CAMMPUS LOVE

Her name was Vanessa. She met Emmanuel a few weeks after Clara and Emmanuel met.

Beautiful, bold, and well-known in the town for her charm. But behind those perfectly arched brows and sweet laughter lived a heart that had always wanted Emmanuel but she couldn't do anything because he already has Clara.

She had watched them—watched her Emmanuel fall for a girl who didn't wear diamonds or move in elite circles, but instead carried kindness in her eyes and scars on her soul.

Vanessa didn't understand it.

And she didn't like it.

So, when she saw Clara walking hand-in-hand with Emmanuel one sunny afternoon, she made her move.

---

Clara was waiting under the jacaranda tree, where the petals always fell like soft purple rain. Emmanuel had gone to grab them juice from the nearby shop.

That's when Vanessa appeared.

In heels too high for the dusty road, and a dress that hugged her like it was sewn onto her skin.

"You must be Clara," she said, with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

Clara blinked, a bit caught off guard. "Yes. Can I help you?"

Vanessa took a slow step closer. "Oh no, darling. I just wanted to meet the girl who thinks she's won Emmanuel's heart."

Clara's lips parted, unsure of what she'd just heard.

Vanessa leaned in, voice low and sugar-coated. "Hold him well so no one would take him from you even with your eyes opened.

Before Clara could respond, Vanessa turned and walked off—her perfume lingering like poison.

When Emmanuel returned, he immediately sensed something was wrong.

"Clara?" he asked, gently touching her arm.

She looked at him, searching his eyes, her heart suddenly filled with questions she didn't want to ask.

And in that quiet tension, something fragile had begun to crack…