The next morning, Elena walked onto the university campus with a heavy heart, her resolve faltering under the weight of the latest rumors. The sharp whispers followed her like a shadow, students staring, some outright laughing as they huddled in corners with their phones. She kept her head high, her grip tightening around her books, even as snippets of their conversations stabbed at her dignity.
“Can you believe she works there?” one girl sneered.
“I thought she was this goody-two-shoes scholar. Guess she’s full of surprises,” another chimed in.
“Maybe she’s finally showing her true colors,” a boy smirked, holding up his phone to show the edited photo circulating online.
Elena’s cheeks burned, but she refused to let her mask slip. They were cruel, but she couldn’t afford to show them her pain. Not anymore.
By lunchtime, Mia was holding court at her usual spot in the cafeteria. Her gang laughed loudly as Mia leaned back in her chair, scrolling through her phone with a satisfied smirk.
“Did you see her face this morning? Like a deer caught in headlights,” Mia mocked, her friends breaking into giggles.
“Do you think she’ll cry in front of everyone again?” one of them asked.
“She’s too stubborn for that,” Mia replied, her voice dripping with malice. “But let’s see how long that lasts.”
Elena entered the cafeteria, her steps faltering as she noticed the stares. Mia spotted her instantly and turned to her gang with a mischievous grin. She stood, her heels clicking against the tile as she approached Elena.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the scholar herself,” Mia said loudly, drawing attention. “Tell me, Elena, how does it feel to be the talk of the town?”
Elena paused, her heart racing. Normally, she would have walked away, avoided confrontation, but not this time. She turned to face Mia, her chin lifted.
“It feels great, actually,” Elena said calmly, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands. “You went through so much effort to make me famous. Should I thank you?”
The cafeteria went silent, the boldness in Elena’s response catching everyone off guard. Mia’s smirk faltered for a fraction of a second before she recovered, narrowing her eyes.
“Careful, Elena,” Mia said, her voice lowering dangerously. “You might want to watch that attitude. Wouldn’t want things to get… worse.”
Elena stepped closer, her calm demeanor unshaken. “You know what, Mia? Do your worst. You’ve already thrown every rumor, every lie at me. But I’m still standing. Maybe it’s you who should start worrying.”
Gasps echoed around the room as Mia’s expression hardened. Elena’s confidence had rattled her, and it showed.
Later that day, Gabriel strolled onto campus, his usual air of confidence drawing glances from students. He noticed the tense atmosphere almost immediately, but it wasn’t until he spotted Elena in the library that he realized something was wrong.
She was sitting alone, her shoulders slumped, her face pale and drawn. The Elena he remembered-the one who always radiated quiet strength-looked broken.
“Elena,” he said softly, pulling out the chair across from her. She didn’t look up, her focus fixed on the notes in front of her.
“Gabriel,” she said after a long pause, her voice barely above a whisper.
“What’s going on?” he asked, his brows furrowing in concern. “You’re not yourself.”
She hesitated, her hand clenching the pen tightly. “It’s nothing. Just… stress.”
He didn’t buy it for a second. “Elena, talk to me. Did someone do something to you?”
She shook her head, her throat tightening. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll deal with it.”
Before he could press further, a group of students passed by, their laughter cutting through the quiet of the library. Gabriel’s sharp hearing caught snippets of their conversation.
“She’s so fake.”
“Can’t believe Gabriel hangs out with her.”
“Guess everyone’s got secrets.”
His jaw clenched as he pieced together the situation. Standing abruptly, he placed a hand on Elena’s shoulder. “I’ll be back,” he said firmly before walking out.
Gabriel found Mia near the fountain, her friends clustered around her as they reviewed their latest social media posts.
“Mia,” he called out, his voice cold.
She looked up, surprised, before her expression turned coy. “Gabriel, you’re back! We missed you.”
“Cut the act,” he snapped, stepping closer. “What the hell are you doing to Elena?”
Mia feigned innocence, her lips curving into a pout. “Me? I’m just helping everyone see the real Elena. Don’t tell me you’re falling for her lies.”
Gabriel’s eyes narrowed. “Stay away from her. If I find out you’ve done anything else, you’ll regret it.”
Mia’s smile faltered as he turned and walked away, leaving her confused.
Elena’s JobThat evening, Elena arrived at the diner, tying her apron with shaky hands. The small, bustling space was a stark contrast to the silence she craved, but she needed this job.
“First day jitters?” her manager Sandra asked, giving her an encouraging smile.
Elena nodded. “I’ll do my best.”
The first few hours were chaotic. She spilled a drink on a customer, mixed up orders, and narrowly avoided dropping a tray. Each mistake chipped away at her already fragile confidence.
“Take a deep breath,” Sandra advised after the dinner rush. “You’re doing fine. Everyone messes up on their first day.”
Elena forced a smile, but as she stepped into the back to collect herself, tears pricked her eyes. She leaned against the wall, her chest heaving as the weight of everything pressed down on her.
When her phone buzzed, she hesitated before answering. “Hello?”
Her mother’s panicked voice came through the line. “Elena, your father… he’s angry again. The debt collectors came by.”
Elena’s stomach twisted. “What did they say?”
“They want the money by the end of the month, or they’ll take… whatever they can.”
Her father’s voice shouted in the background. “Call that ungrateful brat! She can pay us back by working for them. She’s useless here anyway.”
Her mother quickly ended the call, but the words echoed in Elena’s mind, cutting deep. She clutched her phone, tears streaming down her face.
As she walked at the dorm that night, her steps heavy, Elena made a decision. She would not let Mia, the rumors, or her father’s cruelty break her. She would fight not just for herself but for the future she deserved.
But in the shadows, Mia and her gang watched, plotting their next move.