The Aftermath of a Momentary Lapse

As I stood there, trying to process the whirlwind of emotions that had just swept through me, one of the boys asked a question that made my heart sink even further. "It was Vesper, wasn't it?" he said, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. I felt my face heat up with embarrassment all over again as all eyes turned to me. I could feel my cheeks burning with a deep red flush, and I knew I must have looked like a ripe tomato. The boys started to snicker and tease, and I just wanted to melt into the ground. Izuku, who had been laughing along with the others, suddenly looked at me with a concerned expression. "Guys, come on," he said, trying to defend me. "Let's not make a big deal out of this." But it was too late. The damage was done. The boys were already speculating and making jokes about what had happened. I just stood there, frozen in embarrassment, as they continued to tease me. The girls, who had been watching the scene unfold with interest, finally intervened. "Hey, guys, knock it off," Mina said, her voice firm but gentle. "Leave him alone." The boys slowly backed off, still chuckling and snickering, but eventually they dispersed, leaving me to breathe a sigh of relief. I turned to Izuku, who was looking at me with a mixture of concern and apology. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice low and sincere. "I didn't mean for it to get out of hand like this." I shook my head, trying to play it cool. "It's not your fault," I said. "I'm just glad it's over." But as I looked around at the group, I couldn't help but wonder if things would ever go back to normal. The dynamics of our group had shifted, and I wasn't sure if we could ever go back to the way things were before. Izuku, sensing my unease, put a hand on my shoulder. "Hey, don't worry about it," he said. "We'll get through this. We're friends, right?" I smiled weakly, trying to appreciate his kindness. But as I looked into his eyes, I couldn't help but wonder if our friendship was strong enough to withstand the aftermath of what had just happened.