Three Years Ago   “Jung Soojung?”   A chill and raspy voice called out to me, stealing my attention from an assignment I was working on. Her voice bore a demanding tone, forcing me to tilt my head to meet her eyes. I heard about her. Yet another transfer student from China, Song Qian was her name. She was one of the queen bees I wanted nothing to do with, surrounded by her groupie of second rate queen bee wannabes.   I turned my sight back to my notebook, blatantly ignoring her.   “You’re Jung Soojung, aren’t you? It must be you. I heard you’re very pretty,” Song Qian spoke, her tone overtaken by an unbefitting friendliness. She took the chair before my desk, lowering her eyes to my level. “I need your help with something.”   Bullcrap. Not gonna fall for it. I continued scribbling on my notebook, blaring my ignorance. But Song Qian’s hand suddenly closed my notebook with force, her long red manicured fingernails boring into my skin.   “It isn’t a request. Follow me,” Song Qian whispered lowly. She held my notebook as a hostage, got up from her seat, and walked out of the classroom in what may be perceived as a catwalk runaway. It reminded me of those a es in the Red Light district instead.   As soon as I followed her into the girl’s bathroom, those wannabes extended their foot, deliberately trying to trip me. But when I amazingly evaded their cheap attack, they ganged up on me, dug their fingers into my shoulder, and pushed me down to the muddy toilet floor. I tried my best not to scream, refusing to let them enjoy a hint of fear. My gaze hardened when they held me by the arm, spread wide apart like a punishment on the crucifix for unjustified condemnation.   “We have heard all about you, Soojung. So quit your innocent act. You really think you can sleep around with men?” Song Qian asked, her voice elated at her authority while I was held defenseless by four or five people. Really? Did they think that highly of me to require such strong defenses?   “The reason you wear long sleeves and tall socks is to hide your bruises from having with fat old men, right?”   The frown sunk on my face, deep. What was this nonsense they were uttering?   “Ah, judging on your expression, the rumors must be true,” the girl said, slightly leaning her body closer to me, but ensuring her presence reigned superior compared to me. “I never thought you’d be the type to sell your body for money. But with a pretty face like yours, I bet you get quite a lot of customers.”   I gritted my teeth, feeling anger washing over me like ripples of waves ready to engulf an entire shore underwater. Not only was this ridiculous rumor mocking me; it also insulted my parents. They did not raise me to become the pleaser of men who couldn’t get a girlfriend of their own.   “Actually, my pretty face is too natural for them. Those lusty bastards prefer plastics decorated in thick makeup,” I said, a smirk falling on my face, contouring my inability to falter at their abuse. “Oh, you know what? They’d love you.”   The changing frown on Song Qian’s face was worth the slap inflicted on my face, worth the reddish mark that lingered for several days. It wasn’t, however, worth the rumors about my sadistic whenever I engaged in ual activities. Because frankly, now the entire school believed I was a e at night.   Such was the beauty of words, and the way it could be used to make or break a person. In the way it broke me, it also made me stronger. Against a world where lies held the crown of integrity, telling a bigger lie seated me on the throne.   So I started a rumor that Song Qian was screwing our homeroom teacher.   I realized then, the only way to defeat a lie wasn’t through a bigger lie, but by telling the truth.   My lie became the truth.   ***   Present   It was amazing, the aftermath created by a word of mouth. When I walked through the corridors, every student passed by with sympathizing eyes, as if I had lost my family in a terrible car accident. They mourned on my behalf. They indulged in my pain. Such were the effect of the rumors created in my favor.   “Soojung, are you alright? We heard all about it.” Jinri glomped me as soon as I set my bag on the chair, hugging me tightly in public in an attempt to comfort me. Who was she kidding? I knew she used me to build a good reputation for herself as the nice and comforting best friend archetype.   “What?” I asked, trying to act as nonchalant as a clueless victim.   “That weirdo from class 1-A tried to sleep with Myungsoo, even though she knew you and Myungsoo are a thing!” Jinri said out loud, as if she wanted the entire class to know.   I scanned my surrounding, seeing my classmate stare at me like I was the lead character in a tear jerking family drama. I had to give props to Jongin for successfully starting the rumor, though I was sure it had lost its original message at some point and blossomed into a worser lie.   “I heard she’s been seducing Myungsoo this entire time even though Soojung was the only one who ever treated her nicely. What an ungrateful bish,” Sunyoung added, proving more dimension to the fake rumor.   “Did anything happen to Suzy?” I asked carefully, maintaining a brilliant curiosity in my voice.   “Have you not listened to us? She is trying to break you and Myungsoo apart. You gotta be careful. Suzy has seduced men before,” Jinri warned me, holding me by the arms.   “It is true,” Jongin’s singsong voice appeared, casually taking a seat beside me. He looked too composed for the mastermind who had just spread false rumors through an entire school. “I saw her ask a teacher for some extra credit assignment, if you know what I mean.”   “Oh em gee, she did the do!” Jinri exclaimed in panic, clasping her hand against her cheeks.   “If she could do it with a teacher, I bet she is trying to get into Myungsoo’s pants too,” Sunyoung added, clicking her tongue in annoyance. “What a hoe.”   The school bell rang, and as Sunyoung and Jinri returned to their seat, Jongin and I exchanged a small high five underneath our seats, soaking in our victory.   The entire school talked about the rumor, and every person repeated a different version. Some were quite ridiculous, such as the fact Suzy had already gotten pregnant, but most of them showcased me as the helpless victim in distress.   Myungsoo