Love or hate | Solarz

ＴＨＲＥＥ

The bell rang sharply, signaling the start of class. Sophia walked briskly, her shoes clicking against the linoleum floor. She barely glanced at Lara as she passed, though she could feel the new girl's presence behind her, a constant weight. Sophia hated how she could never quite escape her, like a shadow that lingered longer than it should.

The classroom was already filling up, and Sophia slid into her usual seat near the back, keeping her eyes focused on the desk in front of her. Manon, as always, was beside her, tossing a knowing glance in her direction.

"You okay?" Manon asked, voice low enough that only Sophia could hear. "You've been distant all morning."

Sophia didn't answer immediately. Her gaze flickered to the front of the class where Lara was talking to Megan. They laughed about something, and Megan's smile was wide, genuine. It made Sophia's jaw tighten.

"Yeah, just tired," Sophia muttered, barely looking at Manon.

Manon didn't buy it. She leaned in, nudging Sophia with her shoulder. "You know, you could talk to Megan about it. She's your best friend, Soph."

"I don't need to talk to anyone."

Manon raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh. So, is this about Lara?"

Sophia stiffened. She wasn't prepared to have this conversation, not with anyone, but certainly not with Manon, who would inevitably pick Lara's side.

"Drop it," Sophia snapped, her tone sharper than she intended.

Manon raised her hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay. No need to have an attitude." She glanced over at Daniela and Yoonchae, who were now sitting together at the table next to them. Daniela shot them both an inquisitive look, but Manon quickly turned her attention back to Sophia, sensing that things were about to escalate.

At that moment, Yoonchae's voice drifted over. "Sophia, Lara's got some pretty big plans for the weekend and—"

"Great," Sophia cut in, her voice cold.

"I just think it's weird how you're all worked up about it," Yoonchae added, her tone cautious. "I mean, Megan's allowed to have other friends, right?"

Sophia turned to face Yoonchae, her frustration evident in her sharp expression. "It's not about her having other friends," she snapped. "It's about her spending more time with someone like her, oh right y'all we weren't there..y'all didin't heard how she talked to me last time when we had a conversation." She glared across the room at Lara, who was now smiling at Megan, completely oblivious to the animosity hanging in the air.

Daniela, sensing the tension, raised her voice to shift the mood. "Hey, can we just focus on surviving this class first?"

Sophia nodded, concentrating on the lesson again. A few minutes later, the bell rang signaling the end of the day.

As she walked out in front of the school, she saw Lara probably waiting for someone...well, it wasn't any of her business, was it? but she was always curious even if she hated it.

End of chapter 3 👀💋