For the next few hours, nothing happened.
Chahat kept her head down, attending lectures, refusing to check the campus forum, and most importantly, resisting the urge to ask what in the fresh hell Kiya meant by "Phase Two."
But by lunchtime, she knew something was off.
It started with the looks.
People weren't just whispering anymore—they were staring. Some looked amused, others curious, and a few just straight-up gawked at her like she was a live-action soap opera.
Then came the not-so-subtle questions.
A girl from her literature class leaned over as they packed up. "So… Chahat, be honest. Is it really Jay? Or is Kiya the real reason you're keeping quiet?"
Chahat nearly dropped her books. "What?!"
The girl giggled. "Come on, you can tell me. I won't spread it!"
LIES.
Chahat didn't even respond. She just grabbed her bag and walked.
Then, as she made her way toward the cafeteria, she overheard a junior whispering to her friend:
"I heard Kiya and Jay had a huge argument this morning. And it was about Chahat."
"Oh my god, do you think Kiya's jealous?"
Chahat stopped in her tracks. Oh. Oh no.
And just as she turned to march straight to Kiya and demand an explanation, her phone buzzed.
Tiya:lmao so Kiya's really going for it, huh?
Chahat's stomach dropped.
Chahat:WHAT DID SHE DO?
Tiya:idk but she was seen looking all serious while talking to Jay. Then later she sighed really dramatically and went, "Things are so complicated" right in front of the busiest hallway lmao
Chahat squeezed her eyes shut. Oh my god. Oh my god. She's feeding them.
Just then, her phone buzzed again.
A text from Kiya.
Kiya:So how's Phase Two going?
Chahat took a deep breath.
Stay calm. Do not engage. Do not murder Kiya.
Chahat:I will end you.
Kiya sent back a single emoji.
A smirking face.
Chahat turned on her heel.
Kiya wanted drama? Oh, she was about to get some.
Chahat stormed through campus, ignoring the pointed looks and whispers around her. Her blood was boiling, and she had one target in mind.
She spotted Kiya lounging under a tree near the library, scrolling through her phone with a self-satisfied smirk.
Chahat didn't slow down. She marched straight up to her, snatched the phone out of her hand, and glared down at her.
Kiya raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Have you finally decided to contribute to the chaos?"
"Chaos?" Chahat hissed. "You turned my life into a damn mystery thriller! People think you and Jay had a fight over me!"
Kiya tilted her head thoughtfully. "Hmm. Did we, though? Or is that just what they believe?"
Chahat's eye twitched. "KIYA."
Kiya chuckled. "Relax, babe. I'm just giving them what they want."
"What I want is for you to stop making things worse!"
Kiya sighed dramatically, crossing her legs. "Oh, Chahat, sweet, naive Chahat. You don't get it, do you?" She leaned forward, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "This? This was always going to happen. If I didn't steer the narrative, someone else would. And trust me, you do not want amateurs controlling your story."
Chahat inhaled sharply, willing herself to stay calm. "Kiya, this is my life, not a campus-wide reality show!"
Kiya shrugged. "Well, it is now. Might as well enjoy the ride."
Chahat exhaled through gritted teeth. "I refuse. I refuse to let you turn me into some dramatic lead in your twisted little play."
Kiya hummed. "Okay. Then what's your plan, Miss 'I-Can-Control-My-Own-Life'?"
Chahat paused. That was a good question. She could ignore everything, pretend it wasn't happening—but Kiya had already proved that wasn't going to work.
She needed to flip the script.
Slowly, a smirk crept onto her face. "You know what, Kiya? You're right."
Kiya blinked. "Oh?"
Chahat crossed her arms. "You do know how to control a narrative. And you do know how to make things interesting."
Kiya tilted her head. "Go on…"
"So," Chahat said, shifting her weight onto one foot, "let's play your little game. But on my terms."
Kiya leaned back, intrigued. "Oh, I like where this is going."
Chahat's smirk widened. "You've had your fun stirring the pot. Now? We're flipping it. You and I? We're teaming up."
Kiya's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Oh, babe. I love this for us."
Chahat didn't trust that look. At all.
But if she was going to get her life back, she had to out-Kiya Kiya.
And that?
That was going to be very interesting.