Masquerades

Chapter 26

The dreaded third day of Penta week came with a bang. Her father’s capable butler did what she instructed him to do perfectly and, as expected, it was everything everyone had been talking about – not only along the hallways of the prestigious Xian High, but also along the streets of Beijing.

She told the driver to stop a street away from their school gate, and decided to just walk from there. If she kept on waiting inside the car, she was not sure when it would be her turn to enter the gate. The loud commotion immediately reached her ears as she stepped out of the car. A bunch of reporters and camera men are already blocking the driveway, waiting for the arrival of Calista Song.

Cali checked her wristwatch and saw that there were only ten minutes left before the bell rang. Oh well, she might be late today then. She shouldn’t miss such an exciting scene.

In no time, a car stopped right in front of the reporters, instead of going straight inside the school. She had already guessed who it was and her assumption was further proved right, when Peter came out of the driver’s side. He went to open the backseat door, and out came the girl everyone was waiting for.

She can’t help but smirk… gosh, everything looks so staged! Can they be more obvious? Though she can’t really complain when she’s the one who wanted this to happen.

“Ahh… she’s really a good actress,” she couldn’t help but comment. Right after she said those words, a car stopped on the side of the road, right beside her. She absentmindedly took a step away as the door in the backseat was pushed open, and the devil himself, stepped out. “Really? First thing in the morning?” she groaned silently, but it still didn’t escape Arcane’s ears.

“Good morning to you, too, Alice.” He stood beside her, and also started watching the situation in the distance. “Looks like everything’s going according to your plans, huh?”

Cali glanced at him with an innocently clueless face, “what are you talking about?”

“Come on, didn’t you plan this too?”

She scoffed, “your delusions are getting worse day by day. Of course, the news about your ex-fiancée will reach the media. You should’ve anticipated this, it involves the most powerful families in Beijing, in the first place.”

“That man,” he nodded towards Peter’s direction. “I heard he was a former butler in the Song Manor.”

“Hmm… really? Then that just proved that the girl is the real Calista Song, don’t you think?” she smirked. “At this point, the whole country would start believing that she’s the real one, except you. Like I told you before, Wong, don’t be too close-minded, will you? So much evidence is right in front of your face already, why do you keep ignoring it? Weren’t you desperate to find her?”

When a full minute passed and he still wasn’t able to answer her, she just shrugged and began walking away. But she was only able to take three steps, when the guy’s tall figure suddenly blocked her way once again.

“I know it’s not her. I just know it. I don’t feel the same way as—“ he abruptly stopped himself and closed his eyes before releasing a deep exhale. He then opened his eyes again and gazed straight into her eyes. “If, in the end, it turns out that I was actually mistaken, then I’ll accept it. That’s on me. But for now, I'll believe what I want to believe, even if the whole world tells me not to.”

To her surprise, not only did she feel annoyed hearing his words… but she swore she felt her heart skip a beat right then and there. What the hell, Calista?

*

Students were given another half an hour to prepare for their first period due to the unexpected disturbance outside, so technically, she didn’t arrive late. But she would’ve preferred being late than the presence of an unwanted figure leaning beside her locker.

William Li instantly stood straight and tauntingly smirked in her direction, once he saw her nearing. First Arcane, and now this bastard? Her day is really not going well, so far.

“What do you want?” she stopped right in front of him and crossed her arms. He’s been silent the past couple of days, and now he’s bothering her again? What’s up with him?

“I see, you still have the nerve to act all high and mighty when you’re not even the real Calista Song, huh? So tell me, what’s your real name? I bet you’ve been waiting for the day when Arcane notices you, but it looks like luck isn’t on your side, because not even a week passed and we found out you’re fake.”

Hell no… is he really going to keep using that narrative against me?!

“Wait, don’t tell me…” Cali drawled, pausing for a moment before bursting into fits of laughter when she realized something. “Were you silent all this time because you were scared of the possibility that I might be the real Calista Song? And now that the legitimate one actually appeared, you start attacking me again, saying all these nonsense and acting like I actually care about what you say.”

William’s face immediately darkened as his jaw clenched. “Does that matter? What matters is you keep acting like you’re above everyone in this school and you even fooled Arcane. When, in reality, you’re just some kind of cheap counterfeit who’s using the Song heiress’ name to her advantage.”

Uncontrollable anger filled her chest, her arms dropping on either side of her and her fists almost turning white over how hard she clenched them. She took a step forward and narrowed her eyes on the guy.

“Tell me, who the f**k asked for my name and announced it to the entire school, just so he could have the leverage to harass me and use it to get the Masquerades’ attention? Wasn’t it you, asshole? I was minding my own damn business, not even trying to boast about the fact that my name is coincidentally the same as that long-lost heiress. But you! You unfortunately found out about it and made me retaliate.”

They started catching everyone’s attention, and in no time, a number of students were already surrounding them. But she ignored them all, her loathing already blinding her of anything but the pathetic piece of s**t in front of her.

“What? Why can’t you answer me, huh? Did you finally realize how much of a hypocrite you are?” she scoffed. “You were the one who pushed me to the spotlight, and now you’re asking why I had the nerve to act like that? Are you stupid? Yes, I may not be the real Calista, but when did I ever say that I am? When did I ever act like I am? I was just defending myself all this time! And what did you say? I act like I’m above everyone else? Are you sure you’re not talking about yourself?”

She reached for the guy’s collar and gripped it tightly, putting every frustration and anger into her fist. “Just accept the fact that you’ve been defeated by an ordinary student from a middle-class family, and move on. I don’t have to be the Calista Song to outsmart you and put up a fight against you. So what if you’re some rich kid? I’m not scared of your pathetic ass, Li. And yes, let’s say I really have fooled Arcane. Do you know what that means? I have him wrapped around my finger and I can ask him anytime to f**k you up. You may think you’re high up there but remember, against the Masquerades, you are nothing.”

She then harshly pushed him, causing the guy to stumble a few steps back. Not waiting a second longer, she whirled around and stalked off, feeling a bit relieved now that she had let out her anger into someone.