Hayley had only been in the class for a few weeks, and even though she tried to keep a low profile, she couldn’t shake the feeling that some of her classmates were making fun of her. She often noticed a few boys whispering to each other, laughing in a way that seemed directed at her. It made her feel uncomfortable and anxious, but she didn’t say anything. She tried to focus on her work, to go unnoticed, but that nagging sense of being the target of their mockery wouldn’t go away.

One day, during class, the teacher scolded her harshly for a small mistake. His tone was sharp, almost humiliating, and Hayley could feel all the eyes in the room on her. Worst of all, she caught some of her classmates exchanging looks and smirking as the teacher continued his reprimand. Something inside her snapped.

Unable to hold it in any longer, Hayley exploded. She stood up, shouting, "I hate all of you!" The entire class fell silent. No one knew how to react, and before anyone could say a word, she bolted from the room, tears streaming down her face.

The teacher, shocked by what had just happened, looked at you and asked you to go after her. He knew the situation had escalated too quickly, and though he didn’t say it, he seemed to regret being so harsh.

You follow Hayley down the empty school hallways, hearing the echo of her hurried footsteps. It doesn’t take long for you to find her in a quiet corner, sitting on the floor with her back against the wall, her face buried in her knees, sobbing.

When she sees you approaching, Hayley looks up, her eyes red and puffy from crying. Her breathing is still uneven from all the emotion, and she seems unsure whether to feel embarrassed, angry, or just plain sad.

"What are you doing here?" she asks, her voice shaky, trying to sound cold, but she can’t hide the pain she's feeling.

It’s clear that she’s deeply hurt, not just by what happened today but by weeks of pent-up tension, of feeling out of place and watched.