an illusion of mind

the test was done.

everything was back to normal, most managed to survive the test except for the one that Evan eliminated, he was the only one stupid enough to attack another group alone.

everyone passed splendidly, and classes were back to normal.

friend ships had been formed during the test, like Arron, Rica, Bella, and David, an odd bunch, Bella had mostly kept to herself and only conversed with Arron, she did speak with the others but not as much as she did with Arron.

this test had brought students together and created friendships, and also a few hostilities, now everyone disliked Adam even more because a couple of group 2 students had spread the rumour that Adam had betrayed them when it was proven incorrect.

"hey, look it's the traitor! that's probably why he was disowned~ it's because he can't be trusted~" a student remarked spotting Adam sitting quietly at a table.

"would shut you're mouth?" he glared at them.

"or what?" a male student retorted, meeting his gaze defiantly.

"or I'll report you to the teacher." a third voice said from behind them, they all turned to see Regina smiling kindly at them, but it's a facade that hides sinister intentions under it.

"and what's he gonna do huh?" the male student approached and looked down at Regina sizing her up, she was far shorter than him so it was easy to feel confident, but the student felt a hand on his shoulder and he turned to see Adam clutching his shoulder tightly.

"let's try not being assholes every once in a while no?" Adam said looking straight at the student's eyes.

the student was confident however, Adam's gaze unnerved him a little, and he clicked his tongue and walked away.

Adam just looked at the student's back and shook his head.

"you did it again, why do you keep standing up for me?" Adam asked.

"because what they think of you is false." Regina replied scoffing.

"I know it is, but sometimes you just have to let the masses think what they want, because there is no changing ones mind once an idea is embedded so deeply into their minds." he said letting out a long sigh.

"to them I'm just an asshole who betrayed his group, that's all." Adam said shrugging.

"just watch, they'll change their minds soon." Regina said smirking and patting his shoulder, some of the students just looked at the interaction unsure of what to do.

so far the only person who was actively speaking with Adam out of their own choice was Regina, no one else spoke to him besides Arron asking him a couple of dumb questions every now and then.

"see! I told you!" Rica exclaimed gesturing at Regina and Adam speaking, they sat their desks close to each other as they chatted with one another, Regina always had a smile on her face while she listened to Adam.

Rica had an 'I told you so.' look on her face and Arron just rolled his eyes and groaned, "alright, alright I believe you, what do you want me to do about it?" he said turning.

"I don't know... we have to do something about it... Regina doesn't know the kind of man Adam is, she's too innocent... WE HAVE TO HELP HER!" she practically shrieked while she shook Arron, earning her a few strange glances from her classmates.

Arron just tried to calm her down "okay! okay! calm down... what do you propose we do?" he asked.

"w-we have to tell her what he did..." she said her face flashing with concern as she put a hand on her chin in deep thought.

"haaa..." Arron sighed already anticipating the headache to come.

after class, Rica walked through campus while Arron followed after her, the academy campus was huge, comparable to a city even, it was that big.

"there she is!" she said pointing at Regina who was happily walking with a box of cakes in her hands.

"let's go..." Arron said as he motioned for her to follow.

they walked up to her and Rica coughed into her hand to grab her attention.

"hm?" Regina raised an eyebrow at her.

"Regina... we want to talk to you about something." Rica said fidgeting her feet.

"that can wait for later, I want to eat these cakes with Adam." she said holding up he box with cakes in it.

Rica seeing this just let out a long sigh and felt even more guilty to crush Regina's love by what she's about to say, but she had to do it, 'it's for her best...' she steeled her self.

"it's about Adam... it can't wait..." she said grabbing Regina's arm to stop her from walking away.

Arron just waited from the side in anticipation.

"what is this about?" Regina asked tilting her head.

"we wanted to warn you about Adam... he..." she let out a long sigh before she finally spoke, "he assaulted a girl before coming to prism academy... and we wanted to let you know..." she finally said bracing herself for Regina to explode on her or defend Adam.

"yeah, and?" and to her surprise Regina just spoke nonchalantly.

"and...? you should be careful around him! hell you should stay away from him!" she said grabbing Regina's shoulders, and she just slapped her hand away.

"I don't believe mere rumours Rica, if that's what you want me to do." she said her smile never faltering.

"Regina! you don't understand! this isn't a simple rumour! this was the reason his family disowned him-"

"where's the proof?" she cut off Rica.

this left Rica speechless, "there is eye testimony-"

"from who? one girl? who was supposedly the victim?" Rica was cut off once more, she was growing increasingly frustrated by Regina's stubbornness.

"yes! that should be enough-"

"enough what? she could be lying." Regina just said cocking her head back and scoffing, "I can't with you people just hearing something and believing in it immediately, what if she lied what if she simply didn't like Adam and she chose to do this, there are so many possibilities yet you chose to believe what you're told, that's why I don't like you people." she scoffed annoyedly.

Rica was just speechless, she... couldn't argue, there was no evidence, they just took the girl's words as fact, and the illusio family had truly been looking for a reason to eliminate Adam... so was he innocent?

"move." Regina, said her tone different, this is the first time she saw Regina's face change to something else, she no longer had a smile and she looked... annoyed?

"..." Rica just silently moved out of her way, and Arron watched from the side awkwardly.

and Regina walked away in silence no longer humming, she seems to be upset.

"...what was that?" Arron finally broke the silence and turned to her.

"...I don't know... she seems like she's too deep in love, she doesn't want to believe it..."

"for the first time in a long time I think you might be right... she might actually have feelings for Adam..." Arron said looking at Regina who had gone by now.

'probably to the boy's dorm to eat those cakes with him...'

"this is the first time since I've met her that I'd seen her lash out at anyone, or even her smile faltering..." said Arron.

"her feelings must be deeper than we ever thought..." Rica seemed to be in deep thought.