When They Beg, I Rise!

Orion swiftly locked his phone screen.

Thaddeus raised an eyebrow, "Judging by the profile pic, looks like it's a girl. Wouldn't happen to be that girl you helped the other day, what's her name?" "Your yapping is getting on my nerves."

"You just won't admit it. You've been holed up in the infirmary last week, and now suddenly you're MIA, looking so gloomy these days. Got into a spat with her?"

Orion turned away, his gaze sharp, "Keep your nose out of my business."

"We've been thick as thieves since we were in diapers, what don't I know about you? Cut the act!"

Orion, phone in hand, stepped out to the balcony, glancing briefly at their chat.

"So, she thinks of the health office as some kind of secret base?" thought he. He chuckled to himself unwittingly and opened her Facebook.

Her posts were pretty much everyday stuff, very teen girl-esque. He scrolled through her page, suddenly realizing he'd spent too much time thinking about her. It felt unsettlingly out of control.

Orion quickly exited the messaging app and turned back to the living room.

get a response. Was he mad

didn't dare to keep messaging him, deciding to

weekend, Lemira was cooped up at home, hitting the books hard. Evelina and the brothers didn't come home either, staying at the

---

Monday morning.

and

word and headed straight

voice dripped with sarcasm, "Test results out today,

Lemira nodded, "Yeah."

you should've joined the team. With your grades, you won't get into any decent college. Instead of wasting time on studies, you'd be better off training to go pro. With the resources we can provide, fame was just a matter of time for you. Too bad, you didn't seize

remembered the humiliation of being replaced in her past life.

turned and

was infuriated, "I can't wait to see

was relieved to see Lemira hadn't agreed to join the team. She knew Lemira had

don't be mad. Lemmy's just being stubborn. Once she agrees to join the team, I'll gladly give

smile stiffened momentarily, her heart filled with resentment. She had been