Chapter 5 His office

Chapter 5

The next day, we walked down the hallway together, but I slightly distanced myself from him when we encountered groups of students. He looked at me disapprovingly, so I looked down.

"Come closer to me," he ordered as we walked toward his office. We were on good terms since we discussed his point last night.

I quickly approached him, but I looked around before I said goodbye as he was about to enter his office.

"Bye-bye, Baba," I said, quickly kissing his cheek since there was no one around. I turned to leave, about to step away, when he spoke up, so I looked back at him.

"Tomorrow, I will process your status change, Chrisian, and starting next week, use my name," he informed me.

"We've already talked about this, right?" I asked him. We both entered his office, and he locked the door. I went straight to a chair and sat down, but Baba stood in front of me.

"We did talk about it, Chrisian, but we didn't agree on you being treated poorly," he replied, waving his hand dismissively.

"I can handle myself," I told him, looking into his eyes to make him believe that I could.

"They are physically playing with you. They are hurting you, Chrisian. I didn't send you to school to be bullied; I alone have the right to you. Just me," he said, pointing to himself.

"I know that," I replied, standing up. I wrapped my arms around his waist because he just wanted to be affectionate. I hugged him tightly and buried my face in his chest, causing him to take a deep breath and kiss the top of my head.

"I don't want to hear from others that you're being bullied in my school, baby. You should be the one with rights here," he said when he calmed down.

"Okay, Baba, I'm fine," I said, releasing my hug. I looked up at him and pouted. He gave me a kiss on the lips because there was nothing he could do. He loves me.

"My math schedule has changed, Baba," I said so he would know.

"It's now 5-7 PM, Baba."

"What?!" he asked, surprised. I wasn't sure if he was shocked or what. He walked over and sat down, and I followed him with my gaze. He was deep in thought because he went quiet.

"The professor doesn't want to move me to the same hour," I added, stepping closer.

"I'll just talk to him," he said. I glanced at my wristwatch and realized I only had five minutes left before I would be late.

"I have to go, Baba. I still have a class," I quickly said, giving him a kiss on the lips before I ran out of his office.

I was practically running to get to my classroom, but I stopped when someone violently grabbed my arm, making me turn around to see who it was.

"Ella?" I called her name in surprise as she released her grip on my arm.

"Feeling brave today?" she asked.

"Just because you're flirting with Professor Frank, you think you can defend yourself like that?!" she said angrily, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Enough, Ella. I'm going to be late," I told her, turning to leave. I didn't want any trouble because Baba would get mad, but then I was backed up by two guys blocking my way.

"Ella," I called her name again.

"Please, I'm really going to be late," I pleaded, trying to face her.

"I don't want a fight, Ella. I just want to study and graduate," I said, but she just raised an eyebrow and signaled the two guys behind her, who immediately grabbed both my wrists. I struggled and fought back, but their grip tightened on my arms.

"Let me go!" I shouted.

"What's going on?!" I yelled.

"How many boys have you played, Rana?" Ella asked.

"I'm not playing anyone, and I'm definitely not flirting," I replied.

"Let me go, please," I begged her.

"What are you doing to attract Professor Frank?!"

"Nothing."

"Liars!" she screamed.

"Let me go because I'm late!" I said angrily.

Frank Lin POV

My wife is so stubborn. I don't want to call her hard-headed because that doesn't even cover it; she's like a stone. She's confident during arguments like this because she knows I'm mature enough compared to her, so I always have to adjust in our relationship. But then again, this isn't new to me.

I've gotten used to it because I wanted this from the start; I just asked my twin Lauter Clifford for her. My twin had an impact on Chrisian; they were really the first friends back then. When I first saw Chrisian, I admit I was attracted to her beauty, and Lauter knew that too. I was grumpy and aloof around her, but my twin stepped aside because I was broken at that time. Lauter didn't like my girlfriend back then, so he found a way for me to forget her. I was selfish, asking for Chrisian without considering my twin's feelings.

Love is a choice; that's my motto regarding relationships, but sometimes I feel jealous of them because they joke around more than a couple would. I felt jealous, but we weren't at the level of being married yet; I was still being grumpy and aloof. Of course, being a Mondragon, I was playing hard to get because she was still so young back then.

I remember the time they were in the garden, and Lauter was drawing Chrisian. That was what he submitted to the art gallery contest, and she won with her beautiful piece. Damn it, I bought that painting so no one else could have it, and I didn't let anyone get a copy because that painting of Chrisian drawn by my twin was only for the Mondragon family. I even saw my brother's signature on the back of the painting: Mon amour, Ma vie. I respect him because I know he loves my wife, but like I said, he stepped aside because he loved me more as his twin, and now that the years have passed, even if they joke around in front of me, it doesn't affect me anymore because I stand firm on one thing: trust. They are like siblings now.

If you think about it, she doesn't have any hold on Chrisian because she's my wife, so the issue between my twin and me has been resolved. Especially now that my brother has someone he loves. My cellphone rang, interrupting my thoughts; I wanted to reflect on the past but the caller was persistent.

"Where's your wife?" the voice on the other end asked, causing me to frown.

"Isn't she there yet?" I asked.

"She went out a while ago," the voice replied. I quickly stood up, my heart racing because of her lies; she was putting herself in danger.

"She's not back?" I pressed.

"Not yet," was the response.

"Go look for her; she might be getting bullied again," I ordered.

"Okay, auntie."

I quickly left to find her. Chrisian, this is what I've been warning you about. You'll be in real trouble if I catch you being bullied again, as Lauter's only request to me was to treat her like a princess and not let anyone hurt her.

I walked quickly, glancing around until I reached a narrow street. I was about to turn when I heard my wife's voice.

"I'm not playing anyone, and I'm definitely not flirting," I heard her say. I hurriedly searched for the source of her voice.

"Let me go, please," she pleaded as I got closer.

"What did you do to attract Professor Frank?!" a girl's voice shouted.

"Nothing."

"Liars!" she yelled.

"Let me go because I'm late!" my wife said angrily, and that's when I finally spotted them.

"LET HER GO!" I shouted.

"LET HER GO!" I ordered again, my voice filled with anger as they held my wife's wrists. I rushed toward them.

"Professor!" the daughter of Chua exclaimed in surprise. I had already talked to the Chua family about the bullying issue, but it seemed they hadn't complied.

"What's happening here?!" I demanded angrily, but they just bowed their heads.

"I'll ask again: what's happening here?!" I pressed, but no one spoke.

"NOBODY SPEAKS?!" I yelled, startling them and causing them to take a step back. Except for my wife, who looked at me.

I couldn't control my anger when my wife was the victim, and I was the one witnessing her being bullied, especially since she was going to be late for class. Chrisian knew how I got angry, so she stepped closer to me.

"Professor," she called, holding my clenched fist, ready to punch someone.

"Baba," she called softly, trying to open my hand, which I did willingly so we could hold hands. I squeezed her hand, realizing that she probably thought what she was doing was wrong, but she had no choice but to hold it. She tried to pull away, but I wouldn't let go.

"So it's true what they say at this school: that you have a relationship?" Ella asked boldly, and I shot her a glare.

"All I know, Ms. Chua, is that this school is for learning and progressive processes, not gossip," I said with a smile, looking happily at the two boys with her.

"You forgot my warning yesterday," I reminded her.

To Be Continued...