Flower of Steel

nt to look weak, I was worried that she might get hurt because of me and couldn’t thank her.
I acted strong, but others being friendly to me was unfamiliar.
I looked at her back for quite a while, then returned to my office, where people considered me a part of them.

***

Days had gone by, and I found my calmness had returned, but rumors about me had spread all over the beau monde.
I was used to getting attacked by people who hated me, but that didn’t mean I was oblivious to it.
Although I felt disgusted and sick of it, I still acted calmly.
I didn’t want others to know that it affected me.
However, the people around me didn’t leave me alone.

“Marina, let’s talk for a second.”

Rave held onto me.
He seemed frustrated by something.
Other officials seemed to share his thoughts as they signaled for us to talk.

‘Is he trying to ask about the rumors regarding me?’ I sighed and went out of the building with him.

“What is it?”

Rave took a deep breath and let it out.
Then he looked at me with his dark blue eyes and asked, “Are you okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“He then spoke in a frustrated tone, “There’s certainly something going on with you.
There’s a rumor going around about you.”

Ah, as expected, the reason why I expected to see him was that he was similar to me from the past.
The foolish me, who was frustrated and wished that boy who wouldn’t speak to talk.
I don’t dislike him.
Just like I was before, he, too, must be worried about the questions he’s asking.

“It’s got nothing to do with me.”

“Stop lying! How can it not be with such rumors!”

I found it unfamiliar to me for Rave to shout like that.
It was the first time he spoke in such an angry tone when he was always playful.
I blanked out in shock, and he looked at me with an unusual look on his face.