Chapter 134 - Rumors Around The School

When the regular class ended, the news about a student being involved in an accident spread among all senior students. Not long after, the juniors also learned about the incident until it reached to the students in lower years. 

"It was Ash Martinez! He actually broke his arm in the bench near that big tree!"

"No wonder I saw an ambulance in our school parking space earlier. So, his condition must be serious?"

"Of course! His friends say that he accidentally fell off the bench! And those who had witnessed it also said that there are other beings involved."

"Well, if it's that big tree on the school grounds, it may be some spirits. Some students said that they had sightings of the white lady in that area!"

"W-white lady? Could it be some paranormal activity? After all, there are rumors about the haunted area of our school! Now, I'm having goosebumps!"

Sofia's friend joined her in the library when they overheard the current talks of the students sitting near their table. 

The other students were caught by their conversation that they had forgotten the place where they were talking. Although they are inside the library, their voices were almost as if they were not. 

The gossip was about Ash Martinez. Joey, who was situated on the floor sitting comfortably like a Buddha did not pay much attention to the students. He was busy playing with his mobile phone and did not bother listening to them.

On the other side, Clark and Claire were joining on a mini table. Upon hearing the subject of discussion from the other students, they looked at each other and communicated using their eyes. 

Surely, they had not forgotten about the man who challenged her for a one on one match earlier. 'Wasn't it the infamous male student who grabbed Sofia's arm because he wants to play an assassin vs assassin?'

The two nodded and looked wary.

That male student offended them for hurting Sofia. But, since Sofia told them to avoid the group, they did not pursue their anger towards the group.

Was it just a coincidence or perhaps karma? Such things were running wildly in their thoughts.

Meanwhile, Sofia was standing in the rows of books trying to find the articles that she needed.  She was tracing the side of the books and read their faded titles one by one. 

Her position was nearest to the students who were gossiping loudly. Since their group was at the farthermost corner area of the library where some old books were placed, the librarian had noticed them yet.

"Ash Martinez," Sofia lowered her gaze and was in deep thought for a while. Then, she looked at the group of students using her peripheral view.

After the name of the boy was mentioned, Sofia deliberately moved nearer to their table and listened to their conversation until the students reached the conclusion of some paranormal activity.

Joey who looked uninterested suddenly stood from the floor. His face turned pale as if he was scared by something.

He quickly grabbed a chair and also opened the topic to express his opinion. "A terrible accident happened earlier. A male student broke his arm and they said that some ghost was responsible for it!"

Claire's body slightly quivered as she was trying her best not to laugh at Joey's face. It was too obvious that the conversation about ghosts had scared him! 

"What nonsense! There is no ghost in a broad daylight!" Claire muttered.

"Ah! You are right, Claire!" Joey nodded his head several times. Based on how quick he responded, his friends could tell that he was totally tensed.

"Are you scared?" Clark playfully asked him with a small grin on his lips. 

"W-what? M-me? No way!" Joey instantly denied anything about his fears.

"Hehe, you look like you have seen a ghost!" Claire giggled.

"Tsk! I just don't know where these rumors started but the other students really believe that the accident was caused by a ghost! Did you hear those groups talking about it?" Joey dramatically gasped.

"Well, the ghosts are only awake in the dark places. The sun is still up. So, it's impossible for it to be the cause of his broken arm," Claire shrugged.

"Indeed! Who knows?" Joey mumbled when he realized that the accident did not occur at night. If the ghost or paranormal activity would be involved, shouldn't it be during the evening?

"Those gossips cannot be trusted. But, did he really broke his arm that the ambulance needed to get him to the hospital?" Clark cautiously asked.

"Yes! His friends were adamant that he fell from the bench and twisted his arm," Joey answered and glanced at Sofia. "What do you think about the paranormal rumors, Sof?"

Sofia slowly moved her feet towards them and sat on the empty chair. She placed few thin magazines on their table. 

"It could be true," she replied.

It's not that she entirely believed in the existence of ghosts. If it was in her past life, she would probably laugh about it. She had never seen nor get involved in paranormal activity.

But, with her situation being transmigrated after her death to the teenage body, she would not ignore the possibility. Such a chance may really occur even if not everyone believed it.

"Wait, you believe in the rumors?" Claire questioned.

"Hmm, do you guys believe that after our death, the soul will transfer to another body?" Sofia subtly tested them.

"No way! We will go there," Joey answered while his index finger was pointing above.

"Right. It's the same as the existence of ghosts in this school. It could be real. It could be fake. Only those who had experienced it would really confirm if they exist," Sofia easily responded. She then opened the old magazine and started flipping the pages on it.

"That's right. Only experience can justify its existence," Clark agreed.

"Ash Martinez, how is he?" Sofia diverted their attention to the student instead of the existence of the ghost.

"Well, there were so many students in the school ground at that time when he broke his arm. But, not a single one of them saw what really happened. Or at least, that what those students claimed," Joey narrated what he had heard from his class too.

To say, the rumors about paranormal activity had started from the other students who witnessed the incident of Stephen approaching Ash. Because they fear that Stephen would go after them, they only told the other students that they did not see anything. And that Ash only shrieked in pain after he fell on the bench.

When the guidance counselor also made an interrogation among the friend's group of the boy, they supported the claim and stated that it was purely an accident.

Now, the ghost of the big tree seemed to have gained popularity in the entire school.

"I see," Sofia nodded. She then took a pen in her bag and focused on the magazine. "By the way, did Stephen contact any of you?" she casually added.

Claire pouted and shook her head. "No, I did not receive any message from Stephen. Is there a problem, Sof?"

Since it was only Joey and Sofia who had seen Stephen being escorted by his father's bodyguards, Claire and Clark were totally unaware of the situation.

"Last night, we met Stephen's father after we exited the victory party," Sofia told them.

"Oh!" Claire reacted and looked Sofia in the eye. "What happened then?"

"Stephen may not be the person that he had portrayed in the past days that we have known him," Sofia responded without looking at them. Her face was still buried in front of the magazine.

"What is it? Oh no! I remember some students before called Stephen a frat boy. Is his father part of a gang? Maybe a gang boss?" Clark anxiously asked.

"G-gang boss?" Sofia finally looked up.

"Yes! Because Stephen is very unruly and just follows his own principles, the other student believed that maybe he is in frat or gang," Clark responded.

"No, I don't think he is. Last night, Stephen's father approached us and took him," Sofia stated.

"And he was escorted by three bodyguards. Guys, Stephen is rich! Just like you Clark," Joey added with a slight excitement and worry on his face.

"Ohh... I am not really surprised if he is rich," Clark mumbled.

"Really? Why not?" Claire questioned.

"It's because one time when I saw him smoking, he was using a classy lighter. It's similar to the Dunhill gold apex. Only those who had a high social status had those in their collection," Clark answered.

"But you don't smoke! Or do you?" Claire expressed with a slight skepticism in her tone.

"No, I don't smoke. But my brother, James, smokes. And one time, we went to this collector shows. It has vapes, cigars, ashtrays, lighters, and other kinds of classy stuff," Clark narrated and observed Claire's reaction carefully.

"Stephen is actually not in the house where he lived. I went there this morning. It was shut close. Maybe, he left in district 7 last night?" Joey also speculated.