Chapter 5 Poison in Pretty Words

Rumors don't explode.

They spread.

Quietly. Smoothly. Like perfume in the air.

By the time Aria stepped onto campus the next morning, something felt... different.

Conversations stopped half a second too late.

Eyes lingered a little too boldly.

A few girls openly whispered without bothering to lower their voices.

She kept walking.

Head up. Shoulders straight.

She had survived worse than whispers.

But then she heard it.

"She's pretending to be innocent."

"I heard she's already sleeping with him."

"Of course she is. Scholarship girls always find a sponsor."

"Yet they always pretend like they don't,like they're innocent."

Aria stopped walking.

Not because she was shocked.

Because the cruelty was lazy.

She turned slowly toward the cluster of girls near the fountain.

They didn't look away.

They smirked.

Aria studied them calmly, then said, "If you're going to lie about me, at least make it creative."

One of the girls blinked. "Excuse me?"

"I don't even have his number," Aria continued. "So your imagination is working overtime."

A few nearby students chuckled.

The girl's face reddened.

Aria didn't wait for a response.

She walked away.

But inside?

It stung.

Not because she cared what they thought.

But because she knew exactly who started it.

-

Inside the lecture hall, Vanessa Hartwell looked flawless.

As always.

Perfect hair. Perfect glossed lips. Perfect composure. Perfect fit.

She leaned back in her chair as students filled the room, basking in the subtle tension.

She didn't have to confirm the rumors.

She just had to let them breathe.

Leo entered seconds later.

His presence shifted the energy immediately.

He scanned the room instinctively.

Found Aria.

She was already seated, flipping through her notebook, expression neutral.

But something was off.

He could read rooms. It was a skill you developed when everyone wanted something from you.

And this room was charged.

He sat down beside Vanessa.

"Why is everyone staring at her?" he asked casually.

Vanessa shrugged. "Maybe because she's interesting. Is she not interesting?"

"That's not it."

Vanessa tilted her head. "You care? Or is it that you're worried for her?"

He didn't answer.

That was answer enough.

-

During class, the tension didn't fade.

When Aria answered a question correctly again, someone muttered loudly:

"Of course she knows it all. She's always trying to impress."

The professor frowned. "If anyone has an issue, you're welcome to leave."

Silence returned.

But Leo had heard enough.

He turned slightly in his seat and caught Vanessa watching Aria with thinly disguised satisfaction.

His eyes narrowed.

-

After class, Aria walked out quickly.

This time, Leo followed without hesitation.

"Aria!! Aria!"

She stopped but didn't turn.

"What now?" she asked quietly.

He stepped in front of her.

Up close, he noticed it.

Her eyes weren't as calm as usual.

She looked worried or maybe confused.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"Nothing."

"Don't lie to me."

Her jaw tightened.

"I don't owe you explanations."

"No," he agreed. "But I still want one."

She finally looked at him.

"You want to know what's going on?" she asked softly. "Your world is happening."

He frowned. "Meaning?"

"Meaning," she continued, "your name next to mine automatically becomes a scandal."

His expression darkened.

"Who said something to you?"

"It doesn't matter."

"It does to me."

She exhaled slowly.

"Why?" she asked. "Why does any of this matter to you?"

Because I don't like seeing you hurt.

Because I don't like people talking about you.

Because I care about you.

Because I-

He cut the thought short.

Instead, he said, "Tell me who started it. Just say their names"

She shook her head.

"I'm not playing your battles."

And she walked past him.

Again.

-

Vanessa watched from across the courtyard.

Her lips curved slightly.

She hadn't expected Aria to break.

But she didn't need her to.

All she needed was distance.

Distance between Leo and Aria.

And rumors created space.

-

That evening, Leo didn't go to Vanessa's place.

He didn't answer her texts.

Instead, he sat in his apartment, phone in hand, staring at Aria's name on the report his assistant had given him.

Low income. Sick mother.

She was fighting bigger battles than gossip.

And he had unknowingly dragged her into one.

His jaw tightened.

He grabbed his keys.

-

Meanwhile, Aria sat at the small kitchen table again, helping Noah with math homework.

"Why are you quiet?" Noah asked suddenly.

"I'm not."

"You are."

She smiled softly. "You're too observant."

"I get it from you."

That made her laugh.

From the bedroom, her mother coughed again.

Longer this time.

Aria's smile faded.

She stood immediately and went inside.

Her mother's face was pale.

"Did you take your medicine?"

"Yes," her mother whispered. "It's just... getting worse."

Aria swallowed hard.

She hated that word.

Worse.

It always gives her headache.

She squeezed her mother's hand gently.

"I'll fix it," she said.

She didn't know how yet.

But she would.

-

A knock sounded at the door.

Aria froze.

No one visited them.

Ever.

Who could that be?

She walked slowly to the door.

She opened it slowly.

And her breath caught.

Leonardo Moretti stood there.

Casually.

In a simple black shirt.

No driver.

No arrogance.

Just him.

"What are you doing here?" she whispered sharply.

"I came to talk."

She glanced behind her nervously.

"You came to talk?"

"You can't just show up at my house."

"I know."

"Then why did you?"

His voice softened.

"Because I don't like what's happening at school."

Her eyes flashed.

"And you think showing up here helps?"

"How do you even know my house?"

"You are really taking this stalking job far."

"Please calm down,Ari." he said

"I think," he said quietly, "you shouldn't fight everything alone."

That almost broke her composure.

Almost.

"You don't know anything about fighting," she said.

He stepped closer.

"You're wrong. You don't even know me, Ari."

"Why don't you get to know me first before you decide that." he said

For a moment, the air shifted.

No games.

No audience.

Just two people standing in the narrow hallway of a small apartment from very different worlds.

Her mother coughed again inside.

Leo's eyes flickered toward the sound.

Aria stepped in front of the doorway instinctively.

A silent shield.

And that told him everything.

"Leo,you need to leave and don't come to my house again."

"You need to stay away from me,I do not want a problem for me and my family."

"We're from different worlds,Leo- you should understand that your world is going to disturb mine,besides you have a girlfriend who doesn't want me around you,so not leave me alone!"

"Please Leo! please!"

With all that said,she closed the door behind her.

Leo stood there shocked. Confused.

Thinking over everything she said,he refused to leave.

She didn't hear footsteps leaving,she opened the door again, and met him still standing there.

-

Across town, Vanessa stared at her phone.

Leo hadn't replied in hours.

Her smile slowly disappeared.

If rumors didn't work...

She would escalate.

She would go crazy. As it seems, she's already going crazy.

"Why was this girl sent to this school!" she said to herself. Frustrated.

-