The next day
Naya got dressed for school in silence. She picked up her phone and glanced at herself in the mirror. Her face was pale, her eyes slightly swollen from crying.
Naya: Did I cry that much… to make my face this pale?
She let out a deep sigh, grabbed her bag, and headed out toward the bus stop.
---
Cambridge High
Author's POV
As Naya arrived at school, she immediately felt eyes on her. Students turned, stared, whispered. Confused, she mumbled to herself:
Naya: What's going on?
Up ahead, she spotted Nora holding her phone tightly. When Nora noticed her, she rushed over, her face a mix of anger and regret. Without a word, she showed Naya the screen.
It was a video—Naya asking Lucien out.
As the footage played, the whispers around them grew louder and crueler.
??: Look at her… so shameless. If it were me, I'd never come back to school.
??: How dare she ask Lucien out?
??: I came up with a title for the post!
??: What post?
??: I just recorded her now. The title is Miss Lowlife Asking the Popular Boy Out.
All: Ha ha ha!
Humiliated, Naya sped up, brushing past Nora and heading straight for her class.
Nora, visibly fuming, turned to the group mocking her friend.
Nora: You people are disgusting.
She stormed off, leaving them behind.
---
In class, it wasn't any better. Laughter. Whispers. Stares. Every seat felt colder than usual—except for one.
Kelvin noticed her walk in.
Kelvin: Are you okay? You look really pale.
Naya: I'm fine. Just a headache.
She sat at her desk, lowering her head to the table. The world felt heavier today.
Suddenly, she stood up and walked out of the class without saying a word. Kelvin, worried, followed her.
As soon as she stepped into the hallway—she fainted.