Cecilia and I walked in silence from the quarters the classroom, each step making my heart pound faster.
"Mia, are you okay?" she asked, her voice soft with concern.
I glanced at her and offered a quick smile. "Yeah, I'm fine."
But I wasn't. The smile was a mask — beneath it, I was unraveling. Something deep within me felt off, like pieces of myself were slowly drifting away.
The dream from earlier kept flashing through my mind, each fragment sending a cold shiver down my spine.
"Mia…" Cecilia's voice broke through again, snapping me out of my thoughts.
She was several steps ahead of me now. I hadn't even noticed I'd slowed down.
I hurried to catch up, forcing my legs to move as we walked into the classroom together.
We both stepped into the class...
Almost immediately, a girl stood up from her seat — confidently, almost too confidently — and three others followed. One of them was a guy.
Clara leaned toward me and whispered, "It's Jennie and her gang… just walk away."
Without hesitation, Cecilia slipped aside, expecting me to do the same. But I didn't.
I stood my ground. Something in me told me to wait. To face whatever was coming.
Their footsteps echoed as they approached, their eyes fixed on me like predators circling prey.
Jennie stopped just a breath away, her arms crossed, a sly smirk tugging at her lips.
And still... I didn't flinch.
I didn't know why… but it felt like my legs couldn't move.
"Hey, newbie… why are you just entering the classroom at this time? Don't you know the resumption time?" Jennie asked, glaring at me like she owned the place.
"No… I don't," I replied — sharp, calm. Something I wouldn't normally do.
Her eyes narrowed slightly as if surprised by my tone. "I see…" she muttered, glancing at the girl beside her.
Then, with a mocking smile, she added, "Or maybe you're just not used to sleeping on soft, comfortable beds like the one you had last night… you know, since you're from some dump or whatever."
A few snickers followed. I could feel several eyes on me now.
But still, I didn't look away.
"Please excuse me… I just want to take my seat," I said.
My voice sounded smaller than I intended.
She smiled—but there was no warmth in it.
"While I'm still talking?" she replied sharply. Then she turned to Cecilia. "So nobody told you about me… really?"
Cecilia didn't say a word. She avoided my eyes like silence was safer than truth.
The girl turned back to me.
Her hand clamped around my left arm—tight, controlling. I felt her grip before I felt fear.
"My name is Jennie," she said, leaning in slightly. "And I run this classroom. Don't try to be funny. Don't try to be brave. Don't try to be anything around me… or I'll break you."
My heart thudded hard against my chest. I tried to pull away, but her fingers held firm, like she wanted me to remember exactly who had power here.
Something inside me rebelled.
I yanked her hand off with my right hand.
The air shifted instantly.
"What?!" she screamed, eyes wide with fury. "How dare you!"
Her palm struck my cheek before I could speak.
The sound echoed—too loud, too final.
The entire class gasped. No one moved. No one spoke.
My face burned, but I didn't cry. I refused to.
She stepped closer, her voice dripping with venom.
"Why did you touch me with those filthy hands of yours?" she sneered. "Do you think you can walk in here with orphanage dirt on you and act like you belong?"
Every word sank deep.
"Hey!"
Josephine's voice cut through the room.
She had been sitting quietly all this time, unmoving, unnoticed—but the moment she stood up, something shifted. The air changed. Even Jennie felt it. I saw it in the way her shoulders stiffened, the way her confidence wavered for half a second.
Fear flashed across Jennie's face—quick, but unmistakable. She tried to hide it behind that same arrogant posture, but it was too late. The damage was done.
Josephine stepped forward, slow and deliberate, placing herself in front of me without even looking back—shielding me.
"Who gave you the damn right to question where she's from?" she said coldly. "And how dare you call the place she comes from filthy?"
Each word landed like a blow.
"Do you even know where you were picked up from?" she continued. "So why are you acting so special? What exactly is your problem?"
I stood there, stunned.
Was she… defending me?
The same girl who barely looked at me before. The same girl whose anger I thought was permanent.
Had it really melted away—or was this something else entirely?
Josephine took another step closer to Jennie.
"Listen, Jennie. Don't make me mad this morning," she said quietly, dangerously. "You already know what happens when I do. Or do you want a sample?"
The room went dead silent.
"N… N–No…" Jennie stammered.
And just like that, she broke.
She turned and rushed back to her seat, her gang scrambling after her like shadows that couldn't exist without her.
Josephine turned to me.
"Still as weak as ever," she said flatly.
Then she walked past me and returned to her seat as if nothing had happened.
I watched her, my heart pounding—confused, unsettled, unable to understand her.
As she glanced back, our eyes almost met.
I looked away immediately and headed toward the seat at the back.