Confessions of A School Slut: A Story about Slut-Shaming ✓

Chapter Seven

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» Into The Fire by Thirteen Sense
» Honestly by Gabbie Hanna

Chapter Seven

"Because it was me," Jai blurted out. I looked at him with wide eyes. Time seemed to have stop as I tried to take in the newfound information.

He was the one.

He was the person who had began the whole drama. He was the one who was responsible for all the trouble I went through during the vacations. And he was standing right in front of me. There were so many times I imagined how this moment might be, none of which included the person coming up to me to confess. I was perplexed. I needed him to tell me why did he do it. Why would he hurt his best friend and a random girl like that? Why was he even coming up to me and telling me this?

"Wh-why..." I began, but trailed off instantly. I couldn't muster up the words to speak out.

"Do you know Saina? The girl in the other class? The one who is my good friend?" he asked. I nodded. I was well-acquainted with her. Especially after that day in the washroom.

"She began those rumors," he said. Didn't he just say it was him?

I raised my eyebrows, not understanding where he was going with this, or the situation at hand. Yet, he didn't say anything further.

I heaved a sigh of irritation.

"Are you telling me that the girl who constantly brags about the number of proposals she has received is the one who did this to me? And to him?" I finally asked. He nodded. A small laugh escaped my lips. "I don't believe you."

"But it is true," he said. His dark forehead was crinkled, as he stared at me with intense brown eyes.

"Then how and why did she do it? And where do you come in the picture?" I asked, my eyes crinkling as I tried to control my giggles. This was preposterous!

"She started the rumor, but it was kind of my fault." He scratched the back of his neck, as if that would be explanation enough.

"Didn't she like Kush a while back? Why then, would she spread rumors about him with anyone else but her?" I asked.

"Saina thought she was doing you both a favor, and one especially to you," Jai added.

"By telling everyone that I'm going out with her crush? Do you see why I might have a problem understanding anything here?"

"No, not in that way. She thought that if people knew you two were together, you will no longer be called by that-that boy's reject. She thought that if everyone knew Kush liked you, then maybe they'd understand you a bit more, and hate you a bit less," Jai replied.

"I didn't know Kush decided who to like and who to not like here," I rolled my eyes.

"Riddhika," he began again. "You aren't trying to understand—"

"No Jai." Involuntarily, my voice raised by a few decibels when I continued, "you and Saina don't understand. Do you have any idea about the number of hate messages I have received ever since this thing began? I was literally accused of being a black magic user! This is the mentality of your people, and she thought she was doing me a favor? Favor of what? Becoming the school witch?"

He tilted his head and shrugged. "Well," he started with the suggestive lift of his brow, "you have to admit, it's better than being a slut."

"No!" I exclaimed. "I'm Riddhika Chaudhary. Anything else is no good."