All eyes turned to Kylee, anticipation thick in the air as they waited for her to reveal the “other identity” Jessica had hinted at. Kylee’s posture was tense, her expression stiff as she stammered, “Uh, she… She is…”
The words refused to come. Kylee struggled, caught between the weight of the truth and her reluctance to admit it.
Meanwhile, one of the women in the group appeared to connect the dots. Her face paled as the realization dawned, and she glanced nervously at Jessica.
Jessica stood tall, her demeanor calm and commanding. A faint, confident smile curved her red lips as she decided to break the suspense herself. “Belinie,” she began, her voice steady and deliberate, “is the nickname Nathaniel and Abigail gave me. But my real name is Jessica Morgan.”
The crisp clarity of her words struck like a thunderclap.
The moment “Jessica Morgan” was spoken, the air in the restroom seemed to freeze. Kylee’s companions gawked at Jessica, their wide eyes darting across her from head to toe.
The transformation was astounding. The overweight, timid girl they had once mocked was now a poised and striking woman. Her elegance wasn’t just skin-deep; it radiated from her like a shield of steel.
Jessica’s sharp gaze locked onto Jada Sampson, the group’s de facto ringleader, who now looked both shocked and cornered. “Ms. Sampson,” Jessica said coolly, her words cutting through the silence, “since I’m standing right here, tell me—have I changed enough for you?”
Jada’s face turned ashen before flushing a deep red. Her earlier taunts echoed in her mind, now like an unbearable weight. Trembling, she finally found her voice. “I-I’m sorry,” she stammered. “What I said earlier was just… nonsense. I didn’t mean it. Please, forgive me. It won’t happen again.”
“We’re sorry too!” one of the other women interjected hastily.
“Yes, truly sorry,” added the third, her voice trembling with fear.
Jessica’s faint smile deepened, though her expression remained unreadable. “Oh, apologies,” she said lightly, her tone laced with irony. “They’re so easy, aren’t they? But tell me, do they feel sincere to you?”
The women exchanged panicked glances, their discomfort palpable.
Sensing an opportunity to intervene, Kylee stepped forward and tried to mediate. “Jessica, they didn’t mean any harm. There’s no need to take it this far—”
“Shut up,” Jessica snapped, her voice like ice. “I’m not talking to you.”
Kylee’s expression stiffened, but her lips curled ever so slightly. Go ahead, Jessica, she thought inwardly. Keep showing everyone how arrogant you are.
Jada, her composure barely intact, asked cautiously, “Then what do you want us to do? How can we prove we’re sincere?”
Jessica tilted her head, her smile turning razor-sharp. “Since you all seem so eager to badmouth me, why not start by cleaning up those filthy mouths of yours? The sink is right there.”
The humiliation in the room was almost tangible. The women stared at Jessica in disbelief, their faces pale with embarrassment. But the fear of defying her outweighed their shame.
Reluctantly, they shuffled to the sink and turned on the faucets.
“Harder!” Jessica’s sharp command rang out, making them flinch. “What’s wrong? No energy? Do you need me to help you scrub?”
Terrified, they resumed scrubbing their mouths with greater vigor, enduring the ordeal until their lips were swollen and raw.
Finally, Jessica raised her hand, signaling them to stop. “That’s enough,” she said with a cold finality.
The three women turned to face her, their makeup smeared, their lips red and trembling.
Jessica’s gaze swept over them as she delivered her parting words. “Go ahead—keep defending Kylee, badmouthing me, or spinning this story however you like. But understand this: I won’t back down.”
With that, she turned on her heel and strode out of the restroom, her heels clicking sharply against the tiled floor.
The three women let out shaky breaths, relief washing over them now that Jessica was gone.
Kylee hurried to their side, feigning concern as she handed them tissues. “Are you all right?” she asked, her voice tinged with regret.
Jada nodded weakly, dabbing at her sore lips with trembling hands. “I’m fine,” she muttered, though her voice quivered.
“I’m so sorry,” Kylee said, her tone heavy with false remorse. “This is all my fault. I should’ve stopped her. Jessica went too far this time.”
Jada shook her head. “No, Kylee, it’s not your fault. We deserved this for running our mouths.” Her voice lowered as she added, “Besides, it’s just our bad luck that Jessica overheard us.”
Another woman, still visibly shaken, murmured, “Honestly, I’d rather go through this than risk our families paying the price later.”
Kylee blinked, feigning confusion. “Your families paying the price? What do you mean by that?”