Chapter 4 Surprise

Chapte 4

Namida's POV

Lawson High University. Here I am, standing in front of the large gates of this school.

This is one of the most famous and prestigious schools known for its academic excellence and facilities.

But despite its beauty, it's filled with people who are bullies and judgmental. Individuals who love to mock and disrespect a scholar like me. They see me as someone of low status, not worthy of any respect.

I took a deep breath before slowly opening the large gate.

I prepared myself for whatever might come my way, but nothing happened. No student threw anything at me.

Although it was surprising, I just ignored it and continued walking. Some students hanging around were talking about me and suddenly started laughing.

I didn't pay any attention to it since this wasn't new to me.

I kept walking until I reached the stairs on the first floor.

Earlier, I passed by only a few students, but now they were increasing in number. Some of them were even following me. I wonder what they're planning this time?

As soon as I stepped on the second floor, I gasped in shock when a bucket of cold, foul-smelling water was suddenly poured on me, followed by another bucket of paint.

Loud laughter erupted around me.

"Booooo!"

"Speaking of trash, here comes Namida!!"

"Ew! She deserves it!"

"Look at her, she's so dirty now!"

Hurtful words were thrown at me again. If before they only poured water on me, it seems they've leveled up now.

I swallowed hard as something lodged in my throat. I wanted to vomit from the stench, but I held it in.

I ignored their laughter and pretended not to care. I'm used to this.

I quickly took the handkerchief from my pocket. I used it to wipe my face, now covered in white paint.

I gave a bitter smile as I looked at my school uniform, soaking wet and covered in paint.

"Ew! It smells so bad here, like Namida , so disgusting!"

I looked up when Natasha's high-pitched voice rang out. She was with her three lackeys, their faces heavily made up.

"Look at you," she walked towards me in a haughty manner, holding a glass of juice. "You look like garbage now, garbage from the sewer, AHA!" she laughed theatrically, and her three lackeys joined in.

I gasped as she suddenly threw the cold juice at me, then tossed the plastic cup at me.

She pretended to be surprised. "Oops! My bad, I thought it was the trash can."

I clenched my fists secretly. I wanted to punch this girl, but I held back. Instead, I pretended not to care.

Before I walked past her, I shot her a cold look. I heard her theatrical laughter, but I ignored it and continued walking.

"Trash!" one student suddenly yelled, and soon everyone else was chanting.

"Trash! Trash! Trash! Trash! Trash! Trash!"

"Throw things at her!" another student shouted, and objects began hitting me.

It hurt, but as long as nothing pierced my skin or caused injury, I would endure it. I can still handle this. As I always tell myself-

"I'm used to it."

As I climbed the stairs to the third floor, I felt increasingly sticky and uncomfortable. My school uniform was soaking wet and filthy from what they threw at me. But whatever, I'll just change clothes later. I still have an extra t-shirt, though I need to get it from my locker in the classroom.

When I reached the third floor, I thought nothing else would happen, but I was suddenly hit in the stomach by a soccer ball, causing me to fall to my knees in pain.

I could barely breathe from the force of the throw.

I quickly looked to see who threw it.

It's him...again. The person who despises me with every fiber of his being.

Is this your revenge for the punch and kick I gave you?

Namida's POV

Biting my lip, I tightly clutched my stomach in pain while glaring at the guy who threw the soccer ball at me.

"Surprise!" he grinned widely as he approached me. "Did you like it?"

Despite struggling to breathe, I mustered the courage to meet his gray eyes and smiled back at him.

I saw a brief look of shock in his eyes.

"Is this your revenge? Haha! How fun," I said calmly, but with heavy sarcasm, which wiped the grin off his face.

Even though I felt weak, I forced myself to stand up and started to walk away, but-

"What did you just say?!" He quickly grabbed my collar and slammed me against the wall.

It hurt. My back was in excruciating pain, but I couldn't let him see that. My suffering brings him joy.

"Why are you touching me? Don't you find me disgusting?" I asked calmly, but my tone was lifeless.

Even though his hand was now covered in white paint from my clothes, he didn't care and tightened his grip on my collar.

"Ha! So, you think you're brave now, huh?! HAHAH! No matter what you do, you're still no match for me! You're just a worthless trash!" he said, his voice tinged with anger.

Even though he was almost choking me, I kept my gaze locked on his gray eyes. I could see the anger and hatred in them.

I quickly looked away as a tear slipped down my cheek.

I swallowed several times to stop myself from crying before looking at him again.

I smiled at him. For the second time, I saw that brief look of shock in his eyes.

"I'm sorry."

After saying that, I shoved him hard, causing him to stumble back and let go of me. Then, I quickly turned and ran down the stairs.

I didn't care about the eyes staring at me. All I wanted was to get away from here. To escape this hellish place.

When I reached the school gates, there were no more students around. They were probably all inside, as classes were about to start, but I had no intention of going in.

"I'll just skip today."

I looked up bitterly at the sky. The sun that was shining earlier was now covered by thick clouds. Just like me. The heaviness I feel is as dense as those clouds.

I took a deep breath and looked down at my dirty school uniform.

"Never mind, I'll just change clothes later when I get home."

I was about to walk away, but I frowned when I noticed the sudden appearance of a man in the parking lot near a black car.

He was dressed in black. Although I couldn't see his face because of the black mask and hat he was wearing, I knew he was looking at me.

I felt uneasy around him, so I hurriedly started walking.

But...

I was shocked when a black car suddenly stopped beside me, and two men got out-

"W-what do you want-"

I didn't finish my sentence because they quickly covered my nose with a handkerchief and forced me into the car.

I tried to fight back, but I suddenly felt extremely dizzy until I lost consciousness.

'Maybe this is where my life ends. If so, I'll finally find peace...

Forever.'

Jerome's POV

"SURPRISE!"

Blake had a huge grin as he approached Namida, who was now kneeling on the floor, writhing in pain. I could see her face turning red as she clutched her stomach tightly.

"Did you like it?" Blake asked with a smirk, but I was shocked when Namida responded with a smirk of her own.

"Is this your revenge? Haha! How fun," Namida said calmly, though it was obvious she was being sarcastic.

I couldn't help but grin inwardly as I noticed Blake's smirk disappear. What's wrong now, bro? It seems the girl you despise has gotten a lot braver.

I couldn't explain why I suddenly felt admiration for Namida again. She still seemed so cool to me, even though she was now so disheveled.

I'll admit, I was one of those who bullied her, but I've changed. People do change. After that day when I tripped her, and she just smiled sweetly back at me, I changed. My heart suddenly started beating fast for no reason!

At that moment, I realized the wrongs I had done to her. Despite her sweet smiles, she was hurting.

Now, I want to protect her, but I'm frustrated with myself for not doing it sooner!

After what happened yesterday, when I saw her punch Blake, I couldn't understand why... why I couldn't get her out of my mind! She was just so cool.

"What did you say?!"

My thoughts were interrupted when Blake suddenly grabbed the girl I was just thinking about and roughly shoved her against the wall.

"Poor Namida." The voice of a student didn't escape my hearing.

"Yeah, she didn't do anything wrong."

I couldn't help but clench my fists as I felt a sudden surge of anger. I wasn't mad at what the student said; I was mad at myself because I could have defended Namida and fought Blake, but I did nothing.

"Why are you touching me? Aren't you disgusted by me?"

The anger I was feeling quickly turned into admiration again when I heard Namida's calm voice. Even though her voice seemed lifeless, she still sounded so cool!

"Ha! So you're brave now, huh?! HAHA! No matter what you do, you're still no match for me! You're just a f*cking trash!"

My temper flared when I heard Blake say that to Namida, but it quickly subsided when I saw that Namida didn't seem to hear him at all. She just stared at Blake as if she didn't care.

That's right! But it's annoying! Why is she staring at Blake? Why doesn't she just punch him instead of staring? Tch!

I was about to approach them to intervene, and hopefully, Namida would look at me instead-with deep feelings! I wish! But I suddenly felt annoyed and froze in place when I saw her smile at Blake. Tch!

"Sorry."

After Namida said that, she shoved Blake hard, making him stumble back and letting her go. Then, she quickly turned and ran down the stairs.

When I looked at Blake, I saw his fists clenching as he glared at Namida, who was walking away.

Suddenly, I felt a surge of anger and frustration towards him. Anger because he hurt Namida, and frustration because Namida smiled at him!

I quickly approached him and, without hesitation, punched him in the face. I saw the shock on his face at what I did. I even heard other students gasp. Tch! Overreacting!

"What, are you happy now?! That was not part of the plan! That shouldn't have happened!" I yelled angrily in his face.

His confused eyes stared at me.

To Be Continued...