Rumors moved faster than truth.
Andrea Paisley realized that the moment she walked into school the next morning.
At first it was subtle.
Whispers that stopped when she passed.
Eyes following her a little too long.
People suddenly checking their phones and smirking.
Andrea tried to ignore it.
She kept her head up, her expression cold, like nothing could touch her.
But inside, she already knew.
Something had spread.
By the time she reached her classroom, the tension was obvious.
Two girls near the window were whispering.
"…I heard she literally threw herself at him."
"Seriously?"
"That's what Samuel said."
Andrea stopped walking.
Her stomach dropped.
Of course.
Samuel.
She entered the classroom slowly.
The room went quieter than usual.
Not silent.
But quiet enough that Andrea could feel it.
The attention.
The judgment.
She walked to her seat in the back like she always did and dropped her bag on the desk.
Her phone buzzed.
A notification from Instagram.
The class group chat.
Andrea opened it.
Bad idea.
Messages filled the screen.
"Is it true?"
"Bro Samuel said she kissed a guy outside Unico."
"Drunk too."
"That's embarrassing."
Andrea locked her phone immediately.
Her chest felt tight.
So that was it.
Samuel didn't just gossip.
He turned it into entertainment.
Andrea lifted her head slowly.
Samuel was sitting two rows ahead like usual.
Relaxed.
Scrolling through his phone like nothing happened.
Like he didn't just destroy her reputation for fun.
Andrea's jaw tightened.
For a moment she considered walking up and starting another fight.
But something stopped her.
What was the point?
Rumors were already alive.
Fighting would only feed them.
Andrea leaned back in her chair and stared at the ceiling.
Just survive the day.
That was enough.
A chair moved beside her.
Andrea glanced sideways.
Tom Čonka had taken the seat next to her.
That was unusual.
He usually sat near the window.
"Hey," Tom said quietly.
Andrea blinked.
"Hi."
Tom looked slightly uncomfortable.
"Are you… okay?"
Andrea almost laughed.
Of course that was the question everyone asked.
The one with the obvious lie attached.
"Yeah," she said casually.
Tom hesitated.
"I heard some things."
Andrea looked at him.
"And?"
Tom shrugged slightly.
"I don't think people should believe everything they hear."
Andrea studied him for a moment.
Tom wasn't judging her.
He just looked… concerned.
"Thanks," she muttered.
Tom nodded once.
Then he stood up again and returned to his usual seat near the window.
Just like that.
Andrea exhaled slowly.
It wasn't much.
But it was something.
Across the room, Samuel finally looked up from his phone.
His eyes landed on Andrea.
Their gazes met.
For a moment, neither of them looked away.
Samuel's expression was unreadable.
Not mocking.
Not apologetic.
Just… sharp.
Andrea rolled her eyes and looked away first.
Whatever.
The classroom door opened.
More students walked in.
Among them—
Matthew.
Andrea felt her chest tighten instantly.
He entered the room with Vanessa beside him, her hand wrapped around his arm.
Vanessa was talking about something, laughing softly.
Matthew nodded along.
Normal.
Everything looked completely normal.
Andrea watched them sit down together near the front.
Matthew didn't look back once.
Not at her.
Not at all.
Andrea swallowed.
So that's it.
The kiss.
The moment outside Unico.
It meant nothing.
He didn't defend her.
He didn't say anything.
He just acted like it never happened.
Andrea stared down at her desk.
Something heavy settled inside her chest.
The kind of feeling that slowly spread like cold water.
That familiar thought returned again.
The one that followed her for years.
Of course.
Why would it ever be different for me?
Around her, the whispers started again.
Small.
Cruel.
Persistent.
Andrea sat there quietly.
And realized something.
Sometimes the worst pain wasn't being hated.
It was being ignored.
Like you never mattered enough to defend.
Like you were just another story people could laugh about.
Another rumor.
Another mistake.