NINONG: My Silent, Forbidden Desire

Truth Unveiled

CLARA POV

"Hurry up. I have a bad feeling about this, Augustus!" I urged him, my footsteps quickening as I rushed through the school gates.

Although I couldn't clearly make out what he was muttering behind me, I knew deep down that he was worried about Aira too.

My intuition was right. I spotted her immediately—surrounded by a circle of hostile students. Mathew wasn't there; surprisingly, he wasn't with Madel either. He looked cold and indifferent, as if nothing around him mattered.

My knees nearly buckled when I saw a tumbler flying from the crowd—I couldn't tell exactly who threw it—but it struck Aira hard.

"Damn it."

I sprinted toward them. I heard Augustus calling my name, but I didn't stop.

"Aira!"

She was slumped on the ground, clutching her forehead where fresh blood was seeping through her fingers.

"Who did this?" Augustus shouted, his voice booming with rage.

I trembled with anger. I felt like I was going to explode from the weight of fury and helplessness choking me.

My gaze locked onto Mathew, who had just arrived. He stood there silent, emotionless. You can just stand by and watch Aira suffer like this?

Moments later, my glare shifted sharply to Madel, who was clinging tightly to his arm. She smirked and mouthed two words clearly at me: She deserves it.

Without hesitation, I grabbed Madel by her hair and rained heavy slaps across her face.

"You witch! Are you happy now that Aira is hurt? Huh?" I screamed at her.

Gasps erupted all around us. Meanwhile, Augustus carefully lifted Aira in his arms to rush her to the clinic.

"You weren't satisfied with what you’ve already done! What? Do you really want to ruin Aira’s life completely?"

I stood frozen in place, feeling as though my soul had momentarily left my body. The sound echoed—loud and stinging. It was Mathew’s hand striking my cheek with full force.

"Ma—"

"Haven't you had enough?" he roared.

The surrounding crowd fell dead silent, everyone holding their breath. His voice was icy, commanding, and authoritative. It felt like being plunged into freezing water just by the tone he used.

"Why do you blame Madel?" he snapped. "She is innocent, you little leech."

My eyes narrowed, and the sting brought me back to full focus. Me? A leech?

"Innocent my foot!" I fired back.

He let out a heavy, weary sigh.

"If this is all about Aira... please stop it. Madel has nothing to do with that filthy b***h!"

I was about to retaliate, but—

A fist slammed hard into Mathew’s face. He fell flat onto the concrete ground, clutching his jaw in shock and pain.

Augustus stood over him, his voice shaking with unbridled rage.

"If she's filthy, then it's Madel's fault."

Whispers and gossip erupted instantly around us.

I couldn't hold back my tears anymore. I wasn't crying because of the stinging slap Mathew had given me, but because of what had happened to my Aira. She never wished for any of this. She just wanted to be loved.

AUGUSTUS POV:

Mathew stared back at me, his face dark and stormy. But I didn't care.

"If she's filthy, then it's Madel's fault."

His expression darkened even more when I named the woman he so cherished. What a man.

"She is—"

"Innocent?" I cut him off. I let out a bitter, dry laugh and turned my gaze toward the girl pretending to be harmless. "Innocent."

I scanned the crowd. Madel’s face drained of all color. Scared, aren't you?

"Yes, she looks innocent. The way she acts. The way she pretends to be pure and harmless. But behind that face..."

"...is a girl who lures people in and destroys lives just to satisfy herself."

Clara cried silently beside me, covering her mouth in shock.

"She looks innocent, doesn't she? Aira is innocent too. She is just a victim."

"Playing the victim," Mathew corrected in a cold, flat tone as he wiped blood from the corner of his mouth.

"In Madel’s name, you all claim she is innocent. But what about Aira?"

Tears spilled from my eyes. I didn't care if people thought I was weak.

"Have you ever known the truth? Did you ask her what exactly happened? Did you investigate any of it? No, right?" I shouted at them all. "It’s exhausting to be innocent. It’s exhausting to be a good person when people judge you so easily."

"But you dare speak about our friend... as if you truly know her life. As if you know the pain she carries every single day."

"Do you guys really know the truth?" I yelled, my voice cracking with emotion.

With trembling hands, I pulled my phone out of my pocket. It felt heavy in my grip, carrying the weight of all their lies. I pressed play, and the voice recorder filled the suffocating silence of the hallway.

"This is the truth."

"You know, Aira is really so easy to fool," Madel’s voice played clearly from the speaker.

Slowly, I turned to look at her. I stared deep into her eyes, and there it was—pure terror. She turned incredibly pale. Her eyes widened in horror, and I watched her courage crumble completely. She looked terrified.

"Yeah. I thought she would try to gain sympathy, but whatever... actually, that driver was paid off. Of course, I paid him," Madel’s voice continued, followed by a loud, piercing laugh—filled with mockery and cruelty. A laugh that hurt my ears just listening to it.

"She isn't Mathew’s type," another voice chimed in. "Mathew is just using her to get over Faye. But I’m glad I did what I did to get Aira completely out of his way."

I stopped the audio.

Silence. It was so quiet I felt like screaming. I felt the heat of anger rising to my head. The pain was overwhelming—not physical, but the agony of realizing we had been played. She played with Aira’s life.

"So," I broke the silence. My voice was low, but sharp with rage. "All this time... everything that happened to Aira... it was all planned by you? You paid someone to hurt her? To get rid of her?"

Madel stumbled backward. "A-Augustus... n-no... it isn't like that—"

"Not like that?" I let out a bitter laugh. "You made fools out of everyone. You paid that driver to... to what? To kill her in an accident? To just make her disappear?"

"It was necessary! It was necessary for Mathew to be with Faye! He loves Faye! Not Aira! She was just a distraction, Augustus! An obstacle that needed to be removed!" she screamed back, panic taking over her composure.

"And that gives you the right to play with their lives? To almost kill her?"

She froze mid-sentence. She stood there stunned, paralyzed, as if her whole body had shut down. I knew exactly why.

Slowly, I shifted my gaze to the man standing beside her—Mathew.

He stood there, his face dark as thunder. He was visibly struggling to contain the rage threatening to explode inside him. His fists shook violently, his jaw clenched tight as he fought for control. But deep down... I knew it was too late.

It’s easy to be angry when it’s already too late. I wish he had been there for her when she needed him. I wish he had defended her when they were destroying her reputation. But now? What good is your anger now?

"So now you know what your so-called 'innocent girl' is really like," I said softly but sternly, loud enough for him to hear clearly. I wanted him to feel every stab of the truth.

"I hurt her," Mathew whispered to himself. It was barely audible, but it cut through the air and reached my ears.

I didn't care anymore. He had hurt the woman I cared about deeply. And what could his regret do now? Nothing.

Suddenly, Clara stood up from where she had knelt. In an instant, the atmosphere shifted—cold, serious, and emotionless on the surface, but I knew she was burning with fury inside.

"This is the last time you will ever hurt Aira like this."

She turned her sharp gaze toward Mathew. She stared at him as if ready to strangle him the moment he dared to speak.

"Especially you, dumbass!" Clara shouted with intensity. "You had her! You had her trust, you had her heart! But you just let that woman destroy her! You were supposed to protect her, but you became the reason why she is broken now!"

Mathew remained silent. Defeated. He accepted every word of Clara’s scolding because he knew they were true. He knew it was all his fault.

And me? I just stood on the sidelines, watching the scene unfold. But deep inside... I knew this wasn't the end.

Because if they thought the war was over... they were wrong.

Because now that Clara was here... now that the truth was out... we were ready to strike back.

AIRA POV:

Days passed, and I could feel Mathew’s desperate efforts to reach me. Every time our paths crossed in the hallways, the canteen, or even in the parking lot, I could see it in his eyes—he wanted to talk. He wanted to ask questions, to explain.

But I couldn't bring myself to face him.

Every time I saw him, my world seemed to spin. I would look away, quicken my pace, or take a different route just to avoid him. I heard him call my name, but my feet seemed to have a mind of their own—running away.

Because how could I face him?

How could I look into his eyes when I already knew the truth? That he only used me to forget someone else? That in their eyes... I was just a toy to be discarded once they got bored.

Because of that, I slowly shut myself off from the world.

I barely spoke to anyone at school anymore. Before, I was used to having company, used to laughing. But now? I preferred the corners of the classroom or the quiet library. A quiet place to calm my mind, even if just for a moment.

I had no appetite. I had no strength.

Because with every passing day, a painful reality rooted deeper in my mind and heart...

I wasn't fully free yet.

Despite all the betrayal, despite the truth that my life was almost taken because of their plans... I still loved him.

I still loved my Ninong.

But the most painful part? I knew exactly what he thought of me now. In his mind, and in the story they built... I was just a dirty woman. A woman easy to fool, easy to use, and easy to step over.

I looked into the mirror. I saw myself—pale, lifeless, and full of wounds that eyes couldn't see.

"You still love him, Aira," I whispered to myself as tears rolled down. "But to him... you are just dirt to be wiped away."

Suddenly, a shadow fell beside me. When I turned, it was Augustus. He looked at me with deep sadness and concern.

"Aira..." he called softly. "It's not too late. There is still a way."

I shook my head and smiled bitterly. "It’s over, Gus. I am broken. And you know why? Because even though I know I am filthy in his eyes... I still love him so much."

And in that moment, I felt a gaze watching us from the darkness. A pair of eyes observing, waiting, ready to finish whatever was left of me.