The following week, Max still showed a negative response, and it's taking too much of my thoughts for weeks already. I'm not expecting a much worse morning, but a devil dressed as an angel appeared on my way to our building. She's wearing her trademark heavy makeup, raising an eyebrow, and her lips pouting like a stubborn child.

"Hey transferee, I heard you're in such a dilemma with your dog now. Poor furbaby, she has an irresponsible owner; I bet he won't leave long," Cassy says as she's approaching.

I don't even know how she gets her information; she must be eyeing me even outside the campus. I snort. "I didn't know you had so much time collecting information about me. Am I that important to you?" I reply in a sarcastic tone, intentionally to annoy her.

"Shut up, transferee, disgusting. I won't even want to get my name close to you. You're out of our class, you poor thing."

I giggle at how stupid she sounds. "Really? As far as I can remember, you were the first one to bombard me along with your idiot friends, who keep on tailing you. Huh, isn't it a miracle that you're alone now?"

"Isn't it obvious? You fool, we don't live in the same house, so we don't go to school together. And besides, I can be on my own; you were wrong telling me that I always need my friends by my side. I'm not a coward."

"Oh, I believe you," I say in my most sarcastic way.

"If you don't believe me, then don't. By the way, I only want to remind you not to get too close to Maddox; I don't want you to ruin his name. You two are different and will never be the same. You understand?"

This bitch thinks she can command everyone on her way. Well, not me. "And who are you to tell me of what I should do and should not do?" I retort.

Cassy laughs her heart out. "So ignorant. There are a lot of things you should know about this campus transferee. I am the highest in the rank of junior students in Harper International School; everyone here respects me. So you better do it too if you don't want to be in trouble."

She dares to sound like threatening me, which is not surprising at all. Cassandra must be used to threatening kids here because of her family's possession. This was the one Maddox told me before that I didn't take seriously. These students are insane. "And you think you could command me just like that, huh?"

"Yes, I command you to do just that. Because if you don't, I'll make sure you'll be in trouble. That’s my last warning."

"Oh, I'm so scared." I acted like a coward in front of her, holding my chest like I was in pain.

Cassy looks pissed off; anger clouded her features when I did pretend to be scared of her. "Go on, don't take it seriously. Piss me off until I find out who sends you here. I don't really think you're a scholar; I'll find out the truth."

Cassy doesn't scare me; I am scared of the truth that she might find out. Ever since my mom offered me the scholarship, I have already doubted it, but I don't know how to confirm if my doubts are valid. I stay silent, recalling the day mom spilled the news of me in a scholarship.

"Thought so." Cassy raises an eyebrow as if declaring she won. "You seem, nervous transferee, don't worry; I'll make you famous when I find out the truth; you'll never regret it."

"Is that all you can do to students here? Threaten them just to have them follow your crazy commands? PATHETIC." I reply, emphasizing the last word.

"I was expecting you'd say that; a poor like you wouldn't understand the privilege of the elites. As long as we have the money, power, and influence, we can do whatever we want. And oh, I almost forgot about your mom being a single mother. It wouldn't be hard for me to discover her dirty little secret."

Cassandra knows how to strike me; she knows my weakness. I won't mind if it's just me she wants to touch, not my mom. My palms are sweating as I grip my bag's handle. "I swear to God if you'll touch mom..."

"What? What would you do, you poor thing? People like you couldn't even have a decent meal 3 times a day. Gosh, that's too limited. Here's a thing transferee, whatever you think you'll throw against me, don't do it. You'll end up bad; I assure you that you don't wanna try me."

"You must have a sad life to think that you need to ruin people just to feel fulfilled in your life. I wonder why all the money, power, and influence you mentioned couldn't make you happy."

"Who said I'm not happy? I get everything I want, and that's making me happy, isn't it obvious? Oh, poor people wouldn't understand. But hey, sorry I need to ask, how was your Audi ride? It must be your first time."

"None of your business, Cassy. Get out of my way." The atmosphere feels suffocating as some students are eyeing us, unsure if our voices are too loud or aren't of me talking to Cassy. She must be well-known on this campus like she did mention being in the highest rank among junior students.

Cassy is stubborn and refuses to move my way. "Come on, I am certain you enjoyed the ride. It must be the reason you're clinging to Maddox, hoping he'll fall in love with you and then experience a slice of Maddox's luxury lifestyle. Girl, you got it from your mama."

"Cassy stop," I clench my hands into fists, almost ready to hit Cassy's ugly face. She's not that ugly, but her aura is so disturbing that she's like a walking demon.

"I got it, right?" Cassy smug, confident she won again.

"Why are you doing this to me? What do you want?" I ask her, trying to extend my patience.

Cassy crosses her arms in her chest and takes a deep breath like all her patients are gone. "I already told you, stay away from Maddox. I'm not gonna repeat this. Mark my word."

"Stop acting like you are Maddox's mom. He makes his own decision and does what he wants to do."

"The audacity, don't try to teach me what I have to do, transferee."

"Oh, it's me who's trying to teach you now? You are hopeless, Cassandra."

"Stop acting like you are not doing something to seduce Maddox. Do you think you're so pretty? Girl, that's the only thing that you have."

"So that's it. You assume that it's me who pushes myself to Maddox. What if it is Maddox who wants to be friends with me, and you can't do anything to make him off of me?"

Cassandra rolls her eyes when she hears my last sentence, which is really my goal, to piss her off. "Dream, Angel, you know that name doesn't suit you. You don't look like one; the opposite might fit. Have you ever considered that?"

"No, and never will. As far as I know, my mom and friends praise me for being a nice person. I handle people based on their behavior in front of me; I don't tolerate bullies like you. Cassandra, let me tell you what I told you the first time we met; I am not the kind you can bully easily."

She snorts, not taking my warning seriously. "We'll see about that," Cassy raises her head high as she turns to leave.