whispers

whispers

The next day, I walked into the university with a tight knot in my stomach. It was still early, and the campus felt quieter than usual, but I knew that wouldn’t last long. I could already feel the weight of the stares from some of the students, whispers drifting through the air like smoke. I hadn’t even had my morning coffee, but I could already sense today was going to be another day of challenges.

It didn’t take long for things to go from bad to worse. As I passed the student lounge, I heard voices too loud and too close. Mia was there, standing with a group of girls, laughing and chatting like she owned the world. She had that effect on people, the kind of beauty that could stop anyone in their tracks. Her long, golden hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, and her perfectly made-up face was the epitome of what society considered beautiful. I had heard of her before, but today, something felt different.

"Ugh, can you believe Elena?" Mia's voice cut through the noise, making my heart skip a beat. "She’s such a joke. Fell for Gabriel’s trap, like some desperate fool."

The laughter that followed felt like knives in my chest. It wasn’t a surprise, though. Mia was the kind of girl who got everything she wanted, and if Gabriel wasn’t paying attention to her, then I was the next best target.

"Seriously, how dumb is she?" One of Mia’s friends added, her voice dripping with mockery. "I don’t get why Gabriel would even bother with her. She’s nothing like us. Like, she’s barely even trying to fit in, and it’s embarrassing."

"Right?" Mia chimed in again, her voice sweet but full of venom. "She thinks she’s some kind of genius, but everyone can see right through her. Just a girl from a poor background trying to make herself feel important. Newsflash: Gabriel doesn’t fall for people like her."

The words stung. I stood frozen for a moment, my hands curling into fists at my sides. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Mia, the one person who should have been above this petty nonsense, was leading the charge against me. And why? Because I wasn’t falling for her charm, wasn’t playing the game the way she wanted. And then there was Gabriel. Why the hell did she even care? Why was she so focused on him and me?

I knew the answer, even if Mia hadn’t voiced it. She had a crush on Gabriel. That much was clear. And seeing him actually notice me, talk to me, had probably driven her crazy with jealousy. It made sense now—the reason she came to me yesterday, pretending to be friendly. It wasn’t because she cared or wanted to be nice. It was all part of her little game, and I had just played right into it.

"You know, I bet she’s crying somewhere right now," one of Mia’s friends whispered, laughing under her breath. "Poor girl doesn’t even know how to stand up for herself."

My stomach twisted as the laughter continued. But instead of crying, I did the one thing I knew best. I turned on my heel and walked away without looking back. I didn’t need to give them the satisfaction of seeing me upset. I had been through too much already to let a bunch of spoiled girls like them get to me.

I walked quickly, keeping my head down. The campus seemed bigger than usual, like it was closing in on me. I just needed to get to class. I needed to escape the gossip, the mockery, and the weight of their words. But the whispers followed me like a shadow.

As I reached the entrance of the building where my classroom was located, I heard a familiar voice behind me.

"Hey, Elena! Wait up!"

I stopped, taking a deep breath before turning around. It was Gabriel.

For a moment, I wanted to run. But instead, I forced myself to stand still, trying to calm my racing heart.

He approached me slowly, his eyes scanning me with that usual calculating gaze. "You alright?" he asked, though there was no warmth in his voice.

I raised an eyebrow. "Why do you care?"

His lips twitched into a small smirk. "I don’t," he replied coolly. "But you look like you need a little help."

I couldn’t believe it. After everything that had happened, after all the things Mia had just said about me, Gabriel was standing there acting like he cared. I wasn’t stupid. I knew he was just playing games, trying to get under my skin.

I straightened my back and gave him a look. "I’m fine. Just another day at Kingston."

Gabriel didn’t say anything for a few moments, his gaze lingering on me. Then, without warning, he turned and started walking toward the door. "Whatever you say, Elena," he called over his shoulder. "But don’t get too comfortable."

I stared after him for a moment, feeling a mix of confusion and frustration swirling inside me. What did he mean by that? Was he trying to mock me, or was he just being his usual cryptic self?

I didn’t know. But it didn’t matter. I was tired of trying to figure him out. I had enough on my plate with Mia and the rest of the students making me the punchline of their jokes.

I walked into the classroom, my head held high, and took my seat. I didn’t need to let them see me hurt. I wasn’t going to be their target anymore.

I pulled my books from my bag and opened the notebook, trying to focus. But the whispers, the laughter, and the memory of Mia’s cruel words kept circling in my mind.

For a moment, I thought about the past—the way my family used to be before everything fell apart. But I pushed that thought away. There was no room for the past now. Only the present. Only the survival of this new version of me.

"Hey, Elena." Gabriel’s voice cut through my thoughts once more.

I looked up, only to see him standing by my desk, his expression unreadable. I didn’t know what he wanted this time, but I wasn’t interested in whatever game he was playing.

"What is it?" I asked, my voice flat, not bothering to mask the irritation I felt.

He smirked, his green eyes glinting. "Nothing. Just making sure you’re still alive in here."

I didn’t say anything. Instead, I focused on the front of the room, waiting for the lecture to begin.

Maybe I didn’t belong here. Maybe I was different from everyone else in this place. But one thing was for sure I wasn’t going to let anyone break me. Not Gabriel. Not Mia. Not anyone.