Chapter 3: A Step Closer
1187 Words
Bianca’s POV
My heart was still pounding as I left the Student Council room.
Secretary? Me?
Of all people, why me?
I clutched my book tighter against my chest, almost like it could shield me from the weight of Yhannie’s words. She wasn’t just the president—she was Yhannie. Everyone admired her. Everyone wanted to be close to her. And for reasons I couldn’t understand, she had just chosen me.
I should have said no. That would’ve been easier. But when she looked at me with those calm, steady eyes… I couldn’t.
And now, I felt like I’d walked straight into a trap.
---
The following day, I tried to pretend it never happened. I buried myself in classes, avoided the SC hallway, and ate lunch quietly at the back of the cafeteria like always.
But fate—if that’s what it was—wasn’t on my side.
“Bianca,” a voice called.
I froze. That voice. Smooth, confident, unmistakable.
Turning slowly, I saw her walking toward me, hands tucked in her pockets, hair effortlessly neat, expression unreadable but somehow pulling all eyes toward her. Students whispered as she passed, but she ignored them, gaze fixed only on me.
“P-President…” I stammered, my spoon halfway to my mouth.
“Mind if I sit?” she asked, already pulling out the chair beside me before I could answer.
Just like that, the cafeteria seemed to hold its breath. My classmates looked at me in shock. Some even frowned—jealous, maybe? After all, Yhannie rarely sat with anyone outside her circle.
I swallowed hard. “Um… sure.”
She placed her tray down but didn’t eat. Instead, she leaned her elbow on the table, resting her chin on her hand, watching me.
I shifted uncomfortably. “Is… something wrong?”
“You didn’t give me an answer yesterday,” she said simply.
My chest tightened. So that’s why she was here.
“I…” I glanced around, feeling the weight of everyone’s stares. “I don’t think I’m qualified. I’ve never—”
“Bianca.”
The way she said my name—it silenced me instantly. Not harsh, not loud. Just firm.
“You don’t need experience. You just need to show up. I’ll teach you the rest,” she said. “Besides…” Her eyes softened, and suddenly it felt like she was speaking only to me, the rest of the cafeteria fading away. “I want you in the council. Not anyone else.”
I inhaled sharply, my pulse racing. What did that even mean? Why was she being so persistent?
“Think of it as… a challenge,” she continued, finally unwrapping her sandwich. “You don’t strike me as someone who likes being stuck in one place. Try something different. Who knows? You might surprise yourself.”
I bit my lip. She was wrong—I did like being stuck in one place. I liked my quiet, my invisibility. Attention was something I’d spent years avoiding. But here she was, dragging me out into the open.
And part of me—an annoying, treacherous part—wondered what it would be like if I said yes.
---
Yhannie’s POV
Convincing Bianca was proving harder than I thought. She wasn’t like the others who would have jumped at the opportunity just to be near me.
But that was exactly what made her intriguing.
I could see the conflict in her eyes every time I spoke—the pull between staying hidden and stepping into the light. And I wanted to be the one who made her choose the latter.
Not just for the council. For me.
---
Two days later, I made my move.
“Meeting today,” I told Kim and the others, handing out the agenda sheets. “I want Bianca present.”
Kim raised a brow. “Bianca? She hasn’t even said yes yet.”
“She will.”
The certainty in my voice left no room for argument.
---
Bianca’s POV
When I entered the SC room that afternoon, every pair of eyes turned toward me.
I froze by the doorway. “Um… sorry, am I interrupting?”
“No,” Yhannie said smoothly. “You’re right on time. Come in.”
Before I could argue, she pulled out a chair beside her. Reluctantly, I walked in, feeling the weight of whispers behind me.
The meeting began, but I could barely focus. They discussed projects, upcoming events, paperwork deadlines—things I’d never imagined being part of. Yhannie spoke with such ease, leading the group like it was second nature.
And every so often, she’d glance at me, as if checking if I was following.
It was… unsettling. And yet, comforting in a way I didn’t want to admit.
Finally, she placed a form in front of me. “Secretary responsibilities. Read through it.”
I hesitated. “I haven’t decided yet—”
“Reading doesn’t mean deciding,” she cut in, voice gentle but final. “Just… see what it’s like.”
So I did. The list wasn’t as terrifying as I expected. Minutes of meetings. Scheduling. Documentation. Things I could probably handle if I tried.
But the thought of working beside her every day—that was the real problem.
Because the more time I spent around her, the more my chest ached with something I didn’t want to name.
---
Later that evening…
I was packing my things when she appeared again, leaning casually against the doorframe.
“Long day,” she said.
I nodded, avoiding her eyes. “You didn’t have to make me sit through all that.”
“I wanted you to see what it’s like,” she replied, stepping closer. “Not as scary as you thought, right?”
I frowned. “You don’t give up easily, do you?”
“Not when I want something,” she said softly.
Her words hung in the air, heavier than they should have been. My breath caught. Did she mean the secretary position—or… something else?
I forced a laugh, though it sounded weak. “You really know how to pressure people.”
She smiled faintly. “I call it… persuasion.”
For a moment, silence stretched between us again. The kind that made my heart race for reasons I couldn’t explain.
Then, gently, she placed a hand on the edge of my desk, leaning just enough for her presence to swallow the space between us.
“Think about it, Bianca,” she whispered. “I don’t want anyone else. Just you.”
And just like that, she left, her footsteps echoing down the hall.
Leaving me alone—with trembling hands and a decision that suddenly felt inevitable.
---
Yhannie’s POV
I watched from the corner of the hallway as Bianca finally walked out of the room, her expression troubled, her steps quick.
A small smile curved my lips.
She was already caught in my web.
It was only a matter of time before she stopped running.
And when that time came, she wouldn’t escape me.
Not anymore.
- Writer
