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ACT 1

KARMA IS A B1TCH-

"If I burn, you burn down with me,"

-Katniss Everdeen

"I wonder if you'll get blamed if I fall off this balcony?"

Mila's eyes were suddenly filled with disbelief as her friend so playfully stood on the edge of the railing, her eyes trailing towards the setting sun as if she had seen a familiar ghost, as her ebony locks danced so blissfully as night dawned so bashfully.

But this attire displayed by Talia could have not been mirrored by Mila, no, how Talia was standing so breezily, Mila felt as stiff as a rock.

"Talia, what the hell?! Get down from there! This isn't a game-!"

"Oh, it seems like it is," Talia grinned slyly as she turned and tilted her head.

"You're bloody crazy! Now get down-!"

"Maybe I am," Talia chuckled as she balanced on one foot as dropped her left foot to dangle off the railing as her green eyes watched jadedly as her friend was squirming in fear of her friend, "But, you know what you are Mila? Your a self absorbed, insecure little b1tch," she impugned as she skimmed through her expression still nervously watching if she would fall.

Talia only scoffed as she sat down on the railing letting her feet dangle. "It's funny, isn't it? A moment ago you were antagonised in fear because I could have jumped to my death. But before that, you were insulting me," she tilted her head in amusement as the corner of her lips cracked into a sardonic smile at the mortified friend.

"if you're trying to prove a point-, you don't go f*cking-,"

"Mila shut up," Talia interjected as Mila felt her hands numbing as her voice dripped in power like honey as her eyes reminded her of a snake before biting into its prey. "You talked now it's my turn," she got off from the railing as she started to walk to Mila towering her, her shadow only growing longer with every step she took.

"You asked why people-, no I'm sorry assumed or in that tone declared that I boss people around. Well, I don't. It's just natural. People swarm me to because they want to be an extension of me, not that I ask. And it's twits like you like now whether they absolutely hate me or not at dire situations you squirm in fear if something happens to me because if I'm falling you fall harder than I do, cause your all leeches that suck onto me cause you all need me to fulfil your ambitions and greed," Talia smirked as something callous danced in those jaded jewels.

"So it makes me wonder Mila if you were just scared because I'm what do you call it? A friend or, that how did you say? Spread my legs? To Mikhail" she glared at the tenuous Mila as she stepped back. "I may be what you called a c***, but at least I know my place, do you?" she smiled yet though her voice sounded so ethereal there was something bellicostic hidden that made it sound like a threat.

"I bid you goodnight," she passed her as Mila had never felt something so venomous about someone walking past her as Talia sauntered to the door as she got out her phone as she jabbed her way to Cesar's contact number.

Get off whatever Blackpink fanfiction you're reading.
Keep your sister in line Cesar

---

The soft duvet was unravelled by a dishevelled looking brunette, groaning she tried to locate her glasses with her hand on the side table. Yawning she sluggishly made her way to the closet where she grabbed her Disney patterned oodie as she flanked it onto her body.

Pulling the top draw of she grabbed the school's programmed holographic watch. Double-tapping the small screen the small holographic screen of the blue she quickly skimmed through the notifications as a red circle above the personal notifications icon appeared.

Clicking on the icon she found a private message from the headmaster to meet him in front of him outside his office after she woke up immediately.

Fvck, what now? Did someone see?

Feeling her stomach churn she found an austere looking servant who only nodded gesturing to lead the way to the office on the third floor that rested in the Clemonte building. Arriving at the semi-lobby with the wooden patterns flooring across the room the secretary at the desk had advised her to take a seat at the other end of the room by the bay window.

With the soft hues from the early dawn Talia growing bored -even though it had only been a few minutes- had logged into her account of her comic app as she began to read the latest volume of the new Batman detective series.

Yawning once more the female's attention soon pivoted by the sound of her mother's angry muttering that was mixed by the clicking of heels that was only brought a rush of anathema to Talia as her emerald eyes found her mother walking in with a small black Chanel handbag clad in a beige tempo patch gown that's personality certainly didn't match her countenance. Her father in a crippled looking dress shirt and navy pants.

"oh god save me-," as her mother approached her as before anything her mother had made her husband hold her bag quite abruptly as she took her right hand and hardly pinched Talia's ear until her ear was a vibrant red.

"OW! Mum!" she cried as she rubbed her earlobe as she was then pulled into a forceful hug by her mother. "What the hell is wrong with you?!" her mother then slapped the back of her head.

"OW! Mum! Bipolar much?!" she groaned, "There's someone here!" she gestured with her eye's the secretary as she looked back down and began typing once more.

"Lah! Tala, you expect your mother to not be like this, I'm at a business conference in Bangkok and your mother is in Geneva and next thing you know we get a call from your headmaster that your daughter looked like she was going to commit suicide! Aiyah, how the bloody hell does you not expect us to go ballistic catching the next flight here?!" her father scolded as Talia gulped looking away as she turned off her phone.

"You're lucky you go here and you're with Mikhail! I would ground you for the rest of your life, and after death!" Angelina chided.

"thank god for that," Talia mumbled as she was slapped on the back of the head again.

"Ange, that's enough," he said carefully as his wife glared at him as he felt a chill up his spine that signalled him to back off.

"Anak, don't joke with me in this type of situation," she fired as Talia frowned.

*Daughter in Tagalog.

"I lost a dare with Mila, cause I lost to her doing pirouettes doing that lesson with Madame Rosier. It wasn't harmless" she lied as her father sighed.

"Lah, anak. I thought we've raised you well. Do you know how devasted to find our daughter dying? Huh? From dying from this lame joke? Lah, did she pressure you? What happened to all those well-being lessons they taught you in elementary school?" she said in an interogative voice.

"Sorry ma," Talia let out looking away.

"You better be prepared to explain it to your headmaster."

---

"I once again say Miss Padilla-Hu, we take the well-being of our students very seriously," the Headmaster began as Talia mentally huffed at the man as she glanced at the senex male looking stoic, though his demeanour looked far from tense.

Sitting in the room with the Headmaster in a black suit sitting in front of her as she was sandwiched between her parents as she watched the headmaster speak, his seat and table positioned in front of the two arch windows that's soft hues that penetrated through the glass jarred with the dark wall that was sliced in the middle of a painting of him.

"Sir, again I'm fine-," Talia was interrupted, hearing her father clear his throat that silenced her as she turned her attention back to the male.

"I understand and thank you that you are okay. But this is no laughing matter both on school grounds and outside. Yes, I am unaware of other behaviours outside but I assure you and your parents that this is something we take very serious regardless of the circumstance. Moving on as you claimed before though the gardener who spotted this didn't see it, but I've confirmed with the two servants who assisted you that night saw that Mila was there with you before, correct?" he questioned as she nodded as her mother nudged her as she pointed with her lips to tell him.

"Is there anything you would like to add?" he raised a brow as she sighed.

Let her suffer

"Mila and I made a dare to do whatever the person asked for whoever lost to the most pirouettes in ballet with Madame Rosier" she huffed as the headmaster put his elbows on the desk being drawn to the statement.

"Miss Vanderhaden you say?" he said in a quizzical manner.

"She won't get in trouble that much right sir?" she added as she started to chuckle inside.

"Anak," Angelina frowned.

"I can't say she won't let be out so easily for such a debacle like this, daring a student in what could be interpreted as a student committing suicide. We also have to assume students like you in the last years of high school and is now ready to tackle down upholding titles, getting into universities, attending and hosting more events that makes one's schedule hard to keep up with only leads to stress. Please Miss Talia that you have to take note that we are trying to do our absolute best to support students like you in helping you to navigate to this road of success," he explained.

Did he read this off some brochure or something?

"I also know Miss that you are also doing far more than what our students your age are supposed to be doing. Studying, flying and attending events, also preparing for your marriage and birthday can be very stressful and overwhelming."

"I'm managing fine sir," she replied quickly not wanting to drag this conversation and longer.

"Fine can have and hide so many things, Miss Talia," he pushed up his glasses, "I would also like to suggest counsellor meetings and daily check-ups, that may also add is an ex world-class therapist," he added as Talia just stared at him in disbelief.

"Sir-, I thank you for solicitude but as I said with its definitive meaning but I am fine," Talia stated.

"Tala," her father interjected.

"Well if you do claim that you are fine, then I'm sure it will be no hassle for you to have a few weekly appointments with Dr Vasala," he smiled, "I presume Mrs Padilla-Hu that you know of her."

"Of course, her research is groundbreaking."

"Well, it just so happens that her father actually use to teach psychology here, and Dr Vasala is fresh from maternity leave. We took a call actually a few moments ago, she wants to take it slow her schedule to spend time with her child and a few days off one a week or two so happens to be fine for her flying from Finland to here," he informed jubilantly.

"lovely" Talia mumbled.

"How about this, how about I'll tell your professors to extended any due homework to next week, in the meantime to lift off any stress why don't you head over to one of your cousins' hotels in Sumatra or Thailand-,"

"I don't have any Thai cousins,"

"- and just relax and let out any stress for the long weekend," he suggested.

"As lovely as the sounds sir I have to attend a Lady Regina salon on Monday, and I'll be rather jet-lagged," Talia added.

"Talia, a breather doesn't sound that bad," Richard restated looking at his daughter who knew she was being cornered as she sighed.

"Thank you for the offer sir," she thanked.

"I see all is agreed with, now why don't you get packing or decide where you want to go. I'll take a call now with your teachers, and call up Mila to discuss as well and to see what appropriate course of action I will enlist," he said, "Well I believe that's all, I'll make contact with you Mr and Mrs about the sessions and any major details, and Talia I believe all you need is to relax and take your mind off everything else so you are able to think more clearly," he smiled as he stood up then gesturing to the door.

"Have a nice day," he waved as the trio walked out the door.

"You too, thank you again," Angelina called out as she fished out her phone from her bag, "I should try to enrol Calix in here instead of Stowe."

"Are you sure he wants to even be across halfway around the world from you guys?" Talia raised a brow.

"You were fine," Angelina said.

"Yeah, cause I didn't have a choice," Talia groused, "Can I go somewhere else besides those dumb resorts?"

"Those dumb resorts are your multibillion-dollar chained Aunt Izzy's resorts, they're only private you should be grateful," her mother snobbed.

"Dad, help me out here," she looked at her dad who had remained silent throughout the whole conversation.

"I value my life Tala," her father chuckled as he was jabbed by a sharp pain on the side of his hip, "see," he groaned, "Beautiful and scary-, OW! Jesus! I didn't say anything to you!"

"I should have left you at that tree root," Her mother huffed annoyed.

"The resort is just an island that was originally a for hundred and twenty-nine-hectare present that uncle Elliot gave her for her thirtieth birthday. How romantic of turning it into a business," Talia snickered.

"She's making goof profit out of it," Richard sighed.

"And besides I don't want to get creep out by those awfully seductively sounding Europeans they call bartenders-"

"Why in Jesus's name are you at the bar?!" she started pinching her ear again.

"I don't actually go to it mum-, OW OW OW! Let me go!" she groaned as she rubbed her ear.

"Why don't you just let her fly off somewhere, we can ask Mikhail-"

"Dad, it's alright I can manage to arrange something. Mikhail's already busy enough," Talia confirmed.

"If you say so, just go somewhere where you know someone to chaperone or go with you," Richard offered.

"Alright," Talia agreed.

"Well I have to get back to Singapore, Ange you?"

"Geneva, use your head Tala, your a smart girl," Angelina kissed her daughter on the cheek.

"Use my head my butt," she muttered.

"You came of my butt so watch your tone Tala or I'll tell your headmaster to put you on probation till you graduate," she chided.

"Love you too," Talia teased as she kissed her father's cheek, "Bye, have a safe flight."

---

"Miss Vanderhaden these incompetent 'jokes' and dares are not tolerated at Alderbirdge, furthermore to the extent of wellbeing, health and life of a student," the Headmaster's lambasted as Mila only scorned in her head: Fvck you Talia, you manipulative son of a b1tch-

"I hope you meant this request of a joke was inadvertent, you realise that you were risking the life of a fellow student, correct?" he questioned as Mila's head was sent back to the similar words of Talia's trepid voice  'People swarm me to because they want to be an extension of me, not that I ask. And it's twits like you like now whether they absolutely hate me or not at dire situations you squirm in fear if something happens to me because if I'm falling you fall harder than I do, cause your all leeches that suck onto me cause you all need me to fulfil your ambitions and greed.'

It was true though what she stated, the man right in front of her though held authority and wasn't afraid to uphold actions that were necessary no matter who or how powerful the student's house was; he wasn't going to take it lightly that the fact that the risk of not just any student's life but Talia's life was at risk.

For someone who had previously scored quite low in her psychology test had so terrifyingly used the system to her advantage.

"I do too recognise the on piling stress that is being upheld on to you but conducting such a crime Miss Vanderhaden has to be penalised," he stated as Mila just quietly stared at the man, "I do know you have preparations in the near future for important events but I have no excuse but to put you on probation," he informed.

"The shortest I can do for you is two months, originally it would be longer but I will take into consideration that you are not this type of student, and two you have preparations for your upcoming events."

Mila's smoky topaz eyes lingered as she faded out of the conversation, watching the man sputter words inaudible. Walling people was one of her specialties, growing up from the environment of nothing but a house of utter chaos.

Being born to the house of Vanderhaden seemed to be a dream whipped with a girl's endless imagination of the number of opulent luxuries. Access to the finest of mountains of rhinestones, gemstones with carats and quality so high that seemed to only to be incomprehensible, having access to the finest education and could snap a dozen of every collection of every new Haute Couture brand listed in every shade of colour she wanted that would have cost her a simple few of billions of euros -and then forget about them the next week with losing interest- without leaving a dent in her endless pool of wealth.

She was Marchioness Vanderhaden, part of a dynasty of the ever so rare stratosphere of European powers and the right hands of the Kadamskiynovs. She could live her ritzy life however she pleased and not work and still have money that could feed everyone in the world to the most expensive meal they could think of in the world fifty times.

Mila paid no mind that Cesar her older brother was going to be the next heir, had no fascination or hungry burning desire to compete for the spot -even though she wouldn't have gotten it due to male blood customs. Though her childhood wasn't the most pleasant and when she wanted to complain she was either reminded by her governess or her mother to be grateful that she wasn't born to a sixteen-year-old girl in the slums of some undeveloped country.

So she didn't.

Overcast by the shadow of her parents arguing and watching mistresses come out from both bedrooms when the other was away was something Mila had to grow oriented with.

But it wasn't this that had so deeply scarred her. It was the small harsh remarks and judgements that had slowly moulded her to a haggard-looking princess with a fallen crown. Whether it would be the waltzing of appearance by the maids and servants, to the snarky comments from her governess and her mother on all aspects to the road of success had caused her to deteriorate.

To say she was jealous however wasn't what she was now before however, she was. Jealous at the fact that everyone had two perfect parents, jealous at the fact Talia had two perfect parents, jealous of Talia's attention that she made it her life's goal to battle it out.

Cause Talia was so humanly perfect, the one-sided rivalry Mila saw when the two were in the same room. Who had the better grades, who could do the more pirouettes and who wore the prettier dress. To what Talia saw as a friendly rivalry as a twelve-year-old Mila saw as hungry for to top her.

But as the seasons changed, the years changed, the years moulded the two. How jealously turned into envy. Envy of what both Mila and Talia believed for Talia seemed to have nothing to prove.

She didn't need to wear the oldest dress of Dior they could try to fit or the latest personally designed dress by Giambattista Valli. She didn't need to sign up or volunteer for the most events and charities she could do. She didn't need to have the best grades. Her competing with her was far beneath her.

There Talia was in a simple Madame Grès ivory y-line dress, being flocked by everyone to try grab her attention as she ingenuously flaunted her perfect smile and laughing as she was lovingly wrapped in the arms of Mikhail while Mila was outlined in the shadows once more.

She wasn't hungry, she was starving. Starving of what Talia had, how mindless people were drawn to her without a second thought.

She wasn't just Talia the friend she knew, the friend when in seventh grade would always be back of the running track together of the class as they would battle it out who would be second last.

She was now Talia Kadamskiynov, Talia the beautiful future fiancee of Duke Mikhail and the future archduchess of the affluent Kadamskiynov duchy. The perfect society girl of her echelon. How she didn't need to wear the brightest colours to be the red rose of a field of daisies.

She was Talia Kadamskiynov. The manipulative son of a b1tch who didn't spare a second thought to prove a point even though she sh1ted the life out of her just to prove a damn point even though she could have potentially died-, and of course is now being blamed for that.

"Miss Vanderhaden," the headmaster snapped her out of her train of thoughts, "Do you understand the consequence of your actions?"

"Yes, sir," the champagne-haired heiress replied, "I will reflect dearly on my actions," she feigned a smile.

"Excellent, I will send a letter to your professor on why you were late for period two. Dismissed," he said as Mila stood up from her seat and exited. Opening the door she suddenly found Alice who jolted in surprise as she held a file.

Fvck. Why the hell did she have to stand-

"Did you have something to say?" Mila glared.

"I'm just handing something to the headmaster, head girl has to do her duties you know? I just like to jump to it you can say," she feigned her award-winning sweet smile.

"Dummkoph," she muttered bitterly.

"At least I don't get people killed," she chuckled as she walked past her opening the second door behind Mila.

I'm screwed.

---

The rush-full breeze of the humid's laughter was suddenly blocked by Talia's dainty pearly white laced parasol as she was clad in a light linen crochet dress and sandals as she took off her signature Dolce & Gabbana wayfarer sunglasses, pushing her hair back as she chuckled to see her old friend.

"Hey Yvonne," Talia smirked as she looked at the Ghanian girl who only smiled, under the shade of the hangar.

"Who are you and what have you done to Talia?" Yvonne said in English with her mother's native tongue's accent lacing her every word making Talia laugh at the comment about her appearance, "You look like someone from pride and prejudice with that parasol of yours," as she watched the female walk to her.

"It's hot," Talia simply stated.

"Well, welcome to Ghana. It's hot, wet and hotter."

We're going to Ghana! The next chapter and location are dedicated to Ama_221005 and any reader who is from Ghana or other places in Africa who wanted to see some of her culture (and I will also add an Egyptian OC don't worry!).

I REALLY WANT TO INCLUDE UNDERRATED CULTURES THAT DON'T APPEAR AS MUCH AS THEY SHOULD.

IF YOU WANT TO SEE YOUR CULTURE INCLUDED PLEASE COMMENT:

VOTE & COMMENT!