CHAPTER 2

"What do you want, Miss Escareal?" the saleslady in the cafeteria asked.

"Chicken meal and mango juice," I replied while glancing at Janice. "What about you?"

"Beef steak meal. Soda as well."

I paid after giving us the order. We were back at the table when I saw a grade ten just entering. Just a short distance away, I recognized him immediately. Her eyes scanned the cafeteria briefly. He stopped looking at me. Now that I'm in grade eleven, I'm used to talking about Mommy. This time, she's having an affair with a married man again. I was not surprised by that.

"Drey, Hanna is coming," Janice said.

"Let her be," I said indifferently and put my tray down the table.

Hanna angrily stopped across from our table. I did not turn to him.

"You thick faced bitch! Are you happy that your mommy is ruining the family, huh? And you're not satisfied yet! You've really seduced my boyfriend! You're both like your mommy's snatcher!"

"Don't even start a mess here, Hanna!" and Janice.

How many times have I been confronted like this? I am tired of this drama.

"What? You don't even have to say anything? The thickness of your face too, what? You think you're too high because of your wealth but you're crazy inside! You don't have a conscience!"

I closed my eyes sharply and sighed. I crossed my arms and looked up at the screaming Hanna.

"Maybe that's why your daddy got hooked because mommy had too much lotionmo. Look at my mom. She's always beautiful. And about your boyfriend, I didn't kidnap him. He broke up with you on his own because he wanted to court me. Why? Because I'm better. People always prefer the beautiful and better ones, right?” I said softly and smiled.

I close my eyes to the cold and viscosity of the mango juice that was splashed on me. I can feel the cold liquid in my uniform too. As well as in my hair.

"Hanna!" Janice sighed.

"That's your thing! To get ready-"

It didn't take me a second to get up and pull her hair. She shrieked in pain but no one dared to stop me. They know I'm a tough opponent by chance. But this girl here, she doesn't know what wall she's hitting. I could swallow the words. But how dare she go beyond the lines! He has no right!

"It's what you want, isn't it? Then deal with it!"

I slapped her on both cheeks and violently pulled her hair. Someone shouted because of the event. The stupid girl had the audacity to pull my hair back. But because my hair is short, he was immediately released when I pulled him. I am taller and stronger so he is really at a disadvantage.

She managed to slap me once. I rubbed the metal on my lip from her ring. I grabbed her hair harshly and pushed her to the table. She cried out in pain.

I picked up the glass on the table and intentionally dropped it on the floor. Scattered pieces of it. I grabbed the large piece of glass and smirked evilly. Heartless. No conscience. That’s what I hear about me. So I just have to stand up, right?

"Audrey!" a familiar voice.

But I didn't move and walked closer to Hanna. She spilled my mango juice, slapped me once and pulled my hair. I should just hurt him!

Gritting my teeth, I lifted my hand, holding the sharp piece of glass with so much anger.

"This is what you deserve!"

Blood splattered on my white uniform.

It was as if cold water had been poured on me. The students around shouted, shocked at what they saw. Even I was surprised too. I was supposed to hit Hanna!

But he was not the one hit. The tall, dark and dangerous looking, Rustov Melgarejo was the one I hit! Everything happened too fast all at once I didn't see him coming. I heard his voice before but I never thought he would stop me that way!

He was gripping on the glass hardly, the blood was flowing down to his arm. I could still see the red liquid dripping on the floor.

"That is not the right thing to do!"

I looked up. My heart pounded at the cold and darkness of his eyes.

I let go and backed away. The piece of glass that is now tainted with blood fell on the floor.

"Look what you've done, Audrey! You're so slutty! You're just like your mommy-"

"Shut up!" I spat angrily and turned to Rustov.

"And you? Why did you interrupt? It's not my fault why you got hurt! That's your fault for taking that stupid girl's side! Why are you defending her? Your friend? Girlfriend? Because, you're both trash!"

"Come on, Drey," Janice tried to pull me away but I wouldn't let go.

"Don't worry about my Mom, Hanna. Your daddy is cheap so he'll get bored of it too. But who knows if your daddy can find a new fixture? He did it now so it will happen again and again."

"You bitch!"

Even before Hanna attacked me, Rustov was holding my wrist and pulled me out of there.

He seemed to be holding iron as I fainted and cried with anger. He drove me to the clinic. The nurse spoke briefly before approaching me.

"Why did you bring me here?" I spat.

"You have a wound, too," he said emphatically and looked down at my hand. I also looked there and realized he was right. But I haven't felt that way before!

"You shouldn't have done that," he said coldly.

I looked at him coldly.

"What do you care about my life? You don't care what I do! You didn't even know what she did to me! I was eating well when she suddenly approached me to pour me some juice! You think that's reasonable?"

I don’t know why I’m explaining to him but in my rage I can no longer think clearly. I was even so sure that I'll receive a suspension or something!

"Resorting to violence is also not reasonable."

"Don't scold me because I don't care about you! I don't care what you fucking say!"

His mouth tightened. The nurse talked for a while and left. The blood from his wound was still dripping. Where is he going?

The nurse treated me. In the few minutes I spent there I realized how badly I had done. I hit a person using a sharp glass! I also realized the words I left out were too painful. I was sure Mommy's attention will be called by the principal because of this.

"Get dressed first. Rustov talked to the chancellor," Janice said and put down my PE uniform.

"What did you say? Will Mommy be called? Will I be suspended?"

"The chancellor said, rest here at the clinic before going home."

"What?" I'm surprised. That's all?

"Maybe Rustov said that you weren't really the one who started it. Hanna poured you juice that provoked you.”

"And what about his wound?"

"Maybe he didn't mention it? Or maybe he said you didn't mean it."

I bent down and closed my eyes tightly. I was worried I'll be reprimanded or worst, face some legal actions because I know what I did was really below the belt. I got too emotional and I was very impulsive. Suspension was just right. But what the hell did he do? I should deserve something at least!