Noraya pushes through the throng at the canteen entrance, her black braid brushing Ava’s shoulder as she cuts past. Ruby is already at the stack of trays, blue eyes scanning the crowded room for an open spot. Jess F clutches her lunch, glancing nervously at Amaya, who stands tall and calm amid the chaos. At the far end, Katrina elbows Phoebe, muttering something that makes both of them snort. The outcast class filters in, some in tight clusters, others trailing alone. A shaft of cold midday sun pours over the window table, the most coveted spot in the canteen. Liv hesitates, looking to Corrine. Eliana adjusts her glasses and points. Instantly, the group’s tension spikes. Chairs screech. Voices overlap. Everyone knows what’s at stake: whoever gets there first sets the seating order for the week. Noraya moves; Ruby follows. Someone knocks over a bottle. The air thickens with expectation as the rush for the sunlit table begins.
Director
OMG guys, look over there Keith is making out with Amada *I say in order to distract them
Uhm halts mid-stride, pointing sharply toward the far corner of the canteen with an exaggerated look of shock.
"OMG guys, look over there Keith is making out with Amada,"
Uhm exclaims, her voice slicing through the background chatter. Heads whip around in the direction she’s pointing, and the rush momentarily stalls.
I freeze, my hands clutching the tray as I squint toward the corner. My mouth drops open in disbelief, and I accidentally knock my spoon to the floor.
"No way, are you serious?"
I whisper, completely forgetting about the window table, my eyes wide as I search for the couple.
The canteen floor trembles as everyone abruptly stops. Noraya spins around, her braid whipping through the air, while Ava adjusts her stance, trying to get a clearer view of the corner. The tension near the window table melts into a low murmur of confusion as students stretch their necks, abandoning their scramble for seats.
I lean into Phoebe, smirking as I gesture toward the commotion.
"Look at them, acting like they just discovered fire. If those two are actually kissing, I hope it is as messy as a biology dissection. Maybe they will finally learn something about anatomy."
Katrina’s comment ripples through the immediate circle, prompting a sharp, stifled giggle from Phoebe. The room’s collective gaze stays locked on the corner, where the couple remains tangled in an awkward embrace. The fierce competition around the window table fades, leaving it momentarily unguarded, bathed in the stale, golden afternoon light.
as everyone is distracted I take the place
While the crowd’s attention stays fixed on the corner, Uhm slips quietly through the gap. She slides into the prime seat by the window, smoothing her skirt as she settles into the warm light. Noraya turns back just in time to see the seat taken, her expression tightening with frustration.
I stop dead, my braid swinging heavily against my shoulder. I lock eyes with Uhm, stepping into her personal space.
"That was a cheap trick, even for you. Get up, unless you want everyone to know exactly how you secured that seat."
The canteen’s usual buzz fades, leaving only the sharp scrape of Noraya’s chair against the floor. A fork clatters nearby, its metallic sound ringing beneath the high ceiling. Liv shifts uneasily, her eyes darting between them, wide and uncertain, while Corrine keeps her gaze fixed firmly on the tabletop.
I step forward, my hands trembling as I pull at my sleeves.
"Maybe we could just share the table?"
I suggest, my voice barely audible above the silence. I look toward Corrine, hoping for some support, then quickly glance at the floor to avoid Noraya's intense, angry gaze.
A heavy silence settles over the table. Noraya’s eyes stay fixed, her body tense, waiting for a reply. Liv’s fingers twist together, knuckles pale against her dark blazer. Nearby, the clatter of trays fades away, and the sunlight on the windowpane seems to dim.
It's not a cheap trick, it's a pre calculated move *turns to Liv* yeah sure, sit down.
Uhm leans back, a cool smile curling her lips. She meets Noraya’s intense gaze without a flicker of doubt.
"It's not a cheap trick, it's a pre calculated move,"
she says, her voice steady and calm. Then she shifts her focus to Liv, motioning toward the empty chair.
"Yeah sure, sit down."
The atmosphere around the table tightens as Liv hesitates.
I lean down, pressing my palms firmly on the table, and glare at the empty chair beside Uhm.
"Fine. If that is how we are playing this, then keep the seat."
I snatch a stray chair from the next table, dragging it harshly across the floor, and sit down.
Liv sinks into the chair, her frame shrinking beneath the harsh, bright light pouring in from the window. She keeps her gaze low, picking at a loose thread on her sleeve. Across the table, Ruby stands frozen, her eyes flicking between Noraya’s tense stance and Uhm’s cold, unbothered expression.
I step forward, my hands shaking as I adjust my hair. I plant my tray down with a loud bang, glaring at Uhm.
"You think you can just manipulate everyone to get what you want? That seat belongs to someone who actually earned it, not someone who cheats."
Ruby’s tray rattles against the table, the sharp clatter bouncing off the cafeteria walls. Sunlight catches dust motes swirling between them, casting long, jagged shadows across the surface. Noraya leans back, her fingers tapping a tense, impatient rhythm on her tray, while Liv’s eyes remain fixed on her untouched lunch. The air feels fragile, as if the silence could crack at any moment.
How I said, that's not cheating, but pre calculated move. Why pushing ourselves like animals for who gets first, when you can just use *points my head* brain. Yk, the smarter one always wins. And in this table I am the smartest
Uhm leans back, tapping her temple with a smug, deliberate rhythm.
"How I said, that's not cheating, but pre calculated move. Why pushing ourselves like animals for who gets first, when you can just use brain. Yk, the smarter one always wins. And in this table I am the smartest."
The words hang cold and sharp between them. Noraya’s jaw tightens, the muscle pulsing with tension. She exchanges a glance with Eliana, who adjusts her glasses, her face unreadable as she weighs the boldness of the claim.
I shift my weight as the wooden floorboards groan beneath me. I glance from Uhm’s smug expression to the fraying tension on Noraya’s face.
"Intelligence is a tool, Uhm, but using it to isolate yourself isn't exactly a win. A table for one is just a lonely view."
Eliana’s words linger, bouncing off the canteen’s high, cold ceiling. The students around them freeze, eyes flicking between Uhm and the tall girl standing bathed in light. Noraya’s fingers clench into tight fists on the table, her gaze locked on the plastic surface. Nearby, Amaya clears her throat, her posture stiffening.
I step forward, keeping my hand linked firmly with Jess.
"Is all this fighting really worth the cold food? We are just here to eat, not to solve world peace. Why don't we just move the trays so everyone can fit comfortably without the shouting?"
Amaya’s suggestion hangs in the air, met only by the steady hum of the ventilation system. Noraya slowly loosens her grip, but her eyes remain sharp, fixed on the tabletop. Corrine shifts in her seat, the scrape of chair legs cutting through the quiet and drawing a few curious looks from nearby tables. The sharp edge of tension dulls into a heavy, awkward silence. Outside the window, a stray cloud drifts by, casting the table into a brief, cooling shadow.
Protagonist
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