𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡

5

ANTHEA

╚══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╝

As I walked through the hallway of my school, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anxiety in my stomach. Today was the day I had dreaded for weeks, the day of our history presentation. I wasn't sure if I was prepared enough, despite spending countless hours researching and studying.

But as I thought about the presentation, I realized that it had become a welcome distraction. For the past few days, I couldn't get Aiden out of my head, and the overwhelming mix of emotions had been eating away at me. Focusing on this project, however, gave me a temporary escape-a chance to shift my mind away from everything that had happened between us.

As I reached our classroom, I saw them already gathered around our usual table. Dong, with his glasses perched on his nose, was frantically sorting through his notes.

Eros, with his trademark messy hair, had his laptop open in front of him, typing away. And Joss, with her bright smile, was flipping through flashcards.

"Hey guys, nervous for the presentation?" I asked as I joined them.

Dong looked up from his notes, his glasses sliding down slightly, "Of course! We have to ace this!"

Eros nodded in agreement, "Yeah, but I think we have a strong team. We've been working on this project for weeks now."

Joss grinned, "Plus, we have Anthea here. She's our secret weapon."

I blushed at her words, feeling a rush of confidence. "Thanks, guys. But I'm still a little worried. What if we forget something important?"

"Don't worry, we've got your back," Dong reassured me, tapping his notes.

As we waited for our turn to present, we went over our slides one more time. Eros clicked through the slides while Joss and Dong added in some last-minute facts. I couldn't help but feel grateful for their support and teamwork. We made a great team, each of us bringing something unique to the table.

Finally, it was our turn to present. My heart was beating fast as I walked to the front of the classroom.

But as I began speaking, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. Talking about history, about something tangible and structured, helped clear my mind. I focused on the words, on the facts, on making sure I didn't stumble. It was nice to focus on something other than what had happened with Aiden, something I could control.

Dong, Eros, and Joss chimed in with their own parts seamlessly, and before I knew it, we were done. The presentation went smoothly, and as we sat down, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. It felt good to have that weight off my shoulders, and, for a brief moment, I was able to forget the confusion of the past few days.

As we made our way back, the bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. But as I walked, I suddenly felt a forceful and inappropriate grab on my butt. I froze in shock and turned around, only to see Pedo Harry smirking at me. A wave of disgust and anger hit me instantly as I realized what had just happened.

Before I could say anything, my friends-who were walking a few steps ahead of me-noticed and immediately turned around, their expressions hardening. I saw the change in them, the protective, almost dangerous energy filling the air.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Eros's voice was like a low growl, and I could see his fists clenching in anger.

Pedo Harry just laughed, trying to brush it off. "Just appreciating a beautiful woman."

"That's not appreciation, that's sexual harassment," Dong said, his voice cold but intense. His usual reserved demeanor was gone-his mafia training, honed in a world of power and justice, clearly taking over.