The school garden was peaceful that afternoon—the gentle breeze swept through the leaves, and the occasional sound of birds could be heard. Dina and Icha were having lunch there. Lately, Dina had become the subject of people's attention in the cafeteria, and it made her uncomfortable. Nia and Mila joined them. In the middle of the comfortable atmosphere, four people approached them. Their steps were quick, like bulls ready to charge at a red cloth. Behind them, Dina saw Clara walking slowly with her head lowered.
Rani, who looked the most aggressive, folded her arms across her chest. She gave Dina a cynical look.
"What do you mean by that, Din?"
Dina stared back in confusion. Icha answered on her behalf, "What now?"
Rani raised her chin and stepped closer, her friends following behind. "You stole my friend's boyfriend."
Sita added, "Just admit it! You're the one who made Ando break up with Clara, aren't you?"
Sharp accusations flew back and forth.
"If it weren't for you, this wouldn't have happened!"
"You pretend to be innocent, but you're actually so evil."
Nia and Icha grew angry upon hearing the baseless accusations.
"Hey, watch your mouth, Vin." Nia stood up, glaring fiercely at Vina.
Mila, who had never seen her deskmate this angry before, was somewhat shocked.
Dina also stood up, touching Nia's shoulder to calm her down. She then looked calmly at Rani. "I don't like seeing anyone get hurt…" she said softly but clearly. Then her tone hardened slightly. "But if you're looking for a scapegoat, that's a cheap move."
Clara's four friends immediately became furious. Behind them, Clara was still looking down, appearing sad.
Icha, standing beside Dina, glared angrily at Clara. "You came here with your whole gang to corner someone? Seriously?"
Rani cut in. "Clara didn't tell us to come here. Don't accuse people randomly."
"We just want to teach your friend a lesson so she knows not to act up," Dewi added. "Everyone should know what your supposedly innocent friend is really like."
Nia added, "You're being so dramatic. You're ganging up on her."
Rani sneered. "And what are you doing if not the same thing? Acting like you're so righteous?"
"You're ganging up on my friend. What, you expect me to just stand there?" Nia shot back.
"Insulting us won't make Ando go back to Clara," Icha said.
A crowd began to form. The whispers that had originally been in the cafeteria had now moved to the garden.
For the first time, Clara spoke. Her hands were clenched into fists. "Ando changed because of Dina!"
Dina replied coldly. "Exactly what did I do, Clar?"
Clara's voice trembled as she answered, "You stole Ando from me. You think I don't know you like my boyfriend?"
Dina slowly shook her head. "That doesn't answer my question. You need to be specific. Exactly what did I do? What did I do to seduce your boyfriend?"
The students watching began whispering again. Speculations started spreading.
And in the middle of the tension—a hurried set of footsteps could be heard.
Ando appeared.
He stood right beside Dina, his face calm… but his eyes were sharp as they focused on Clara.
"Do—" Clara said, her voice cracking.
Ando raised his hand, stopping her.
Silence.
Ando faced Clara with an expression that was no longer as gentle as it used to be. "I'm disappointed that you turned our problems into public consumption like this, Clar." He shifted his gaze toward Clara's friends one by one. "Whatever problems Clara and I have, you should not get involved. You're irrelevant."
Under Ando's sharp gaze, Clara's friends lowered their heads, feeling slightly embarrassed.
Ando looked at Clara again. "I do like Dina—" Suddenly, the garden seemed to stop breathing. Every eye turned toward Ando. More than anyone else, Dina tensed beside him, and Ando noticed it. "—but she wasn't the reason I broke up with you," he continued, firm and unflinching. "Our relationship was already unhealthy. You understand why better than anyone."
Clara flinched. Her friends exchanged glances, but Clara refused to back down. Things had already gone this far, so she might as well make everything clear.
"No, I don't understand." She stared at Ando. Her tear-filled eyes looked defiant.
"I already told you, I don't want any more fighting about this," Ando said again.
"Don't avoid the question, Do. You say you like Dina but she wasn't the reason we broke up? You're such a hypocrite."
The atmosphere grew heavier. Clara's friends, who had lowered their heads earlier, now raised their chins again, gaining courage after Clara cornered Ando.
Ando immediately realized the situation. He was actually reluctant to discuss this any further—his problems with Clara should have remained between the two of them. But now the problem had dragged Dina into it. If he did not make himself clear, Dina would truly be labeled as the person who ruined someone else's relationship.
"You're jealous," he said quietly. "You're possessive and controlling. Everything I do has to be under your control. Who I'm with, where I go, everything has to have your approval. If you don't like something, you get angry, you judge me. You never want to listen to my explanations. You hold on to every assumption in your head."
Clara's eyes widened. She stared at him in disbelief.
"I'm tired of being in a toxic relationship like that, Clar," Ando continued. "I'm not a possession. I'm a human being with my own will. I'm free to be friends with whoever I want."
Whispers could be heard again. This time, everyone was siding with Ando. Who could stand being controlled like that? Clara's friends slowly stepped backward, beginning to doubt what they had been defending.
"I've tried, but I'm not happy with you," Ando continued again. "And you won't be happy with me either because I'm not going to change into what you want me to be."
People began whispering, blaming Clara. Even one of her own friends seemed to think the same.
"Clara's toxic…"
"I thought Dina was the one at fault, but it turns out it was Clara…"
Clara heard everything.
She looked around—the students who had initially supported her now seemed to be distancing themselves. Her gaze became frightened, as if for the first time she realized… she was standing alone.
Clara looked at Ando, who looked back at her. He was not angry. He was not pitying her either.
Just… done.
Dina felt something tremble in her chest. Not happiness. Not victory.
More like… sympathy for someone who had been defeated by her own mistakes.
Clara finally stepped backward, tears falling from her eyes. Her friends followed behind her, but they did not look like they wanted to comfort her.
The circle of students slowly dispersed.
Icha let out a long breath. "Finally."
Nia held Mila's shoulder. "Come on, let's go back to class. The bell's about to ring." She then waved at Dina and Icha.
Ando looked at Dina, who refused to look back at him. She simply pulled Icha by the arm and headed back to class.
That day, the world finally drew a clear line: those who were honest eventually stood on the right side.