The next morning, Zahra entered the classroom like she always did—quietly, eyes down. But today felt heavier. Different.
She didn't need to look up to know the whispers were about her.
"Did you see them yesterday?"
"He actually sat next to her."
"She probably begged him. Poor thing—so desperate."
Zahra kept walking, her grip on her books tightening with every word. For the first time, Zahra wished she remained invisible.
Break time didn't bring any peace.
As she stood by her locker, three girls approached her—their heels echoing against the floor like warning bells. Samira, Zaynab, and Mariam. The top of the school's social food chain.
Zahra barely looked up.
"Look who finally grew a spine," Samira said, crossing her arms. "So, this is what it takes to get noticed—throw yourself at the smartest guy in school?"
"I didn't—" Zahra began, but her voice was barely a whisper.
"Oh please," Zaynab interrupted, stepping closer. "Don't act like you didn't plan it. You've been walking around all quiet and mysterious, hoping someone like Yusuf would feel sorry for you."
"I didn't do anything," Zahra said, voice shaking.
Mariam rolled her eyes. "Exactly. You never do anything. You don't talk, you don't smile, you don't exist. Now suddenly you're his 'friend'? As if."
"He was the one that approached me first." Zahra defended
"you liar!" Samira shouted angrily, turning all attention to them. "Why would he approach someone like you?"
"I heard she tempted him with her body." Somebody in the hallway shouted.
They circled her like vultures. Samira leaned in, her voice sharp as glass.
Zahra's back was almost pressed against the locker now. The girls were inches away, their words sharper than any slap.
"You don't belong in his world, Zahra,. You don't belong in this world at all." Samira hissed. "You're just a sad little background character."
Zahra's fists clenched. She wasn't sure if she was trying to defend herself—or just stop her hands from shaking.
Then—
A voice. Calm, steady, and louder than the rest—not by volume, but by weight.
"You need to back off."
The hallway went still.
Zahra's eyes widened.
The girls turned, startled.
There he was. Yusuf.
Standing tall, arms crossed, eyes locked on them—not angry... just done.
He took a step closer, and the girls instinctively backed up half a step.
"You think talking down to someone makes you important?" he said, voice low and clear. "It doesn't. It just makes you pathetic."
Samira opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out.
Without waiting for them to reply, Yusuf turned to Zahra.
He didn't smile right away. He just looked at her—really looked at her—like the chaos around them didn't matter.
Then, gently, he pulled a chocolate bar from his hoodie pocket and held it out to her.
"You looked like you needed something sweet today."
Only then did his lips curve into the softest, warmest smile.
Zahra stared at him, stunned. Her hand slowly reached out, trembling as she took the chocolate.
Yusuf glanced at the girls once—just once—and said,
"Don't let people like them decide what you're worth."
Then he walked away.
All eyes on his retreating figure.
No dramatic exit. No need.
The silence he left behind said everything.
Zahra stared at the chocolate in her hand, her heart thudding so hard she could hear it in her ears.
The silence was deafening.
For a second, none of the girls moved. None of them laughed.
The smug smirks had melted off their faces, replaced by stunned, awkward glances between each other. The girl who had folded her arms now looked like she wished they were wings—so she could fly away.
The second one shifted on her feet, clearly uncomfortable. "Whatever," she mumbled, her voice suddenly small.
The third looked Zahra up and down, trying to hold on to her pride, but failing. She scoffed softly and turned away. "Let's go."
And just like that, they left. No one said another word.
Zahra stood there, still holding the chocolate, frozen in disbelief.
Her throat tightened. She wasn't used to people choosing her—not like that. Not in front of everyone. Not when it actually mattered.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she unwrapped the chocolate. She took a bite—not because she was hungry, but because she wanted to remember this moment.
It tasted... warm.
Like kindness.
For the first time in a long time, Zahra didn't feel like fading into the background.
She felt seen.
And it terrified her.
She sat alone under the neem tree by the edge of the school courtyard, the half-eaten chocolate bar still in her hand. The wrappers crinkled against her fingers, but her mind was far away.
She had built walls so high, not even sunlight dared to climb over them.
But today... one smile, one voice, one small act of unexpected care—
And suddenly there was a crack.
She didn't know how to feel about it.
Was it a trick? A dare? A passing phase?
Zahra didn't trust kindness.
Not anymore.
Kindness was often the bait before the cruelty.
But then again... Yusuf hadn't laughed.
He hadn't stared.
He hadn't expected anything.
He just saw her.
Like she was a person. Not a project. Not a problem.
Zahra blinked back a tear. Not because she was sad...
But because hope—real, uninvited hope—was starting to settle in.
And hope was dangerous.