"Just let me go," she said firmly as she pulled herself free from his grip.
Everyone around them was shocked by her bold reaction. Without saying another word, Angela quickly picked up her bag and hurried out of the place. She got home and immediately freshened up, she changed into something comfortable, and prepared herself, knowing her dance team was already waiting for her.
When she arrived, the girls were already gathered.
"Girls, no show tonight?" Angela asked as she walked in.
"Not really," Karen replied with a smile. "But a friend of mine is celebrating her birthday tonight. It's going to be a very grand party, and she invited me, with all of you."
"Wow… it seems we're already becoming famous," Susan said with a grin.
Angela turned, surprised to see Susan smoking.
"Susan… you've really changed," Angela said, staring at her.
"Just let me be," Susan replied casually. "By the way, I've been hearing about this guy, Chris. I was just told today that he's from your school."
She threw the cigarette to the ground, crushed it under her foot, then brought out another one and lit it.
"Sure… and what about Chris?" Angela asked.
"I like him," Susan said with a smirk. "I just wish I was in your school. Believe me, I would have had him all to myself by now."
Karen laughed softly.
"I've heard about him too," she said dreamily. "I even have a lot of his pictures on my phone. I wish I could be one of his girlfriends… I'd give him anything he wants."
"Come on, girls," Angela said, shaking her head slightly. "I know a lot of girls like Chris, but that doesn't mean you should lower your standards."
She paused briefly before continuing in a quieter tone,
"He actually tried something with me at the party… but I slapped him."
"What?!" Susan exclaimed, staring at her in disbelief. "Angela, are you serious?"
She leaned forward, her tone turning sharp.
"You can dance. You're beautiful, attractive… you have everything. Why not use it to your advantage? You could easily seduce him and get whatever you want. Sometimes, you're just really foolish."
Angela's expression changed immediately.
"Don't say that" she replied firmly. "I'm not even happy with the life I'm living right now. If I had a family, people I could truly call my own, I wouldn't be doing this."
Her voice softened, but her words carried weight.
"Respect means everything to me. I will respect myself and keep my dignity. I am not one of those cheap loose girls… and I will never become one."
The others laughed, though not all of them fully agreed.
Jane, however, looked at her with a small, sincere smile.
"I believe in you, Angela," she said softly. "And I pray you make it to the end."
"If I were you," Susan said with a confident smile, "I would be at the top by now. Believe me, I would have many boyfriends."
She laughed lightly. Among them all, she clearly stood out as the smartest, and perhaps the most reckless. Being the oldest, she carried herself with a certain pride that sometimes made the others uncomfortable.
Angela said nothing. She only stared at them; her eyes filled with disapproval.
"Well… we can continue rehearsals tomorrow," Angela said after a moment, trying to change the topic to avoid further argument.
.
Angela was just coming out of the library when she suddenly bumped into Chris and his friends, who were on their way in.
"Hey, sexy," Jerry said immediately, his eyes roaming boldly over her from head to toe.
Angela's expression hardened.
Chris stepped forward slightly, his gaze fixed on her.
"Why did you walk out on me that day?" he asked.
Angela met his eyes for a brief moment.