The Girl They Chose to Hate

Let them watch!

Zaynab didn’t plan to go back.

She told herself she needed more time.

More space.

More distance from everything that had already gone wrong.

⸻

But by the third day—

Staying home felt worse than facing it.

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So she went back.

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The moment she stepped into school—

It started.

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Heads turned.

Whispers followed.

Phones lifted.

⸻

“She came back?”

“I thought she was suspended.”

“She has no shame.”

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Zaynab kept walking.

Same calm steps.

Same straight posture.

But inside—

Her heart wasn’t steady.

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Because this time—

She knew what was waiting.

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And she didn’t have the energy to fight it again.

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“Zaynab.”

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She froze.

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Not because she wanted to.

But because now—

That voice meant something.

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Zaid.

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She turned slowly.

And there he was.

Leaning casually like always—

But his eyes?

Locked on her.

⸻

“You’re back,” he said.

Zaynab folded her arms. “Clearly.”

⸻

He walked toward her.

No hesitation.

No concern for who was watching.

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“That didn’t last long,” he added.

“Neither did the rumors,” she replied.

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A faint smirk touched his lips.

“You sure about that?”

⸻

Zaynab didn’t answer.

Because she already knew—

Nothing had ended.

⸻

People were watching.

Waiting.

Hungry.

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Zaid noticed it too.

And instead of stepping back—

He stepped closer.

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Too close.

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“What are you doing?” she muttered under her breath.

⸻

His voice dropped.

Low.

Intentional.

⸻

“Fixing it.”

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Before she could react—

His hand caught hers.

⸻

Zaynab’s breath hitched.

⸻

Not violently.

Not forcefully.

Just… firm.

Certain.

⸻

The hallway went silent.

⸻

Actually silent.

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Zaynab’s eyes widened slightly. “Zaid—”

“Relax,” he murmured.

⸻

Relax?

⸻

With the entire school watching?

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“You said it was a bad idea,” he continued quietly.

“So let me handle it.”

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Her heart was beating too fast now.

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“This isn’t handling it,” she said under her breath. “This is making it worse.”

⸻

“No,” he said calmly.

⸻

He turned slightly—

Just enough so everyone could see.

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“This is ending it.”

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And then—

He pulled her closer.

⸻

Not aggressively.

Not roughly.

Just enough to make it clear.

⸻

Clear enough for everyone to understand.

⸻

Gasps.

Whispers.

Phones lifting again.

⸻

Zaynab felt it all.

But none of it mattered—

Because right now—

She was very aware of one thing.

⸻

Him.

⸻

“You’re crazy,” she whispered.

⸻

Zaid leaned slightly closer.

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“Maybe.”

⸻

And then—

He said it.

⸻

Out loud.

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“She’s with me.”

⸻

Boom.

⸻

That was it.

⸻

That was the moment everything changed.

⸻

The hallway erupted.

⸻

“What?!”

“Since when?!”

“I told you!”

“No way—”

⸻

Zaynab’s mind went blank.

⸻

This wasn’t part of the plan.

⸻

This wasn’t what she agreed to.

⸻

She pulled back slightly, her voice low and sharp.

“What are you doing?”

⸻

Zaid didn’t let go.

⸻

“Ending the story they created.”

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“This isn’t ending it,” she said. “You just made it real.”

⸻

His eyes met hers.

⸻

“That’s the point.”

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Zaynab stared at him.

⸻

And for a second—

She didn’t know what scared her more.

⸻

The fact that he did it.

Or the fact that a part of her didn’t want him to stop.

⸻

“Zaid.”

⸻

The voice cut through everything.

⸻

Tami.

⸻

Of course.

⸻

She stood a few steps away—

Frozen.

⸻

Not angry.

Not shouting.

⸻

Worse.

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Quiet.

⸻

“What did you just say?” she asked slowly.

⸻

Zaid didn’t look away from Zaynab.

⸻

“I said she’s with me.”

⸻

Tami laughed.

Soft.

Unbelieving.

⸻

“You’re joking.”

⸻

No one spoke.

⸻

Because everyone knew—

He wasn’t.

⸻

Tami’s eyes shifted to Zaynab.

Sharp.

Burning.

⸻

“So this is it?” she said. “You win?”

⸻

Zaynab swallowed slightly.

⸻

“This isn’t about winning.”

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“Everything is about winning,” Tami snapped.

⸻

Silence hit again.

⸻

Tami stepped closer.

⸻

“You think this is over?” she said quietly.

⸻

Zaynab didn’t answer.

⸻

Because she already knew—

It wasn’t.

⸻

Tami leaned in slightly.

Her voice low.

Cold.

⸻

“You just made the biggest mistake of your life.”

⸻

Then she straightened.

Turned.

And walked away.

⸻

No scene.

No shouting.

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Which made it worse.

⸻

Because now—

It was personal.

⸻

The hallway buzzed again.

Louder than before.

⸻

But Zaynab didn’t hear any of it.

⸻

She was still looking at Zaid.

⸻

“You don’t get to decide things for me,” she said quietly.

⸻

Zaid finally let go of her hand.

⸻

“But I can stand with you.”

⸻

Zaynab shook her head slightly.

⸻

“You don’t understand what you just started.”

⸻

Zaid’s expression didn’t change.

⸻

“I do.”

⸻

“And you’re okay with it?”

⸻

A pause.

⸻

Then—

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“Yes.”

⸻

Zaynab exhaled slowly.

⸻

Because now—

There was no going back.

⸻

Not for her.

⸻

Not for him.

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And definitely not for Tami.