments.”

A frown instantly marred his handsome face, “no… don’t you—“ He stared at her face once again and suddenly took a step back. “Are you really not her?”

Finally, the look of confusion! Isn’t this too easy? From the first time she saw this guy, he almost had this air around him that made him look relaxed and free from doubt. He was always so secure, which made him confident and in control, but that’s not the case now. This sudden hesitation of his made him vulnerable in her eyes, and she almost cheered.

“Who? Oh… that Calista Song! Your ex-fiancée, am I right? Ugh,” she groaned, as she slumped her shoulders to show her annoyance. “Didn’t you ask me the same question last Friday? I told you already, I am not her.” She gasped, rather exaggeratedly, and looked back at Principal Huo who was still standing in the same spot.

“Wait… don’t tell me you invited me back here because you thought the same? Oh no… and here I thought you all realized all the problematic issues in this school and you are planning to change them. That’s why I decided to come back to witness everything. I even started dressing up, see?”

Arcane suddenly held her arm, causing her to look back at him, only to find him only inches away from her. Because of their height difference, she had to crane her neck so she could meet his eyes. “Are you intentionally messing with my head as your revenge, Calista? Is that what you’re doing right now?”

She innocently tilted her head, “what do you mean? Didn’t I already get my reward? Why is there a need for me to do this revenge thing you are accusing me of?” She then narrowed her eyes and leaned closer to him, “why? Did you do something very, very bad to this… ex-fiancée of yours, that you expect her to retaliate once you two meet again?” Once he saw his mood becoming dark again due to the implied meaning of her words, she leaned back and smirked. “Lucky for you then, I’m not her so I don’t have those vindictive thoughts you may expect from me.”

Why am I so good at this? She thought. Should she thank her manipulative grandmother for her genes? Her dad always used to tell her that she was the younger version of her grandma.

From the woman’s signature wavy auburn hair – which was inherited solely by her among the family – to the no-nonsense attitude, there is no denying at first glance that she’s the granddaughter of the well-respected Alicia Song. That’s the main reason why she’s been dying her hair brown since she enrolled in Xian, her natural hair color was too eye-catching and may give hints of her true identity.

Arcane stared at her for a little while longer, and she readily returned the gaze, looking rather innocent. The guy then stepped back after a few moments, and surprisingly smirked. “She will be transferred to Section M.”

There was a collective gasp coming from the crowd surrounding them, and Calista nearly joined the other students. No… she didn’t predict this part.

“S-Section M? But…” Even the principal was speechless. This is the first time a student is admitted to the elite section halfway through the school year, and by another member that is. Masquerades are usually chosen by the current Director and approved by the Board – that’s how big of a deal they are.

“Shouldn’t she be with us? She’s the Song heiress, one of the most powerful clans in all of China. She must be a Masquerade, don’t you think?” The guy kept on insisting and the more he spoke, the more passive Cali gets, though she’s actually burning in anger deep inside.

“We’re still not sure if she really is.” It wasn’t Principal Huo who responded, but – freaking finally – one of the other Masquerades stepped up, which was Knox.

Talk your s**t, buddy. Cali can’t help but smile, someone actually listens, huh?

Arcane didn’t even spare his friend a glance and just kept his heated gaze at her. “She still might be.”

She rolled her eyes, “come on, why can’t you believe me?”

He scoffed, “after how smart you played last Friday, do you really think I won’t consider you planning all these so that you can have us in the palm of your hand?”

“I appreciate you thinking that I am smart, but Wong,” I paused and smiled, glancing over his shoulder then back at him. “Shouldn’t you be more mindful of admitting just anyone into your little prestigious group? What if I’m actually telling the truth… and the real one suddenly appears?”

“Are you all here to welcome me?”

A new voice resounded throughout the hall, effectively catching everyone’s attention, except Arcane, who still chose to scrutinize her. Oh well, not for long.

“Sorry, but who are you, Miss?”

The newly-arrived, well-dressed and overly bejeweled girl sneered towards the principal. “Don’t you think you should give me some respect?” She then raised her chin up and squared her shoulders, “I am the one and only Song heiress, Calista Song.”

The haughty dialogue effectively took Arcane’s attention from her, as his head snapped towards the girl. Once the other ‘Calista’ saw the guy, her face immediately brightened up, recognizing who he was.

Cali chuckled, “there she is, your Calista Song.”