Golden Melody (Editing)

Chapter 13

Chapter 13: The Trap is Set

It's election season at Wayne Academy.

Banners flapped above lockers. Campaign posters plastered every inch of hallway space. Candidates handed out candies, stickers, and promises. Club rooms buzzed with rumors and secret deals, as alliances formed over bubble tea and betrayal.

But none of that mattered to Thyron Sebastian.

He wasn't here for democracy. He was here for dominance.

And to win, he didn't need a puppet—he needed a pawn with just enough brilliance to shine and just enough laziness to be controlled.

Zatariel Wov.

Unbothered genius. Emotionally allergic to effort. The only person who could win the election without trying—if someone pushed him just right.

"I can't control him," Thyron muttered to himself, lazily spinning a basketball on one finger while sipping a drink that cost more than most people's lunch.
"But I can corner him."

Beside him, Aleanna Locsin scanned the printed list of declared candidates.

"No one's interesting," she said, frowning.
"Except maybe the sophomore duo from Tech Club. They're clever, but they can't speak without stuttering."

Thyron smirked, leaning back under the shade of the tree like a villain in a romance drama.

"Oh, but the real campaign hasn't started yet."

Aleanna looked up.
"What do you mean?"

"I mean," he said, spinning the basketball with a devilish flick,
"We're putting Zatariel in the running."

Aleanna blinked.
"He'd never run for student council. He literally sleeps during student assemblies."

"Exactly," Thyron said, smiling like a loaded trap.
"But his mom doesn't know that."

Aleanna's eyes widened.

"You think she'd let him drop out," Thyron continued smoothly,
"if she thought he was being recognized for his leadership? That the school saw greatness in him?"

"I mean... maybe. But he didn't say anything to her—"

"That's where you come in."
He leaned forward, dropping his voice to a confidential purr.
"You're his cousin. Just mention it, casually. She gets excited, he gets locked in."

Aleanna hesitated.
"Isn't that kinda...wrong?"

Thyron smiled at her.

The soft, radiant, almost princely smile that melted doubt and rewrote logic.

"We're doing this for him, Ally. You'll be helping him grow."

And then, with a gentle brush of his fingers against hers:

"Who better to give him that first push...? Or your cousin will never discover his full potential."

Aleanna's face turned pink.

"...Okay. Just mention it to Auntie Anita. That's all?"

"It's for his growth," he said, lying so gracefully it sounded like the truth.

That same afternoon, with shaking hands and a falsely casual smile, Aleanna told Mrs. Anita Wov the "good news."

"Auntie Anita, I'm so proud of Zatariel... He's running for Student Council President! He's just too shy to tell you himself."

Mrs. Wov gasped as she'd just been handed front-row tickets to heaven.

"Oh my goodness. My Zatariel? My baby? Leading? Finally doing something social?!"