In a downtown cafeteria, Gale, Axel, Ray, and Klaus were gathered around a table. In front of them were half-empty glasses of juice and a pile of sheet music. They were debating which songs to play for the school party.
"This one's too slow," Ray said. "We need something lively to open the evening."
The others nodded. The tone remained relaxed until Ray stood up, grabbing his bag.
"I have something to do. See you later, guys."
He bowed and left the room.
He'd barely walked through the door when Klaus snickered.
"Always him. He has to have all the girls to himself, right? First Isabella, now Miria. And even Isolde... honestly, he's not shy."
Axel looked away, visibly irritated, while Gale gave a tight smile.
"Leave it alone, Klaus," Axel muttered under his breath.
But Klaus just kept going, complaining about Ray for several minutes before leaving too. When silence returned, Gale turned to Axel.
"Sorry about him... he can be really annoying sometimes."
Axel shrugged without looking up from his book.
"If you say so."
A tense silence fell. Gale frowned, watching Axel.
Something was wrong. He could feel it.
"Axel... you and Klaus used to be inseparable. Best friends. And suddenly, nothing. You're drifting further and further apart. Why?"
Axel slowly closed his book and fixed his dark gaze on Gale.
"Gale… don't bother asking questions you don't want to hear."
"Too late," Gale replied. "Tell me what happened."
Axel sighed deeply. He'd wanted to spare him the truth. But Gale, when he pressed him like that, never let go.
"All right," he said, his voice deeper. "I'll tell you what I've kept to myself all this time. What broke Ray and Isabella up. What made me cut off your brother."
Gale felt his heart slow.
"It was Klaus."
Axel paused. His hands were shaking slightly.
"Klaus… he hatched a plan to tear them apart. He was… obsessed with Isabella. Sick with jealousy. He couldn't stand her being with Ray, so he used me."
"You?" Gale repeated, stunned.
"He made me believe I was helping Isabella escape a trap. He told me Ray was lying to her, doing things behind her back. I... I acted, thinking I was doing the right thing. But it was a trap. A setup. And when Isabella fell for it, she left. She packed her bags and flew away. To another country. No return. Ray never knew why."
Gale was stunned. His breathing quickened.
"You mean... all this time... it was him?"
Axel nodded. He had looked down.
"Yes. And he's doing it again. He's using Diana like he used me. He's using her jealousy, her feelings, to manipulate everyone. He doesn't love her. He just wants her to be useful to him to get to Isabella." And the day it's no longer useful... he'll throw it away.
"I understand why you can't be friends with him anymore..." Gale murmured, upset.
He stood up slowly, his chair scraping the floor.
"Thank you, Axel. Thank you for your sincerity."
As he was about to leave, Axel stopped him with a gesture.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you..."
But Gale turned around, his eyes shining with anger mixed with pain.
"You don't have to apologize. Quite the opposite. I can't imagine the weight of guilt you're carrying. But now... enough is enough. Klaus has to stop. I won't let him do this anymore."
Axel remained motionless, absorbing these words with a mixture of relief and sadness. Gale, without another word, strode away.