Bella stepped into school the next morning with a braced breath and a silent prayer. She had rehearsed her walk in the mirror — head high, shoulders back, neutral expression. Normal. Unbothered. Like her life hadn't just turned into the school's favourite TV drama overnight.
But barely ten steps past the front gate, she knew it was wishful thinking.
People weren't whispering anymore. Now they were just watching. Openly. Like she was a live event no one wanted to miss.
She passed two juniors near the bike racks.
"She doesn't even look nervous," one said, like Bella wasn't two feet away.
"She probably is. She's just hiding it," the other replied.
Bella gritted her teeth and kept walking.
Inside the building, things weren't much better. It was like all her classmates had collectively decided to act like extras in a teen movie. The stares, the awkward silences, the smirks — it was all happening in slow motion.
When she reached her locker, she found a folded note tucked between the vents.
Her stomach dipped.
She pulled it out, unfolded it carefully. The handwriting was messy, probably rushed.
"Guess saving him makes you special now. Hope you can keep his attention longer than the last girl did."
No name. Of course.
Bella stared at the note for a beat too long before quietly tearing it in half and slipping it into her pocket. Her fingers were cold.
"Classy," Emily said, appearing behind her like a force of nature. "Anonymous hate mail. We love the creativity."
Bella shut her locker a little harder than necessary. "It's fine."
"No, it's really not," Emily replied, clearly ready to launch into a rant, but then softened. "Do you want me to find out who wrote it? Because I can. I've got sources."
Bella shook her head. "No. I just want to get through today without feeling like a zoo exhibit."
Emily linked their arms as they started down the hall. "Then let's do that. We pretend like we're unbothered queens. And if someone looks at you funny, just remember they're jealous because Yunho Choi stood outside your classroom looking like a romantic lead from a K-drama."
Bella groaned. "You're not helping."
"I am absolutely helping." Emily flashed her dazzling smile, trying to cheer Bella up.
By the time lunch rolled around, Bella felt like she had been holding her breath since first period. She dragged herself toward the bench behind the gym, where Emily was already sitting, cross-legged and slicing open a fruit pouch like it was an act of war.
Bella collapsed onto the bench beside her with a dramatic exhale. "I'm losing my mind."
Emily blinked. "Already? It's not even math class yet."
Bella pressed her palms to her face. "People are staring like I'm a celebrity on the verge of a public breakdown."
"Well, to be fair, you are the main character this week."
"I don't want to be the main character," Bella snapped, more tired than angry. "I didn't sign up for this spotlight. I didn't ask to be 'towel girl' or 'Yunho's maybe-date' or whatever title people are throwing around today."
Emily handed her the other half of her sandwich. "I know. They're being vultures. But it's not about what you did. It's about how people love attaching themselves to drama they're not even a part of."
Bella took the sandwich, holding it but not eating. "It's just— Every room I walk into, someone's whispering. I got followed to the bathroom by two Year Ones who giggled the whole time. Someone took a photo of me in the cafeteria queue. And Ava's little group keeps smirking at me like they know something I don't."
Emily's expression hardened. "They're obsessed, that's all. And Ava's just mad she doesn't have Yunho wrapped around her finger the way you clearly do."
"I don't have him wrapped around anything," Bella said, letting her head drop back against the tree behind them. "He barely talks. Half the time I don't know if he wants to fight me or buy me bubble tea."
Emily grinned. "Maybe both."
Bella groaned. "This isn't funny. I just want things to go back to normal."
"I know you do." Emily's voice was softer now. "But you're not the kind of person who blends in anymore, Bella. Not after what happened. You saved someone. You changed something. And people are watching because they don't know how to process that."
Bella didn't respond right away. She chewed slowly on a corner of the sandwich, her thoughts swirling.
Bella leaned back again, exhaling. "Do you think Yunho regrets it?"
Emily looked at her sharply. "Regrets what?"
"Coming to my classroom. Making everything so public. Now there's a literal betting pool going around about whether he'll actually ask me out."
Emily whistled low. "That's a new low, even for this place."
"I overheard it from Ava's group."
"Ugh. Petty little court jesters," Emily muttered. "You know Yunho's not the type to cave under pressure. If anything, he seems like the kind of guy who doesn't care what people think. He's their golden boy, remember? He can do no wrong."
Bella glanced at her hands. "It's on me then. Like this thing, whatever it is, could crack under the weight of all the attention."
Emily leaned her head on Bella's shoulder. "Then don't let it crack. Protect it. Keep it yours. Let them gossip, but don't give them the real story. That's yours to live."
Bella sat with that thought.
It was hers. Not theirs.
Whatever was happening between her and Yunho — awkward, unexpected, real or not — it was still unfolding. Still hers to figure out.
And Saturday was coming.