The days after the debate felt like living in a dream. For the first time, teachers nodded at me in the hallway. Students whispered my name with curiosity instead of indifference. Even Clifton, who never missed a chance to mock me, gave me a grudging nod one morning as if to say, Well done.
But with recognition came shadows. The system's menu flickered with warnings I hadn't seen before:
[Caution: External Threats Detected]
Quest Update: Protect Your Reputation | Risk: Betrayal.
The words sent a chill down my spine. Betrayal? By who?
---
That afternoon, as I packed my books into my bag, my best friend, Rudo, slid into the seat beside me. We had been friends since childhood, inseparable even when I had sunk into my introverted shell. She had cheered for me at the debate, clapping the loudest. Or so I thought.
Her smile was tight today, her eyes sharp.
"Shelly," she began, her tone dripping with something unfamiliar, "you've been acting… strange lately."
I frowned. "Strange? What do you mean?"
"You." She gestured vaguely. "The way you suddenly understand everything in class. The way you speak like some professional on stage. Even the way you've started helping at home." Her eyes narrowed. "That's not the Shelly I know."
My stomach twisted. She was right, in a way. The system had changed me. But wasn't that a good thing?
"I've just been working harder," I said softly, hoping to calm her.
"Working harder?" She laughed, but there was no warmth in it. "Don't lie to me. You expect me to believe you went from nearly failing chemistry to topping mock tests in a week? From stammering in class to outshining everyone at debate?"
Her voice was rising now, attracting the attention of nearby students. My cheeks burned.
"Rudo, please," I whispered. "It's not like that. I—"
But she cut me off, her eyes glinting with accusation. "You're cheating, aren't you? You found some trick, some shortcut. Admit it!"
The room spun. Cheating? The word felt like poison on my skin.
"I would never—" My voice cracked.
"Then explain it to me!" she snapped, leaning close. "Explain how you suddenly became this… this different person. Because the Shelly I knew struggled. She needed me. Now it's like you don't even care if I'm here."
Her words pierced deeper than I expected. Did she really think I didn't need her anymore? That my growth was a rejection of her?
"Rudo," I said, forcing steadiness into my voice. "You're my friend. That hasn't changed. I just… I want more for myself. Don't you want that too?"
Her face softened for a moment, then hardened again. "More? You mean without me, right?" She grabbed her bag and stood abruptly. "Fine. Go chase your dreams, Shelly. But don't come crying when people find out the truth."
My throat closed up. "Rudo, wait!"
But she was already gone, her figure vanishing through the doorway, leaving whispers behind in the classroom.
---
That night, I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, the system menu hovering faintly above me.
[Warning: Trust Broken – Friendship with Rudo -2]
[New Hidden Quest: Clear Your Name | Risk: Reputation Collapse.]
Tears stung my eyes. For years, Rudo had been my anchor. She had sat with me when I cried over failed grades, shared her food when I skipped lunch, defended me when classmates mocked me. And now, she doubted me. She thought I had cheated my way here.
"Why her?" I whispered into the dark. "Why did it have to be her?"
The system offered no answer. Just silence, and the steady hum of progress bars waiting to be filled.
---
The next day was worse. Rumors spread like wildfire.
"Shelly has a trick up her sleeve."
"She probably bribed the judges at debate."
"No one changes that fast without cheating."
I kept my head down, but the whispers followed me everywhere. The applause that had once lifted me now turned into dagger-like stares. Even my teachers looked at me differently, their praise tinged with suspicion.
At lunch, I found Rudo sitting with others, laughing a little too loudly. When our eyes met, she looked away. My chest ached.
I sat alone, my food untouched. The system's menu pulsed faintly:
[Decision Point: Fight Rumors vs. Stay Silent]
Fight Rumors: +Reputation if Successful | Risk: Public Confrontation.
Stay Silent: Reputation -1 | Emotional Strain +2.
My hands shook. Silence was easier. But silence would let the lies spread.
I chose to fight.
---
After school, I found Rudo by the gate. My heart pounded as I approached.
"Rudo," I said, my voice trembling, "we need to talk."
She folded her arms. "About what?"
"About the lies," I said, sharper than I intended. "You know me. You know I'd never cheat. So why are you telling people otherwise?"
Her eyes flashed. "Because you left me behind, Shelly! You got all this attention, all this success, and where was I? Still the same old Rudo, invisible. Do you know how it feels to watch your best friend outgrow you?"
My throat tightened. "Outgrow you? That's not what this is! I just wanted to do better—for myself, for my family. That doesn't mean I don't need you."
Her expression wavered, but she held her ground. "Then why didn't you share your secret with me? If you found some way to improve, why didn't you let me in? Friends share things, Shelly. They don't leave each other in the dark."
I swallowed hard. How could I explain the system? The glowing menus only I could see? The quests, the rewards? If I told her, she'd laugh—or worse, call me insane.
"I can't explain everything," I admitted, voice breaking. "But I swear to you, I'm not cheating. Please, Rudo. I need you to believe me."
She stared at me for a long, painful moment. Finally, she whispered, "I want to. But I don't know if I can."
Her words cut deeper than any rumor.
---
That evening, I sat on my bed, holding my chemistry book but unable to read a single line. My mind replayed Rudo's face, her hurt, her anger. I had dreamed of fame and fortune, but I hadn't realized the cost.
The system pulsed again:
[Hidden Quest Active: Mend Broken Bonds]
Reward: Strengthened Friendship | Bonus Confidence +1.
Penalty for Failure: Permanent Friendship Loss.]
For the first time, I hesitated. The system had given me tools to chase success, but it couldn't mend the fragile, human threads of trust. That was on me.
I closed my eyes, tears slipping down my cheeks. "Rudo… I won't give up on you."
And for the first time, I ignored the shimmering progress bars and focused on something the system couldn't measure: love and loyalty.