By recess, the news had spread.
Not just to one class.
Not just to one hallway.
The whole school.
Irene Lou was wearing Yuan Mi's hoodie.
Every corridor buzzed with whispers.
"Did you see it?"
"That's his hoodie."
"He never gives his things to anyone."
"What's going on between them?"
Phones flashed.
Eyes stared.
Rumors multiplied.
And at the center of it all—
Irene sat in class, pretending none of it existed.
Pretending she couldn't feel the weight of a hundred invisible eyes.
Beside her, Bella leaned close, her voice barely contained excitement.
"Explain."
Irene kept her eyes on her notebook.
"There's nothing to explain."
Bella grabbed the sleeve of the hoodie.
"HIS hoodie."
Irene slapped her hand away quickly.
"Lower your voice!"
Bella grinned.
"No."
Irene sighed dramatically.
Then, slowly… she told her everything.
The water.
The janitor's closet.
Getting trapped.
Him opening the door.
Him coming inside.
Him—
Putting the hoodie on her.
Bella froze.
Her eyes widened.
Her mouth fell open.
Then she grabbed Irene's shoulders violently.
"YOU'RE FALLING FOR HIM."
Irene choked.
"I AM NOT!"
"You are!"
"I am NOT!"
Bella smirked.
"You smiled while telling me."
"I did not!"
"You did."
"I didn't!"
"You like him."
"I don't!"
Bella leaned closer.
"You punched the sleeve earlier."
Irene froze.
Traitor .
Bella gasped dramatically.
"Oh my God. Irene Lou is in love."
"I AM NOT IN LOVE!"
" oh,i really see", then Bella bursts into laughter.
"I hate you."
Bella grinned proudly.
Across the building.
Haoxiaoyi sat gracefully in her seat.
Her posture perfect.
Her expression angelic.
Her nails dug into her palm.
Her plan had failed.
Not only failed—
It had backfired.
Instead of humiliating Irene…
Yuan Mi had helped her.
Given her his hoodie.
Protected her.
Her jaw tightened.
Her smile didn't break.
But inside—
She was furious.
After school.
The basketball court roared with energy.
Students filled the bleachers.
Cheering.
Laughing.
Screaming.
Irene sat beside Bella, her eyes fixed on the court.
Leo.
She came for Leo.
He stood confidently on the court, captain's band around his arm, movements sharp, controlled, powerful.
Beside her, Bella clutched Irene's arm.
"Brandon is here."
Her voice dropped into a whisper.
Irene smirked.
"Go marry him."
Bella slapped her.
"Shut up!"
The game began.
Shoes screeched.
The ball bounced.
The crowd exploded with cheers.
Leo was incredible.
Fast.
Focused.
Untouchable.
Brandon too.
Strong.
Confident.
Bella gripped Irene's arm tighter with every move he made.
Then—
Movement at the side entrance.
Yuan Mi.
He walked in calmly.
And beside him—
Haoxiaoyi.
Her hand wrapped around his arm elegantly.
Her head held high.
Her smile perfect.
They walked like royalty.
Untouchable.
Beautiful.
Dangerous.
They sat together.
Close.
Natural.
Like they belonged there.
Irene froze.
Her chest tightened.
Her mood dropped instantly.
She didn't know why.
She didn't want to know why.
She forced herself to look away.
They didn't matter.
They were her enemies.
That was all.
That was enough.
She focused on Leo again.
Cheering.
Clapping.
Pretending.
The game ended.
Victory.
The crowd exploded.
Irene ran down with Bella.
She handed Leo a bottle of water.
"You were amazing."
He smiled warmly.
"Thanks for watching."
Beside them, Bella stood in front of Brandon.
Suddenly quiet.
Suddenly shy.
Suddenly not Bella.
He smiled at her.
"You watched the whole game?"
She nodded quickly.
"Y-yes."
Irene stared.
Who was this person?
Leo chuckled.
"I could teach you sometime."
Irene blinked.
"Really?"
He nodded.
"And Brandon can teach Bella."
Bella looked like she might faint.
They agreed.
Picked a date.
Bella's face turned pink.
She smiled non-stop.
As they walked home, Irene teased her mercilessly.
"You're blushing."
"I am not."
"You are."
"I am NOT."
Leo laughed.
Brandon laughed.
Bella hid her face.
They reached the street corner.
And then—
Irene looked up.
Yuan Mi stood across the street.
Watching.
Their eyes met.
Time paused.
Her chest tightened.
She didn't smile.
Didn't look away immediately.
But she wasn't happy.
She didn't know why.
He was with Haoxiaoyi.
He chose her.
So why did it bother her?
She broke eye contact first.
And walked away.
Confused.
Bella left with Brandon.
Leo walked Irene home.
They talked.
It was easy.
Comfortable.
Safe.
When she got home, she collapsed onto her bed.
Exhausted.
Alive.
She changed.
Cleaned up.
Did everything normally.
Then—
She saw it.
The hoodie.
Folded neatly on her chair.
She picked it up slowly.
Her fingers traced the sleeve.
She smiled.
Softly.
Without realizing.
Then she froze.
Her expression hardened.
She punched it lightly.
"You idiot."
She punched it again.
"Coward."
Again.
"Why are you with her?"
She froze.
Her heart betrayed her.
She hugged it tightly for a moment.
Then quickly let go.
Annoyed at herself.
She washed it.
Carefully.
Hung it to dry.
Watched it sway slightly in the evening air.
Then she went to bed.
Her heart restless.
Her mind louder than ever.
And somewhere—
Without her realizing—
Something had already begun to change.