The divide and silence

Lisa was quick to notice that the lively group she had been introduced to—"The 9 Babies"—wasn't as close as it first seemed. Chelsea, Sakura, Pharita, Ratna, Rani, and Iris still stuck together, but Elsa, Erica, and Linda were noticeably distant.

"They're not part of us anymore," Chelsea explained one afternoon during lunch.

"Why not?" Lisa asked, confused.

"They left us," Sakura said with a sigh. "They decided to form their own group called The Barbies. They wanted more attention, more popularity, and… well, they didn't care about us anymore."

Lisa frowned. "That's terrible."

Chelsea nodded. "They're not the same people we used to know. They're mean now—always gossiping and trying to cause trouble."

Lisa didn't know what to say. She had looked forward to being part of a united group, but now it seemed there was tension. Still, she was determined to make the best of the situation.

At home, things weren't much better. Felix, Juan's 16-year-old son, barely acknowledged Lisa's presence. His cold demeanor was unsettling.

One evening, Lisa was sitting at the dining table, working on her homework, when Felix walked in. He glanced at her briefly before grabbing a glass of water and heading back to his room without a word.

"Hey," Lisa called after him. "I'm Lisa. We haven't really talked yet."

Felix paused in the doorway, his back to her. "I know who you are," he said curtly.

Lisa blinked, surprised by his harsh tone. "Okay, then… nice to meet you."

Felix didn't respond. He simply walked away, leaving Lisa feeling both confused and frustrated.

Later, she mentioned it to Juan. "Why is Felix so cold?"

Juan sighed, her face lined with worry. "Felix has been through a lot. He doesn't trust easily. Ever since his uncle betrayed us, he's had to shoulder responsibilities no child should bear. Give him time."

Lisa nodded, but she couldn't shake the feeling that Felix's icy attitude wasn't just about his past. There was something deeper, something he wasn't letting anyone see

At school, The Barbies made their presence known. Elsa, Erica, and Linda were always together, strutting through the halls as if they owned the place.

One day, as Lisa was walking to class with Chelsea, she overheard Elsa's sharp voice.

"Look at her," Elsa sneered, pointing in Lisa's direction. "Another charity case trying to fit in."

Lisa froze. Chelsea grabbed her arm and pulled her away.

"Don't let them get to you," Chelsea said. "They're just jealous. Ignore them."

But it wasn't easy to ignore. Every time Lisa saw The Barbies, they whispered, laughed, and made her feel small.

Lisa clenched her fists. "They think they're better than everyone else. I'm going to prove them wrong."

Chelsea smiled. "That's the spirit. Stick with us, Lisa. We've got your back."