These girls, however, didn't look surprised to see her. Not in the slightest. They were expecting her. Hena was sure of it.
Clara, the leader of the pack. Tall, sleek blonde hair, piercing eyes. Sitting in Hena's seat, legs crossed, back straight, a frosty smile on her lips.
To her left, Lina — always stuck to Clara, smaller, twitchier, always smirking, arms crossed, eyes locked.
Perched half on the table in front of them, Maëva, phone in hand, eyes on her screen but glancing at Hena. The camera was clearly on.
And finally, Sonia, leaning against the wall, chewing her gum loudly. Her expression was harder to read, but just as provocative.
They were the school's bitches. Hena knew it. Everyone did. They didn't need to fight — their weapons were sharper: humiliation, whispers, glances, and icy smiles. And today, they had taken her spot.
> "Of course. Them. Again. Always there. Watching, testing. But not today. Not this time."
She walked forward slowly, but with no hesitation. Each step landed like a drumbeat in the tense room.
Clara looked up, feigning surprise.
— "Well, look who finally showed up."
Lina, smirking:
— "We were starting to think she'd disappeared."
Sonia, all sweetness and sarcasm:
— "Didn't see you during the break. Thought maybe you'd left. You never go out, though. So… where were you, Hena?"
Maëva snapped a photo, not even pretending to hide it.
> "They want a scene. Want to break me. Too late. I'm already standing."
Hena stopped right in front of Clara, back straight, eyes unwavering. Her voice, when she spoke, was calm, almost gentle:
— "Excuse me. That's my seat. I'd like to sit there."
Clara raised an eyebrow, flashing a mocking smile.
— "Your seat? You vanished during lunch, and now you're back acting like some kind of princess?"
Lina, echoing her tone:
— "You never used to care. You didn't say a word."
Hena looked at each of them, one by one.
— "I don't see how it concerns you. I just want my seat back."
Sonia, still chewing:
— "Oh, but we like this spot too. Maybe we could share?"
> "Share? Coming from them, it's a threat. They don't share. They want me gone."
— "I'm not here to play your little games. Move."
Clara laughed softly.
— "Or what? You gonna make us?"
Silence fell over the room. Other students had started to notice. Some were whispering. Others just stared.
Daniel didn't move. Still watching.
> "But if she plays it right, even better. It'll piss them off. Push them. And when they snap... that's when I'll be the hero she remembers."
Clara rose slowly, facing Hena, eyes locked. The tension crackled in the air.
— "You want that seat so bad? Fine. Let's see what you're made of."
She stepped closer. She wasn't taller than Hena — not physically — but her presence was suffocating. She knew how to take up space, how to dominate. With one finger, she tapped the table, claiming it.
— "This spot means a lot, huh? Funny. I wonder why. Does it remind you of all those lovely moments staring at him like a pathetic little puppy?"
Murmurs swelled around them. A muffled laugh. Hena felt heat rise to her cheeks, but she didn't budge.
— "What do you mean?" Her voice was sharper now.
Clara smiled.
— "Don't play dumb. Everyone sees it. You stare at him. Follow him. It's embarrassing. Sad, even."
Lina laughed dryly.
— "Seriously. You think a guy like him would even notice someone like you? Get real, Hena. You're a joke."
Sonia chimed in, pushing off the wall:
— "You should learn to speak like a normal person first. Half the time you act like you're mute."
Maëva kept filming, this time zooming in on Hena's face.
> "They want me to lose it. To scream, cry, beg. But no. Not today."
Hena took a step back. Not in fear — in control. She scanned each of them, then said:
— "You done? Or do you still need to prove how pathetic you really are?"
The silence that followed was ice cold. Clara wasn't smiling anymore.
— "You'll regret that," she whispered.
> "This is it. They're going to crack."
Clara took a step forward. Her fingers curled into fists. Sonia stood up straight. Lina shot to her feet. The circle was closing.
Daniel straightened in his chair, still watching Hena.
> "Come on. A little more. Let it boil. Let it explode. And then I'll step in."
Hena didn't move. She held Clara's stare. One second. Two. Three.
Then Clara raised her hand.
Time seemed to freeze. A breath held in suspension. Eyes locked. A hand raised, ready to strike. And in the middle of it all, Hena—standing tall, unmoving, her gaze blazing.
No one said a word. Even the whispers had gone silent.
In that exact moment, everything could tip.
And suddenly—
— SMACK.
Clara's hand froze. Just before the slap reached Hena's face, a firm grip seized her wrist. An unexpected force, merciless, yet also cold as ice. Clara froze, eyes wide, feeling the pressure of Hena's grip. Time seemed to suspend. She couldn't understand what had just happened. Her fingers tightened slightly, but the grip remained unyielding.
She looked into Hena's eyes. There was no submission, no fear in that gaze. Just an icy emptiness, yet a burning fire in those pupils. Clara, initially stunned, felt a wave of confusion. This wasn't what she expected. She had never seen a girl remain so calm in the face of her anger. Normally, her prey would tremble. But not Hena.
Clara shook her head, furious, trying to pull her hand free from Hena's grasp, but the latter held it with quiet strength. She spat, almost growling: — You... how dare you...
Hena didn't move. Not a muscle. Not a word. The silence, heavy and oppressive, stretched on.
Then Maëva, standing behind her, let out a contemptuous laugh. — Clara, what are you doing?! This idiot grabs your hand and you don't even move? Wait, I'll show her what it's like to mess with us.
With sudden speed, Maëva stepped forward, ready to slap Hena. The hand swung in a sharp motion, but just as it was about to strike Hena's face, another voice rose, calm, cutting.
— Aren't you ashamed of picking on someone who's alone, while there are four of you?
It was Daniel. He stood up slowly from his chair, his gaze fixed on the girls. A strange calm emanated from him. His eyes, as cold as steel, locked onto Maëva and Clara.
Maëva, caught off guard, halted mid-motion. — But... but Daniel, it's you who...
She didn't even have time to finish her sentence before Daniel interrupted, his tone frosty: — If you don't leave immediately, I'll report you to the administration and accuse you of harassment and physical violence towards a classmate.
The girls exchanged a look. A look full of doubt and confusion. They knew very well that Daniel wasn't the type to make empty threats. Their faces hardened instantly, and they began to back away.
— But... I don't understand... what's happening to Daniel? It's him... — Maëva whispered, but already, they were turning around, muttering to each other in low voices, retreating quickly.
The silence that followed was heavy. Daniel slowly turned to face Hena, a friendly smile floating on his lips. He approached her with a calm, almost casual stride.
— Are you okay? I hope I intervened in time. They didn't hurt you too much?
Hena, still as cold as ever, looked up at him. An invisible shiver seemed to run down her spine. There was obvious distrust in her gaze, as if every word he said was a manipulative attempt.
— No, I'm fine. Thanks for your help. But I don't need your help.
Her voice wasn't pleasant, nor warm. She remained distant, almost frigid. But in her eyes, Daniel could sense a kind of challenge. Why is she responding like this? he wondered inwardly. I stepped in to help her, and this is how she reacts?
Taking a deep breath, Daniel tried to break the ice, his smile never leaving his face. — Alright, I'm relieved. Actually, your name's Hena, right? I'm Daniel. I'm your neighbor. I know you probably never really noticed me, but I'm here if you ever need anything.
But Hena still didn't respond. She simply looked at him with a slightly suspicious expression, her eyes glinting with something strange.
He continued, trying a more personal approach. — Next time, if they cause you trouble again, you can count on me. I'll be there.
She shrugged, her lips tightening slightly. — No, thanks. I don't need your help.
Daniel's smile widened, but he forced himself not to seem too insistent. Fine, she doesn't want my help... but that's okay. Maybe this challenge interests me more than I thought.
— Alright, I get it.
He then turned away, slowly heading back to his seat, but he threw one last glance at Hena. She was there, calm and distant, like a puzzle he wanted to solve. But he knew it wouldn't be easy.
It's not going to be easy to make her crack, to make her fall into my arms, he thought as he sat down. But I like challenges.
The noise of the voices slowly faded in the back of the room, but the atmosphere remained tense, like a string about to snap. Daniel knew that something had changed in that room, and that the story between him and Hena was far from over. But he was ready to take on that challenge.