Emily stood a few steps back, her eyes darting around the room, clearly uncomfortable. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but Brianna shot her a warning glance, and she closed it again, looking away.
Eva stood up, her hands clenched at her sides. You think you're so powerful, don't you? Just because you're pretty and people are afraid of you. But that doesn't make you better than anyone else.
Brianna's eyes narrowed. Watch your mouth, Scarface. Or you'll regret it.
Eva took a deep breath, gathering her courage. No. I'm done being afraid of you. You can tear up my drawings, you can call me names, but you can't take away who I am.
The dining hall fell silent, the tension thick in the air. Brianna stared at Eva, her eyes flashing with anger. For a moment, it seemed like she might lash out, but then she felt dizzy and left, muttering, This is not over yet.
Brianna ran to her dorm with her gang, shouting, How could she! Now we have to make her life more miserable. We will give her a lesson. They started planning about how they were going to make her life more difficult, each girl contributing more malicious ideas to the mix.
Meanwhile, Emily hesitated for a moment before making her way to Eva's dorm. She found Eva sitting on her bed, the remnants of her lunch tray still scattered on the floor.
Emily said, You are so brave. I wish I could do the same, but I'm not brave enough to stand up for myself.
Eva looked up, surprised by Emily's presence and kind words. Why are you here?
Emily sat down on the edge of the bed, wringing her hands. I'm here to tell you about Brianna's plan. From now onwards, they will make your life miserable, and right now they are planning how they will do that. You have to be very careful. I wish I could be your friend.
Eva sighed, feeling the weight of the situation. I appreciate you telling me, Emily. But what can I do? They're so powerful.
Emily's eyes filled with worry. Eva, you have to do something. I'm very worried about you. Please, do something.
Eva took a deep breath, feeling a mix of fear and determination. I will. Thank you, Emily.
Later that evening, Eva called the old lady who often visited the orphanage, bringing small gifts and sharing stories with the children. She told the old lady every single thing that had happened to her, from the relentless bullying to the latest threats.
The old lady listened carefully and then said, Listen, Eva, you don't have to live in this orphanage. I am your friend, and you can live with me.
But Eva shook her head. No, now it's time for me to stand up for myself and for all the girls in this orphanage. I can't run away.
The old lady nodded, understanding the resolve in Eva's eyes. Okay, then you have to let me help you. Tomorrow, sharp at 6 a.m., come to the park and meet me. I will show you the way to get started.
At 6 a.m. the next morning, Eva met the old lady in the park. The air was crisp, and the park was quiet, with only the sounds of birds chirping and leaves rustling in the breeze.
The old lady smiled at Eva, her eyes twinkling with a hidden wisdom. Now is the time for me to tell you about myself. I am not just an ordinary person. I will teach you how to defend yourself and will teach you all the tricks to make you stronger, both physically and mentally.
Eva's eyes widened with curiosity and hope. What do you mean?
The old lady is so mysterious...
The old lady gestured for Eva to follow her, leading her to a secluded area of the park where a small, makeshift training ground was set up. There were various tools and equipment, and it was clear that the old lady had been preparing for this for some time.
I have trained many girls like you, Eva. Girls who were bullied, who felt powerless. I will teach you how to fight, how to stand up for yourself, and how to be strong. Are you ready for this?
Eva felt a surge of determination. Yes, I'm ready. I want to learn.
Over the next few weeks, Eva trained with the old lady every morning. She learned self-defense techniques, practiced physical exercises to build her strength, and engaged in mental exercises to fortify her resolve. The old lady taught her not just how to fight back physically, but also how to maintain her inner strength and confidence.
Each day, Eva felt herself growing stronger, more capable. She began to walk with her head held high, no longer avoiding eye contact with Brianna and her gang. She still faced their bullying, but now she had the tools and the confidence to handle it.