The whispers started before I even reached my seat.
I heard my name, followed by quiet laughter. The moment I looked over, the room went silent.
"…Loser," someone muttered under their breath.
I pretended not to hear it. I walked to my desk, set down my bag, and sat in silence.
After a while, I glanced toward the back of the classroom.
The same group.
The same quiet laughter.
The same sideways glances.
That's when I finally understood.
Rumors don't spread by themselves. Someone has to start them, and someone has to keep them alive.
I didn't need proof anymore.
Deep down…
I already knew.
Kira.
And her friends.
The realization hurt more than I wanted to admit—not because everyone hated me, but because I had trusted her.
When the final bell rang, I left the classroom without saying a word.
The walk home felt longer than usual.
When I opened the front door, Mom looked up from the kitchen.
"How was school?"
I forced a smile.
"…It was fine."
She smiled back.
"I'm glad."
I nodded and quietly walked upstairs. The moment my bedroom door closed, the smile disappeared.
I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling.
Some wounds didn't hurt because they were deep.
They hurt because they never had the chance to heal.
Days turned into weeks, and weeks slowly became months.
Before I knew it, middle school had come to an end.
Students laughed together, took pictures, and promised to stay in touch.
I watched it all from a distance.
Some memories fade with time.
Mine didn't.
As I walked away from middle school for the last time, I realized something.
No matter how far I moved forward…
The past wasn't going to let me go.
END OF CHAPTER 7