At times when life feels adorned with rainbows and butterflies, that's when life plots to snatch it all away. And it happened! My happiness was ripped away, along with my voice and my ability to think clearly, as I retrieved the crumpled paper kept on my desk and found myself plastered on the front page.

Dancing, intoxicated, getting too close to a guy—the image painted a far worse picture than the reality.

Though blurred out, it was very evident that it was Lance. Though I never doubted Eugene, I dreaded meeting anyone's gaze but I had to face it, knowing I'd be bombarded with questions from Vivian.

I head to the parking lot to find Eugene's car absent. I didn't want to confront this alone; I couldn't bear it. Entering the classroom back again, I felt the weight of judgmental eyes upon me, scrutinizing my every move. At that moment, I wished I could be like Alice, escaping into the rabbit hole. But reality denied me that luxury.

Glancing at Lance, his creepy smile unnerved me. I ignored him and sought solace with Vivian, recounting the entire ordeal. She was on the verge of launching a chair at Lance

"You think anyone else apart from the school knows about thi? I don't know how I'm going to make things right," I confessed to her during a break in the cafeteria.

"Yeah," she responded awkwardly. "Did you try giving Eugene a call?"

I nod a yes, suddenly we hear a few boys around Lance trying to react to a familiar scene at the club.

Vivian looked at me, and everyone else in the cafeteria followed suit. I gathered my things and left, shooting Lance a determined glare. I would teach him a lesson.

It wasn't just the blackmail that occupied my thoughts; My pictures, splashed across the school, made it impossible to avoid. I tore them down, resolving to confront Lance.

Finding him on the basketball court, I strode over, meeting his gaze with unwavering intensity. In a swift motion, I slapped him across the face. Vivian intervened, dragging me away, but my glare remained fixed on him.

It felt liberating. My hand had longed for that moment.

I left school early with Vivian, retreating to the silent emptiness of my house. Grabbing a bottle of beer, I drowned my frustrations, attempting to reach Eugene to no avail.

The following day brought the same accusing stares, but I found solace in skipping class with Eugene. As we sat on the rooftop, I apologized for the ordeal.

"It's fine," he reassured me. "My mother seemed more worried about how you'd be processing the situation"

"What did your parents say?" I inquired.

"They understood, but even if they didn't, it would give us a reason to stop pretending to be lovers," he remarked, a pang of hurt piercing me.

"Yeah," I muttered, masking my emotions.

"Has anyone else bothered you since then?" he asked.

"No, everything's been relatively calm," I smiled, hoping to reassure him.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of our conversation, I headed towards the cafeteria to meet Vivian. Eugene promised to join us shortly.

Descending the stairs, I encountered Lance's lackeys, "What's your deal?" I ask, my tone dripping with arrogance.

"Lance needs to apologize. He's in the art room," one of them informs me.

"Then tell him to come to me," I reply, walking away without waiting for a response.

"You know how he is. He just wants to apologize without can't be seen," another friend remarks.

"Fine," I sigh, narrowing my eyes at them before heading towards the art room.

Lance often spends his time there, pursuing his passion for art. It's puzzling to me how someone like him, who creates delicate and beautiful artworks, could have such a dark side. I can't help but imagine him painting the walls with someone's blood. Entering the art room, I find him deeply absorbed in his painting at the far end, near the window.

"You needed to say something?" I queried, maintaining a safe distance.

"You don't need to be so cautious," he remarked with a smirk.

"Can't be too careful with you," I retorted.

"Good," he uttered with a sinister smirk as his lips curved.

In an instant, his hand covered my mouth, twisting my arm behind my back and driving me against the wall with force. His weight pressed me firmly, leaving no room for escape.

"You shouldn't have acted as you did yesterday," he snarled with malice in his voice.

Reacting swiftly, I bit his hand, prompting him to release his grip.

But I refused to scream.

"You deserve this!" I retorted angrily.

"Mind your tongue, or you'll regret your words!" he bellowed back at me.

"Yeah, and what are you going to do, hit me?" I shouted even louder. "Go on, try it, you coward!"

He couldn't strike me because I was a girl, but perhaps I had pushed my luck too far. Turning me around, he clenched his fist and drove it into my stomach. I collapsed to my knees, struggling to control the pain and catch my breath.

All I could do was squeeze my eyes shut, enduring the agony of the harsh blow.