Chapter 7

I was so angry I barely slept that night, only drifting off as dawn broke.

Naturally, I was late for the first half of my morning lecture. I arrived at the classroom just as class broke for a short recess.

Before I even stepped inside, I heard Derek's sarcastic voice again.

"Hazel's not here? Why, that's obvious! Too tired from last night's 'battle', right?"

"Haven't you guys noticed Professor Alistair has lost weight recently? She's clearly too much for him!"

The guys roared with laughter. A few asked him what Professor Alistair said when he took me and Derek to his office.

*Didn't Hazel say you guys even wrote a report proving nothing happened between her and Alistair?*

Derek just scoffed.

"Professor Alistair is so good to us. We can't let him lose his job, can we?"

"What really happened? If you know, you know!"

The chatter grew even more offensive.

I stood outside the door, alternately cold and hot, my heart frozen, but blood rushing to my head.

I stormed into the classroom, directly swung my arm, and slapped Derek hard across the face.

Derek, whose butt was resting on a desk, was sent sprawling to the floor by the force of my slap.

I shrieked, my voice hoarse.

"You're full of crap! You're lying!"

I was crying uncontrollably. The lecturer, who had just returned from the restroom, was startled to see such a commotion.

He immediately stopped class and escorted me and Derek to Professor Alistair's office.

Crying, I accused Derek of not backing down, but instead continuing to spread rumors.

The gossip was even more outrageous than before, so much so that even my roommates were now mocking me.

Professor Alistair, however, seemed unconcerned.

"People will talk, Hazel. How can you control what others say?"

"We both know the truth in our hearts. That's all that matters."

I froze, looking up in disbelief.

"How can I not care? I'm a girl, and they're saying—"

"An innocent person doesn't need to explain themselves!"

Professor Alistair's face showed his impatience.

"Your roommates live with you. They should know your daily routine, whether you go out, whether you do anything wrong. If even they don't believe you, it means you're not doing enough to maintain your reputation, doesn't it? What's the big deal if people say a few things?"

"Alright, we already dealt with this. Don't bother me with these insignificant matters again!"

"If you keep making a fuss, you'll both get a disciplinary warning!"

Derek loudly cried injustice.

"Professor, it wasn't me! She's the one who's making a scene!"

"You watch your mouth too, Derek. Alright, alright, both of you out!"

Professor Alistair even said that with so many rumors, he was a victim too, so why didn't *he* care?

It was just me, too narrow-minded and unable to let go, he suggested I focus more on my studies and less on trivial gossip.

How could it be the same? Rumors like this always affect women more severely.

Everyone behind my back was calling me a slut and a tramp, but when they talked about Professor Alistair, they praised him, calling him a legend, lucky.

With that report, he could account for himself to the school administration, and this whole affair wouldn't affect his career.

Ultimately, I was the only victim.

It was at this moment that I fully realized. To stop these rumors, I had to rely on myself.