The very next morning, a fabricated article spun entirely from baseless rumors by Andrew the Detective appeared front and center on the homepage of Harmony High's online newspaper.
But within just 30 minutes, the article with its ridiculously long title that practically gave away the entire plot, in classic modern tabloid style vanished without a trace.
Still, plenty of students had already read it, screenshotted it, and forwarded it around.
Once again, Ethan found himself the center of attention at Harmony High. But this time, the attention was far from flattering.
Every time Ethan walked past a group of students, he could hear them whispering and gossiping behind his back:
"No way, you're telling me that mountain monkey-looking Ethan got the hottest girls in school fighting over him?"
"Total bad boy energy, both literally and figuratively!"
"People always say ugly guys are more loyal, but honestly? If I'm gonna get played, I'd rather get played by someone hot!"
"What's up with him? He's so scrawny it's kinda scary."
"Seriously, how's someone like Autumn even torn between that guy and Royce? It's not even close!"
"Heh. Mountain Monkey should just stick with the Gorilla!"
"Wait, even my idol Flora from 11C's caught up in this mess?"
Ethan had been staying up for several nights in a row to cram. Stress from studying, combined with sleep deprivation, made him lose even more weight, leaving him looking like a beanpole. On top of that, dark circles had started to form under his eyes. Every morning, he stumbled into class like a half-dead zombie.
So when people started throwing shade with brutal body-shaming comments, Ethan could only smile weakly. To be honest, he had been looking kind of rough lately. It wasn't exactly an unfair critique.
Whatever. Praise or ridicule, it all counted as noise. Ethan had more important things to focus on right now.
At the top of his priority list was the upcoming qualifying exam for the school's Advanced Math Team, a one-time opportunity happening at the end of September.
To earn a shot at the National Math Olympiad, the first step was getting selected for Harmony High's math team.
Only then would Ethan be trained by the best teachers and compete with the school's top students.
"I think you should just treat this year's exam as practice. The team is usually all seniors. You've seen how… unusual some of the students at this school are, right?"
Mr. Evan Ly, Ethan's math teacher said. His tone wasn't encouraging, and Ethan couldn't help feeling a bit defeated. No, there was no competing with them.
Still, he had to try if only to meet his parents' sky-high expectations.
"Luckily, those students don't usually bother with these kinds of competitions,"
Mr. Evan sighed, his gaze drifting into the distance.
"Anyway, you should go home and rest. Good luck tomorrow, son."
"Thank you, sir," Ethan replied.
But instead of heading home, Ethan returned to the 11D classroom to squeeze in a few more practice tests. Harmony High had plenty of quiet study spaces like the library or garden house but nothing felt quite like his usual seat in class 11D.
That afternoon, the room was completely empty. Everyone else had scattered to their elective courses. Ethan loved this peaceful solitude, it helped him focus like nothing else.
And, just faintly, the scent of lilies still lingered in the air around his seat, even though she was no longer there. It somehow eased his nerves and filled him with calm.
It was a feeling he could never find back at his dorm. That's why he was determined to finish all his practice sets before heading home.
Just like that, Ethan kept solving one exam set after another, completely absorbed in his work. At some point, he had dozed off without realizing it.
The nonstop ringing of his phone finally stirred him awake.
Still slumped over his desk, Ethan slowly cracked his eyes open. Outside the classroom window, the sky was pitch black. The lights in Class 11D had been turned off.
He reached out to silence the phone. After lowering the volume to the minimum, he shut his eyes again, hoping to sleep a little more. But the phone kept buzzing with an insistent hum.
The number flashing on the screen was unfamiliar, but whoever it was, they were persistent. Seeing a few missed calls already, Ethan figured it must be something important and decided to pick up.
"Hello?"
"Heyyy Ethan! You free? Oh well, doesn't matter if you are. We're throwing a party. Come over to Angels' Pub, number 13, Rose Street."
The singsong voices of the twins, Anya and Yara, echoed through the phone in perfect sync. Their voices came through clearly, despite the background noise of thumping music and chatter.
"I can't make it."
Ethan declined immediately. He still didn't fully understand what kind of creatures the Femme Fatale really were, but after what had happened at lunch on Monday, he was sure it was best to avoid seeing them again.
Even at school, during daylight, they had already lost control in front of everyone. Who knew what they might do if he was foolish enough to meet them alone, at night, at their own party, under their own rules?
"We just need one more player for Werewolf! Come on, just one game! We promise we won't do anything to you!"
Their giggles on the other end of the line sounded like wind chimes, but it sent shivers down Ethan's spine.
"I've got an important exam tomorrow. The math team selection test…"
"Ugh, forget the test! I'll support you for life, okay?!"
That was Ruby, shouting into the phone, her voice slurred. She sounded a little drunk.
Was it even possible to play a deduction-heavy game like Werewolf while intoxicated?
"No. This exam really matters. Maybe another time."
"Then you have to PROMISE!"
Ruby's voice shifted into a low, hypnotic hum deadly alluring. Even over the phone, her tone seemed to grip Ethan's brain tighter than ever. For a second, his expression went completely blank…
But thankfully, just as he opened his mouth, his reason kicked in and yanked him back to reality.
"I can't promise anything."
"Hmph. Then you'll be PUNISHED. TWICE OVER. Just wait, Ethan."
Ruby was still speaking in that dangerously seductive voice. Then she let out a sinister laugh and hung up.
Silence fell around Ethan again. The Femme Fatale didn't call back.
He let out a long sigh of relief.
It was kind of funny. While the entire school was body-shaming him for getting skinnier by the day, the Femme Fatale somehow found him interesting enough to constantly try to lure him in.
(Maybe it's just my blood they're interested in, not me.)
That thought made Ethan chuckle a little at his own delusion.
He stood up slowly, stretched, and twisted his body left and right with a satisfying crack. Then he packed up his books and supplies, gave the classroom one last glance, and checked the time on his phone screen.
And he nearly jumped…
It was already 11 p.m.