Scene 1 – School Hallway
The bell rings. The hallway fills with voices, hurried footsteps, and desks clattering.
The newly formed group meets near the cafeteria.
Diego (with a cheese bread in his mouth):
— "Man, this assignment's gonna be a disaster. Bet it won't even last until next week."
Rafaela (laughing):
— "Relax, Diego. If it doesn't work out, at least I'll have a notebook full of your caricatures."
Mateus (snorting):
— "Yeah, because that's all you know how to do."
Rafaela (frowning):
— "Can you go five minutes without being rude?"
Lucas (trying to intervene):
— "Guys, seriously… it's just an assignment."
---
Scene 2 – The Outburst
Claws leans against the wall, listening to the argument. When Mateus pushes again, he loses his patience.
Mateus:
— "And you, Claws? Gonna boss everyone around again?"
Claws (clenching his fists):
— "I'm just trying to make this work. You're the one who loves starting fights."
Mateus:
— "Better than playing the perfect little general!"
The air grows tense. Other students start watching.
Diego (teasing):
— "Ooh, fight incoming. Who's betting on who?"
Rafaela:
— "Shut up, Diego! This isn't funny."
Mateus steps forward, glaring at Claws up close.
Mateus:
— "If you want, we can settle this right now."
Claws (steady eyes):
— "Then go ahead."
Lucas steps between them, arms outstretched.
Lucas:
— "Stop it! You'll get yourselves in trouble at the very start of the year."
---
Scene 3 – The Voice No One Expected
Silence. Suddenly, Isa speaks softly, but firmly.
Isa:
— "You… are ridiculous."
Everyone turns to her, stunned.
Isa:
— "You barely know each other and already want to hate one another. It's just an assignment. Don't you see how… childish this is?"
Mateus widens his eyes. Claws swallows hard. Diego whistles.
Diego:
— "Wow… the quiet one spoke. And roasted everyone."
Rafaela (smiling):
— "I knew you had a voice, Isa."
Isa lowers her head, embarrassed, but the tension fades.
---
Scene 4 – Closing
The bell rings, ending the break.
Everyone heads back to class in silence.
Lucas (looking at Isa, with a small smile):
— "Thanks. I think you saved us today."
Isa doesn't answer, but for the first time, she seems to smile faintly.
Claws and Mateus still exchange heavy stares, but say nothing.
Diego, laughing to himself, comments:
Diego:
— "This group is the definition of chaos."
End of Chapter 3.