"Well, well, well. Look who it is, our topper, Miss Huang Ara."
The mocking voice made Ara's stomach drop.
Karina.
Her smirk sharp and full of pride. The three of them looked like shadows from Ara's past, shadows she never wanted to face again.
Ara straightened her shoulders. "I don't want to hear your nonsense, Kar..."
Before she could finish, Karina shoved her hard into the locker. Pain shot through her head, making her gasp.
"If I were you, I'd keep quiet," Karina whispered, leaning in close enough for Ara to smell her perfume. "You know what happens if you don't."
Ara clutched the locker behind her for support, her heart pounding. Normally, she would stay quiet, take the hit, and hide her feelings later. But this time, something inside her shifted.
She laughed.
It wasn't loud, but it was enough to make all three of them pause. Their smirks faltered, confusion flashing across their faces.
"I'm not scared of you anymore," Ara said, her voice steady despite the sting in her head. "All you ever do is pick on people. Honestly, it must be sad to live like that."
Winter's jaw tightened. Giselle shifted uncomfortably. Karina's face darkened, anger flashing in her eyes. She raised her hand again, ready to strike Ara across the face.
But it never landed.
A firm hand caught Karina's wrist mid-air.
"That's enough."
The voice was calm, but sharp.
Chenle.
He stood beside Ara now, gripping Karina's wrist tightly. His usual warm eyes, always full of laughter and mischief, were icy cold. Everyone knew Chenle for his easy smile and carefree charm. But right now, there was something about him that made even Karina hesitate.
"What do you think you're doing?" His tone was quiet, but there was steel in it.
For a moment, the hallway felt frozen. Ara held her breath, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
Karina tried to pull her arm back, but Chenle's grip didn't loosen. His gaze didn't waver. Winter and Giselle glanced at each other nervously. For once, the three of them didn't look so powerful.
"If I see you touch Ara again," Chenle said, his voice low but firm, "you'll regret it."
The words weren't shouted, but they hit like thunder.
Finally, Karina yanked her wrist free, glaring at him. But she didn't say anything. None of them did. After a tense moment, she turned on her heel, Winter and Giselle following close behind.
Silence hung in the air as they disappeared down the hall.
Chenle let out a slow breath and turned to Ara. His eyes softened instantly, the coldness melting away. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small band-aid.
"Hold still," he said gently.
Before Ara could ask anything, he leaned closer and carefully placed the band-aid on the spot where her head had hit the locker. His touch was light, almost cautious.
Ara blinked at him. "...You carry band-aids with you?"
Chenle shrugged. "I know you. You get hurt but act like you're fine."
Her chest tightened at his words. He saw right through her, just like always.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"You don't need to thank me," Chenle replied softly. "But if they come back, you tell me right away."
Ara nodded, unable to find the right words.
Then, to her surprise, he pulled her into a hug.
She froze for a moment, her mind blank. Slowly, almost awkwardly, she lifted her arms and hugged him back. His warmth spread through her, steady and comforting, something she hadn't felt in a long time.
When he finally let go, he gave her a small smile, the kind that made her heart stumble. Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving Ara standing there... confused, shaken, but strangely comforted.
Her peace didn't last long.
Ningning.
Ara's eyes widened. She had almost forgotten. Ningning had been gone for too long.
Just as Ara turned to look for her, she saw Ningning running toward her, out of breath, her hair slightly messy.
"I'm... so sorry," Ningning panted, hands on her knees.
Ara frowned. "What happened?"
"Crazy stuff," Ningning said between breaths. She started to explain but then froze when her eyes landed on the band-aid on Ara's forehead. "Wait... what happened to you?!"
"Nothing serious," Ara said quickly, trying to wave it off.
"Ara." Ningning straightened, folding her arms. "Tell me the truth."
Ara sighed. She should have known Ningning wouldn't let it slide. So she explained what had happened... Karina, Winter, Giselle, and how Chenle had stepped in.
Ningning's eyes widened in disbelief. "That's even crazier than what I went through... but at least you're okay."
Ara gave her a small smile. "I'm okay. Let's go eat lunch before we run out of time. You can tell me your story on the way."
Ningning brightened instantly. "Oh, right! So, I was heading back for my book when I ran into Mr. Lee. He started asking about my grades, and I had to make up an excuse on the spot!"
Ara chuckled. "Mr. Lee always picks the worst times."
"Tell me about it," Ningning groaned. "Then, while I was grabbing my book, I saw some kids fighting and got stuck trying to stop them."
Ara shook her head, laughing softly. "You're always getting caught up in things like that."
"Yeah, but it's nothing compared to what you just went through," Ningning said.
By the time they reached the cafeteria, the tension from earlier had started to fade. They grabbed their trays and found a quiet corner to sit in. Slowly, they slipped back into their usual rhythm... sharing stories, teasing each other, and laughing.
For now, that was enough.
