School felt different the moment I walked in.
Not louder.
Not crueler.
Just… heavier.
The whispers started before I even reached my class. Voices dropped when I passed, then rose again behind my back, low and sharp like they were afraid to be heard clearly.
"…don't get too close…"
"…people will think you're like her too…"
I kept my eyes on the floor, pretending I didn't hear anything. Pretending my chest wasn't tightening with every step.
In class, it got worse.
A laugh broke the silence.
"You know," someone said, not even trying to be quiet anymore, "that explains a lot. That's why she's always around her."
The room went still.
I froze in my seat, my face burning. My hands trembled, and I couldn't tell if I was angry or ashamed or just tired of existing under people's eyes.
Then a chair scraped loudly against the floor.
Maira stood up.
She walked past the desks without looking at me, straight toward Hema who stood there with her friends, smiling like this was all a game.
"Tell me something," Maira said, her voice calm but sharp. "What do you get by doing this?"
Hema raised an eyebrow. "Doing what?"
"By spreading things you know will hurt," Maira continued. "By turning people against someone who never did anything to you."
A few students shifted uncomfortably.
"Do you really think," Maira added, "that people will like you because of this? Or are you just scared of being invisible?"
The smile on Hema's face faded for a second.
"I'm just saying what everyone thinks," she muttered.
"No," Maira said firmly. "You're saying what makes you feel powerful. And it's ugly."
Silence filled the room.
Maira turned away from her like she wasn't worth another word and walked back to me. She knelt slightly so we were at the same level.
"Don't listen to them," she said softly. "They can't decide who you are. They can't do anything to you."
Her voice shook just a little.
"You're not alone."
The bell rang then, breaking the moment. The teacher started the lesson like nothing had happened, but everything had changed.
After class, the hallway felt crowded and empty at the same time. People passed me in groups, some whispering, some pretending not to see me.
Someone walked beside me.
Rivan.
He didn't say anything at first. Just stayed there, matching my pace.
"I don't believe them," he said quietly after a moment. "They're wrong. And even if they weren't it wouldn't matter. You're still you."
I nodded, unable to speak.
"I won't push you to talk," he added gently. "I just wanted you to know that."
He smiled softly and walked away.
At lunch, I sat alone near the back building, trying to breathe.
Maira found me again.
"I'm sorry if I made things harder," she said.
"You didn't," I replied. "You helped."
"They won't stop immediately," she admitted.
"I know."
"But they don't get to decide your future," she said.
I looked down at my hands. "I'm tired of being strong."
"Then don't be," Maira said quietly. "Just stay
A/N
From the next chapter, the story will be written in third person. Thank you for reading hope you liked it.