Chapter 3
It was placed on her table, and the waiter left.
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
(Closes her book, shifts her laptop to the side)
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
(Murmuring) Finally
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
I need something to shut off the headache Serene gave me this morning
A little later, her friend, also a law student, arrived.
Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]
(Approaches the table, placing her bag on the chair beside Elira)
Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]
You always look like you’re two cases away from committing a crime
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
(Dryly) And yet I haven’t
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
That’s the real miracle
Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]
(Snorts, sitting down) You didn’t tell me you’d be eating without me
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
(Takes a bite, not looking up)
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
You were late
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
I don’t wait for anyone
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
Not even you
Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]
(Leans back, arms crossed) Wow
Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]
Cold as ever
Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]
Remind me why I’m still your friend?
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
(Glances at her with a hint of a smirk) Because I help you pass your exams and scare off your exes
Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]
(Mock gasp) So I’m just here for academic survival and emotional damage control?
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
(Takes another bite, casually)
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
Basically
Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]
(Grinning) Fair
Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]
So… what’s with the stress lately?
Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]
You’ve been snapping even more than usual
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
(Pauses, then shrugs slightly)
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
Just… pressure from home
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
You know how the Montemayors are
Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]
(Rolls her eyes) Right
Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]
Prestige, image, legacy. Blah blah blah
Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]
Bet your parents are still trying to control your entire future
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
(Drinks coffee, expression unreadable)
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
Something like that
Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]
(Raises a brow, studying her friend)
Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]
They better not be pushing you into anything again
Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]
You look like you haven’t slept in days
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
(Deflects) Law school exists
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
That’s enough to destroy my sleep cycle
Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]
(Tapping her fingers on the table)
Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]
Anyway, there’s a protest near the west gate
Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]
Some students are rallying again about the election fraud thing
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
(Raises an eyebrow)
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
Let me guess Villanueva’s name came up?
Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]
(Nods slowly) Front and center
Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]
Her mother’s photo is literally on every damn placard
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
(Sighs, eyes narrowing) Of course it is
Meanwhile – At the west gate of the university
Crowd: (Chanting)
“No to corruption! Down with Villanueva!”
Student A: (Yelling through a megaphone) Her family’s power won’t silence the truth! The people deserve transparency!
Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]
(Caught near the edge of the crowd, just trying to go home)
Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]
(She hugs her sketchpad close to her chest, keeping her head low)
Student B: (Notices her, whispers to others) Isn’t that… Villanueva’s daughter?
Student C: (Sneers) That’s her. The Omega, right? Pretending she’s one of us.
The crowd shifts, some phones come out, pictures are taken.
Whispers turn into louder murmurs.
Student A: Hey—what’s it like being born from a walking bribe?
Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]
(Stops, jaw tightening)
Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]
I’m just trying to get through
Student C: (Mocking) What? Can’t defend Mommy Governor today?
Someone throws a crumpled flyer at her feet. Another one bumps her shoulder roughly.
Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]
(Stepping back, voice shaking but firm)
Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]
Get out of my way
Student B: (Crossing their arms) This is our protest. You don’t belong here.
Before anything escalates
The other teachers arrived, and because of that, Serene was able to go home.
That night — back at home
Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]
(Unlocks the door, enters quietly, clutching her sketchpad tighter than usual)
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
(Already home, on the couch with her laptop, eyes flick up briefly)
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
You’re late
Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]
(Takes off her shoes without replying, heading straight to the kitchen)
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
(Voice firmer)
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
You were at the protest site, weren’t you?
Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]
(Still didn't answer and got some water)
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
(trying to provoke her) Your face is all over social media
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
Isn't that funny?
Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]
(Gripping the glass tighter) Yeah
Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]
Hilarious
Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]
Being humiliated in public never gets old
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
(closed the laptop) Well, get used to it, you're the daughter of a corrupt governor
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
(stood up and got a blanket) I already cooked dinner, you can eat if you want
Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]
(angrily put down the glass of water) I'm not hungry anymore
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
(Pauses by the couch, holding the blanket)
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
You can sulk all you want, but facts don’t change, Villanueva
Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]
(Turns to her, voice shaking with restrained rage) Stop calling me that like it’s all I am
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
(Calm, almost cold) It is who you are, whether you like it or not
Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]
(Steps forward, eyes glistening but sharp)
Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]
And you?
Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]
Just a Montemayor clone waiting for your parents to finish scripting your entire life?
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
At least I'm making a way for myself, what about you? No matter what you do, you're still the daughter of a worthless person in this world
Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]
(Staring at Elira, voice cold)
Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]
If she’s worthless, then what does that make me in your eyes?
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
(Flatly) Collateral
Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]
(Laughs bitterly)
Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]
You really think I wanted this bond? This house? You?
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
(Steps closer, tone sharper)
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
You live here
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
You eat my food
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
Sleep under my roof
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
If you hate it so much, walk out
Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]
(Face hardens) I would, if it weren’t for your family holding mine by the throat
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
(Crosses arms) Maybe if your Mother didn’t screw half the country over, no one would be holding anyone
Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]
(Eyes narrowing)
Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]
You think you’re better than me because you wear a surname like armor
Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]
But you’re just a different brand of prisoner, Elira
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
(Quiet, but cutting) Then stay in your cell, Serene
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
Just don’t try decorating mine with your pity
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
(returned to the couch and lay down)
Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]
(Still standing, eyes locked on Elira from across the room)
Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]
Don’t worry
Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]
I wouldn’t waste pity on someone who sees the world in black and bloodlines
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
(Lying down, one arm covering her eyes) Good
Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]
That’s one less thing I need from you
Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]
(After a pause, voice lower)
I never planned to give you anything
She turns off the kitchen light, leaving only the soft glow from the living room lamp
Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]
(Walking past Elira, tone flat)
Next time you want to remind me what I am…
Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]
(Glances down at her)
…Try looking in a mirror first.
She disappears into her room, the door clicking shut behind her.
Elira slowly lowers her arm, staring blankly at the ceiling—expression unreadable
![Elira Sabelle Montemayor [Alpha]](https://up-pic.mangatoon.mobi/contribute/fiction/10768846/avatar/52380179/1746964764.png-s200webp?sign=7ce80ef096f215cb85d5e64f3513f1af&t=6837a380)
![Camille Isolde Villarín [Beta]](https://up-pic.mangatoon.mobi/contribute/fiction/10768846/avatar/52380179/1747101080.png-s200webp?sign=e96b6b7e4a534061280254d8d711b22e&t=6837a380)
![Serene Amarantha Villanueva [Omega]](https://up-pic.mangatoon.mobi/contribute/fiction/10768846/avatar/52380179/1746964772.png-s200webp?sign=84ec5fd42932d699b609606e4babf283&t=6837a380)
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