How to Escape from the Yandere’s Crazy Obsession - Chapter 84
IV.
During this time, rumors had been quietly circulating around Arvata Academy. Whispered speculations had solidified into truth, as rumors often do. They say the subject of gossip is always the last to hear it.
While Leticia remained unaware, stories about her had spread like poisonous mushrooms throughout the entire academy.
As usual, Leticia arrived at the lecture hall for class, only to find the room completely empty. She looked around, confused.
“That’s strange. This is the right time for class…”
After waiting for some time, Leticia spotted someone passing by in the hallway and quickly stopped them to ask.
“Excuse me, is today’s class canceled?”
“You didn’t know?”
“Oh… no one told me.”
The reply she received was curt, as if it were absurd that she hadn’t known. Why hadn’t anyone informed her about the class being canceled? It felt like she had made the trip for nothing.
“Instead of just worrying about guys, you should focus more on your studies.”
“What? Guys?”
The comment carried the implication that Leticia was obsessed with men. Was the “guy” she referred to talking about Vallon? Maybe that’s what people thought, seeing her spend time with him.
With a dismissive scoff, the woman brushed past her, knocking Leticia’s shoulder hard as she went. The gesture was filled with unmistakable hostility.
“Ugh, what the hell?”
Lately, Leticia couldn’t shake the feeling that people were deliberately avoiding her. While they had always been cautious around her because of Vallon, now it seemed like they were openly gossiping about her.
At first, she tried to ignore it, but as the days passed—one, then two, then a week—she couldn’t pretend anymore.
Everywhere she went, people whispered quietly as she passed.
It was unnerving. Even a fool could sense that those stares were far from friendly. Unlike before, the glances were now filled with ridicule, scorn, and disdain.
The confident Leticia, who used to walk with her head held high like the star of the show, began to shrink under the weight of those stares.
“Leticia, what are you doing here?”
“Oh, Richelle. I was just about to go eat. Want to join me?”
“Sure, let’s go.”
Richelle was the only person who still felt like an ally. Even if everyone else was talking behind her back, at least she had Richelle.
“Richelle, don’t you think things have felt weird around the academy lately?”
“Hmm? Not really. Why? Did something happen?”
Richelle paused mid-bite and tilted her head in confusion.
‘How could she not notice?’
Nearly everyone in the school had been giving her strange looks, yet Richelle didn’t seem to have picked up on it at all.
“Oh! I did hear a weird rumor, though.”
“What rumor?”
“Apparently, there’s a girl at our school who sold herself over the break. They say she worked in a red-light district. Isn’t that crazy?”
“Wh-what?”
Leticia’s heart dropped at Richelle’s words. She knew immediately that the rumor was about her. Suddenly, it felt like everyone in the cafeteria was laughing at her, and she could barely remain seated.
As her lips began to tremble, Richelle leaned in with a worried expression.
“Leticia, are you okay? What’s wrong?”
“No, it’s nothing. Do you know who it is?”
Leticia struggled to keep her face from twisting in anguish. As she waited for Richelle’s response, her mouth went dry.
“No, no one’s told me who it is. But I think some of the others know.”
“They know?”
Now, everything made sense. The strange behavior, the whispers, the stares. Everyone knew her secret except her.
“Could it be you, Leticia? Is that why no one’s telling me?”
Richelle asked playfully, with a teasing smile.
Normally, Leticia would’ve laughed it off as a joke, but knowing that the rumors were about her, she couldn’t take it lightly.
“What? Are you kidding? Why would you even say that?”
“Le-Leticia… Why are you so upset? You’re scaring me…”
Her voice came out louder than she intended, as if her strong denial had only made the accusation feel more real. She had overreacted, making it all the more obvious. Normally, she could have laughed it off, but not now—not with that kind of rumor about her.
“Oh… sorry, Richelle. You just startled me with something so ridiculous.”
Not only her lips but her hand, gripping the spoon, had begun to tremble.
Who could have spread such a terrible rumor?
Was it Vallon again? Did he do this to isolate her even further? But somehow, she doubted it was him this time.
‘Red hair…’
Seeing Richelle’s bright red hair made her stomach churn. She felt like throwing up everything she’d eaten.
It was as if an invisible hand was tightening around her throat, choking her. She felt like a deer about to be strangled in a hunter’s noose.
Even though there was no visible threat, it felt like she was surrounded by enemies on all sides.
