By lunch, the entire school seemed to know.
Whispers spread like wildfire, leaping from table to table, hallway to hallway. Her name paired with his in hushed voices, laughter, and speculation.
"Did you see how he stood up for her?""Why her? She's nobody.""Maybe he feels sorry for her.""No—maybe he actually likes her.""As if."
She kept her head down as she walked through the cafeteria, the tray trembling faintly in her hands. Every laugh sounded sharper. Every whisper felt aimed at her.
Her fake friends were waiting at their usual table, but the atmosphere had changed. Their smiles weren't sweet this time. They were thin, brittle. Cold.
"So," one of them said, twirling her fork between her fingers, "looks like you've upgraded."
The others giggled, though it lacked its usual warmth.
She forced a chuckle, setting her tray down. "It's not like that."
"Sure," another said, leaning in, her voice sugar-coated venom. "It's just funny, you know? You never get attention… and then suddenly he's defending you?"
She swallowed hard, her throat tight. She wanted to say something, anything, but the words stuck like thorns.
Then she felt it—eyes on her.
Kai.
He sat at a table across the cafeteria, surrounded by curious students trying to strike up conversation. But he wasn't looking at them. His gaze was steady, fixed on her.
The moment their eyes met, her fake friends shifted, glancing between the two of them. The smirks wavered, though their judgment hung heavy in the air.
She tore her gaze away, pretending to focus on her food. Her hands shook, but she forced them still.
Inside, though, something strange stirred.
For the first time, when the laughter bit at her, she didn't feel entirely alone.
Because even across the noisy cafeteria, even with the weight of everyone's eyes, Kai was still watching. Not with pity. Not with disgust. But with quiet, unshakable understanding.
And that was enough to keep her mask from breaking.
At least, for now.