Taking matters into his own hands, Darek found the time to visit the professor and discuss the issues that had been bothering him. He expressed his frustrations regarding the students’ behaviour and the disregard for his requests. The professor acknowledged the problem and assured Darek that steps would be taken to address the matter.

The next day, Darek was relieved to see that his conversation with the professor had yielded positive results. Though he still garnered curious glances, the direct approaches had lessened, granting him a semblance of the normalcy he desired.

However, Darek’s routine remained consistent. He continued to visit the rooftop for lunch, a place where he could find solitude amidst the school’s bustling environment. But, there was another reason for his rooftop visits—a reason he hadn’t yet fully acknowledged to himself.

As he observed Olivia’s nonchalant behaviour toward him, Darek’s curiosity grew. He wanted to gauge the extent of her indifference, yet found himself drawn to her in ways he hadn’t anticipated.

Over the course of a month, a significant shift had occurred. The initial fascination and curiosity surrounding Darek’s presence had waned, and the students had grown accustomed to his existence within their school. The once-intense attention had given way to a more normalized atmosphere, where Darek was now seen as just another student among them.

Yet, amidst this transformation, a unique bond had formed. Darek’s rooftop lunches with Olivia had become a consistent routine, surprising even himself. What had begun as a curiosity had evolved into genuine conversations, where he found himself sharing stories and laughing with Olivia.

Darek’s realization that he was enjoying these interactions was both unexpected and enlightening. Olivia, too, felt a sense of ease and companionship during their rooftop rendezvous. What had started as a simple act of sharing lunch had blossomed into a friendship that neither of them had anticipated?

For Olivia, the change was profound. With Darek’s presence, her once-bullied life had been replaced with a newfound sense of normalcy and companionship.

But that change in Olivia’s life didn’t last for a long time. Curious about what Darek does during his lunch break and where he disappears, a group of the school’s popular students, including the bimbos and the football jockeys, began secretly following Darek hoping to befriend Darek and then catch him enjoying lunch with Olivia.

“Look at this bitch getting all lovey-dovey with Darek. Didn’t I warn her to stay away from Darek?” Vivian sneered, her gaze fixed on Olivia and Darek from a distance. She was accompanied by her followers, Tia and Mila, who shared her sentiments.

“It’s like a warning wasn’t enough to keep her at bay,” Tia chimed in, her voice dripping with disdain.

Mila’s eyes gleamed with mischief as she contemplated their next move. “Perhaps it’s time for a more personal lesson,” she suggested, her tone laced with malice.

Vivian’s lips curled into a sinister smile as she considered their options. “Ruining her reputation might do the trick. No one wants to befriend someone with a tarnished image,” she mused, her mind already concocting a plan.

Aware that the school would be announcing monthly test results the next day, Mila seized on an idea. “We can use the test results to our advantage. Create a division between them,” she proposed, her smirk growing more malevolent.

Mike, a school football jockey, interjected, seeking clarity on their scheme. “Do you have a plan?“Mila’s grin widened as she shared her devious strategy with her friends.

“Are you sure we won’t get into trouble? If the principal finds out about this,” Nick’s concern lingered in the air, only to be interrupted by Vivian’s dismissive tone.

“If the principal finds out, I’ll have my father handle it. No need to worry,” Vivian asserted, her confidence unwavering.

Tia’s curiosity couldn’t be contained. “So, when do we put our plan into action?”

“Right after the test results are out,” Vivian responded, a self-assured smirk dancing on her lips.

Mike chimed in with a suggestion. “Maybe it’s better if someone else spreads the rumours, just in case.”

“Don’t worry, we’ve got that covered,” Mila declared with a sly grin, giving a high-five to her twin sister, Tia. With their plans set, they departed, each going their own way as the lunch bell rang, signalling the end of the break. Darek and Olivia, too, packed their lunch boxes and headed to their respective classes, unaware of the storm brewing behind the scenes.

A few days later, the much-anticipated monthly test results were finally released. Darek was making his way towards the school building when he overheard a conversation among some students. Their words struck him like a blow.

“Hey guys, have you heard about pathetic Olivia?” said student no 1.

“Oh yeah, she got the highest grade again from the exam yesterday,” said student no 2.

“I’m sure she has done something to our principal,” said student no 3.

“Yeah, I bet she slept with our principal,” said student no 1, the words dripping with malice.

“I knew something was off. Scoring high marks on every subject all the time? She must have been sleeping with an old man,” said student no 2, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Darek’s shock was palpable as he listened to the disturbing conversation. He felt an immediate urge to intervene, to stop the cruel rumours from spreading like wildfire. As a celebrity, he was well aware that the majority of rumours were baseless and unfounded. He wanted to step in and put an end to this, but then he realized his own lack of knowledge about Olivia. He had only recently joined the school and knew very little about her. On the other hand, these students had studied with her for a long time.

Caught between wanting to defend someone from unjust rumours and his limited understanding of the situation, Darek felt conflicted. He couldn’t ignore the harsh words being flung around, but he also couldn’t act on incomplete information. As he continued his walk towards the school, his mind raced with thoughts of Olivia and the unfair treatment she was facing.

But what bothered him more than the rumours themselves was the surprising intensity of his reaction. Why did he feel so affected by baseless gossip? Never in his life had he felt something like this for anyone. It had been only a month since he had met Olivia, and yet he had grown so attached to her. Was it because he started to see her as a friend in such a short time? Did she consider him a friend too? The ringing of the bell snapped him out of his thoughts, signalling the start of the school day. Determined to find answers, Darek decided he would talk to Olivia during the lunch break. With his mindset, he walked towards his class, his thoughts consumed by the upcoming conversation.