- System's Heir : A School of Secrets

The worn pages of a tattered fantasy novel, its edges softened by years of being held close, offered May Bornilla a momentary escape from the harsh reality of Zamora High. In a world woven from ink and imagination, she could be anyone, anything. A fearless warrior, a cunning sorceress, even a queen ruling a kingdom of her own design.

But here, in the concrete walls of her real-life prison, she was just May: the quiet girl with oversized glasses, a long, starched skirt that grazed her ankles, and a heart that throbbed with a secret yearning for something more.

She found refuge in the quiet corners of the school, tucked away from the cacophony of teenage laughter and the clatter of lockers slamming shut. Her sanctuary was the window seat in the library, overlooking the bustling courtyard where students congregated, their voices echoing in the crisp autumn air. It was her haven from the relentless torment that had become her everyday reality.

The bullying began subtly, almost like a whisper on the wind, a prickling on the back of her neck that morphed into a tangible fear. It started with whispers, covert glances, and stolen snacks. It was the careless bump in the hallway, the snide remark about her clothes, the cruel laughter echoing in the empty classrooms after the bell had rung. But then, the whispers transformed into screams, and the careless bumps turned into intentional assaults.

It all changed the day Victoria, a transfer student with the allure of a porcelain doll, stepped through the school gates, her presence a radiant storm that swept through the halls of Zamora High. Her laughter was like tinkling bells, her smile a breathtaking sunrise, and her very presence, a captivating enigma. Boys swooned, girls envied, and teachers adored her. She was the embodiment of everything May longed to be: beautiful, confident, and effortlessly admired. She has long, curly hair, often styled with a headband, also she wears a shorter skirt than the school uniform dictates, highlighting her long legs.

The whispers started, fuelled by Victoria's magnetic presence. "Victoria's here. I hope she's going to be friends with Julian Vance."

"I wonder if she'll join our cheer squad."

"She's so pretty. She's like a real-life Barbie."

"Damn, She's so hot!"

Victoria, with her halo of golden curls and perfectly sculpted features, was the sun around which the world revolved. May was the forgotten moon, shrouded in shadows, her own light dimmed by the sheer brilliance of the new girl's arrival.

Victoria was not just beautiful, she was cunning, an angel descended to Earth in a facade of kindness. Her angelic smile and voice captivated everyone, drawing them into her orbit. Yet, a deep-seated intuition told May that Victoria was merely playing a part, a chilling thought that surfaced whenever she witnessed the way Victoria interacted with other students – the nerdy, the poorly dressed, the invisible.

Victoria's subtle power extended beyond her charm. She had a way of making others do her bidding, an unspoken command that resonated in the hearts of those who surrounded her. She'd befriended the popular clique, girls who exuded a calculated cruelty that made May's skin crawl. As Victoria weaved her web of influence, casting her shadow over May's already fragile world, the bullying escalated.

The canteen, once a haven of solitude for May, transformed into a battlefield. The usual clatter of trays and chatter were replaced by a chilling silence, punctuated only by the sharp, rhythmic click of Victoria's heels against the tiled floor as she approached.

May sat at her usual corner table, the smell of overcooked vegetables and stale bread filling her nostrils. A fantasy novel lay open on the table, its pages a futile attempt to transport her to a world where bullies didn't exist.

She felt the weight of eyes on her, a collective gaze that sent shivers down her spine. Victoria was approaching, her smile a venomous trap, and May knew she was about to become the prey.

"May," Victoria chirped, her voice honey-sweet, yet the wicked glint in her eyes sent a tremor through May's stomach. "You're reading again. Do you always hide in books? You should come out and have some fun." Her friends, a gaggle of giggling girls, gathered around, their faces adorned with knowing smiles that made May's heart race.

Victoria, a whirlwind of perfectly coiffed hair and carefully applied makeup, took a step closer. Her eyes, like a predator's, scanned May's every move. May's hands, trembling with a mixture of fear and helplessness, clutched her book tighter.

"Oh, look," Victoria feigned a gasp, her voice dripping with fake sympathy. "You spilled some of your...lunch...on my uniform!"

It was a calculated performance, a cruel game designed to humiliate and control. May had barely touched her food, and there was no way she could have accidentally splashed Victoria's immaculate white dress with a few drops of gravy. But the lie was woven so convincingly that even the air itself seemed to thicken with a palpable sense of guilt.

Victoria's friends, eager to please their queen, took the bait. "May, how could you? You ruined her Uniform!"

"It was an accident," May stammered, her voice barely a whisper. But the words were drowned out by the chorus of accusations that filled the canteen.

"Accident? Don't try to lie, May. You did this on purpose. You're just jealous of Victoria."

"You're so pathetic, May. Nobody even likes you. Why would you want to ruin Victoria's day?"

May's face burned with shame. The cold stares and judgmental whispers were like daggers piercing her skin. Her eyes stung with unshed tears.

"I didn't do anything!" May cried, a single tear escaping her eye and tracing a path down her cheek. Her voice trembled with both anger and hurt.

But her pleas were met with dismissive laughter. The girls circled her, their voices merging into a single, mocking chant.

"Look at her, trying to play the victim."

"She's so weak, she can't even defend herself."

"Just let her eat her food. Let's see how she likes having a little bit of our gravy on her."

And before May could even comprehend what was happening, a hand reached out and grabbed her tray. A girl, barely taller than May, with a sneer that could curdle milk, spilled the contents of her plate over May's uniform.

"There," the girl cackled. "Now you know how it feels."

The stench of the gravy, the cold, sticky liquid clinging to her clothes, the piercing stares of the onlookers - it was a sensory overload. May felt a wave of dizziness, a sudden sense of being trapped in a nightmare.

She looked around desperately for help, but it was as if the entire world had crumbled around her. Everyone in the canteen simply stared, their eyes fixed on Victoria, as if she were some kind of deity, always right, always perfect. "Don't they see? I know she's faking it!" May thought, despair gnawing at her insides.

And then she saw it, a wicked glint in Victoria's eyes, hidden behind her hand, as she feigned a sorrowful expression. "Please, stop it," Victoria pleaded, her voice dripping with false innocence. "It's not May's fault. I was careless. I should have been more careful with my dress."

Victoria's friends, eager to support their queen, jumped to her defense. "Geez, you're too nice, Victoria. That's why people take advantage of you."

"Yeah, she's just a loser. Don't be so nice to her."

"You're an angel, Victoria."

The cruel words pierced May's ears, each syllable a sharp, stinging blow. She couldn't take it anymore. She grabbed the book she had been reading, her only solace in this chaotic world, and ran out of the canteen, the spilled gravy staining her uniform like a badge of shame. As she made her escape, she bumped into someone, sending her sprawling to the floor, the impact driving the air from her lungs. A wave of giggles erupted from the onlookers, their laughter like sharp knives cutting through her already wounded heart.

"Shit, look.."

"It's Julian!"

"OMG! He's so hot."

"Wow, he's so handsome, Victoria and Julian they'd make a perfect couple!"

"You're right!"

'Julian?' That was all that registered in May's mind. As she lifted her head, she saw him – Julian, the most popular boy in school, known for his good looks and athleticism. He was tall and lean, with a handsome face, sculpted like a Greek god. His hair was styled in a way that perfectly framed his features, his eyes were a deep, piercing blue, and his smile, when he did smile, was enough to melt hearts. He was the epitome of everything May wasn't - confident, popular, and undeniably attractive. He stared at her with a serious expression, his gaze piercing through her.

"Wooohhw...You just got bumped by a nerdy girl..." Julian's friend said, a playful smirk on his face, leaned in behind Julian, stealing a glimpse at May.

May felt a wave of shame wash over her. She scrambled to her feet and fled, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Look, dude, you made her cry."

But Julian remained unmoved, his gaze following May as she retreated. He heard the laughter and the whispers about Victoria and May. He saw Victoria, with her carefully constructed act of innocence, stealing glances at him, but he didn't react. He simply continued walking with his friends, towards the food line, his thoughts distant and his expression unreadable. May was just a fleeting image, a momentary blip on his radar, a reminder of the world beyond his carefully crafted world of popularity and privilege.