Howard raised an eyebrow without answering, and simply said, "Hop in, and I'll take you for a spin."
I threw my bag on the passenger seat, got into the car, and curiously looked around Howard's new car. "It is really nice."
He glanced at me with a smile. "Weren't you always complaining about how far this place is from school, how expensive cabs are, and how you'd be late if you didn't take one? So, I bought a car. Now, you won't have to wake up so early for school anymore."
Hearing this, I was immediately touched. "Howard, you're so good to me."
He let out a soft hum, cast a rather smug glance at me, and said with a smile, "Better than Matthew?"
I nodded repeatedly, flattering him without hesitation, "You are the best—handsome, highly skilled, and incredibly gentle and caring. Truly, you're the finest man in the world."
He was pleased by my compliments and said with a smile, "You sure know how to talk."
"I'm not just flattering you. I'm telling the truth!" I said with a serious expression.
He beamed. "Let's go for a ride!"
We sped all the way to school and, surprisingly, arrived early. As I got out of the car, I leaned against the window, smiling, and said, "Wait for me after class. I'll go with you to Matthew's school."
"Alright, go to class now." Howard urged impatiently.
I didn't get angry; I simply waved at him and turned to enter the school gate. I hadn't gone but a few steps before someone called out to me. "Karena!"
Without turning around, I immediately recognized the voice, so I kept walking forward.
Seeing this, Alice quickly caught up. "Karena, why are you ignoring me? I'm talking to you."
I pretended to be surprised. "Sorry. The wind is so strong today that I couldn't hear you. What's up? Actually, it's getting late, and it's Ryder's class today. I can't be late. Let's talk later."
With that, I was about to slip away when Alice grabbed me. "Don't pretend with me. I saw you—you just got out of Dr. Smith's car, didn't you?" She asked with a gossipy look.
I didn't want to answer, so I shook my head and denied, "You must have seen wrong. Sorry, I really can't be late, so I'm leaving!"
Alice called out to me a couple of times, but I ignored her, wiped the sweat off my forehead, and quickly left.
As I approached the classroom, even before entering, I could hear the lively commotion inside, which made me feel a bit smug. Arriving early today, I was indeed not late. Humming a tune, I stepped into the classroom. As soon as I entered, the chatter abruptly ceased and everyone was looking at me with strange expressions.
Instinctively, I glanced down, reassured that I hadn't mistakenly worn Howard's clothes, nor did I have any makeup on. Feeling a bit puzzled and awkward, I waved at them. "Hi, why are you looking at me like that?"
They laughed. "Nothing. It's just that, Karena, you seem to have become more beautiful lately, and we were curious to ask how you take care of yourself."
I thought she was complimenting me and touched my face shyly. "Really?"
'Could it be because of Howard? Does he have a beautifying effect?' I wondered, feeling a bit bashful. I was about to say something modest when I met Wesley's cold gaze. He sat in the corner of the classroom, but I knew him well enough to see the mockery in his eyes.
I was stunned.
At that moment, someone chimed in, "Karena's beauty is blossoming because of the love she's experiencing. If you found a boyfriend, you'd witness the same transformation. But still, you could never quite match Karena's charm."
Even if I were a fool, I could hear the sarcasm in his words. I was puzzled, not understanding what he meant.
Then a displeased voice came from behind, sharp and cutting, "Casey West, if you can't talk right, shut your trap. No one's gonna think you're mute."
I turned around and saw Amelia with a cold expression. Seeing me look at her, she frowned and was about to say something when Ryder entered the classroom. "Amelia, Karena, why are you standing at the door? Are you coming to class or not?"
With no time to ask further, I pulled her to sit in the front row. In front of Ryder, I didn't dare to act out, so I kept my questions to myself until the class ended. Watching Ryder leave, I asked, "Amelia, were you trying to tell me something earlier?"
"Don't you know? Haven't you checked the school forum?" Amelia frowned.
I had been too preoccupied with Matthew's issues to keep up with school news. "I've been too busy lately to check the news." As soon as I finished speaking, someone knocked my book off the desk.
I looked up and saw it was Casey, who had spoken sarcastically earlier. Seeing me look at him, he snorted, "What are you looking at? You left your book here. It's not like I did it on purpose. Pick it up yourself." With that, he glared at me fiercely before leaving.
"Did I offend him?" I felt Casey's hostility but didn't understand why.
Amelia pursed her lips and explained in a low voice, "Someone posted on the school forum saying you stole Luna's boyfriend, Howard, and that Luna attempted suicide because of you."
I stood up abruptly. "What? That's outrageous!"
'When did Howard become her boyfriend? This is a complete fabrication.' I thought.
"Own up to it, Alice saw you getting out of Dr. Smith's car this morning, and you still want to deny it?" Jessa sneered sarcastically.
I looked at Alice, feeling angry at her, a blabbermouth.
Alice couldn't meet my eyes.
"I didn't steal anyone's boyfriend, and Howard isn't Luna's boyfriend. I don't know who made up this story on the forum, but I will get to the bottom of it." Now I understood why Casey had that attitude. Everyone knew he had been pursuing Luna fervently. If Luna had a boyfriend, he would even buy breakfast for the couple.
I understood his defense of Luna, but I was perplexed by the involvement of these others. The bullying I had experienced at Sophia's resurged, leaving me both furious and helpless, overwhelmed by a profound sense of injustice.
"You say you didn't? Where's the proof?" Jessa asked.
"I don't need any proof?" I retorted, "How am I supposed to provide evidence for something I didn't do? Tell me, what do I need to do to make you believe me?"
"No proof means it's true and you just won't admit it. I never realized you were this kind of person, not pretty, but competing with Luna for a boyfriend." Jessa mocked.