Rhythm Of Deceit

Chapter 33: The Calm Before the Storm

The week after Rio’s outburst felt eerily calm, but I knew better than to think things were settled. Though his threats had lost some of their bite after being exposed, there was still an unsettling presence lingering in the background, a tension that wouldn’t disappear so easily. He had been humiliated, his control slipping, and while that might have been enough to make most people retreat, Rio was different. He didn’t take defeat lightly.

Adler and I tried to return to some semblance of normalcy, though the weight of the situation still pressed heavily on us. We kept our distance from Rio, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was watching, waiting for the right moment to strike again. And that feeling only intensified when I received an anonymous text late one evening.

The message was short and simple, but its chilling implications sent a shiver down my spine: **“You think it’s over? It’s just beginning.”**

I stared at the screen, the words feeling like a threat hanging in the air, an omen of something worse to come. I glanced over at Adler, who was sprawled on the couch beside me, lost in his own thoughts. His eyes met mine, sensing the shift in the air before I even spoke.

"What’s wrong?" he asked, sitting up.

I hesitated for a moment before showing him the message. His face darkened as he read it, the lines around his eyes tightening with concern.

"I knew it wasn’t over," he muttered under his breath. "But we’ll deal with it. We have to stay focused, Aniya. Don’t let him get into your head."

But the doubt lingered, creeping in from all sides. I could feel the weight of the past few weeks pushing down on me, testing my resolve. Had we really won? Or had we simply put off the inevitable?

The next morning, I went to class with a heavy heart, trying to focus on the lessons and ignore the whispering rumors that still floated around campus. People were still talking about the drama between Adler and Rio—about who was the victim and who was the villain. It was exhausting. Even though the truth had been exposed, I still felt the sting of judgment from some of my classmates. Rio had painted me as the confused girl caught in a battle between two men, and some still believed that narrative, even though they knew the facts.

Lily met me for lunch in the student center, her expression serious. "I heard Rio’s been talking to some people—trying to turn the story in his favor again," she said, lowering her voice. "He’s trying to get people on his side, painting himself as the misunderstood hero."

I rolled my eyes, feeling the frustration bubble up. "How is he still convincing anyone that he’s the victim?"

"People like drama," Lily replied with a shrug. "It’s easier to believe the guy with the sob story than the guy who’s been upfront and honest."

I leaned back in my chair, staring out the window, trying to push aside the unease gnawing at my stomach. "I don’t know if I can keep doing this, Lily. I hate feeling like we’re in this constant state of waiting for the other shoe to drop."

She reached across the table, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. "We’ll handle it. You and Adler are stronger than Rio, and I’ll be here every step of the way."

Her words brought me a small measure of comfort, but I still couldn’t shake the feeling that things were far from over.

Later that afternoon, I ran into Sofia in the hallway, her usual confident stride now carrying a sense of hesitation. She stopped when she saw me, and for a moment, we just stared at each other, an unspoken understanding passing between us.

"I heard what you’re doing," Sofia said, her voice quieter than usual. "You’re going after Rio, right?"

I nodded, wary of where this conversation might go. "Yeah, we are. He can’t keep getting away with this."

Sofia shifted on her feet, glancing down at the floor. "I know I’ve been harsh before… with the blog and everything. But I want you to know, I didn’t mean to make things worse. I was just trying to sell stories, you know? It’s my job."

I raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "So you’re just going to apologize now? After everything you’ve said about us?"

She met my gaze, her eyes filled with regret. "I’ve been thinking about it. I’ve realized I’ve been part of the problem, spreading rumors for the sake of views and clicks. I was just doing my job, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t hurt people along the way."

I crossed my arms, still uncertain about her sudden change of heart. "So what, now you’re Team Aniya?"

She hesitated, and I could tell she was trying to decide how much to reveal. "No. Not really. But I think I was wrong about some things. Rio is dangerous, and I’ve seen how he manipulates people. He’s not the victim here, Aniya. You and Adler… you’ve got a real connection. Don’t let him tear you apart."

Her words were unexpected, and for a moment, I didn’t know how to respond. Was this some kind of ploy to save face? Or was she being genuine?

"I’ll make it right," Sofia continued. "I’ll write a follow-up post, clear things up. People need to know what Rio’s really like."

I wasn’t sure if I could trust her just yet, but a part of me knew it might help. The truth had to be out there, once and for all.

"Okay," I said cautiously. "But this better be the truth, Sofia. No more half-baked stories."

She nodded, her eyes earnest. "I swear. No more lies."

That evening, as I walked back to my dorm, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread weighing on me. Even with Sofia’s unexpected support and the growing awareness about Rio’s behavior, something felt off. I checked my phone and saw another anonymous message waiting for me:

**“You think you can expose me? You’re just digging your own grave.”**

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. Rio’s threats weren’t over. If anything, they were just becoming more personal, more dangerous.

And as I walked toward the dormitory, I knew one thing for certain: this fight was far from finished. Rio had underestimated us before, but I wouldn’t let him get away with it again.

Tomorrow, we would take the fight to him. And this time, it would be the last time.

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End of Chapter 33

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