Those people around Arabe who had envied me alteredpletely. They


    turned on me, like a pack of wolves, trampling all over my dignity. They isted me, just like they had done to Miranda.


    "Can''t believe you had the nerve to write a love letter to the eldest Hawke brother? So desperate."


    "The Hawke brothers are all about their little sister, what makes you think they''d notice you?"


    "Look at your slut-like self, no wonder Dorian doesn''t give you a second nce."


    ...


    They gossiped, spreading rumors, calling me names. At first, I tried to stand up for myself, but as the voices grew louder, mine was drowned out.


    I went to Arabe, hoping she''d stand by me. She just smiled. "I don''t know why they''re like this, but I''ll try to talk to them."


    I held onto that hope, even though I could see a hint of mockery in her eyes.


    School was miserable, and I found myself heading to the bar more often, trying to drown out my sorrows. That was when I ran into Dorian again.


    "You''re crying," he observed, his voice calm.


    I ignored him, but he simply picked me up and took me away from that ce.


    That night, he took me home. From then on, I seemed to run into him everywhere. Sometimes he''d stand up for me, other times he''d just watch.


    Ever since he tore up my letter in front of everyone and humiliated me, I had decided I didn''t like him anymore. So whatever he did now, it didn''t affect me.


    The less I paid attention to him, the more frequently he seemed to appear. Until one day, he got hurt protecting me from a thug''s revenge. I was terrified, but he refused to go to the hospital.


    So I took him to my ce, patched him up, and made him a meal.


    "Where are your parents?" he asked.


    "Abroad, they never came back. It''s just been me and the caregiver," I said, nonchntly.


    I had longe to terms with it; it didn''t bother me anymore.


    He fell silent for a moment, and then finished the meal I made. "It''s really good," he praised.


    Then he added, "Didn''t you have a crush on me? I''m giving you a chance now, I allow you to be my girlfriend."


    I paused. "No, I don''t like you anymore."


    His expression darkened visibly at my words. "What did you say?"


    I didn''t understand why he was angry. I didn''t care for him, or his sister, for that matter.


    I had learned that the istion and rumors at school were all


    orchestrated by Arabe. She never considered me as a friend. She just wanted to see me fall.


    But now, with graduation around corner, I didn''t want to waste time on this drama. I chose silence and endurance.  t


    "I..."


    I was about to continue when someone came in.


    "Sunny! I''m here! I brought you some pancakes and milkshake from the diner at


    the entrance of the school!"


    It was a guy from a neighboring


    school. We met when I worked


    part-time at a café. He liked mol


    trying to pursue me, and was always bringing me little snacks.


    "Who is he?" Dorian''s voice was icy. "Is it because of him? Is that why you said


    you don''t like me?!"