For the first time in two days, Flora slept soundly, or at least, she thought she did. When the morning sunlight spilled across her room, the tension from yesterday's fear still lingered faintly, like the last notes of a haunting melody she couldn't shake off.

After freshening up, she dressed for school and headed to breakfast. Sofi served the usual buttered toast and eggs, but Flora barely tasted anything. The house felt emptier than usual, and even the morning light couldn't erase the unease buried deep inside her.

Uncle Denny noticed.

"You look tired, Miss Flora. Everything alright?"

"Forcing a small smile," she said softly, "Just missing my parents, that's all."

"Ah," he chuckled. "You can always call them. It's good to let them know their daughter miss them."

She nodded but didn't answer. If only homesickness was the problem.

---

At school, the classroom was unusually noisy until she walked in. Conversations halted, and a few pairs of curious eyes turned her way. Flora ignored them and made her way to her seat, pretending not to notice the whispers trailing behind her.

"Hey, Flora."

Suzain, the self-proclaimed beauty queen sauntered over, smirking. "Did you and Austin break up? Haven't you always been his tail?"

Flora froze mid-step.

Turning slowly, she met Suzain's smug gaze with calm disdain.

"What makes you think that?"

Suzain tilted her head. "Come on, don't act innocent. Everyone knows he dumped you. It's pathetic to keep pretending, you know. Maybe learn your place."

So it was about Austin again. They all thought she was beneath him because she never flaunted her last name, because she preferred silence to showmanship. 

Some people in this room knew exactly who she was, what family she came from.

But explaining the truth wouldn’t benefit them — not when siding with Austin made the gossip more entertaining.

"Which eye of yours saw me chasing him?" Flora asked, her tone sharp enough to cut. "He was my boyfriend, so yes, I did everything a girlfriend should. But now that it's over, I stay in my lane. He stays in his."

Suzain sneered. "You're just playing hard to get. Trying to make him notice you again?"

"Funny." Flora's lips curved into a cold smile. "Did Austin tell you that? Or are you just his self-appointed spokesperson?"

Her words hit their mark. The room fell quiet. Suzain's smirk faltered.

Flora leaned back in her chair, adding softly,

"You're so dramatic. You sound like one of those overbearing mothers from old dramas, warning the poor ex to stay away from her precious son.

So where's my check for a million, Mother-in-law?"

A chorus of gasps and laughter broke through the tension. Suzain's face turned crimson, and before she could retort, the classroom door opened. The teacher entered and just like that, the moment dissolved.

---

The day dragged on with dull lessons and routine notes.

By lunch break, the buzz of gossip had settled, though Flora could still hear faint whispers behind her back. But she didn't care. Her mind was elsewhere, haunted by a silent question she couldn't push away.

Who was that person sending those messages?

Were they protecting her… or waiting for her to let her guard down?

Wandering through the halls, her thoughts too tangled to steer her steps, Flora stopped short in front of Section A.

Her stomach dropped.

Why here?

It used to be instinct, waiting for Austin after class, walking with him to the canteen. Her fingers tightened around her bag strap. She turned quickly to leave, but the door opened before she could move.

Austin stood there, hand in hand with Grace.

For a heartbeat, no one spoke. Austin's eyes flicked to hers, unreadable, but distant. The same eyes that once looked at her with affection now held nothing but mild annoyance.

Grace broke the silence with that ever-sweet voice.

"Oh! Flora, would you like to join us for lunch?"

There was nothing wrong with the question but to Flora, it sounded like mockery disguised as kindness.

Before she could answer, the class representative from her own section called out from the hall.

"Flora! You don't need to ask my notebook from Jeremy, I forgot it at home. Come on, we'll miss today's special!"

A lifeline.

She didn't think twice before turning around.

"Coming," she said simply, walking away without another glance at Austin or Grace.

The rep grinned once Flora caught up.

"You're welcome. Consider that repayment for saving me from extra work last time."

Flora chuckled lightly. "Thank you. Really."

---

The rest of the afternoon passed quietly.

She helped the rep arrange notebooks, exchanged small talk, and ignored the sneers from Suzain's corner. It wasn't worth the energy anymore.

But even as the school bell rang and she walked out of the building, that quiet fear returned, the weight of unseen eyes. Her phone stayed silent all day, yet she couldn't shake the urge to check it every few minutes.

By the time she got home, Flora's thoughts were firm.

Maybe the messages weren't from a threat after all, just a warning from someone who cared. If they meant harm, why would they stop now?

She hadn't received a single message on her way home today. Maybe… it was finally over.

---

But sometimes, what feels like an ending is only the quiet before it begins again.

Note:

(I’m curious which side you’d fall on.)