Ida was walking toward the art classroom during recess, still lost in the memory of what had happened in the storage room. She held the book she had brought for the lesson, but her mind was stuck on the incident. What if Batuhan had touched her for a longer time? The thought of how her inner power could have led to disaster made her dizzy. The possibility of hurting Batuhan gnawed at her mind, and various scenarios played out in her head. She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she completely forgot her surroundings.
Suddenly, she bumped into someone and lost her balance, falling to the ground while her book flew a few steps away. As she looked up in surprise, she saw Atilla Baycan and his twin henchmen, Eymen and Aras. Atilla's mocking gaze sent a chill down her spine. With his dark complexion, round face, and tall stature, Atilla was always noticeable and known as the school bully. The twins, with their blonde hair, acne-ridden faces, and cold blue eyes, always shadowed him. It was common knowledge that Atilla never went anywhere alone.
Ida quickly grabbed her book from the floor and tried to continue on her way, ignoring them, but Atilla suddenly grabbed her arm and stopped her. Panic surged through Ida as she tried to pull her arm away, but Atilla's grip was too strong. A wave of fear rose within her, knowing that if Atilla didn't let go within a minute, she would involuntarily harm him. She didn't want to unleash her dark power, but she was writhing in desperation. Her heart raced, and her breathing quickened.
In a swift motion, she kicked Atilla in his weak spot, his stomach. The kick worked. Atilla released her arm in pain but quickly recovered and raised his hand to hit her in anger. Ida couldn't escape; Eymen and Aras had blocked her paths. She had no way to defend herself. In that moment, she closed her eyes, tightly hugged her book, and a tear rolled down her cheek. As she braced for the impact, a voice echoed down the corridor.
When she opened her eyes, she saw Batuhan standing right in front of her, stopping Atilla's fist mid-air. Batuhan's firm and determined gaze matched Atilla's anger.
"Get out of the way, Batuhan!" Atilla shouted, his face flushed with rage. He seemed unable to control his fury. However, Batuhan, maintaining his composure, pushed Atilla away.
"Ida is my friend," Batuhan said in a protective and resolute tone. "And you don't hit girls." His words echoed in the corridor, blending with the murmurs of the other students.
Atilla's fury intensified, but Batuhan didn't waver, his challenging stare unwavering. The fight could erupt at any moment. Eymen and Aras kept their eyes fixed on Batuhan, waiting for the right moment to attack. Just as things were about to take a turn for the worse, the teacher on duty, Mrs. Eylül, intervened. Her curly hair bounced as she approached them, her loud voice attempting to disperse the group.
"Break it up, kids!" Mrs. Eylül said sternly. "Atilla! Take your friends and go to class!" she continued. Her gaze, even for a moment, was enough to subdue Atilla's rage. Atilla slowly retreated with Eymen and Aras, but not without casting threatening glances at Batuhan and Ida as they left.
As the students quickly left the corridor, Mrs. Eylül also walked away. Batuhan looked at Ida, concern still evident in his eyes.
"Are you okay, Ida?" he asked gently.
Ida nodded slightly, saying, "I'm fine." But her voice seemed to mask the fear and regret she was trying to hide. She quickly continued toward the art classroom. Batuhan watched her for a moment before following her to class.
When they arrived at the art room, the teacher had not yet come in, and everyone appeared to be occupied. Some were whispering, while others played with their phones. But the whispers that reached Ida's ears made it clear that they were talking about her
"She hid behind Batuhan!" "Batuhan stepped in just in time when Atilla was about to hit her…" "Ida has always been weird…"
The whispers echoed in her mind, almost making her ears throb. What would they say if they knew about her dark secret? If they knew the danger they were in because of this "poisonous touch" she carried, what would they do? She tried to focus on the book in her hands, but it was no use. The fear in her heart grew with the whispers in the classroom. She began scratching the book cover with her nails, her hands trembling involuntarily. But no one noticed.
In the corner of the classroom, Batuhan watched Ida from a distance. Quietly seated in a corner, he observed her unease, waiting for the right moment to approach her.