STRINGS BETWEEN US

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: OF PRESIDENTIAL STRATEGY, FALLEN KINGS, AND THE GIRL AT T

"Xythe Nathaniel Alcantara isn't enrolled in Supreme Allievo Academy," KD continued, still calm. "He bypassed campus security. Approached a student—Ms. Del Rio—without consent. Violence only escalated after repeated violation of her personal space."

He let that sink in. Calm. Deadly. Ruthless.

"This isn't a scandal," Khaizer said, his voice sharp enough to slice the air. "This is a security breach."

Silence. They all looked stunned—terrified even—at how fast KD flipped the entire story.

The faculty advisor sat back slowly, shocked.

"And the footage? The social media posts?" the advisor asked, though his voice had lost its bite.

Khaizer's lips curled slightly, barely a smirk.

"Handled," he said simply. "The Headmaster is already moving to classify the incident under internal legal review. Public posts involving Sovereign Court property or identifiable students are already being flagged for takedown by the board's legal team."

The council members stared.

"You already moved to suppress it?" one whispered, stunned.

Khaizer's gaze glinted—amused.

I fix problems before they land on my desk," he said, calm but chilling.

No one dared argue.

He shifted slightly, gaze cooling even more.

"And if anyone in this room is entertaining the thought of spreading additional details—" his gaze swept over them, lingering just long enough on every face "—consider this your first and final warning."

His words alone carried all the weight.

Silence.

Even Bianchi clenched her fists under the table—but stayed quiet.

Finally, Khaizer stood up—slow, steady, still terrifyingly calm.

"Meeting's over," he said, sharp and final. There will be no disciplinary action filed against Ms. Del Rio. This matter is closed internally."

He turned toward the door—but then paused. Without looking back, he left them with one last statement.

Quiet.

Icy.

"You're all too focused on the wrong things."

Sharp pause.

Then—cold, absolute:

"Remember whose story this really is."

And with that, he walked out.

Leaving everyone stunned. Outplayed. Crushed.

OUTSIDE THE CHAMBER—SAME DAY

Khaizer Dylan Dela Vega stepped out of the council room, the heavy wooden doors clicking shut behind him.

He adjusted his cuffs—cool, collected. But of course, someone's already waiting. Leaning casually in the marble pillar, with arms crossed and that signature mocking smirk.

Saichel Andreau Levesque.

Still composed. Still dangerous. Still watching him with those sharp, calculating eyes that saw far too much. Neither of them spoke at first.

Saichel broke the silence, amusement curling at the edges of his lips—light enough to pass for charm, but with that blade-sharp bite still in his tone.

"Efficient, aren't you?" he drawled, head tilting just enough to look lazy—though his eyes stayed sharp. "Didn't even take fifteen minutes. Cute."

Khaizer's gaze flicked toward him, unreadable.

"You shouldn't be here."

Saichel's grin widened—sharp, biting.

"Says the guy who just rewrote the school's rulebook in one session."

Khaizer didn't flinch.

He didn't even slow his steps as he walked past—but Saichel, of course, peeled off the pillar and fell into stride beside him like they were walking to the same destination.

"Funny," Saichel went on, voice light, words anything but. "You wrapped it up as a security breach so neatly... almost like you'd been polishing that card for months, just waiting for the right hand to play it."

Khaizer's lips curved faintly—not in warmth, but in a cold sort of amusement.

"I don't wait," he replied smoothly. "I prepare."

A low chuckle slipped from Saichel—dark, knowing.

"Right. Always the planner." He glanced sideways, eyes glinting like he was measuring Khaizer for a coffin or a crown. "But here's the thing, Ice..."

Khaizer's gaze sharpened, but he kept walking.

Saichel's next words came quieter, a whisper with the weight of a blade behind it.

"You're not the only one willing to break rules for her."

That made Khaizer stop.

Just once.

He turned slightly, locking eyes with Saichel fully.

Then—cold, steady, lethal:

"I don't care how many rules I break," Khaizer said softly, deadly certain. "I always win."

Saichel's smirk cut sharper. But his reply wasn't a threat.

It was worse.

"I know," he said simply—almost admiring. Almost.

Then, with a lazy shrug, he stepped back, eyes still locked on KD's like he was marking a rival for later.

"Guess that's why she's safer with you right now."

KD's stare narrowed. Before he could answer, Saichel flashed him one last crooked grin—half warning, half promise.

"Don't get too comfortable."

He turned away, voice drifting back like smoke.

"Because unlike you..." his smirk could be heard in the words, "...I don't flinch when it's time to set the match."

And just like that, he vanished down the hallway.

KD stayed where he was, face unreadable. But his mind was already in motion. Because Saichel didn't deal in threats. He dealt in promises. And Khaizer Dylan Dela Vega knew exactly what kind of war that meant.