Angela said nothing as she simply turned and walked away.
"Come on, guys," Chris said, quickening his pace as he moved ahead of them. "You don't even know her. You're not even sure if what Fiona said is true."
Jerry frowned. "So, what are you trying to say?"
"Nothing," Chris replied shortly. "I'm just saying… what you said didn't sound right. She looked hurt."
He paused, then added, "Let's just drop it."
The group fell silent as they continued walking toward the computer centre.
Angela sat down somewhere quiet and broke into tears.
She cried bitterly, her shoulders trembling as everything she had held in finally spilled out.
After school, she didn't wait for Elsa, she couldn't so she left immediately.
When she got home, she took a quick bath and changed into something comfortable. She lay down on her small bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, lost in her thoughts.
"Why me?" she whispered.
"Why does my life have to be like this? Why do I have to go through all of this?"
"I guess Fiona was right…" she continued bitterly. "Maybe I really am what they say I am."
She shook her head slowly.
"But what else do they expect me to do? I'm only trying to survive. I'm using what I have, my dancing skills, to earn money. To feed myself. To stay in school."
Her voice trembled.
"How does that make me a prostitute?"
"What does the world want from me? Should I steal? Should I give up? Should I destroy my life just to prove something?"
Her breathing became uneven.
"And if I choose the wrong path… what happens to my future? What happens to my dreams?"
Her voice broke completely.
"Please, God… don't let me cry like this. I don't even have anyone to wipe my tears."
She curled slightly on the bed, her body shaking.
"Mom… Dad… my siblings… where are you?" she whispered helplessly. "Am I really alone in this world?"
Fresh tears streamed down her face.
"Please, God… I just need someone. Someone to stand by me and that's all."
The Next Evening at the Club
"Go, Ange! Go, Ange!"
The club was filled with loud cheers as Angela stepped onto the stage with her team. The music blasted through the speakers, and the crowd's excitement grew with every move she made.
Angela danced flawlessly.
Her body moved with precision and grace, every step perfectly in sync with the rhythm. The lights reflected off her skin, making her presence even more captivating.
The audience was mesmerized.
"I've never seen such a dancer in all of Montreal," a man said, clearly impressed.
"She's hot too," another replied with a smirk. "I might just have her to myself tonight."
Angela ignored the voices, all that mattered was the dance.
When the performance ended, the crowd erupted into applause.
Angela and her team stepped down from the stage and returned to their seats. She allowed herself a small smile, enjoying the moment, but not for long.
She knew better as usual, she left early to avoid trouble, especially from the men who always tried to approach her after performances.
At home, exhaustion took over.
With a bottle of alcohol in her hand, Angela sat quietly.
One sip turned into another.
And before she knew it, she had emptied the entire bottle.
Tears streamed down her face as she drank, her thoughts heavy, her heart aching, until the alcohol finally pulled her into a restless sleep.
The next morning, Angela woke up with a start; she glanced at the clock.
Eight o'clock.
Her eyes widened in shock.
"I'm late…"
Panic rushed through her.
She quickly got out of bed, rushed to the bathroom, and got ready as fast as she could. Within minutes, she was dressed in her uniform and running out of the house.
"Thank goodness I made it," she muttered as she arrived at school, quickly packing her hair into a messy ponytail.
Without wasting time, she headed straight for her punishment duties.
But something caught her attention.
Fiona.
She wasn't doing her punishment. Angela's expression darkened.
I need to warn her to stop spreading lies about me, she thought.
With determined steps, she walked toward the reading area, where Fiona sat with her friends, laughing and chatting as if nothing had happened.
"Oh, look who's here," Fiona said mockingly as soon as she saw her. "The poor thing. Hope you're enjoying your punishment."
Angela stood in front of her.
"How dare you," she said, and before anyone could react, she landed a heavy slap on her face.
The sound echoed sharply.
Fiona's head snapped to the side.