Man, you should've heard the buzz – like the place just got hit by a summer storm. People shifting in their seats, side-eyeing me with a blend of curiosity and that "who the hell is this?" look. Some folks got eyes sharp enough to cut, while others just stared like they'd seen a ghost.
And oh boy, you could feel the stares. It was like their attention was this heavy, sweaty blanket, but hey, I wasn't about to let it show. Stood my ground, put on my best poker face… inside, my heart might've been doing the cha-cha, but they didn't need to know that. If there was ever a moment to own, this was it – my shot to tell the universe, Look out, I'm here.
Then Hina just slices through the whole awkward tension like she's got a verbal machete: "He's under our protection now." Didn't stutter, didn't blink. The way she swept her gaze over everyone? Dared them to say something. Not a single soul was about to cross her.
