Chapter 38: No one will even know

Because for the first time, he felt like he was taking control of something that mattered—the rumors, the gossip, the unfair judgments. And most importantly, standing by Julie—no matter what—was something he was ready to defend with everything he had.

As he walked away from the confrontation, a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. Maybe this wasn't going to be easy, but together with Julie, they could face whatever came their way.

The next day, during lunch break, Rizvan approached Jiko with a fire in his eyes. He had been quietly investigating the source of the rumors and now had his sights set on the culprit.

"It was Daniel," Rizvan said with a clenched jaw, his voice low but filled with anger. "He's the one spreading everything."

Jiko's brow furrowed. "Daniel?"

"Yeah," Rizvan confirmed. "He's been telling everyone about your trip with Julie, making it sound like some kind of secret rendezvous. Dude's relentless."

Jiko shook his head, frustration mounting. "He wouldn't stop at just that. He was trying to sabotage us. He even tried to get Julie to hang out with him instead."

Rizvan's fists tightened. "That son of a—"

"Calm down," Jiko said quickly, putting a hand on Rizvan's shoulder. "I don't want you going after him in a way that'll get you expelled again, like last year. You remember how close you came to getting kicked out. Things can get out of hand fast."

Rizvan took a deep breath, though the tension in his body didn't ease. "Alright, alright. But my crew? They'll handle him. Quietly. No one will even know what hit him. Just a warning—he won't mess with you or Julie again."

Jiko let out a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Rizvan. But I want this to be over. I don't want Julie to worry about this anymore."

"She won't have to," Rizvan said confidently. "All you need is your quiet, romantic life with Julie. That's it. Everything else can be handled."

Jiko smiled, though there was still a hint of unease in his eyes. "I appreciate it, Rizvan."

Rizvan gave a nod, patting Jiko on the back. "You've got my word. Everything's gonna be fine."

With Rizvan's reassurance, Jiko felt a small sense of peace returning. The weight of the rumors had been overwhelming, but knowing his best friend had his back made it easier to focus on what mattered most—his relationship with Julie.

That evening, after school, Jiko found Julie waiting for him outside the building. Her usual bright smile warmed his heart, but there was a softness in her eyes that told him she'd been stressed too.

"Hey," she said softly as he approached.

"Hey," Jiko greeted back with a gentle smile. "How's your day?"

She sighed, leaning into him as they began walking home together. "Better now that I'm with you."

Jiko wrapped an arm around her, holding her close. "It'll all be over soon, I promise."

"I trust you," Julie said quietly. "Rizvan has something planned?"

Jiko chuckled. "He told you that too? Yeah, he's not thrilled with how things have been playing out. But we're keeping things low-key from now on. No more drama. Just us."

Julie looked up at him, her eyes sparkling. "I like that plan."

And with that, their steps fell into a comfortable rhythm, the weight of the rumors slowly fading away. Together, they were ready to move forward—stronger and more certain of what they meant to each other.

The rumors spread like wildfire through the small town, and soon enough, they reach Jiko's family. One evening, as the family gathers around the dinner table, Tito leans back in his chair and casually asks, "So, what's this I hear about you and Julie?"

Jiko almost choked on his food. He quickly put down his fork and knife, trying to get his bearings. "W-what?" he managed to get out, his voice a bit rough.

Tito chuckled, but his eyes narrowed slightly. "Come on, Jiko. Don't act like you don't know. People are saying you two… you know… *did it*."

Jiko's heart started pounding. His mind raced, trying to come up with something to say. He glanced over at his parents, who were on the sofa watching TV, pretending they hadn't heard a thing. But Jiko could tell by the way their expressions flickered that they'd heard everything. His mother had a slight frown, and his father cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably.

"Uh, it's nothing like that, Brother," Jiko said quickly, trying to brush it off. "People are just making stuff up. You know how rumors are."

But Tito doesn't let it go that easily. He leans in slightly, his expression calm but firm. "Come on, Jiko. Just be honest with me. Is there something going on between you and Julie? Not... romantically, I mean beyond it."

Jiko feels his pulse quicken. He knows exactly what this is about. Their parents must have sent Tito to make sure everything stays under control. They wouldn't be able to speak openly about this unless it was something serious. Jiko takes a deep breath, weighing his words carefully.

"Do you really think I would do something like that?" Jiko responds honestly, shaking his head. "Other than... loving her?"

Tito's face softens a bit, but he still looks thoughtful, his eyes narrowing in thought. For a long moment, neither of them speaks. Jiko feels a strange mix of vulnerability and relief—he's not sure what kind of reaction he'll get from Tito, but he hopes it won't be hostile. Finally, Tito lets out a long sigh, sitting down on the edge of the bed in their shared room.

"You're serious about this, huh?" Tito says quietly, more to himself than anyone else. "About... loving her. If you didn't love her, maybe things would be different. You might've just gone after her, like... physically." He pauses and looks Jiko directly in the eyes. "That's what I was afraid of, Jiko. But I know you—my little brother isn't like that."

Jiko swallows hard. The words sting a little, but it also reassures him that Tito isn't completely shutting him out. "Yeah," Jiko finally says softly.

Tito nods slowly, sitting back against the headboard of his bed. There's a long silence between them before Jiko decides to explain something that has been on his mind since the school trip—something he couldn't ignore.