chapter 8:Fed by rumors
583 Words
The nurse’s office was quiet.
Too quiet.
Outside the door, Jihan and Rael were whisper-fighting.
(Well… Jihan whispering, Rael growling.)
Jihan: “You can’t keep scaring parents, Rael. She needs calm.”
Rael: “And she needs protection. Something you clearly can’t give.”
Jihan: “I can give her honesty.”
Rael: “And look where honesty got her. Slapped in front of the whole school.”
Jihan: “You—!”
The door slid open.
Eun Rin stepped out, hair slightly messy, expression cold enough to freeze the sun.
She stared at them both.
And then—
Her voice, flat and silky:
**“Both of you.
Shut. Up.”**
Dead silence.
Even the nurse froze in the background with her thermometer mid-air.
Rael straightened his jacket.
Jihan cleared his throat, face turning red.
---
⭐ CAFETERIA — THE FEEDING SCENE
The three walked into the cafeteria like the Holy Trinity of Drama.
Students parted like the Red Sea.
Jihan carried her tray like a worried mother hen.
Rael hovered behind her chair like a mafia bodyguard.
Eun Rin sat down.
Jihan tried placing extra fruit on her plate.
Rael tried cutting her steak.
Both boys bent in front of her at the same time—
one with kindness, one with violence.
Eun Rin lifted her eyes, expression deadly.
**“I have hands.
I can feed myself.”**
Jihan looked wounded.
Rael smirked like he expected that.
They stepped back.
But then—
A high-pitched squeal erupted.
“OHHHH MY GODDD IT’S THEM!!!”
Sia, Bora, Minjoon, and half the gossip club swarmed in from the left.
“Rin!! Are you okay? Do you need anything?”
“Blink once if Jihan is your boyfriend!! Twice if Rael is!!”
“Girl, the whole school saw how they looked at you—”
And from the right—
the rest of the gossip queens appeared.
“Team Rael forever!! He’s so toxic I love it.”
“Noooo Team Jihan! He’s the only sane one!!”
“OMG stop crowding her she just got SLAPPED.”
Phones were out.
Screens were recording.
Students were whispering like wild animals.
Eun Rin stared straight ahead, expression blank.
She lifted one eyebrow—
a silent threat that could kill a nation.
But the gossip queens were immune.
They kept screaming.
---
⭐ THE BOYS’ REACTIONS
Jihan stepped forward, gentle but firm.
“Everyone, give her space—she needs quiet.”
Rael took one threatening step forward.
“I said move.”
The crowd broke instantly.
Sia ran.
Minjoon tripped over a chair.
Bora screamed “AHHH WE’RE TOO YOUNG TO DIE.”
Eun Rin finally got her silence.
She picked up her fork, unfazed.
The two boys stood behind her again—
One radiating warmth,
the other radiating darkness,
both hopelessly in love.
She muttered under her breath:
“This school is exhausting.”
Rael smiled.
Jihan leaned closer in worry.
And everyone watching knew—
The love triangle had officially begun.
...........
“They think I’m loved because people stare.
They think I’m lucky because boys stand behind me like armor.
If I could speak honestly, I’d tell them—
don’t be jealous of a girl who learned silence before laughter.
I had a hard childhood.
Not the kind that makes you strong—
the kind that teaches you how to survive being watched.
But fate doesn’t care about explanations.
It only cares about timing.
......... Dorkylunastories 💜...
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD