The best revenge -

𝟭𝟵

Sora sat at her desk, the weight of the day hanging heavily on her shoulders. Her head throbbed with the remnants of the scene in the classroom earlier. The same rumors, the same accusations—it was all starting to feel like an unending cycle.

"Did you really post that?" Heeseung's voice still echoed in her mind. Everyone believed it was Sora who had posted it, everyone except him. To be fair though, who else could have done it? She had been the one closest to Yana. She had been the one who'd known her secret.

"Focus," she muttered to herself, rubbing her temples. If she wanted to clean up this mess, she needed answers. And the first place she needed to start was with the people around her. Someone had to know something.

"Think Sora, think"

"who would do this?"

*4 months ago*

"uhh I feel bad for him because I know I will never feel that way." Sora nodded her head, "yea poor fellow, Its not your fault you don't feel the same way, so don't feel bad. Hey maybe we should try to set him up with someone so that he could get over you." Yana's face suddenly brightened up, "That's perfect Sora! Your such a genius! I just have to find a girl that he will like!" 

"Wait...."

Sora's eyes drifted to the clock on the wall. Class was over, and the halls were already starting to clear out. As soon as the bell rang, she'd have to head straight to the one person who might have a clue—the person who might have inadvertently given her a way out:

She grabbed her bag and slung it over her shoulder.

He was standing by his locker, looking for something, his usual smile lighting up the hallway. But today, Sora wasn't here to admire his charm. Today, she needed him to help her figure out who had ruined her life.

"Jake," she said, trying to sound casual, but her voice betrayed her nerves.

He looked up, surprised to see her standing there, but his smile didn't falter. "Sora? Is that you? You look....diffrent. What's up? You need help with something?"

She hesitated, then shook her head. "Actually, no. I need to ask you something about... Yana."

At the mention of her name, Jake's expression shifted slightly—concern replacing his usual lightheartedness. "Yana? What happened?"

Sora swallowed. "Do you know who she set you up with? I mean... I know you two have been talking lately, but I just want to know if you know who really posted that thing about her dad. Yana's been really quiet lately, and... I just need to find the truth."

Jake looked taken aback, clearly confused. "Yana's been talking to someone about me?" He frowned. "Wait, hold on. You're telling me that you're worried about the post? Everyone thinks you did it, Sora. I don't think Yana's been setting anyone up—at least, not with me."

Sora's furrowed her eyebrows. *What?* Was he serious?

"No, no, Jake. I—I know Yana's been hiding something, and I'm not the one who sent that message. I just need to know where it came from." Her voice was quieter now, her frustration bubbling up. "Is there anyone who could have gotten it from her, maybe someone you talked to?"

Jake's face softened, but he was clearly still processing. "I'm not sure," he admitted, scratching the back of his head. "But I do know she's been talking to Mia and Rose a lot more lately. They're her... well, you know, her 'girls,' I guess." He gave her an awkward smile. "Not to say you're not her friend, but it seemed like they were close with her after, well, everything. They probably know more than I do."

Sora felt her stomach twist. "Mia and Rose?"  Why hadn't she thought of them sooner? Those two were always lurking around, always with Yana. They must've known something.

"Thanks, Jake. I'll go talk to them," she said, before turning to leave.

As she walked down the hall, her mind raced. "Mia and Rose. Of course. They've always been in the center of everything Yana does, especially since the fallout. If they're keeping secrets, they're the ones who might know who did this to me."

"this isn't going to be easy."

Sora found them in the school courtyard, sitting together on a bench, laughing. They looked up when she approached, their smiles faltering as they saw her walking toward them.

"Look who decided to show up," Mia sneered, but there was something else in her eyes now. Something sharper.

Rose just gave a tight smile. "What do you want, Sora?"

Sora didn't waste time with pleasantries. "I need to know if you two are hiding something. About Yana's dad, the post—everything. Who really did it? Was it you?"

Both girls exchanged a glance. There was an uncomfortable silence, like the air between them had thickened. Mia shifted her gaze, but Rose spoke first.

"Why do you care, Sora? Yana's the one who's suffering. You were her best friend, weren't you? Why would you come crawling back now?" Rose's voice was cool, but there was an undercurrent of something else. "Guilt?"

Sora wasn't buying it. "how many times so I have to say this?  I didn't post that, but I need to know who did. I'm clearing my name.

Mia's eyes narrowed. "Maybe you should just let it go. People have been talking, Sora. You're not gonna change their minds."

"no" Sora said firmly. "I'm not letting this go. You both know something, don't you?"

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Then, Mia finally sighed and shook her head, her expression unreadable. "Yana didn't set up Jake, not like you think. She was going to, but she... well, she backed out. Someone else took over."

Sora's chest tightened. "Who?"

But Mia only shrugged, a cold look in her eyes. "You really want to know? Fine. Ask "Mi-Jin."

She's been all over Jake lately, but don't ask me why. We don't keep track of her weird little games."

Sora's mind raced. Mi-Jin? Of course. She had been acting suspicious since day one. The girl who had replaced her.