Chapter 3: The Truth

Silas didn't reply until 30 minutes later. "Nothing. I was just wondering."

I stared at his message for a long time before locking my phone. In the past, I would've believed him without question. This time, I knew better.

Two days later, it was our graduation dinner. After dinner, everyone headed to a karaoke bar.

I sat quietly in the corner with a glass of juice.

After a few songs, Rachel suddenly stood up. She picked up the microphone and turned the volume down. "Why don't we all share where they're going to college? Maybe some of us will end up in the same city and can look out for each other."

The room instantly came alive. Everyone started calling out college names and cities over one another.

I leaned back against the couch without saying a word.

After more than half the class had shared where they were going, the class athlete suddenly shouted, "Our academic trio hasn't gone yet!"

He wiggled his eyebrows at the three of us. "Sonia, Silas, Rachel… You all applied to Bradford University, right?"

Rachel lowered her head shyly as everyone teased them.

Then, she reached over and took Silas' hand right before everyone in class and announced, "Silas and I both applied to the same school. Otherwise, we'd have to do long-distance."

The room fell silent for a moment. Then it erupted with deafening cheers.

"No way! You two have really kept it under wraps!"

"So, when did you start dating? You hid it so well!"

A few girls secretly glanced at me amid all the cheers and shocked gasps. There was sympathy in their eyes.

Someone joked, "So, does that make Sonia your third wheel now?"

That was exactly the opening Rachel had been waiting for. She turned toward me, her gaze cutting through the crowd until it landed squarely on my face. Her beautiful eyes were filled with unconcealed mockery and smug satisfaction.

"Sonia couldn't be a third wheel. She applied to the local community college."

The room went dead silent the moment those words left her mouth. Everyone stared at me in disbelief.

They all knew I'd always ranked first in our grade. So, me applying for a local community college? That was beyond ridiculous.

I turned on the voice recorder on my phone and stood up. "Rachel, what are you talking about? When did I ever apply to a community college?"

The smile in Rachel's eyes grew even wider.

She covered her mouth, pretending to panic. "Oh, no. Did I say something I wasn't supposed to?"

She bit her lip and put on the guiltiest expression imaginable. "I'm sorry, Sonia. A few days ago, Silas and I were playing Truth or Dare, and he lost.

"So, his punishment was… secretly logging into your account and changing your college application to the local community college."

She'd wrapped an act that destroyed someone's future in the harmless words Truth or Dare.

I turned and fixed Silas with a stare sharp enough to cut. "Silas, is what Rachel said true?"

He shifted uncomfortably under my gaze and guiltily looked away.

Then, he ran a hand through his hair and let out a heavy sigh. "Sonia, I honestly didn't think you'd be this careless."

His brows were tightly knit, and there was even a hint of blame in his voice. "Choosing a college is such a big deal. I figured you'd check your application on the last day. Who knew you wouldn't even look at it?"

I looked at the boy I'd known for 18 years. Every word out of his mouth was another attempt to wash his hands of responsibility.

That was when I truly knew that once someone who was rotten to the core had gotten what they wanted, they couldn't even be bothered to keep up the act anymore.

The phone in my pocket continued recording the entire exchange. Thus, I'd gotten the most important piece of evidence I needed.

I nodded calmly. "Okay. I understand."

I picked up my bag from the couch and walked straight toward the door.

As I passed Rachel, I stopped and left her one parting shot. "By the way, Rachel, do you remember what I said to you the day you told me that story?"