The Whispers of Truancy

A new week began, and Chloe, after a long absence, finally returned to school. Ever since she had started spending time with Tia, it seemed she hadn’t managed to complete a full day of classes. Had it not been for some unseen force protecting her, she surely would have been summoned by the school administration long ago.

However, the moment Chloe stepped back into the classroom, she sensed an odd atmosphere. Ordinarily, she made a conscious effort to minimize her presence, always entering through the back door. By all accounts, no one should have paid her any particular attention. Yet, the instant the first classmate noticed her return, they discreetly relayed the information to others. Soon, an inexplicable wave of strange glances began to fall upon Chloe.

Being singled out for attention at school was rarely a good sign. Had my excessive truancy finally sparked controversy? she wondered.

Ignoring the intense gazes, Chloe lowered her head and made her way back to her seat. Night Moon, who usually greeted her with a cheerful face, was uncharacteristically quiet. She sat with her hands cupping her face, staring blankly at the empty desk, her expression etched with worry. It wasn’t until Chloe had been seated for a while and actively patted her shoulder that Night Moon abruptly roused from her reverie.

“Hey! What’s wrong? Why the long face, little pup?” Chloe had intended to lighten the mood with a joke, but Night Moon remained silent, slowly turning her head to fix Chloe with a complex stare.

As if having resolved something, Night Moon asked with an unsettled tone, “They’re saying you’re one of those fallen girls forced to sell your body to greasy old men just to make ends meet. Chloe, you’re not like that, are you?”

“What?! Of course not! Do I look like someone who would do something like that?” Night Moon’s words utterly shocked Chloe. How could a bit of truancy lead to such a monstrous rumor?

After a moment of hesitation, Night Moon continued, “They even said that because you were feeling unwell, the teacher would faint midway through, forget to even ask for money, and then sleep through the next morning’s class too…”

Upon hearing the preposterous details of the rumor, Chloe nearly fainted. Was this truly not a plot ripped straight from some explicit manga? Was some inexperienced virgin, finding ordinary manga not stimulating enough, so bored that they had to unleash their wild imagination on real-life scenarios just for kicks? And they dared to imagine it about me! With my innocent and pure appearance, shouldn’t any normal person see me as a fragile treasure?

“What in the world is this… utter nonsense! You silly pup, you didn’t actually believe it, did you?” Chloe’s small face flushed crimson with indignation as she vigorously shook her deskmate’s shoulders, trying to jolt her out of her foolish stupor.

Night Moon swayed back and forth, then, as if truly snapping back to normal, her green eyes instantly cleared, sparkling like jade. She let out a breath of relief. “That’s right! With Senior Tia taking care of her, why would Chloe ever need to do something like that?”

Night Moon suddenly stood up, her gaze sharply sweeping across the class. She planted one foot on her chair and declared, “You shameless lot! Stop spreading rumors about Chloe! If I find out who started this, I… I’ll beat you up!”

Everyone knew that this girl, with her mysterious background, was not to be trifled with. Consequently, they all turned their heads, pretending to be busy, and the previously bustling classroom instantly fell silent. Yet, there were always some stubborn individuals.

“You’re just her deskmate, how would you know? Why don’t you let Chloe speak for herself? What exactly was she doing during all those absences? Could it be something… unspeakable?” A girl stood up, triumphantly refuting Night Moon’s words. Night Moon instantly recognized her as one of Sera’s former hangers-on.

“Did you spread the rumor?” Under the scrutiny of those glowing green eyes, the girl’s breath hitched. She felt as though a wild wolf had fixed its gaze upon her.

Seeing someone else draw the fire, the surrounding students found the courage to watch the drama unfold.

With so many eyes on her, wouldn’t showing any weakness now be utterly humiliating? Thus, the girl steeled herself and met Night Moon’s gaze, feigning fearlessness as she forcefully slapped the desk. “What? Why don’t you make her speak? If she doesn’t, isn’t that an admission of guilt?”

“So, you admit to spreading it?” Night Moon’s eyes grew even colder, causing a tremor of fear in those watching. For a moment, they began to dread that the situation might spiral out of control.

“So what if I did? Are you going to hit me?”

“Do you think I wouldn’t dare?” Night Moon rolled up her sleeves.

The other girl’s actions flustered her, causing her legs to tremble slightly, yet her defiant words showed no sign of surrender. “Who are you to stand up for her? You probably didn’t even know when she was whimpering under someone else!”

Those words were undeniably harsh. “Say that again?” The words seemed to strike a raw nerve in Night Moon, instantly igniting her fury. She had initially only intended to force an apology, but with such venomous words, Night Moon genuinely wanted to pummel the other girl.

Chloe’s soft and sweet smile, as she appeared before Senior Tia, suddenly materialized in Night Moon’s mind, only serving to fuel her rage further. ‘No… they’re just like sisters…’ Her fingernails dug in so hard they turned stark white.

“I’m trying to reason with you, and you still want to hit me? If she won’t speak for herself, even if you beat me to death, it won’t prove her innocence!” The girl was utterly flustered; she genuinely feared a beating. As for the rumor, she wasn’t actually the original source. She had merely overheard someone saying it, found it amusing, and casually spread it herself. She had no idea if it was true.

Seemingly recognizing a sliver of truth in the other girl’s words, Night Moon turned to Chloe and gently said, “Chloe, you tell them you’re not that kind of person.” Night Moon, too, believed that the pure and adorable Chloe could never do such a thing. She was like a child, her mind as pristine as a blank sheet of paper.

“I… I would never do such a thing! These are all just rumors!”

“Then what exactly were you doing when you skipped class?”

Logically, as long as the school didn’t officially pursue the matter, what she did was none of her classmates’ concern. However, with the situation having escalated to this point, failing to clarify would undoubtedly lead to further speculation. But Chloe couldn’t possibly tell them what she was truly up to.

Now, she found herself in an impossible predicament.