Calise stands alone on the shadowed rooftop, pressed against the iron railing, her hair pulled high in a rough knot, black blouse rumpled, sleeves shoved to her elbows. She stares at the darkening sky—eyeliner smudged, jaw tight—knuckles white around a crumpled packet of mints. When Sionel finally climbs up, he’s out of breath, his shirt untucked, tie loosened, the pink at his collarbone evidence of recent, desperate touches. He pauses, unsure, eyes tracing her silhouette, remembering the ache of wanting her and the fear it still summons.

She doesn’t turn, only lifts her chin. “You’re the last person I expected,” Calise says, her voice edged but brittle. She fits a mint between her teeth and bites down, hard. Sionel moves closer—just enough to blur the space between friend and something more. He watches the way her arms are crossed, protecting, shutting out. His own hands flex at his sides, uncertain, wanting.

“I never stopped thinking about you,” he says, quiet. Calise laughs, harsh. “You’ve got Elora,” she snaps. Her gaze flickers, something faltering in it—vulnerability trying not to be seen. “You always did want the girl who shines, Sionel. That’s not me.” She shifts, arms tightening, almost daring him to close the gap.

He reaches out, brushing knuckles against hers; she jerks away, then grabs his wrist, unexpectedly fierce. “Don’t lie,” she whispers, phone-light eyes burning. “Don’t. I compare everyone to you. I compare everything to you. And I always lose.” Her voice breaks—the raw nerve exposed.

Sionel’s breath hitches, the old gravity between them squeezing his heart. He cups her face, thumb trembling, and she lets him, lashes fluttering. Their mouths are so close he can taste her peppermint, can feel her pulse rattle. Calise hesitates, then surges up, kissing him—urgent, bruising. Her hands fist in his shirt, pulling, demanding more, desperate to be let inside. For a moment, Sionel kisses her back, losing himself in the sharp, frantic edges of her need.

But something breaks. He freezes, pulls back, guilt and longing warring on his face. “Calise,” he breathes, “I can’t—I’m with Elora,” but his voice fractures on her name. Calise recoils, lids shuttered, let down by hope she never wanted to have. “So you run, again,” she says, each word a blade. “You’re so afraid of loving the wrong person you’d rather love nobody at all.”

He flinches. Calise wipes her mouth with the back of her hand, anger boiling over. “Go to her, Sionel. Pretend you’re brave.”

Below, somewhere in the labyrinth of Mayfair’s halls, Elora lingers, nerves shredded from glimpsing Sionel and Calise on the roof. Her cardigan’s sleeves twist in her fists, hope turning sour as jealousy curdles. She finds Sionel in the gym, the echo of balls and laughter replaced by the hush of regret. She corners him, blue dress clinging to her, cheeks flushed with heartbreak and fury.

“You lied to me,” Elora accuses, hot tears burning. He tries to explain, but she won’t hear it. “Do you want her?” she pushes, her voice shaking. The air tightens, heavy with everything unsaid.

“Not like I want you,” he confesses, and she breaks—shoving him against the wall, lips colliding, hungry and ragged with need. He kisses her back, their hands frantic, bodies pressed flush. Soon they’re tangled in the supply closet, the air close, her legs wound around his waist, skirt bunched, his fingers sliding beneath fabric. Elora bites his shoulder, desperate to muffle their moans, her nails digging into the small of his back as he thrusts into her—quick, reckless, bodies shuddering, hearts slamming together.

A scraping sound makes them freeze, breath mingling, panic wide in their eyes. The doorknob rattles—then nothing. They fumble, laughing breathlessly, trying to fix clothes, adrenaline burning away shame. They slip out, just as a student rounds the corner, almost catching them. Hearts still pounding.

Later, Elora gets a text. Her hand shakes as she unlocks it.

A photo—grainy, from above. She and Sionel, locked together in the closet. Underneath, a message:

“Sins don’t stay secret forever.”

To be continued...