Masquerades

Chapter 02

The first time she witnessed the bullying inside the cafeteria, it wasn't that much of a surprise. Now that she's thinking about it, she actually acted so heartless that time – ignoring everything and considering it as normal. As the time goes by and she saw the abuse getting worse, she started to loathe herself for not being able to do anything.

But the shock didn't stop there. Weeks after, she saw them arrive in the hall with all their glory. She thought those jocks and cheerleaders were the highest predator in the food chain... jokes on her, they were also just preys.

There was a particular group of students higher than them. Higher than everyone.

She realized how dumb she had been, forgetting that one person – forgetting about her former 'fiancé' who would, of course, be enrolled in the most prestigious high school in China.

She forgot about the existence of the Wong heir – the most powerful clan in the country alongside hers. Why him? Cause that particular guy is part of the said superior clique.

Masquerades, they call themselves.

There are six of them; four guys and two girls, all came from prominent families. At first she admits, she was fascinated, but as she saw how nonchalant they were in everything that was happening, she started hating the group. What's the point of having power? Of having the school administration at your beck and call, if you don't even use it to stop all the injustices happening?

Their title was really perfect for them, for they keep on wearing masks to hide their flaws and evilness. They're using their luxury and privileges, all those branded clothes and accessories, those AP classes and perfect grades, to hide the fact that they don't care about those lower than them.

Since then she was thankful of being where she was now. If she was still known as the Song heiress, she would've been like them—no, never. When the time comes and she claims her identity back, she'll never be one of them.

"Tennis?," the playful voice added, "baseball is better but that would do," Declan Xiao continued. He coolly smiled and walked further inside the hall, his friends in tow. He was about to add something more when a serious voice interrupted him.

"Cafeteria is for eating. If you want to play then go outside, with your age now, you should know this." Hunter bypassed the now sulking Declan and walked straight up the center mezzanine floor.

"You're having too much fun nowadays, William," another one of the guys – Knox – stated with a smile on his face. Though his eyes portray the opposite with its authoritative glint. He then followed Hunter and Declan upstairs.

The two girls in the group just wordlessly followed as well, but Cali clearly saw Maisie glancing sympathetically at the chubby guy who has been bullied.

Throughout all these, one person stayed unmoved. When his companions started making their way up, he just resumed on walking too – the heel of his expensive leather shoes making consistent sounds, giving people a sense of dread.

Arcane Wong had his left hand inside his pocket while the right hangs loosely on his side. He is wearing a black Fendi jacket over his uniform, making him stand out. The pair of gold Spade pins attached on both the tips of his collars kept on glinting, as the sunlight coming from the tall windows of the hall cast on it. He strode straight up the stairs, his posture guarded and his eyes never sparing anyone a glance.

He was the epitome of untouchable.

Once the group arrived, William went back to his seat and no one dared to do something again. The cafeteria went back to casual but hushed talks as everyone could not help but glance up the mid-elevated floor from time to time.

Everyone but Cali, that is.

"I can't believe they'll be here, so coming here isn't bad at all," Shannon giggled as they resumed eating.

"They were able to stop William just like that," Warren scoffed. "That soccer captain keeps acting high and mighty but when the Masquerades arrive, he'll retreat with his tail between his legs."

"Lower your voice, someone might hear you," Shan worriedly whisper-shouted.

"That reminds me," Cali decided to cut in, "you were just gushing about Declan the other day, what happened with your three-year-long crush? Just go back on obsessing with him."

"Hey!," the younger girl (Shan is younger than her by months) protested, "back then you two were also telling me to stop with my delusions, when will you ever support me? I can't believe I am friends with you both."

"That's why we're telling you to just go back crushing on that Masquerade boy, at least he's better than that playboy," Calista insisted once more. At least with Declan, Shan's fantasies will remain as such and it will really be impossible for her to get close.

"Declan is also a playboy," Ren deadpanned as he took a bite from his apple.

Cali glared at him for a second before turning to Shan again, "I'm just saying... at least he's better."

The latter breathed out in disbelief, "you think I'm an i***t? I know what you're doing Cali. Stop it okay? I like Connor now," she sweetly smiled.

"That's good to hear, love," a proud voice resounded not-so far from them. The three turned towards it in an instant. They were greeted by Connor himself, standing a couple of feet away with a smirk etched on his handsome face.

Worse, it looks like not only they heard him but all the surrounding tables, causing everyone's attention to switch to their direction.

Connor went closer the flustered Shannon, his smirk still etched on his ever-cocky face. "I want to ask if I could walk you home again but I guess the answer is yes?"

Cali almost rolled her eyes with the guy's shamelessness. She can't help but internally groan at how much of a lovesick puppy her best friend is acting. She watched as Shan blushed more – if that's even possible – and nodded in a trance.

"Good," the guy smiled once again before looking at his 'target's' two companions. "Your friends?"

What do you think? Cali thought, as expected, he's dumb.

"Cali and Warren," Shannon introduced with an overly sweet voice, making her cringe. I swear to God—

"Nice to meet you," the jock smiled before his eyes faltered at the sight of Cali. "You're new?"

She instantly felt bothered. "No," she replied, not taking her eyes off him.

Connor raised his brow and nodded, "well... Shannon's friends are my friends too," he commented before looking back at Shan. "See you later," then he turned and went back to his group's lair.

That moment she knew... something's about to change.

*

When she decided to live independently and temporarily forget about her identity, she remembered her cousin suggesting that she should start using a different name. But she refused and said she will just avoid saying her complete name and will stick to Cali Song, which she believes is a rather common name. Plus, their clan wasn't the only Song in China.

It never became a problem before... until this day – morning, the next day after the cafeteria incident. Like expected, something changed and that is Shannon being driven to school by Connor himself. It, of course, created a buzz amongst the students and up until now that they're standing in front of their lockers, she could still feel the glances and hear the murmurs around them.

"Good morning," her best friend sweetly greeted, entirely different from her usual boisterous self.

Cali raised her eyebrow and momentarily peeked at the guy behind Shan. "Hey," she shortly replied. She decided not to hide her dislike for her friend's chosen 'companion.'

Shannon felt this and turned to Warren instead who's standing beside Cali. "Ren! Uhm... I have something to do later after class so can we just video-call tonight for our project?"

She bit her lip to stop herself from protesting. She remembered the two were partners for their History project and had been planning to start working on it today. She guessed that 'something' Shan was talking about is going on a date with the jock.

Warren just shrugged, "okay, up to you." He already told the girl his thoughts once, and he believes that's enough. Whatever happens next, he'll just wait and see, he's too lazy to care.

No one said anything again, causing an air of awkwardness to surround their small group. Cali already knew a situation like this would happen, but not this early. She just faced her locker and brought out the books she needed for her morning classes.

"Your surname is Song?," Connor suddenly uttered with a slight shocked expression.

She breathed out and looked at him, "what about it?"

The guy smirked, "Cali... Song," he pronounced pointedly. "Cali for?"

“Just Cali.”

“Hmm...” Connor then nodded, looking unconvinced.

She chuckled, "I know. What a generic name, right?"

He stared straight through her eyes for a few seconds before shrugging. "If you say so."

The bell rang and that same moment, she regretted not agreeing to her cousin’s previous suggestion.

*

Cali and Warren had no choice but to agree going to the cafeteria as lunch break came. Although they're still against Shannon and Connor's 'blooming relationship,' they can't help but worry for their friend. But being there is the last straw, when Shan asked them to join in the jocks' table, they readily refused.

Now here they are, seated on their previous table. Unlike yesterday though, it's only the two of them this time while Shan was up in the east mezzanine with the popular group.

"What's with you and Connor this morning?," Ren suddenly broke the silence in the middle of their meal.

She glanced at her best friend and snickered, "don't act clueless, you and Shan reacted the same way when you heard my complete name."

The guy smiled, "it's just surprising... hearing that particular name. Though you said yours is only Cali, but we can’t help but speculate."

"That Song heiress..." she drawled, ignoring the guilt that was building up inside her chest because of this constant lie. "She's really known here even though no one had seen her?"

Yes, that was another shocking thing she found out when she transferred. Without showing herself in this place – in her true identity – every student in Xian High already knew who Calista Song is. Her clan's prominence cannot be denied, of course, with the Song's century-old wealth and permanent position in the construction industry, her grandparents' and parents' names are already household names in China – Asia even.

But her, Calista Song, the only heiress of the Songs who was strictly protected from the day she was born and was never introduced to the society, she expected that people would just forget about her existence.

"That's the reason why everyone's curious about her," Warren replied in a casual tone, "because no one have seen her. And because she was Arcane’s long-lost fiancée."

She froze and absentmindedly tightened her grip on the chopsticks. This was the first time she heard these words from her friend. Back then, whenever they start talking about the Song heiress, she would always conspicuously change the topic. It makes her feel uncomfortable.

But now, her curiosity overpowered her worries.

"Arcane Wong's long-lost fiancée?"

They knew? How can they know?

"That Wong heir, he has the wealth, the looks, the brains... he once had everything but years ago he lost someone." Ren sympathetically shook his head, "even though no news report or official statement was released about the death of Calista Song, years had already passed. Besides, each remaining member of the Song clan died that day and up until now, she wasn't found. It's safe to assume that the girl had also died."

She was in a trance... she never knew any of these. She chose not to know all these years because it just brings back memories of that day.

Without her knowing, her hands started to tremble as she asked, "did the Wongs do something to find out?"

Warren's eyes widened at first, "you didn't know?," he whispered and glanced around before continuing. "There are rumors saying they're behind the family's car accident. That it was an intentional attack orchestrated by the Wong clan."

Snap.

Her eyes travelled down the now-broken wooden chopsticks in her hand.

"Are you okay? You seem so affected," her best friend frowned but then chuckled, "forget about it. That's the world of the 'crazy, rich Asians,' we don't belong there. Besides, it's just a rumor."

She calmed herself down and forcefully smiled, "so that's why everyone's always shocked when they hear my name."

The guy nodded, "mm-hmm... your name has that effect on people. Thank God you're not that Calista Song, or else I won't even have the chance to be friends with you."

She was surprised at first, it's not every day you'll hear words like those from her ever-lazy friend.

But suddenly, her guilt worsened. She immediately promised to herself that whatever happens in the future, her friendship with the two will never change. They were the first ones to be her friends – her best friends – in her entire life. For someone like her who rarely had the chance to develop such a close relationship with someone, she treasures friendship big time.

"Silly," she laughed out, "you said it yourself, you never met her. What if she's not like those snobby rich kids and actually befriends you? You're too judgmental."

Warren shrugged, "she's Wong's fiancée, do you really think he'll let her interact with other people than their oh-so exclusive group?"

Bullshit. Did you all really think I'll let that jerk control me? You must be kidding.

She looked down her lunchbox and cleared her throat to hide her irritation.

"Now that I think of it..." she started again, about to ask the question that has been bugging her. "There was never any news about the Wong and Song's engagement. I also just found out about it now, is it really true?"

"Of course! Arcane—"

"Cali Song?"

She frowned and turned to where the voice came from. She was greeted by the taunting smirk of William Li, and standing behind him was Connor with his arm around the worried-looking Shannon.

"Yes?," she impassively responded. She saw Warren stand up from her periphery but she chose to stay seated.

William's smirk deepened, "I thought Connor was just bullshitting me so I came here to check and look at that, your name's really Cali Song!," he laughed. "How interesting..."

She glanced at Shan before looking back the immature guy. "What's so interesting?," she gave him a tight-lipped smile. "Like I said to your friend, my name's is a common one... no big deal."

"Oh no..." the smirking guy slowly walked towards her, causing her to eventually stand up so she won't be looking up to him. "Yours is actually such a lovely name, I can't help but be interested."

She knew he intentionally made his voice louder towards the end, catching everyone's attention. What's worse was the arrival of a new group of people.

"Liam? What's the meaning of this!?"

That was Stella Xiao, William's ex-girlfriend.

If there are jocks, of course there is the cheering team aka the It girls. One of them was Stella, herself. Her arrival just made everything more complicated.

William chuckled and looked back at the group of girls, specifically the three in front. "Isn't she cute? Oh! Let me introduce you girls. This is Cali Song, and I'm about to ask her to go on a date with me," then he looked back at Cali, "what do you think, babe?"

"What did you just call her?" This time, it was the Queen bee who opened her mouth and with a tone full of hate, she spat, full of disdain; "Cali Song?"

"Oh yes Dakota, Cali Song," William taunted more, "beautiful name, right?"

Her fist clenched. They were talking like she was nothing – like she can't hear the underlying meaning of their conversation. And without any caution, she uttered the words that started her doom.

"Please," she said, catching everyone's attention. "Don't involve me into your petty drama. And no William Li, I'm not going on a date with you. There's no way I'll date a sadistic bastard who takes pleasure in bullying and hurting people daily."