Sissy blushed because she had been caught.

"Yes, Sissy was the one who planned the whole thing," Ina said. She wanted to free herself from the accusation, so she betrayed Sissy.

Sissy looked lost, not knowing what to say.

"Why did you do that, Sissy?" Emily asked.

"I... I didn't do that. Devon pushed me into the river," Sissy lied.

"Oh, shut up, Sissy. Why are you still lying? Don't you have any shame?" Lor asked angrily.

"After this discussion is finished, Ina, Hyeon-U, and Sissy, you three must meet Sarah," Emily said firmly. Clearly, Emily did not look happy. "Alex, now it's your turn," Emily said quickly, not wanting to continue talking about Sissy pushing Devon into the river.

"Look, I'm not here because I care about any of you. I'm just doing my time, getting through this, and trying not to get dragged into more crap. I've messed up, yeah. But who wouldn't if you had parents who don't give a damn about you? I've been on my own for a long time, and that's all I know how to do. If I mess around and break some rules, it's just 'cause I get bored. Maybe I'm just trying to make sure people know I exist, you know? But whatever, that's my problem, not anyone else's," Alex said.

"I can hear that you feel like you're on your own, Alex, and that the way you've been acting is a way to get noticed, even if it's not in the most positive way. It's okay to feel like you've been abandoned, but acting out only brings more distance, doesn't it? This place, and this group, isn't about fixing everything in one go, but about starting to recognize what's driving these actions. We're all here, and we're all trying to figure out how to make things better, even if it's just a little bit at a time," Emily said in a calm and understanding tone, just like she did at the beginning.

"Stela, it's your turn," Emily said, turning to Stela.

"I don't like talking about this stuff, but here goes... I've always been the one who had to take care of everything myself. You know, not expecting anyone to come through for me, because they never have. People leave—whether it's family, friends, it doesn't matter. I guess I just stopped expecting anything different. If I keep everyone at a distance, I don't have to worry about getting hurt. But then I come here, and it's like... I see everyone else opening up, and I just feel... stuck. I don't know if I can ever trust people enough to let them in," Stela said in a sad tone.

Devon felt sad for Stela. She was looking down, and her story felt a little similar to his own. But he thought his was worse. Still, what Stela shared hit Devon the most.

"I hear you, Stela. It's completely understandable to want to protect yourself, especially when you've been let down before. It can feel safer to keep people at a distance. But sometimes, it's that very distance that keeps us from experiencing the connection we need. Trust takes time, and it's okay to take small steps. You don't have to open up all at once, but every time you allow yourself to be vulnerable, even just a little, it's a step toward healing. You deserve to have people in your life who won't leave, but that starts with giving yourself the chance to let them in, when you're ready," Emily said.

No one interrupted as if they couldn't wait to finish or couldn't wait to hear what the others had to say.

"Well, I guess I should share something too, huh? Not that I really see the point, but fine. I've always been better at making things happen on my terms. I mean, who needs people anyway? I've got a way of getting what I want, whether they like it or not. I've watched plenty of others mess up while I sit back and enjoy the show. It's not like they ever saw it coming. Some people are just too easy to outsmart. I don't need anyone's help. I prefer to do things my way, even if that means taking others down a peg," Lera said.

The others started murmuring.

"Funny, Lera, how you always talk about being 'better' than everyone else. You really think putting people down makes you superior? Or is it just that you're too afraid to let others succeed because you can't handle feeling like you might not be the smartest person in the room? I get it, you have your way of doing things, but don't kid yourself thinking that sabotaging others makes you 'better.' If anything, it just makes you look insecure," Stela said, sounding hurt by what Lera had said.

"Is that what you really think, Stela? You think I care about being 'better' than anyone? I don't need to put people down to feel good about myself, but it's hilarious how everyone tries to act like they have it all figured out. You want to talk about insecurity? You and the rest of this group are all just as messed up as I am. The difference is, I'm at least honest about it. So maybe instead of pointing fingers, you should look at your own mess first," Lera said.

"I'm not messed up," Stas said.

Lera looked at Stas in a flirty way. While sitting there, Devon noticed that most of the girls liked Stas. But it was no surprise why—they found him confident and handsome. Sometimes it felt like the girls didn't see any flaws in Stas. They thought he was perfect.

"It seems like you're really trying to protect yourself right now, Lera. It's easier to focus on others' flaws than confront your own, but that doesn't make it any less real. You don't have to outsmart people to feel important or powerful. It's okay to feel vulnerable, and it's okay to admit that sometimes you're just as afraid of being judged as the rest of us. Maybe it's time to stop pushing people away and see if there's another way to feel secure that doesn't involve tearing others down," Emily said.

"I'm not vulnerable. I'm strong and independent," Lera said angrily. A few boys chuckled.

"I hear you, Lera. You want to be seen as strong and independent, and that's understandable. But sometimes, true strength comes from being able to face our vulnerabilities, not hide them. It's okay to let down your guard once in a while. Being strong doesn't mean you have to do everything alone, or that you have to keep others at arm's length. You don't have to prove anything to anyone here," Emily said.

But Lera didn't look happy with Emily's response.

Next up was Hyeon-U. Devon couldn't wait to hear what Hyeon-U had to say, so he eagerly waited for him to take the stick.

"Go ahead, Hyeon-U," Emily said.

"I mean, it's not like I'm the only one who enjoys a little chaos, right? Everyone gets a kick out of seeing the drama unfold. It's just fun, and if I can get people to join in, why not? We all know it's way more exciting when everyone's involved. Plus, who doesn't like the attention when things blow up? You can't deny it—deep down, everyone wants a bit of that thrill," Hyeon-U said.

The others started murmuring and chuckling.

"Is that why you dated Ina?" Zack asked in a mocking tone.

"We didn't date!" Ina screamed angrily.

"Enough, everyone. They already said they didn't date. This circle is not for insulting anyone. It's for helping. Is this how you help each other?" Emily shouted.

"What kind of help does he need based on what he said? Looks like he's proud of the things he's doing," Liam said.

"Maybe he needs a new brain," Kylie added.

"I hear you. It sounds like you're trying to create excitement and keep things interesting, but have you ever stopped to think about how the people involved feel? Sometimes, what seems fun on the surface can cause harm to others, even if it's not intentional. It's okay to seek validation, but it's also important to understand how that affects your relationships. There's a way to feel the rush without stepping on others. It might take some practice, but it could make a big difference in how you connect with people," Emily said, shifting back to her professional tone.

"I don't give a fuck about others," Hyeon-U said.

"That's so true," Irene murmured.

"That's why he's hanging out with Sissy. Both are the same," Lor said.

"You hang out with a loser," Sissy shot back at Lor.

"Who the hell is a loser?" Lor asked, wondering who Sissy meant.

"Devon. He's a spineless loser," Sissy said.

"You are a fat pig," Lor said angrily.

"ENOUGH!" Emily yelled, and everyone was startled by her voice.

Emily took a deep breath. "Felipe," she said. He was the last one to speak.

"I never asked for this. I had to learn to fight back because nobody was going to protect me or my siblings. I've been through stuff that most people wouldn't even understand. It's not about being tough; it's about surviving. When things get out of hand, I react because that's all I've ever known. Trusting people? That's not easy when you've been let down too many times. So, yeah, if I'm defensive or ready to fight, it's because I'm not going to let anyone hurt me or the people I care about," Felipe said with an emotionless face.

Devon listened to Felipe carefully. He wondered how Felipe had fought back. But Felipe had siblings to protect, people he cared about. Devon didn't have anyone. Reuben had talked about a mother, but it could have been a lie.

"It sounds like you've had to carry a lot on your shoulders, and that's shaped how you approach the world. It's understandable that you'd protect yourself and those you care about with the strategies you've learned. But I want to remind you that you don't have to keep fighting alone, and you don't always have to be on guard. There's strength in letting others in and finding different ways to handle situations that don't require you to go into fight mode every time. Trusting others, even just a little, can make a big difference. You don't have to face everything by yourself anymore," Emily said.