Chapter 2

Before they could respond, I just kept going.

"So then Imogen said her stomach was bothering her, that she kept wanting to throw up, and she asked me to go with her to the OB-GYN."

"Later the rumors going around got more and more ridiculous, saying the one who went in for the checkup was me."

I glanced at Imogen, whose face was getting uglier by the second, and let out a deep sigh, my tone helpless.

"Ugh, and I never denied it, either."

"Whatever. At school people already called the two of us the 'Trashy Girls' duo. Our reputations were shot a long time ago, so who cares."

The words had barely left my mouth when a classmate cut in.

"So that person was actually Imogen?"

I quickly shook my head and looked at him gravely.

"I did not say that!"

He let out a knowing "ohh," then glanced at Imogen, like he'd already figured the whole thing out.

That one look was what finally made Imogen unable to stay in her seat.

She shot to her feet, her voice shaking badly.

"Sonia Fox, are you never going to quit?"

"When did I ever go for blond guys? Bar hostess, OB-GYN, Trashy Girls—which of those has anything to do with me?"

"I ranked top three in my grade all three years of high school, and I was even a student officer. What gives you the right to spread rumors like this about me?"

When she finished yelling, she buried her face on the table and sobbed her heart out, her shoulders heaving.

Even a few of the girls at the next table couldn't stand it and came over to comfort her.

The boys who'd spoken up for her earlier felt sorry for her all over again and glared at me, annoyed.

"Sonia, your story's way too far-fetched!"

"Like we don't know how strict high school is? No way a school would put up with two Trashy Girls like you two."

"And running around with some blond guy—you'd have been expelled ages ago!"

"I'm not buying it anyway. Someone like that could never get into college."

The girls all nodded along.

"Sonia, you two are high school classmates and good friends. Spreading rumors like this isn't right, is it?"

"Right, spreading rumors can get you in legal trouble."

"Better to just clear things up. It's better for both of you."

Imogen's crying cut off all at once. She lifted her tear-filled eyes, brimming with kindness.

"Sonia, as long as you tell the truth and say sorry to me, we can still be good friends."

For a second I blanked out.

In my past life, after the rumors spread, I went and begged her to help me clear things up too.

What did she say?

"I already said I was drunk and misspoke. What more can I do to clear it up? Do you want me to kill myself to prove my innocence?"

Then she suddenly dropped to her knees in front of me, grabbed my hand, and started slapping her own face over and over.

"It's all my fault, Sonia. Go ahead and beat me to death!"

"Beat me to death and you'll feel better, and I won't have to feel guilty anymore."

That only made the rumor that I used to be a Trashy Girl look even more true.

The school made me write a written apology and promise in front of the whole student body that I would never bully Imogen again.

I got through to graduation on psychiatric medication.

I told myself that once I left school, left that suffocating place, once I started working, I'd be fine.

I got an offer from a state-owned enterprise, but during the background check, someone leaked this whole thing anonymously.

My offer was voided on the spot.

And the person who took my place at that company was Imogen.

Who was the one who leaked it on me?

I glanced at Imogen, then lowered my head, all meek and simple.

"I'm sorry, Imogen."

"I've had too much to drink. Just treat everything I said as nonsense."

Imogen froze for a moment, then her eyes suddenly turned sharp.

"Sonia Fox, you did that on purpose! What do you mean, treat it as nonsense?"

I put on a face full of innocence and pointed at the wine glass.

"You're the one who poured me this glass. I've never drunk before—I had no idea my tolerance was this bad."

"And you were the one who said first that I liked blond guys. I just followed your lead. If we're talking rumors, you're the one who spread rumors about me first."

I pursed my lips.

"And I didn't even make an issue of it... Imogen, aren't you being a little too petty?"

She gritted her teeth.

"I didn't spread rumors about you. I was just joking, keeping the mood lively!"

I let out an "oh."

"Then just take mine as a joke too. Can't you take one?"

Imogen was stumped, but she still wanted to keep arguing with me.

The others laughed stiffly and tried to smooth it over.

"It's fine, it was just a joke, none of us took it seriously."

"Weren't we just talking about who to pick as class president? Let's keep going, keep going."

But no one said anything more.

Everyone kept their heads down and ate, though their eyes kept flicking over to Imogen.

Imogen looked at me, then at everyone else.

She knew they had all actually taken what I said seriously.

She finally couldn't hold it together and ran crying out of the private room.

I sighed and stood up.

"I'll go talk to her."

"I really did say too much today. Please don't take any of it seriously."

Everyone nodded with awkward smiles.

I'd just pulled the door open when Anthony came walking straight toward me.

He wore a tracksuit, his clean, fair face carrying a sharp, clean-cut coldness.

When he saw me, the corner of his mouth curved up slightly.

"Sonia Fox? How come you never replied to the message I sent you?"