Ashley's heels clicked sharply against the polished floor as she entered the classroom, her presence commanding immediate attention. Her smirk curled at the corners of her lips as she spotted Ivana and Tessa, already seated and waiting.
"Hi, babes," Ivana greeted, flicking her sleek hair over her shoulder in a practiced motion.
Ashley slid effortlessly into the chair between her two best friends, her posture effortlessly confident. "How's everything going?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"We're good," Ivana replied, sharing a brief, knowing glance with Tessa, who nodded in agreement. "We know you're doing great."
Ashley let out a soft laugh. "Obviously. Didn't you see Xavier and I walk in together?"
The two girls exchanged mischievous glances. "Oh, we saw," Tessa chimed in, leaning in slightly. "What's going on between you two?"
Ashley twirled a strand of her perfectly styled hair around her finger. "Let's just say... he's exactly where I want him."
Before they could continue, the classroom door creaked open, drawing every eye. Zaria entered, and in an instant, the mood shifted.
Expressions flickered from disinterest to thinly veiled disdain, and whispers rippled through the room.
Ryan, one of Xavier's closest friends, leaned back in his chair, a smug grin stretching across his face. "Nice uniform," he said, loud enough for the class to hear. "But it still doesn't look like it belongs to you."
Laughter echoed around the room, quickly followed by Leo's sharp voice. "God, you're so… unkempt," he sneered, eyes narrowing as he looked her over. "And that hair—why not just let it down for once?"
Tessa let out a dramatic laugh, shaking her head. "And those sneakers? Are you serious? I mean, I could give you a pair of mine if you're in need."
Ivana sighed, feigning sympathy. "Poor thing. I honestly feel bad for you." She stood, stepping toward Zaria with a slow, deliberate grace. "Xavier said you smelled awful yesterday. And honestly? He was right."
Reaching into her designer bag, Ivana pulled out a perfume bottle, holding it out as if offering a lifeline. "Here," she said sweetly. "Maybe you'll smell better now." Without giving Zaria a chance to refuse, she shoved the bottle into Zaria's bag with a force that made the act feel like public humiliation.
The laughter that followed felt almost deafening.
Zaria's grip tightened on her bag, her nails digging into the fabric, but she kept her head held high. She could feel the sting of their words, but she refused to let them see the cracks. Taking a slow, steady breath, she began to move toward her seat only to be blocked by Ryan, who leaned into her path with a mocking expression.
"Oh, sweetheart," he said, his voice dripping with false pity. "That seat's taken. Yesterday's your lucky day. Go find another one. The back suits you better."
Zaria's patience was wearing thin, but she pressed on, determined not to let them see how much they were getting to her. Just as she turned to walk toward the empty chair at the back, Xavier's hand shot out, grabbing her wrist and pulling her back with ease.
"Not so fast," he said, his tone smooth, laced with amusement. "Clean the seat first. Wouldn't want to leave your stench all over it."
The class snickered, eyes gleaming with enjoyment.
"Anyone got tissues?" Xavier called out, looking around the room.
Ashley stood up, a slow, calculating smile on her lips. "I do," she said, offering a packet of tissues with exaggerated sweetness. "Here, you can use these. We wouldn't want you to get… stained."
Xavier took the tissues, tossing them in Zaria's direction. "Well?" he drawled. "You heard her."
Zaria's entire body stiffened, her fists clenching at her sides, her nails digging into her palms. The weight of their eyes on her felt like a suffocating pressure. But her voice, when it came, was calm and unwavering.
"Enough," she said, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife.
The room fell silent. Even Ashley's smirk faltered, and for the first time, Zaria could feel the shift in the air.
"I'm done playing your pathetic games," Zaria continued, her eyes scanning the room, meeting each of theirs without flinching. "You think bullying me makes you powerful? It doesn't. It just shows how empty your lives are."
For a long moment, no one moved, as if they were unsure how to respond.
Without waiting for their reaction, Zaria turned on her heel and walked toward the back of the classroom. She took the only empty seat available the one next to the only person in the room who hadn't laughed.
Her heart raced, but she held her head high. She wouldn't let them see her fear, her vulnerability. One day, they would regret underestimating her. One day, she would make sure of it.