Talk Of The Town ✔️

21

Her world turned upside down overnight.

Most of the symptoms were there despite the fever had lessened. Anya woke up late that morning. Her parents had already gone to work.

She again forced herself to shower and changed into thick clothes. She prepared a light breakfast before taking her medicines. After greeting the maid, she returned to her bedroom. Connecting the WIFI on her phone turned out to be a colossal mistake.

Notifications from family, followers and strangers overwhelmed her screen. Her jaw dropped, and her eyes widened in disbelief, initiating a profound headache. Her hands trembled as she clicked on the first one.

Silent tears rolled down her cheeks. Anya dropped on the edge of her bed. Her breath hitched. She clicked on Love Venom's blog and read what she published about her.

Her mother's name suddenly flashed on the screen. Anya dropped the phone, startled.

"This can't be happening," she mumbled, not daring to pick it up. "No way, this is false."

Her skin prickled with a cold sweat. Goosebumps rose on her arms despite the thick sleeves. She clamped her hands over her mouth, crying.

Love Venom betrayed her. She had asked her to ruin her reputation. Make Noah hate her. She never hinted about posting it all on her page. Anya would have silently stepped away from that world. Now, it has become an ugly exit.

Picking the phone, she texted Love Venom at once.

Why did you do this? I already ruined my reputation. Noah, my friends, and my family already hate me. Why would you post this?

Her answer came within a minute.

We love gossip. We love dirty secrets. We love venom.

Anya slumped on the ground, putting her phone down. The screen lit up with angry, painful, mocking and disappointing messages. She has officially gone from the cherished to the most hated overnight.

Bringing her knees to her chest, she sobbed. Anya screamed in pain, teeth clattering.

"No, no," she repeated until exhaustion overwhelmed her brain.

She regained the sense of time, her deep slumber broken until someone pounded on her door.

"ANYA, OPEN THIS DOOR RIGHT NOW," her mother shouted.

Scared, she jumped back. Her heartbeats thundered. The sky has turned dark navy outside. Wiping her sweaty hands on her leggings, she twisted the knob. Her mother glared at her.

"You come downstairs right now."

Anya nodded. She wiped her reddened cheek, tied her hair in a ponytail and exited her room. To her surprise, Taylor had come.

She descended the stairs, keeping her gaze down. Her vision blurred. Panic clouded her perception.

Her father spun, tossing his bag on the coffee table. Anya gasped. It clattered against the candle and shattered a small glass vase.

"Is it true or false?" Her father demanded.

Fingers twisting her jumper, Anya raised her head.

"Dad, I-"

"True or false, I need a one-word answer from you."

"False."