Our class was given a week-long break after the national competition ended.

When I returned to campus after vacation, I realized my classmates seemed deliberately to be avoiding me. There was a trace of disdain when they looked at me.

Whispers followed me around.

"That's him—Samuel Newberry from Senior Class A. Not only did he refuse to donate blood when his own girlfriend was anemic, but he even tried to stop others from donating. Fortunately, Cherry dumped him in time!"

"That's right. Everyone in his class donated blood except for him. How can someone be that selfish?"

"I could tell that he wasn't a good person just by looking at his face. He's the pretty-boy type. Who knows how wild he is outside of campus?"

"Cherry was right to dump a coward like him!"

Their mocking comments reached my ears clearly. I forced myself to swallow my anger and tried to ignore them.

However, several men walked straight up to me and shoved my shoulder. "So you're Samuel Newberry? Look at his pretty little face. And you actually dared to spread rumors that Neil is HIV-positive? I think you're the one who's positive here. Who knows, maybe you're being kept by someone on the side."

The crowd immediately started pointing fingers at me.

When everyone had gotten their insults out, Neil finally stepped out from behind them.

Putting on a troubled expression, he said, "They're just upset on my behalf, Sam. They didn't mean to insult you, so don't take it to heart. It's just that what you did that day was really… inappropriate."

Neil deliberately dragged out the last words, stirring even more murmurs from the crowd.

I didn't want to stir up trouble, but trouble insisted on coming after me.

I looked up and met Neil's provocative gaze. I said with a slow and clear voice, "First, I'm the one who broke up with Cherry. She didn't dump me. Second, it's illegal to spread rumors. If any of you want to take this to court, I'm more than happy to oblige."

At that, the mocking gazes vanished from everyone's eyes. The entire place fell silent.

Neil panicked, seeing that no one was speaking up for him anymore. He rushed forward to grab my arm. "We're all classmates, Sam. Do you really have to take it this far—"

A sharp slap cut him off mid-sentence. I pulled my arm free and coldly questioned, "Who are you calling 'Sam' here? Do we even know each other?"

With that, I turned and walked away.

Neil stood frozen, shaking with anger and frustration. Tears welled up in his eyes as he stomped his feet, his gaze filled with hatred when he stared at me.

The passing students hurled insults behind my back, each one more vicious than the last.

My lips curled into a cold smile as I kept walking without turning back.

They still had the luxury of worrying about others.

It would be their turn soon.