The Girl Aria (A Stray Kids Fanfiction)

Chapter 23

At this point, I was about to win a staring competition with my wall. I sat there, fingers connected, as if I was intensely interrogating someone who had been accused of murder. Maybe if Hyo got caught killing me, she would actually be in this situation. It had been close to an hour now of me just tensely sitting crossed-legged on the bed, mulling over the possibilities of the world. The school had already been informed, and there wasn't much more they could do since Hyo was no longer a current student at their school. If something wanted to be done, the authorities would have to get involved, and that was the last thing I wanted. Surely they would take her side, not wanting to trust a stupid little adopted girl with mental issues. But yet again, Hyo had a bad reputation which gave me a slight advantage. It was her sickly-sweet, faked personality that made her seem appealing to the eyes of strangers. Deep down she was nothing more than a deceiving liar who was good with words.

My phoned buzzed, and I tore my eyes away from the wall for the first time. My shaky hands made it hard to open up my messages but I somehow managed.

Hwan: Did you get home safely?

My heart did a little flip as I read the sentence. I smirked, flattered you could say. Cut this out Aria! Scolding myself brought me back to reality, not that fantasy land where I felt myself slipping towards.

Me: Yep!

Ugh, why did I have to phrase it like that, it seemed way too peppy. Well, I couldn't change it now, he had already read it.

Hwan: Nice! Today was rlly fun!

Me: Yeah, it was...

He didn't respond for a couple of minutes after that. I felt like he wanted to tell me something but he was holding it back. I didn't want to text him again for I was afraid I might come across as too eager.

Hwan: Is something bothering you?

Me: I was about to ask you the same thing...

Hwan: I'm okay, just busy ig.

I hesitated, biting my lip, torn as if whether or not I should tell him about current situations. My phone buzzed again in my hand, signaling yet another message.

Hwan: What about you? Are you ok?

Luckily for me, Seungmin knocked on my door, telling me dinner was ready and that I should come join. I jumped to my feet, sending one quick text off.

Me: Sorry, they boys are calling me down to dinner. I'll tell you later.

I didn't add an "I promise" at the end because I wasn't even sure I could bring myself to tell him. Once again, I was struck with a wave of emotions that I would have to suppress.

* * *

After my "break" I went back to school. Rumors had spread like wildfire through the whole campus, even in upper classes. Most of them involved me and Hyo, along with some other random students sprinkled in. That's the things, once rumors start, they just continue to grow and become even more outrageous until they're nothing but a bundle of tangled up good-for-nothing lies. Oh how I could feel myself seething at the thought.

I walked into class, swinging my bad onto the backrest of the chair. I made myself look busy by organizing my books and pencil supplies, but really I was listening in on what the others were whispering furiously about.