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Diana Venicia had the world.
She owned it. Its core spun due to the meticulous work of her fingertips, it was hers to revel in.
Each crevice, atom, molecule, along with every river, ocean, blade of grass, stone and rock was carefully curated just for people like her.
Adored, popular people like her.
And somebody like Eva Tsunaka was not worthy enough to merely set foot upon this universe's surface. It was selfish of her to even live on the same plane of existence as Diana, to breathe the same air. Eva felt as if she may be punished by the universe's laws if she so much as looked at Diana.
Therefore, the world likely wept when the two contrasting individuals were placed in a horrifying killing game. Poor Diana, the world's saving grace, an angel of beauteous change and kindness, did not deserve such a cruel fate.
Her angelic essence did not deserve to be trapped in a death game with people unworthy of her presence. Pure perfection at its finest; the very antithesis of Eva's nature.
This duality between the two girls would prove to be a hindrance within this killing game; an unforeseen consequence of differing personalities and connections.
Upon their first encounter, along with an introduction, Eva had instantly created an opinion on Diana in her head before even giving the girl a chance to express her true personality.
As she looked at Diana's soft pink lips that managed to catch the light and shimmer, speaking with a kind and somewhat confident voice, she felt one thing.
Unadulterated hatred.
Perhaps this was a tad dramatic. The poor girl barely had a chance to show her true nature to Eva. But it had already been decided.
From the way Diana laughed, smiled, and carried herself, eloquent words cascading from her tongue like waterfalls, her entire figure composed and confident, Eva made one assumption.
She was just like the girls from her previous school. Beauty-obsessed, mindless sycophants. Exactly the type of girl who would make her life hell behind thin curtains — laughing at her behind her back, judgement and toxicity seeping off her body. Never mean towards her face, but her kind words were calibrated with venom. And the second Eva's back was turned, she would surmise that the girl was picking apart each one of Eva's traits, and laughing about how weird she was.
Maybe this sort of preconceived notion was unwarranted, but it wasn't as if people never made pre-judgments about her. Others lived to judge Eva, calling her rude for not paying any mind to their self-absorbed thoughts, painting her as a "social outcast" before even conversing with her. It was these girls, especially within her old mathletics team. They despised Eva for being ahead of them at such a young age, their rage fuelled by jealousy and a sense of hubris. That, no matter how much teasing, or passive aggressive behaviour it took, they would reach the top and dominate it, instead of some undeserving child multiple grades below them.
Eva's talent was the very manifestation of the side of her personality she despised. She so desperately wished for recognition in other fields, hoping to be known for something other than the confined box which was "mathlete". She was so much more than her ultimate title.
So upon meeting Diana, who seemed to be content with her talent and life, an undeniable spark of jealousy was ignited within her.
It wasn't fair. It was so suffocatingly, overwhelmingly, excruciatingly unfair.
Why did the earth bend at the will of some inhabitants? Why did some people get to revel in such glory, self-confidence and contentment, when others were kicked about and scorned upon, the whims of fate disapproving of their very existence?
Why was it that Diana had everything that Eva did not? Why did the person who happened to be the girl's foil, have to be so good at it? Foils were commonly malicious, insidious in nature and against the good-will of the heroic protagonist. But in this instance, it was the antithesis of common tropes.
Diana was Eva's foil, yes, but she was not a villain. She was likely one of the most amicable people Eva ever had the misfortune of meeting. Perfection, benevolence in a human vessel. Curated solely to spite Eva, who was bitter and resentful, nothing like the heroic Diana.
Of course, these were all thoughts that Eva had surmised before properly knowing the girl. When she first saw Diana, the two did not even speak. Her first impression was Diana being so quick to stand up for Kai, the influencer.
Diana clearly did not know who he was. They were all strangers — trapped inside an unfamiliar atmosphere with no knowledge of how or why this was happening to them. And Diana's first instinct was what, to act gregarious to somebody unknown?
She'd scolded Damon, in a light-hearted manner, of course — the perfect girl would never dream of displaying hostility towards another. She told Damon to leave Kai and his talent alone. Defending a stranger whom you just became acquainted with less than an hour ago — how obtusely naive.
Was she not aware of the threats they were under? Kidnappings, being pushed into a hostage situation with a group of random people, some incongruous bracelet around their wrists. This had to be the worst possible time to act approachable, unless you had a death wish.
Eva did not understand Diana's initial nature. She could not fathom, how one could be so kind to somebody you just met. In these circumstances, no less. Perhaps Diana was trying to score morality points with God. As if the world did not already bend and break at her feet, she just had to outshine her already jovial first impression with an act of more mindless niceties. It felt futile to Eva, why go out of your way to be perfect, when you are already so adored by the very creators of the universe?
Eva and Diana did not speak, initially. What would there have even been to say? Eva would've inevitably hurt Diana's feelings, some way or another, and be punished by the earth's creator for diminishing its prized possession. Eva surmised that Diana did not even know her name, or would remember a forgettable face like hers.
That was the first instance of interaction. Something so small and meaningless, which later blossomed into an unprecedented wave of contempt and contentment combined.
Since then, there may have been short interactions between the two juxtaposing girls. But the most meaningful one was when the others had decided that sharing dorms in a killing game was a good idea. In retrospect, perhaps it was. If everybody knew everyone's dorm assignment, if one person was found dead in their room, it would be an easy mystery to solve. But on the negative side, this now meant that Eva would have to live in the same space as somebody else. All she wanted was peace and quiet, especially after what had happened to her earlier.
Oh, this was a lamentable time for Eva. Not only was her true talent revealed — something she had purposefully kept hidden due to her sense of self-loathing, embarrassment and incessant memories that came with it. But additionally, she was now a laughing stock. Some of her sanctimonious classmates seemed to revel in the pleasure of making fun of her. As if they could say anything: at least Eva was intelligent, and her talent echoed that.
In conclusion, since she had not only lied about her talent, but also hid it under the guise of "Ultimate Liar", she had painted herself to be completely untrustworthy. It was clear that practically everyone viewed her as a terrible person.
She assumed that Diana viewed her in this way the most. A "mathlete", a liar, causing such disharmony in her academy? Her world? Unthinkable.
But, for some inane reason, Diana did not.
Almost everybody had cast Eva out by this point: at least, that was what she thought. Multiple of them had rudely stated that they did not want to share a room with her, in a stupid, childish manner.
God, Eva probably looked so pathetic. Watching hopelessly as everybody picked her apart — not even stepping in to defend herself. Just like her old ways. Just like those sycophantic old classmates of hers. Diana was surely next to jab at Eva's loneliness.
However, Diana went against this. She had asked Eva, out of her own volition, if Eva wanted to be "bunk buddies" with her. She could've just asked if Eva wanted to "share a room" with her. Why did she have to make her question so friendly? So impossible to say no to?
Why would Diana Venicia, the world's princess, even consider thinking of sharing a room with somebody so undeserving of her presence? The girls were not curated to be friends, or even cross paths. They were far too different — but fate works in asinine ways.
Now, Eva should've been grateful for this kind notion. But it only made her seethe with even more rage, her loathing deepening as Diana's sickly-sweet tone reverberated through her eardrums, causing her to internally melt.
Especially because Diana had phrased it so openly. She seemed as if she even wanted to be friends. She actually wanted to share a room with Eva. But Eva didn't believe this for a second — Diana was just attempting to make herself look like a saint. She was hiding her true, insidious intentions underneath the veil of friendliness and openness she had so meticulously crafted. Eva knew this — she herself was so accustomed to hiding her true thoughts and feelings. Lying constantly. She would know better than anyone that Diana's saintly nature was a facade.
And, God, it was so irritating. Eva wouldn't even be able to turn Diana's offer down. Nobody else wanted to submit themselves to the torture of having to put up with Eva's weirdness any more than usual, so for somebody to so graciously offer to do so, Eva was trapped in a situation she could not reprimand.
She swore Diana had done it on purpose — acted kindly just because she wanted something from Eva. Just like the girls from her old school; only acting congenial so that she would do them a favour, only to ridicule her later. Nobody in Eva's life would be genuinely nice to her; she was not the type of person people treated kindly due to her niche interests and personality that did not conform to societal expectations. Therefore, by doing this, Diana now had Eva in her debt.
Much to the chagrin of Eva, the two of them would reside in Diana's dormitory. Diana had proposed this suggestion when the two of them were alone after the meeting, and Eva was too tired to argue.
The moment Eva stepped inside the dorm room, she felt nauseous. The room was adorned with an entirely pink colour palette — it was an eyesore. Light pink wallpaper, flamingo pink bedsheets, and various other shades of the irritating colour that Eva did not care to name. Additionally, there was a couch, shelves and a makeup vanity, complete with a copious amount of makeup supplies. Eyeshadow palettes, mascara tubes, and items that Eva was unfamiliar with. The Ultimate Cosmetologist truly had it all.
Eva had to admit, it was much more lively than her room. But she didn't like it that way. She preferred muted colours, along with things that related to her own interests, of course. She rolled her eyes in annoyance upon entering, adamant to reside here for the remainder of her time at Eden's Garden Academy. Which would likely be a while.
Diana's perky voice instantly spoke up. "What do you think?" She beamed. "Isn't it pretty?"
Eva simply shrugged and walked over to the couch, sitting down to gather her thoughts in order. These mannerisms were probably rude, but Eva didn't care. Did she look like she enjoyed this sickly room? Did she seem like she wanted to have a conversation with somebody who clearly only offered her a favour out of either pity or malicious intent? Especially after everybody had just poked fun at her, if Diana thought Eva was in the mood for small talk, she'd laugh.
Eva stretched out on the couch, the weight of that day slightly lifting off her shoulders. It had been hellish, in more ways than one. And to top it off, she was now about to sleep on an uncomfortable couch in the bedroom belonging to the girl she despised.
As Eva closed her eyes, Diana spoke up again.
"Oh! Where are my manners? Eva, you don't need to sleep on the couch. You can share my bed, if you want!" Diana voiced sweetly.
Eva did not open her eyes. "I'm fine, thanks." She stated bluntly, just wanting to get the day over with, but Diana interrupted her train of thought once more.
"But, that's such bad hospitality! I can't make you sleep somewhere so uncomfortable. Please share the bed, I insist." She verbalised her feelings, a smile clearly on her face due to the friendly tone of her voice.
Eva opened her eyes in annoyance. It seemed like she had no choice, after all. She couldn't just refuse such a hospitable offer — Diana would portray her as callous and uncouth. Not wanting to upset the world or whomever puppeteer controlled Eva's melancholic life, she crawled into bed next to Diana, turning away from her as she did so.
Eva could feel her heartbeat quickening as Diana slipped fully underneath the covers, moving around slightly to make herself more comfortable. Instantly, Eva could smell the pungent aroma of Diana's perfume: seemingly a blend of various fruits. Admittedly, it was a pleasant fragrance. Eva felt as if she may drown in it.
Diana's scent and body were suffocating her. Everything about this girl was so likeable, but Eva was too stubborn to see this. Eva despised Diana. End of.
She loathed Diana's cerise pink hair, which fell in tresses just above her waist, with a shorter, slightly choppy part just below her chin. She detested Diana's doe eyes — while they were pink, Eva could only see the sky beyond them on the rare occasion she looked Diana in the face. She felt contempt towards Diana's face: slightly pale, smooth skin, with a few freckles and marks that you would only notice if you looked close enough. And, Eva was not trying to look. Somehow, she noticed these things instantly. Diana had a memorable face, and there was nothing more to that. She despised Diana's countenance, her body's eloquent mannerisms, confidently carrying herself through the trials and tribulations of life. She hated Diana's voice, her sweet, welcoming tone that had been carefully calibrated, smoothly cascading off her tongue and ringing in Eva's ears. She abominated Diana's aromatic scent; it intoxicated her very being and momentarily drowned out any feelings of resentment she held for Diana — which exasperated her further.
She despised every little annoyingly beautiful, congruent trait about her roommate.
The next day came suddenly, as if no time was spent in Diana's bed at all. Nothing incredibly noteworthy happened on this day, except from the evening's events.
Eva had purposefully avoided proximity with Diana's room for the entire day. She would refuse to even go near it, desperately wishing to avoid the hauntingly stagnant aura about the room, awkwardness seeping off the walls whenever Eva set foot inside.
Each time she'd see Diana, Eva would turn the other way. She did not need a constant reminder of her downfall. Especially considering that now, she slept next to the very person she'd chosen to dislike since the beginning. She wondered if Diana had told anyone about her "good deed" — letting an unfortunate, pathetic girl share a room with her, much less sleep in the same bed. Diana was likely boasting about her excellent hospitality, how she'd so graciously opened her heart to Eva and allowed her the privilege of basking in her pureness. But a good deed is only a good deed if its nature is silent.
And then evening came, Eva's most dreaded moment of the day, given the new sleeping arrangements. She'd made her way to Diana's room earlier than needed, praying that Diana would not be inside and Eva could fall asleep on the couch. Diana would be too kind to wake her, and so Eva would not have to put up with the torture of sharing Diana's bed. It was the perfect plan.
But, unfortunately, Diana was already inside. She flashed Eva her classic winning smile as the girl entered, which Eva did not return. She was not in the mood for Diana's false niceties, but when was she ever?
"Hi, Eva! You're here pretty early. Wanna hang out?" Diana beamed, sunlight practically oozing out of her body.
"No." Eva responded dryly, slumping herself on the couch as she turned away from Diana.
"Aw, okay. Just remember that I'm free if you ever wanna chat!" responded the pink-haired girl, bubbly as ever. Why was her attitude still so revoltingly sweet, even despite Eva's distaste towards her?
Eva didn't reply. Instead she wrapped her flowing raven hair with white growing from the tips around her finger, letting it descend in loose curls. A distraction. To think of anything but the looming presence across the room from her. But it isn't long before the grating voice pipes up again.
"I just thought of the best idea! I could practice my makeup skills on you! What do you say, Eva?" Diana beams.
No, she wants to say. But for some unknown reason, her tongue stops itself from letting venom tumble out of her mouth this time. As soon as Eva realised she'd hesitated, and not responded with an outright refusal, she knew that she was doomed.
"Fine. Let's just get this over with." She mumbled, displeasure seeping off her lips. Eva could not see her own reflection currently, but she knew that her face would be stained with exasperation.
Diana claps her hands together in excitement as she lets Eva sit in her elegant makeup chair, facing her vanity. She prepares her supplies; taking out various glossy tubes and powders that Eva could not name. Several containers filled with meaningless liquid, marked with glitter, reeking of popularity. It caused her recall the students she'd became acquainted with in her high school days, much to her chagrin. This was not a pleasant memory: they all looked and acted exactly the same. Stuck-up, obsessive over their appearances, their vanity discernible. Sanctimonious by nature. Diana was the same.
Diana was the exact same.
So then why did she make such an effort to treat Eva adequately? Treat her pleasantly, even?
No, perhaps Diana just treated her like an actual human being. Something Eva was not accustomed to.
Diana pulls out a headband-looking object from her makeup bag and looks at Eva. "Can I put this on you? It'll move your hair out of the way." Diana asks sweetly.
Eva sighs, but does not fight it. "Sure", she responds, and Diana flashes her a quick smile before slipping the headband onto Eva's face, brushing her thick bangs out of the way.
"Okay. I'll start with the skin products." Diana states.
Eva scrunches her nose with a mixture of slight disgust and confusion as Diana pats some sort of goop onto her face. It feels odd; certainly not something she's experienced before.
But this feeling is quickly subsided as Diana cups Eva's face in her hands, as she begins the actual makeup process. Eva's stomach turns over, as if her insides are performing backflips. This feeling of malaise confuses her; it feels as if her intestines are getting jumbled up and forgetting how to function. The moment is strangely intimate: Diana's soft, angel-like hands gently caressing the crevices of Eva's face and chin, as Eva's blue eyes stare into the depths of Diana's soul. Their eyes are viciously interlocked, neither one wishing to break the silent pact of eye contact, like they're holding onto each other in catastrophic waters so neither of them drown.
Diana is the first to break the physical silence. "Hmm. Maybe now's a good opportunity to get to know each other? I mean, you are my roommate after all!" She proposes, and Eva feels her insides tighten by the second.
"How do you suggest we do that?" She responds flatly, trying her hardest to sound indifferent, when in reality, fireworks are exploding within the pit of her stomach.
"Like, we could ask each other questions. Or I'll ask you stuff! What's your favourite colour?" Diana asks, with a curious and kind tone about her. Eva fights the urge to roll her eyes.
"I don't know." She responds again; attempting to keep up her meticulously curated facade of coolness. Act neutral, indifferent. Don't let the other girl know what you're thinking.
But because she's Diana, she can likely see right through the pathetic structure Eva has built around herself. She'd attempted to build wood, but for Diana, the fraudulent walls were glass.
"Everyone has a favourite colour." Diana announces, so sure of herself.
"White, then."
"Why white?"
"Does there need to be a reason?" Eva had made this claim partially to get Diana to abandon bothering her. But at the same time, Eva did have a strange connection to the colour white.
White symbolises purity, innocence, cleanliness, peace and beginnings. All qualities that Eva lacks, specifically the will to experience new beginnings. Living in the past is an unhealthy behaviour that she cannot control; her nostalgia-filled mind lingers in the forgotten hole of others' memories as she yearns for a different time. A part of her hates the past, and everything that occurred within it, but she often wishes she could travel back in time and cause events to differ.
Purity. Innocence. Qualities Eva never had, or never will possess. She is the very antithesis of the colour white, yet her soul is drawn to it. Perhaps it is due to the clouds in the sky, which she converses with more than she does with living beings. Perhaps it is due to the simple fact that her aura used to shine brightly, as white as possible, but then was stained black due to the callous footsteps of others.
Only a small amount of innocence remains. The dwindling locks of white hair at the bottom of each strand, symbolising the last spark of her youth. Perhaps she is not fully far-gone; although only a sliver of purity remains.
Ominous silence fills the air like thick smoke as neither Diana or Eva makes an attempt to continue this dull conversation. Eva finally bites the bullet and complies.
"What's yours, then? Your favourite colour."
"I like them all. Just so many to choose from!"
The conversation went on, lacklustre. Litanies of meaningless drivel were played between both of them like an old, insignificant movie reel. Questions were deflected, answers were uninspired. Every time Eva asked a question, Diana would divert the attention back to either Eva or her makeup process. One question asked, another brush-stroke of blush added. Eva was becoming Diana's work of art; beautifully fake and artificial. Eva was starting to realise that perhaps this reflected Diana's true personality.
"How did you get your ultimate?" Diana softly inquires, her eyes deeply intertwined with Eva's as she scrupulously brushes some sort of powder around the inner corners of Eva's eyes. A moment of great precision, that requires such intimacy.
Eva's stomach drops, once more. The tale of how she came to be a sorrowful mathlete was not one she wished to retell. Instead, she chose the simpler route out.
"Like anyone. I was the best in my field, so I was scouted. What about you?"
"Oh, same here."
"Why do you keep doing that?" Eva can't prevent the aggressive remark from sliding out of her previously repressed mouth.
"Doing what?" Diana asks, drawing away from Eva slightly. The moment of intimacy is broken.
"Every time I ask you something, you deflect. You either agree with what I'm saying without forming an opinion of your own, or divert the conversation right back to me. Don't think I haven't noticed." She snaps, harsher than intended.
Diana looks taken aback. "I don't understand what you're talking about."
"Don't play dumb with me,” Eva scoffs, inching away from Diana's soothing grasp. "Your behaviour is incredibly suspicious. I wouldn't be surprised if this was all just an act of charity, and you're planning on slitting my throat later when we sleep." It's all spilling out now. All of that festering anger and rage felt towards somebody that has everything Eva does not, at least in her mind.
"Eva, I— I would never dream of hurting you. I'm sorry if it seemed that way, truly." Diana's once life-filled eyes have drooped, becoming saddened and defeated. Eva is unsure whether or not she enjoys sucking the life out of her positive soul.
"Whatever. I know who you really are. I'm not letting myself become your charity case. I bet you thought your kindness towards me would make yourself look so meritorious, taking in some worthless outcast who nobody else wanted. Well, congrats. Everyone loves you, despite your exceedingly suspicious behaviour. If you're going to murder me, make it quick." Eva does not stutter. She is uncaring and cold. If she keeps telling herself this, perhaps it'll become true.
Please, Diana. Stop treating me like an actual human being. I can't handle this. I can't fathom the idea that somebody will actually accept me. So stop pretending you care, before one or both of us get hurt.
It's too late for that, and Eva knows it.
"I'm sorry." Diana says, and without another word, she turns around and sinks into her comfortable bed, her visage not visible.
"You can still share my bed." She says, her voice so small it could barely be heard. Diana probably felt tiny, invisible. After Eva's selfish wrath, this was completely understandable.
Eva does not reply, and instead positions herself on the couch. Her eyes do not close, as she instead keeps her eye on Diana, wishing she had the ability to reverse time and leap into her arms instead of breaking her heart.
But if they ever became close, both of them would break.
It could never be. The two were from entirely different worlds. Diana had everyone at her feet, the world itself would bend at her will. Flowers bloomed when she walked, birds sung and animals chirped a melody of contentment. Whereas Eva's insides were filled with mud, her soul sordid and stained with bitterness and resentment. Her presence in the lives of others was unsurprisingly forgettable. Their atoms were not meant to merge; their bond forever ephemeral. Diana's body, veins were made of stardust, curating her intricately beautiful, precocious soul from birth. While Eva was made of bomb fragments, slowly piecing together and waiting for the right moment to explode and destroy everything it touches.
Eva destroys everything she touches, especially Diana. Her pure essence will decay due to the fiery, red-hot clutches of Eva's palm.
But as Eva watches Diana drift off into a world of slumber, she hopes that she will dream of something pleasant. Something that does not involve Eva.
Maybe tomorrow, she'd do something about it.
Maybe she'd end up burning Diana, after all. Ruining her life, creating a plan to destroy her so evil that she could never face redemption.
Or perhaps she would give it another chance, let Diana in once more if she were willing. But who would be after seeing the worst that could come from Eva's unpleasant brain? It was all so tryingly complicated.
Eva could swear on her own soul that she despised Diana. She could swear that she did not love her, that she was merely bored or wished to see how far Diana was willing to go for her. Simply passing the time within a killing game. But this would be just another lie, one that she would end up burning in hell for.
Eva's entire foundation was built upon lies; a sinful action that she was deeply acquainted with. Bitter, familiar tasting lies, that rolled off her tongue so easily as it had grown accustomed to this very nature. Some may say it should be against human morals to lie, but Eva's mind sighed with relief every time she spouted out another falsehood. It was a comfort, a construct to protect her secretly fragile self. So despite her swearing wholly to herself of her loathing towards the pink-haired girl, she knew that this false hatred was the greatest lie of all. This was her hamartia: lying to herself so often, and being so self-deprecative that she could not form meaningful relationships, instead despising those who were actually amicable people.
No matter how much she scorned herself, it was physically impossible to hate Diana, much to the chagrin of Eva. Her glossy, cared-for pink locks that fell in tendrils smoothly down her back, her smile so illuminating it could light up cities, her tender, soft lips that Eva found herself so desperately wanting to kiss. Just to understand what heaven tasted and felt like. Looking at Diana was like looking at the sun; gorgeous, but blinding. She was the sun encapsulated in a living vessel, and becoming close to the sun would burn her.
Diana was just too pure, an innocent flower amongst a garden of hungry serpents, lurking in the shadows and wishing to attack the most vulnerable for their own salvation.
In this case, Eva was the serpent.
She was the wolf to Diana's lamb. The Cain to her Abel. The poison apple to Diana's naive, trusting mouth. Her forever foil.
But ultimately, Eva would bite the apple.
And Diana would make it out alive, with merely a scratch on her porcelain skin; slightly changed, but somehow reborn. The lack of Eva in her life would surely be pleasant; now that she would be removed from her perfect utopia.
Thus, the world would continue to be Diana's.