Kalila Miracle Hart

"Guys, I really can't do this," I whimpered.

The nerves twisting in my stomach like knots. My heart was racing, and I could feel the panic rising as Evara tugged at my hair, yanking it straight with an iron like she was preparing me for some kind of battle. Sumer, meanwhile, was layering my face with all sorts of products, attempting to make me look flawless, but all I could think about was how badly I wanted to run.

Akira stood there with her phone, recording every second of my torment, a mischievous grin on her face. I rolled my eyes this girl didn't even bother to defend me from this two.

"Let's not cover your freckles too much," Sumer said thoughtfully, as if that tiny concession would make me feel better.

"Yeah, just a little skin tint will do," Evara chimed in, her tone almost too calm for what felt like a disaster in the making. I sat there, trapped, feeling helpless between them as they went to work. My hands were balled up in my lap, and I could barely, I want to punch someone to bad.

I sigh in surrender, Last night, the forum exploded with excitement over the idea of me doing the live connect. I thought it was a joke at first, something I could laugh off, but the more the team talked about it, the more real it became. 

They thought it was brilliant—so much that no amount of protesting from me could change their minds. I tried to say no. I really did. But it was three against one, and I was no match for Evara and Sumer constant pestering and Akira didn't bother to take my side.

"You're done," Evara said, stepping back with a satisfied smile. My scalp finally felt some relief from all the tugging and pulling, but now my heart was racing for an entirely different reason. They all stood in front of me, looking proud of their work.

"We could've gone all out," Sumer remarked, tilting her head as if considering more drastic changes. "But it's not necessary—you're already beautiful," Evara added, handing me a mirror with a nod of approval.

I took the mirror cautiously, bracing myself for what I'd see. I wasn't a makeup expert, not by a long shot, but even I could tell they'd done an amazing job. My skin looked smooth and glowing, my lashes framed my eyes perfectly, and my lips appeared fuller—more defined. It wasn't a dramatic transformation, but it was like looking at a better version of myself. This wasn't the plain freckled old Kalila Miracle staring back at me; this was someone who looked... confident, polished, almost like she belonged in the spotlight. Almost.

"We'll head to the booth now," Evara said, glancing at her watch. "There's still some prep to do before the live connect starts. Come out whenever you're ready."

They waved goodbye, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the nerves twisting tighter inside me. I sank back into the sofa, the pressure building all over again. Evara said to come out whenever I was ready—but would I ever be ready?

I started to calm myself by thinking there might not be anyone waiting for me. After all, who would line up just to talk to me, right? The thought brought me a strange sense of comfort, as if I could slip through this without much attention. "Okay, Kalila, let's just get this over with," I whispered to myself, forcing my legs to move.

But as I approached the booth, my heart sank. A huge crowd had gathered, people talking excitedly, all eyes pointed toward the center chair. Without thinking, I spun on my heel, ready to flee. But Akira's voice cut through my escape plan like a sharp blade.

"Where do you think you're going?" she called out, appearing behind me as if she had some sixth sense for my panic.

"These people are here for you," she added, dragging me back toward the booth. Her grip was firm, and before I knew it, she had pushed me down into the center chair. The crowd, sensing movement, turned their attention fully toward me, and the murmurs started almost immediately.

My palms grew damp with sweat, my heartbeat thundered in my ears, and it felt like I was hanging at the edge of a cliff, staring down into an abyss. my stomach twisting into tight knots. 

Their eyes were on me—every pair in the crowd—and it felt like they were swallowing me whole, making me feel like I was shrinking by the second. So this is what Carcel must've felt like when I pushed him into doing this and now I felt like shit, I shouldn't have forced him in the first place. It feels like karma is paying me back.

But Carcel... he sat here as if it was nothing, made it look effortless, like it didn't faze him at all. Maybe that's the difference between us. His status, wealth, and fame gave him a confidence I could never muster. I was wrong in that interview. I thought we weren't so different, but the truth is I could never compare to him.

I clenched my fists, trying to brace myself. This is nothing, Kalila. You've been through worse. These stares are nothing compared to that. I needed to push through quickly—the longer I dragged this out, the more scared I'd get. I made a mental note to get Evara in this chair next, but knowing her, she'd probably handle it without blinking.

I glanced at her standing beside me with an iPad, tracking the participants. "Let's get started," I said, my voice was more determined than I what I really feel. She gave me an encouraging smile and nodded.

Across the booth, I saw Sumer and Akira managing other tasks. Last night, artists whose works were displayed in our booth reached out, asking if we could help sell their pieces, offering us a commission. Akira was especially excited since she had her own art up as well. Everyone was giving their all, working so hard—I couldn't be the weak link.

Taking a deep breath, I turned to face the crowd. Evara announced the start of the live connects, and people quickly began forming a line. It was a bigger crowd than usual, the most we'd ever had. 

And unlike the past live connects, there was a mix of male and female students, which was new. Normally, we saw more girls lining up, but today was different.

The first in line was a scholar. He looked a bit geeky with thick glasses, his posture stiff as he shuffled forward. I swiped right, and he walked over, hands trembling like he was holding his breath. It was strangely comforting to see someone more nervous than me. I chuckled, feeling a little more at ease. I swipe right.

"Hi" I  greeted him and try to smile amidst all the nerves I'm feeling.

"Hi, uhm Can we take a picture?" he asked, voice shaking.

I smiled and  nodded, not exactly a fan of photos but trying to be polite. I smiled for the camera, hoping it wasn't too awkward. After the photo, he nervously asked, "Can I get your socials?"

"I'm so sorry but I don't really have those," I lied, a smile tugging at my lips. There was no way I'm handing my personal information to anyone here. He seemed to buy it, walking away still beaming as if just talking to me was enough.

Next in line was another guy but this time I could see the pin form his shirt.  His expression already annoyed me before he even opened his mouth.

"I can't believe you swiped right on that loser," he scoffed, arms crossed, a smug smirk spreading across his face.

I met his arrogance with an icy stare. "I can't believe you lack manners." My arms mirrored his posture, defiant. Without hesitation, I swiped left.

And the crowd erupted, their excitement practically shaking the air. It seemed like they hated that guy as much as I did. I was still processing the scene when I noticed the next person in line—Jade.

I was relieved at the sight of a familiar face, and my nerves finally started to settle. Behind her, Ashton's grin peeked out as they both made their way toward me.

"You guys!" I wrapped them in a hug, though Jade stiffened, clearly not used to physical touch. I got it—I used to be like that too, before I got comfortable with it.

"Surprise!" Ashton said, his voice bubbling with enthusiasm. "Honestly, I didn't think you'd go through with this."

"Yeah, we kinda forced her," Evara chimed in, her grin teasing from beside me. She also hugged Ashton and even Jade.

"They used sheer force! How could I say no?" I added with a mock defensive tone and they just chuckled.

"I'm actually glad you did it, Kalila," Ashton said, his voice softening. "You've brought people together. More students are united because of you." I rolled my eyes, half-embarrassed.

Yesterday, those words touched me, but today? I already regretted it.Why me? Of all the people on the team, why did they pick me for this?

"Well thanks to that," I said with exaggerated sarcasm, "It drag me into this chaos." They all laughed, the tension easing.

"Can we take a picture?" Jade asked shyly, her usual reserved self showing.

"Of course!" I grinned, pulling them all in. Ashton stood beside me, Jade in front holding the phone, and Evara leaned in from my other side.

We took the picture, laughing, when suddenly, the buzz of the crowd seemed to die down. For a brief second, silence took over—before screams erupted louder than before.

We turned to see what caused the commotion. Striding toward us were Ace, Crue, and, of course, Carcel. Great.

Just what I needed. If my life wasn't complicated enough, it certainly was about to get worse. The crowd reacted to them like they were the most valuable treasure on earth.

Seriously, this much hype? They were exaggerating, big time.

Crue's eyes found Jade's instantly, and it hit me—I had completely forgotten Jade was part of their group and now, it looked like the whole crew was nearly assembled. I silently prayed that Ciel and the other twin would stay far away.

Please, God, I've had enough for today.

Ace, ever the showman, waved to the crowd, soaking up the attention like it was his natural habitat. Carcel, on the other hand, looked..

Dead

By the looked of it he hadn't slept again. What's his deal? He always shows up looking like he's in the worst mood, as if the universe had done him wrong.

"What are you doing here, Jade?" Crue's voice sliced through the thick, awkward silence, his tone sharp and unforgiving.

"I'm—" Jade stammered, her eyes wide, looking like a deer caught in headlights.

"She's with me," Ashton interrupted, stepping in front of her protectively. I couldn't help but chuckle at the scene, though the tension in the air was unmistakable.

"Who the hell are you?" Crue's voice dropped dangerously low as he stepped forward, his muscles taut with aggression. I could already see where this was going, and instinctively, I slipped between them, placing a hand on Crue's chest. His fists were clenched tight, ready to swing, and I knew Ashton wouldn't stand a chance.

Crue's broad frame towered over me, and it felt like trying to move a brick wall with my twig-thin arms. Evara, though surprised by the escalating chaos, rushed to my side, her face set in determination.

"Hey!" Evara shouted, her voice cutting through the mounting tension like a whip. Crue's head snapped toward her, and for a moment, he hesitated. "What the hell are you doing?" she demanded, hands on her hips like she was ready to knock some sense into him.

As Crue turned his attention to Evara, I seized the moment and glanced back at Ashton, who looked ready to explode. "Ash, let's not do this," I said softly, hoping to diffuse the situation before it spiraled further.

Ashton's jaw was clenched, his eyes still locked on Crue. "Jade's shaking because apparently, her friends don't approve of her hanging out with people like us," he spat, venom lacing his words. His glare was unrelenting, aimed straight at Crue, who returned the look with equal intensity.

I pressed my hands firmly against Ashton's chest, pushing him back as gently as I could, while Jade clung to his arm, her fingers trembling. For a gay guy Ashton, really had the strength of someone ready to throw down.

"What did you just say?" Crue growled, taking a threatening step forward. I could feel the tension between them boiling over, Jade's grip tightening as she tried to hold Ashton back.

"Stop!" shouted again, but it didn't help at all. In the blink of an eye, Carcel had stepped in, and before anyone could react, his fist connected with Ashton's face. The crack of the punch echoed around us as Jade and I were thrown back, landing hard on the ground. The crowd swarmed in like vultures, murmuring and gasping, eager for more drama.

Ashton, his lip now busted and bloodied, swung back wildly, more in panic than anything else. My heart raced, and without thinking, I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing myself for what was coming next. I couldn't bear to watch this unravel.

"Stop!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, my voice trembling with desperation. When I finally opened my eyes, everything had come to a standstill. Everyone was frozen in place, eyes wide, the energy suddenly sucked out of the moment.

Everyone stood frozen—everyone except for Carcel Evander Dawson. He looked down at Ashton, utterly unfazed, his expression one of pure boredom, as if throwing punches was as casual as breathing. "I guess that was a light punch for you," he muttered, his voice dripping with indifference. Hands stuffed in his pockets, he turned to Evara, completely unbothered by the mess he'd just made .

"I'm using your spot. I need a nap." Evara's eyes flared with anger.

"Are you insane? You show up, wreck everything, and now you expect me to let you into my workspace? What do you take me for?" she snapped.

"I wasn't asking, Galini," Carcel replied without a care.

"You jerk!" Evara yelled, but before things escalated, I stepped in, calming the tension between them.

"Evara, let them do whatever" I said, my tone cold, controlled. I just wanted this over  "You two should leave."

Ace quickly dragged the troublemakers out of the booth. As they disappeared, I exhaled deeply, glancing down at my trembling hands. A laugh escaped me—half in disbelief. 

These hands have faced more than their share of violence over the years. No matter how much I've grown or learned to sense danger, it seems like trouble is always one step behind me.

I let out a heavy sigh as I helped Ashton up from the chair, my hands still trembling slightly. The girls surrounded him, their concern mirroring mine. Evara, her voice shaky with frustration, quickly announced that the live connects were canceled, urging the lingering crowd to leave. Part of me felt relieved it was over, but the rest of me was spiraling from whatever had just exploded around us. I could still feel a heavy pressure settled in my chest, gripping tighter with every breath.

Sumer and Akira returned, their faces with worry, as they got ointments to tend to Ashton's busted lip. Jade was by his side, tears streaming down her face as Akira carefully applied the cream. Her hands shook, it must be hard for them to witness such violence and I knew it all too well.

"I was just about to ask if you're fine, but you're clearly not," I said softly, watching Ashton wince with every movement. "Do you need anything? A trip to the hospital, maybe?"

He chuckled, but it was weak—strained. "Kalila, I got punched, not stabbed."

A nervous laugh escaped me. "You might not have been stabbed today, but you might get assassinated later." I tried to lighten the mood, but the fear in my voice betrayed me. He laughed louder, but even that sounded hollow.

"Don't joke about that!" he said, though his smile was still there, faint but present. It was comforting in a strange way.

Then Jade's quiet sobs filled the space between us. Her voice wavered, broken. "I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. I'll talk to them... I'll fix it," she stammered, her guilt consuming her as her tears kept falling.

My heart sank for her. She was terrified, and I couldn't let her take on that burden alone ."Can you let me talk to them instead?" I offered. I'll make sure Carcel apologizes. I'm used to handling his crap. But him hitting one of my friends? That's not happening.

Jade bit her lip, fidgeting nervously. "Okay... let's talk to them together," she said, but the fear in her eyes made it clear she wasn't ready.

Ashton, looking paler by the second, tried to stand. His legs wobbled beneath him, and before he could collapse, I caught him, Akira grabbing his other arm. His weight was heavier than I expected, and the fear that he wasn't alright started to creep in.

"Bro, you need to get checked out," I said, my voice more anxious now as I steadied him.

"I'm fine. Really," he insisted, though he could barely stand on his own. His stubbornness was almost infuriating, but the look in his eyes told me he just wanted out of here. 

Evara rushed over to help Akira support Ashton, but he refused to let them carry him the whole way. He barely made it to the exit, his movements slow—like each step drained the last bit of energy he had. We let him go, helpless to do more as he stumbled away, leaving a tense silence behind all of us.

"Guys, we've got a problem," Evara called out, her voice trembling with urgency and I could already sense another problem coming. We all turned to her, the anxiety settling deep in my bones, making my heart race.

"They want us to shut the booth down."

"What?!"