The rumor

Lena stood there for a few seconds after Enthan disappeared down the stairs.

Her mind was still trying to catch up with what had just happened.

You need to stop talking to me.

His words echoed in her head.

“What was that about?” Mia asked, slightly out of breath.

Lena blinked and looked at her.

“I honestly have no idea.”

Mia frowned.

“He just grabbed your wrist and dragged you away. That’s not exactly normal behavior.”

“I noticed.”

“Did he say anything?”

Lena hesitated.

“Not really.”

Mia raised an eyebrow.

“Lena.”

“He just told me to stop talking to him.”

Mia stared at her.

“Seriously?”

“Yeah.”

“That makes zero sense.”

“I know.”

They started walking toward the cafeteria together.

The hallway was crowded now.

Students were laughing, talking, and rushing to lunch.

But as Lena walked past them, she noticed something strange.

People were looking at her.

Not just glancing.

Staring.

Whispering.

At first she thought she was imagining it.

But then two girls near the lockers suddenly stopped talking when she walked by.

One of them covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

“What’s going on?” Lena muttered.

Mia looked around.

“Okay… this is weird.”

A group of boys near the vending machines glanced at Lena.

One of them whispered something.

The others started grinning.

Lena felt her stomach twist.

“This is not normal.”

“No kidding,” Mia said.

Just then, Ryan appeared again.

He walked straight toward them, holding his phone.

“You guys need to see this.”

His tone was serious this time.

Not dramatic.

Not joking.

“What?” Mia asked.

Ryan showed them his phone.

On the screen was a post from the school’s anonymous gossip page.

Lena’s heart dropped the moment she saw the photo.

It was blurry.

But still recognizable.

The picture showed Enthan holding Lena’s wrist in the hallway.

Exactly what had happened a few minutes ago.

Under the photo was a caption:

“Looks like the quiet girl finally caught Ethan Carter’s attention.”

And below that—

Hundreds of comments.

“Wait… since when?”

“I thought he didn’t talk to anyone.”

“She’s actually pretty.”

“Isn’t she the girl from class 3B?”

“Did they fight or something?”

“Or maybe they’re dating??”

Mia’s eyes widened.

“Dating??”

Ryan scrolled further down.

“Oh wow… it gets worse.”

Another comment said:

“He was also involved in a fight this morning. Maybe she’s the reason.”

Lena felt her face grow hot.

“This is ridiculous.”

“I know,” Mia said quickly.

“But people love rumors.”

Ryan sighed.

“The post already has like two hundred shares.”

“Two hundred??”

“Yeah.”

Lena grabbed the phone from his hand and looked at the picture again.

Her chest tightened.

Someone had been watching them.

Taking pictures.

Posting them online.

But why?

“What’s wrong?” Mia asked softly.

Lena pointed at the screen.

“This wasn’t random.”

“What do you mean?”

“The notes.”

Ryan blinked.

“What notes?”

Mia quickly explained.

“The creepy messages she got earlier.”

Ryan’s expression changed immediately.

“Wait… someone told you to stay away from Ethan?”

“Yes.”

“And now this photo appears online?”

Lena nodded slowly.

Ryan looked uneasy.

“That’s not a coincidence.”

The cafeteria suddenly felt louder.

More chaotic.

Like the entire room was buzzing with gossip.

Lena could feel people glancing at her from different tables.

Some curious.

Some amused.

Some judging.

“I hate this,” she muttered.

“Just ignore them,” Mia said.

“People will forget in a few days.”

Ryan shook his head.

“Not if more stuff shows up.”

“Thanks for the encouragement,” Mia said dryly.

They sat down at their usual table.

Lena barely touched her food.

Her mind kept replaying everything.

The notes.

Enthan’s reaction.

And now this rumor.

Something about the situation felt wrong.

Like pieces of a puzzle that didn’t quite fit together.

“Do you think Ethan posted the picture himself?” Ryan asked suddenly.

“No,” Lena said immediately.

Mia looked surprised.

“You’re very sure.”

“He wouldn’t do that.”

“How do you know?”

Lena paused.

She didn’t actually know.

But the way he reacted earlier…

He had looked genuinely upset when he saw the note.

Like he recognized it.

Like he knew who sent it.

“I just don’t think it was him,” she said quietly.

At that exact moment—

Someone dropped their tray at the table next to them.

Everyone turned.

And there he was.

Enthan Carter.

Standing a few steps away.

His eyes slowly moved around the cafeteria.

Then they landed on Lena.

He had probably already seen the rumor.

His expression was unreadable.

Ryan leaned closer to Mia.

“Wow. This is awkward.”

Mia whispered back.

“Extremely.”

For a moment, it looked like Enthan might walk over.

But instead—

A tall girl stepped in front of him.

Her long black hair fell perfectly over her shoulders.

Her uniform looked almost too neat.

Too perfect.

Lena recognized her immediately.

Chloe Harper.

One of the most popular girls in school.

Chloe placed a hand lightly on Enthan’s arm.

“Are you okay?” she asked sweetly.

Her voice was loud enough for people nearby to hear.

“I saw the post.”

The cafeteria became quieter.

Everyone was listening.

Enthan glanced down at her hand.

Then back at her face.

“I’m fine.”

Chloe frowned slightly.

“But rumors like that can ruin someone’s reputation.”

Her eyes briefly moved toward Lena.

Just for a second.

But the message was clear.

Someone’s reputation.

Not his.

Lena felt her chest tighten.

Mia leaned closer and whispered:

“I don’t like her.”

“Join the club,” Ryan muttered.

Chloe sighed dramatically.

“People really believe anything they see online.”

She finally removed her hand from Enthan’s arm.

“Don’t worry,” she said softly.

“I know you’d never date someone… random.”

The word random hung in the air.

Lena looked down at her tray.

She suddenly lost her appetite completely.

Enthan’s gaze moved toward Lena again.

Their eyes met across the cafeteria.

For a moment, neither of them looked away.

Then—

Enthan spoke.

His voice was calm.

But clear.

“Chloe.”

She smiled.

“Yes?”

“I don’t remember asking for your opinion.”

The table near Lena went silent.

Chloe’s smile froze.

“What?”

Enthan picked up his tray.

“And you’re wrong.”

He turned slightly.

His eyes met Lena’s again.

Then he said something that made the entire cafeteria explode with whispers.

“I don’t mind the rumor.”

And with that—

He walked away.

Ryan nearly choked on his drink.

“Did he just—”

“Yes,” Mia said slowly.

“He absolutely did.”

Lena sat there, stunned.

Her heart was beating faster again.

This situation was getting worse.

Much worse.

And somehow…

She had the feeling that this was only the beginning.

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