The whistle from the physical education instructor still echoed faintly as students began moving toward the sports wing.
The class split naturally, boys heading one way, girls the other. Conversations filled the hallway, light and careless, but Aura walked quietly among them.
Her mind was elsewhere.
She hadn't expected the day to feel heavier than the last, yet it did. The rumors hadn't stopped. If anything, they had grown louder. Every whisper felt sharper. Every glance lingered longer.
By the time they entered the girls' locker room, most students were already changing into their sports clothes. Laughter bounced off the tiled walls. Lockers opened and shut. Shoes scraped softly against the floor.
Aura moved to a corner, calmly opening her locker. She changed quietly, focused only on finishing quickly. She didn't want attention. Especially not now, not with her mind in scrambles like this.
Stephanie entered moments later with her usual circle. Their voices softened when they noticed Aura. Subtle. Deliberate. Not obvious enough to call out, but noticeable.
Aura ignored it.
One by one, the other girls finished changing and began heading out. The instructor's voice echoed faintly from outside, calling for students to assemble. Soon, the locker room began to empty. She breathed out.
Aura tied her hair slowly, unaware she was now one of the last remaining.
The door shut.
She turned slightly.
Stephanie stood near the exit.
Two girls leaned casually beside her. Their expressions calm. Polite. Controlled.
The air shifted.
"Aura," Stephanie called softly.
Aura straightened looking at her calmly. "Yes?"
"You've been calm than usual lately." She said provocatively.
"I'm just adjusting."
Stephanie nodded slowly. "That makes sense."
One of the girls smiled. "It's not easy… watching someone else take your place."
Aura's fingers paused. Green tea vibes.
"I'm not—" she said but was rudely interrupted.
"We heard you've been close to Ethan," the second girl added gently. "Before."
'Did he tell her about our intimate weekend, our are they speculating? He's not the type to kiss and tell, or at least I think, not with them. Or her rather.' she said squinting her eyes at them.
Stephanie stepped closer, her tone calm. "But things change."
Aura inhaled quietly. Reigning her anger.
"I understand."
Stephanie tilted her head. "Do you?"
She stepped closer again. Not threatening. Not aggressive. Just… close enough to make the space feel smaller and more annoying.
"Ethan and I have history, it went downhill a while but still..." Stephanie continued softly. "It's natural we'd reconnect."
Aura kept her gaze steady. "Of course. If the sky is red to you it would be."
"He's been spending more time with me lately," Stephanie added.
"I noticed. So?"
One of the girls laughed lightly. "Everyone has noticed."
Stephanie's eyes stayed on Aura. "You don't mind… right?"
Aura's heart tightened.
"No."
Stephanie smiled faintly. "Good."
She paused deliberately.
"Because it would be awkward otherwise. I mean we girls gotta have each other's back"
Silence filled the locker room.
Aura finished tying her hair. Ignoring them all at this point. The room was suffocating for her. She felt like she might die from anger.
"I should go," she said quietly.
Stephanie stepped aside. "Of course."
As Aura walked past, she heard one more soft comment.
"You handled that well girl." one of the girls said.
Stephanie replied quietly, "She doesn't have a choice. He's mine."
Aura stepped out.
Her composure held for a few seconds.
Then her chest tightened.
'They're really pushing it…'
But it was working, but she wasn't going to be their puppet.
She exhaled slowly and walked toward the gym.
Students were already gathering. The large space echoed with movement. Some stretched. Others chatted. The instructor wasn't there yet. Aura moved toward the side, standing quietly.
Stephanie and her friends entered moments later.
They didn't approach immediately. They simply stayed nearby. Close enough. Laughing softly. Occasionally glancing her way.
But they weren't done with the trouble though...
More students began whispering.
"I heard they're back together."
"They look comfortable."
"They always matched. We just don't know why they broke up."
Aura focused on the floor.
Then Stephanie walked over again, smugly with a smirk.
"Aura," she called.
Aura looked up.
"We'll be practicing in pairs today," Stephanie said lightly. "You should find someone."
"I'm fine."
Stephanie smiled. "You can join us if you want. Ethan usually trains with me."
The words landed gently. Too gently.
"I'll pass," Aura replied.
Stephanie nodded. "Alright."
She turned slightly, speaking just loud enough for most in the gym to hear.
"Ethan's always been serious about training and hitting the gym. He doesn't like distractions."
The implication was clear. If you like him, stay away, he's closer to me.
Aura looked away, hurt.
At that moment, footsteps echoed from the entrance. Francis entered first, slightly out of breath. Ethan followed behind him. They had clearly been delayed.
Francis immediately scanned the area.
He noticed Aura standing alone, her looks were not so bright. They were worse than before.
He noticed Stephanie nearby.
He noticed the tension.
He walked over.
"You okay?" he asked quietly.
"I'm fine."
He didn't believe her.
Tina felt something was wrong, she stopped her conversation with Jeremy and approached, Aura asking if she was ok.
' if she's bullying her, she'd get it.'
Stephanie smiled politely. "We're just waiting. What, am I a villian?"
Francis glanced at her briefly, then back at Aura.
"You can partner with me," he said.
Aura hesitated. She wondered about Avery but if she didn't then rumors...
"Okay."
They moved slightly aside. Stephanie watched, her expression tightening briefly.
Ethan stood a short distance away, observing everything. He had seen enough to understand. Stephanie's posture. Aura's silence. Francis stepping in.
He exhaled quietly.
Too late again.
Aura sensed his presence. She didn't look at him. Not once. Her focus remained ahead.
To her, it looked different. He hadn't stepped in. He stood beside Stephanie. Talking. Close. Her chest tightened again.Then she remembered Francis' words.
'There might be another reason.'
She held onto it.
Barely.
Ethan stepped toward Stephanie. "We need to talk."
Aura heard it.
Her fingers tightened slightly.
Stephanie smiled. "Now?"
"Yes."
They walked aside.
Aura's heart sank further.
'Rubbing it in…I feel used.'
Stephanie faced him once they were out of earshot.
"You saw that?"
"Yes."
"You don't like it."
"Don't push her too far," Ethan said quietly.
Stephanie studied him. "You really care."
Silence.
She smiled faintly.
"I see."
Her mind moved quickly.
If whispers already hurt… then certainty would hurt more.
She turned back toward the class.
A decision forming.
'I should announce it. Let's see if you both would hold on...'