Mind your f*cking business!"
The words hit harder than a slap.
Zara froze. For a second, everything around her went quiet—the hallway, the voices, even her own breathing. She couldn't believe Kai had just said that to her.
"What did you just say?" she asked, her voice shaking—not from fear, but from anger.
Kai didn't look at her. "You heard me. Stay out of it."
That was it.
Zara's fists clenched. Her whole body burned with rage. She took a step toward him, ready to lash out, ready to finally release everything she'd been holding in.
Axel noticed immediately. "Zara… don't," he said, stepping in slightly.
But Zara wasn't listening.
"You think you can just talk to me like that?" she snapped. "After everything?!"
Kai stayed silent.
That silence made it worse.
Zara raised her hand, ready to hit him—but before she could, Kai turned away.
He walked off.
Just like that.
Like she didn't matter.
Zara stood there, her anger collapsing into something else… something heavier. Her eyes filled with tears, but she refused to cry in front of everyone.
"Whatever," she muttered, her voice breaking.
She turned and ran.
Out of the school.
Out of everything.
By the time she got home, she couldn't hold it in anymore. Tears streamed down her face as she slammed the door behind her.
She dropped her bag and sank to the floor.
"Why…" she whispered.
Not just angry anymore.
Hurt.
Deeply hurt.
And for the first time, Zara wasn't thinking about fighting back.
She was thinking about walking away.