"Stupid girl!"
"Crazy bitch!"
"Idiot!"
That was the first thing that greeted Luffy the moment she passed the gates of her school. Her dark brown eyes downcast, prefer not to see strange faces in black sscribbles. Her small feet tread happily, walking briskly through the sea of people who shower her with scorn and insults. None of the teachers heed, even though everything happened in plain sight. The girl's thin lips lifted, while thinking of her friends who were waiting for her in class.
With a small run, the short black haired girl ran up the stairs to her classroom on the 2nd floor. A happy laugh came out of her lips, looking forward to meeting her friends after 3 days of absents. The reason is simple, her brother fell ill, and no one could take care of him other than herself, not counting their grandfather who was rarely at home other than to eat or scold her adopted brother.
When her eyes catches her class's nameplate, her smile widens, her little jog speeds up, holding her red bag close as if afraid it will fly off. She ran so fast that she almost slipped when she turned into her class, crashing hard on the door until her shoulder ached, but she just ignored it with laughter. Too eager to meet her loved ones.
"Good morning everyone!"
But not a single voice welcomed her. Four teenagers, three boys and a girl, sitting facing each other in the middle of the class. Their faces are hard, as if thinking of something. None of them heeded her. Question marks popped up in Luffy's head, it is not strange the answer her greetings, instead they usually would scold her for making a fuss in the morning. With slow footsteps, the 11th grade girl walked toward them.
"Hey, why so quite? What is wrong?"
As if just realizing her existence, the four teenagers turned around and looked at her blankly, making the confused Luffy worried.
"O-oi, what's wrong with you guys? Is there something bad happens? "
"No need to pretend you care, you actually don't like us right?"
The words of Ussop made her speechless. Never once did she hear that harsh tone come from the lips of her friend who likes to lie.
"What do you mean, Sop? I do not understand-"
"Of course you don't understand; like you ever use your brain."
Nami's voice interrupted her. Luffy's big eyes glanced at her only female friend. Her usually warm brown eyes seemed to darken, reminding her of a scheming girl who was her best friend old self, before they started being friends in 8th grade. Seeing that cold stare made Luffy's heart beat fast.
"Na-Nami, why ..."
"You don't have to lie! Just tell the truth, you're just using us right! "
Hearing Zoro's yell, her best friend from elementary school who was always with her through thick and thin, made Luffy's eyes widen. Never once did her sword-maniac friend raise his voice to Luffy. Whenever angry, Zoro will only nag her, and Luffy will respond with laughter. Her small hand shook, tightly gripping the straps of her backpack.
Luffy turned her gaze to her last best friend. Sanji, a Japanese-French young man who likes to flirt with women but never dated them. Usually he would scold Zoro for behaving disrespectfully to women, but what Luffy found was Sanji's figure that looked away, with a sad and disappointed look on his face. Luffy's body immediately cooled. Her lips trembled, and her vision blurred.
"Oh ..."
She turned around and walked out of the classroom, leaving her four former friends who were now scattering to their respective seats. She already knew what they meant. They had heard the rumors she heard from Mrs. Robin. A rumor spread by someone, concerning these five friends.
A rumor stating that Luffy only befriended them with bad intentions. That she didn't care about Ussop who was orphaned and liked to spread bad gossip about him. About her being friends with Nami in order to get his dark secret. About how he only wants to be friends with Zoro so he can get fame. That Sanji was nothing but a toy for him, and he did not care at all with beautiful guys like him.
Even if she want to fight, she can't. The rumor is too strong to be broken. They have strong false evidence, whatever she says will be fall to deaf ears. Even so, in her deepest heart she hoped that her friends would listen. However, it seems that hope is just nonsense. With unsteady steps, she walked towards the back of the school. Choose to hide in an empty warehouse, rather than hold back crying in a classroom full of wolves in sheep's clothing. Besides, no one will care, except for Mrs. Robin, Mr. Franky, and Mr. Brook, whom she not has classes that day.
Disclaimer: One Piece is the property of Eichiro OdaAuthor's note:This is the translation version of my story "Rumor". So please bear in mind that English is not my mother language. Please, if there is any mistake, just tell me. Thank you