The air in the classroom thickened, all heads turned toward the source of the sound—a boy who stood tall, his imposing frame and striking features radiating authority.
Denilson Hakim.
His chiseled physique, dark skin, and piercing grey eyes commanded attention, though the sneer on his lips made it clear he didn't need to demand it. His eyes scanned the room briefly before locking onto Daniel.
"So, faceless got a new haircut and put on some makeup," he drawled, his voice dripping with disdain. "Big deal."
The room fell silent, the lively chatter of moments before dissipating like smoke.
Denilson leaned forward slightly, as if to emphasize his words. "Since the doctors were so good, maybe they should've fixed your eyes too."
A low murmur rippled through the classroom. Some students shifted uncomfortably, while others avoided looking in Daniel's direction.
Daniel clenched his fists beneath the desk, keeping his gaze steady.
Denilson, however, wasn't finished. He pushed his chair back with an audible scrape and strode toward the door, his group of friends trailing behind him like loyal shadows.
"And what's with all of you?" he scoffed, turning his glare on the students clustered around Daniel. "Stop fawning over him. It's disgusting watching you act like he's a different person now."
He paused at the door, turning one last time.
"He's still the same wuss who got his ass handed to him after Angela rejected him."
What really got Daniel was the way he emphasized the word, "rejected".
With that, Denilson stepped out, his laughter echoing in the corridor as his group followed.
The aftermath of Denilson's parting shot was immediate. Some students quietly distanced themselves from Daniel, slipping back to their desks or leaving the classroom altogether. The atmosphere shifted, curiosity giving way to an unspoken tension.
Daniel's eyes flicked to Angela's desk, now conspicuously empty.
She had been peeking at him during class earlier, but when the bell rang for lunch, she was one of the first to leave.
The weight of Denilson's words pressed down on him like a heavy shroud. His jaw tightened as he swallowed the bitter taste they left behind.
The boy had always been a thorn in his side, second only to the torment of Leonardo. Unlike the upperclassman's physical bullying, Denilson's attacks were verbal, calculated to wound deeply. And they always did.
"What a colossal asshole," Adelia muttered, her arms crossed as she leaned against Daniel's desk.
Daniel blinked, her words pulling him from his dark thoughts. He hadn't expected her, of all people, to voice such a strong opinion, especially considering her close friendship with Angela.
"Ignore him, Danny," she continued, her tone softening as she offered him a small, almost apologetic smile. "Being a prick is literally his default setting."
"Yeah," Ethan added, nudging Daniel lightly on the shoulder. "He's just jealous he's not the one getting all the attention now."
A faint smile tugged at Daniel's lips, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Yeah..."
Adelia tilted her head, studying him curiously. Before he could say anything more, she shifted her position, leaning back on the desk with a sly grin.
"I'm sure he'd kill to be in your shoes right now," she teased, her voice lilting.
Daniel's breath hitched as he realized the position she was in. Her figure was accentuated by the way she leaned back on the desk with her torso arched upward, the curve of her body impossible to ignore.
Daniel's gaze inadvertently traveled to the slope of her neckline, where a hint of cleavage peeked through her blouse.
[She really is trying to seduce me!]
The thought echoed loudly in his mind, accompanied by the other voice's enthusiastic agreement.
~~~
Lunch ended, and with it came the next round of lessons. The day stretched on, each period dragging Daniel further into exhaustion.
Every teacher seemed to have a unique way of reacting to his return. Their language arts teacher had immediately begun fussing over him, pinching his cheeks and complimenting his appearance. Meanwhile, their social studies teacher couldn't stop asking, "Do you have any questions, Daniel?" after every other sentence.
By the time the day neared its end, Daniel felt as though he had run a marathon. News of his return had spread like wildfire, and students from other classes hovered near the door to catch a glimpse of the so-called "Prince."
The attention was suffocating. Every glance, every hushed whisper grated against his heightened senses.
Desperate for respite, he excused himself and headed to the infirmary.
He lingered in there long after his headache had subsided, dreading the inevitable walk back through the crowded hallways. But eventually, he knew he couldn't avoid it any longer.
As he made his way to his locker, the noise of the school day still echoed faintly in his ears. The sounds of shuffling feet, lockers slamming shut, and scattered conversations were a dull hum compared to the relentless chatter he'd endured earlier.
Finally reaching his locker, Daniel opened it and began packing his things. His movements were slow, deliberate, as though drawing out the task would delay the return to reality.
When he was done, he rested his forehead against the cool metal of the locker door, letting its chill ease the lingering ache in his head.
Suddenly a quiet gasp broke through the stillness of the empty hallway.
Daniel turned, his heart skipping a beat.
At the far end of the corridor stood Angela. The fluorescent lights above cast a soft glow on her golden hair, making it shimmer like a halo.
Their eyes met, and for a moment, the world seemed to pause.
""Ah…"" They both voiced at the same time, the sound echoing awkwardly between them.
Angela hesitated, her lips parting as though she wanted to say something. But the words seemed to falter on her tongue.
Finally, she managed, "B–bye."
"Bye?" Daniel blinked, caught off guard.
Before he could say anything more, Angela turned on her heel and hurried around the corner, disappearing from sight.
Daniel stood frozen for a moment, his hand still halfway raised as though to reach out to her. Slowly, he let it drop to his side.
"Bye… I guess."