CHAPTER 2

HAPPY READING. 

One week had passed and she became the center of attraction in their campus. She doesn't know if she's happy because of the attention she's having or be annoyed about it. Everyone wants to be with her especially boys, not just her classmates but also the college students. Sometimes it was just fine to her but most of the time she felt unconfortable surrounded by guys. Every day is a new day to her. New day, New experience. 

With that thought she sighed and smiled before she walked from the hallway. But it seems that her positive and light feeling will be destroyed when she meets Sofia's group, her classmate is one of the richest in their school and she is said to be one of the ones recognized as a Queen Campus because of her beauty. There is no denying that Sofia is really beautiful but She was always glaring at her like if she did something wrong with her.

‘Badgirl, she always want to pick a  fight with me.’ She pouted at her own thought. 

 "Oh! Look who's here. The playing innocent to get the attention of the boys," Sofia  smiled but soon it sharpened as she stared at her again. 

If only those sharp stares can killed her, she would have prostrated herself earlier — no, scratch that, she is already dead since last week. 

 "C'mon bitch! Show me the real bitch you can be," Sofia added. 

Hera just bowed down because she was the one who was ashamed of the passers -by in the hallway who were now gathering.

 Some just skip them, most stop as if just watching a movie. 

‘Embarrassing!’ 

 "I don't understand you but if I did something wrong. I'm sorry," Hera gently pleads with them.

She was no longer pleased with the volume of the students around them. She is afraid that her father will find out that she is fighting. Her father said that she would not buy ice cream for her when she engage on a fight. 

‘For ice cream I will not ffigh.’ Hera thought. 

Besides, she won't really fight with the number of their group, what will she get? She can't handle them. And she's not used to mess.

 "You can't get us for your modesty. I know you're a hot girl inside! Is that what modest? all men claim,” Sofia almost shouted. 

Hera just closed her eyes tightly because of what Sofia said. If only Sofia knew that she didn’t like them either, that she wasn’t comfortable with them. It's just that he can't send them away because they are kind. Why? because of those men, she couldn't spend even a peso because of their free ones — even if Hera didn't want to, there was always food ready for her every time she came to the cafeteria. It was too much she never ran out of. 

Hera just smiled at what those bachelor were doing. 

She seemed to stop breathing when she heard the crisp slap — not only did she hear it she felt the pain in her cheek. 

She was not prepared for it. From the moment she woke up, she never felt any physical or emotional pain because her father took good care of her. Only now has she experienced this since she started studying.

 ‘Is it part of life when you are outside your home that serves as your comfort zone?’

It looks like he will just accept it as another life experience. 

‘Maybe everyone her age has experienced being involved in fights.’ With that thought she walked straight ahead and never looked back at them. Her tears also continued to flow. Maybe it's okay that she was slapped because she finally knew the feeling of crying.

 But why does the pain seem to hurt her heart? That slap she got seems like nothing new. She feels she is used to it. But she does not remember that her father slapped her. He couldn't do that, nor did he get reprimanded by his father. Her just always makes her smile when they are together. He took good care of her so that if possible, she would not be bitten by mosquitoes.

And because of the familiar pain that she feels, until now still remembering why she became familiar with the it. 

She just sat in her desk like an idiot. While her tears continued to flow. It feels so nice to cry. It seems like she needs to cry to ease the burden in her heart that was deep burried into her soul. Something's wrong with her, maybe something painful happened in her past when she was not yet in coma. She should stop crying and ask her father later, what happened to her and why she was in a coma for 8 years? She can't just sleep and never wake up, right? 

Just because of that slap she seemed to wake up, it was as if a disease woke up from her heart. There seems to be something missing from her.

 "Who the fuck did this to you?"

 She gasped because of Tiffany's loud and furious voice that seemed to run because she was gasping for breath while her eyes were furious. 

Is she mad at her?

 "Are you mad at me?" She couldn't help but cry at the thought that Tiffany was also angry with her.

 "Ofcourse not," Tiffany said gently then hugged Hera while stroking her hair. 

Because of what she was doing, Hera gradually calmed down.

 "Just give me a hug so I don't cry anymore," Hera laughed. At the same time she sat properly. 

"I told you, you need me in your life,"  Tiffany smiled at this promise. 

Even though Tiffany says it jokingly, she knows for herself what she said isn’t joke at all. Tiffany was just talkative and had a bit of a rude mouth but she knew this person was kind. 

"Thank you," she said with so much gratitude in her eyes.

 "Don't mention it,"  Tiffany replied smiling as she straightened her somewhat messy hair. 

"Did Sofia dis  it?" Tiffany asked gently as she caressed her swollen cheek. 

She was still a little overwhelmed because of the pain. 

"Don't worry, what she did to you has already reached the Dean's office. Maybe soon you two will be summoned," There was a streak of anger in Tiffany’s voice as she talked to Hera. 

When Hera  heard it, she was immediately overwhelmed with nervousness. Will her father not know? She hope not.

She closed her eyes quietly as she uttered a small prayer that his father would not have known it because she might not have ice cream.

 "Why do your hands seem cold?" Tiffany asked.

She didn't even realize that Tiffany was holding it. 

Hera swallowed loudly before asking. "Won't papa know?" Hera asked incredulously. 

"Depends,” Tiffany shrugged her answer which added to Hera’s nervousness.

 "Why are you scared?" Tiffany asked her.

She said that Tiffany was smart because even though she hadn't said she was scared, Tiffany already knew it. 

"You're really smart," She wondered. 

Tiffany frowned. "How clever. I'm not because you are always saving me in the quizes," Tiffany said with sarcasm while looking at Hera as if she was the most stupid person she had ever seen in all hes life. 

Hera was upset. "Because even though I haven't said how I feel you know right away," 

Tiffany spat her forehead that seemed to stress her. "How can I  not know? obviously. You know what? don't talk to me right now because I'm losing my mind when we talk,"  Tiffany replied angrily. But of course, she is not really angry, it just sometimes the innocence of her friend Hera drained her. 

‘Huh what did i do again?’ Hera asked on herself.  

"Tiffany?" Hera softly calls to tease Tiffany. 

 "Tiffany my friend," She added but she was really ignored. 

She was already worried that what Tiffany said might be true, saying that she shouldn't talk to her first now.

Nooo! she can't! She can't let that they will not talk for even one day. No no,  Hera shook a little while she were sobbing. 

 Tiffany immediately faced her as her eyes widened. "Omy god! I'm sorry. I'm sorry.  I'm just kidding!" Tiffany immediately apologized to her and hugged her tightly. "It's as if I can bear not to talk to you even just one day," 

 The sigh of relief escaped from Hera’s mouth when she heard it. Tiffany is the first person she befriend with, that's why she got worried. "Thank you so much. even  we just became friends, you are important to me," She can't bear to lose her first ever so called friend. 

"Tsk. How can they hurt such an innocent" Tiffany murmured while slowly letting go of her. 

At the same time their class president called Hera’s name. "Lopez, you're being called to the dean's office," he said politely.

Hera nodded at the same time as the nervousness returned to his chest that she thought was gone. 

"It's ok sis, You didn't do anything wrong so don't be nervous. Just tell them the truth," Tiffany eases her. 

 Hera nodded before slowly walking to the dean's office. She looked at Tiffany for a moment, then she smiled at her. 

"MS. LOPEZ, Can you tell us what happened in the hallway this morning?" The school principal asked the girl. 

She looked at Sofia who was in front of her in the chair who just stared at her.  She just bit her lip so hard. She didn’t know how to start it all. She also feels very nervous. She looked at Sofia again when she heard her little laugh. 

 "I told yah! I'm not doing anything wrong. she's in the lead," Sofia even pointed at her when she just stared for a long time. "He pushed me so..so-I slapped her," Sofia sniffled her statement.

 Hera closes her eyes firmly. Why is she so weak? Why can't she defend herself? Is it because she doesn't know how? Or because she knew she wouldn't win? Besides she's just a new student here, how can they believe her? 

"—Shut the f*ck up!"

 They all jumped because of what they heard from the door. 

From where she was sitting she could clearly see whose voice it was. None other than one of their professor. Sir Donovan. The other teachers inside also looked up. 

"In this university we don't tolerate liars! You are here to study and not to reign,"  The word of his promise was heavy as he looked at Sofia intently. 

Hera could also clearly see Sofia swallowing  repeatedly and fear in her eyes.

 "I have the footage of the CCTV," He added while everyone was quiet.

‘Lets him speak’ she thought.

She, on the other hand, is like a stump that can't move while just staring at the Professor who is now walking slowly towards them. He looks so serious, that you don't want to play because it seems like any time he can blow you with fire. He was like a dragon in Hera's eyes, too dangerous. It's scary to get close to him. Hera was also restless every time he stared at her as if reading his personality. 

"You can't show it to them!" Sofia almost shouted.

 "And why is that?" Sir Clinton's question.  

"My family is one of the sponsors here in your University," Sofia smirked like she is sure that she will win. 

 It's better that she doesn't talk anymore because she has no opponent in Sofia. Whk is able to communicate in front of many teachers. 

"Then, tell your parents to pull out the sponsorship," The professor did not have an enthusiastic answer. 

Hera sighed at what she heard. The two are arguing like a normal person, like as if Sofia is not a student and Sir Clinton is not a Professor. Sofia is that rich huh? 

"We, I, don't mind at all. I'm pretty sure no school or university will accept and tolerate your attitude, it's a good thing your mother is begging me not to kick you out of here because they don't know of any other school that will accept you, " Sir Clinton explained that he seemed very tired of Sofia.

 Hera can tell that Sir Clinton was Frustrated. 

"Miss Lopez, Go back to your room," 

Hera stood up when Sir Clinton said that.

 "Thank you Sir." Hera was grateful for this and bowed slightly to the teachers there then to Sir Clinton. Only to smell his manly perfumed that soothed on her nose. His scent was bearing.

Omy god! She just want to bid goodbye why would she have to compliment his manly scent? 

She hurriedly get out of the faculty while her heart was beating fast because the professor was staring at him for the last time as if he had done something very wrong. 

It looks like he doesn't want her to get close to him because every time, Hera accidentally gets close to that professor in the classroom, he always looks at her as if she did something wrong. 

 What's wrong about my professorabo

 "That woman is really a STAR. She doesn't know if she's just not rich, she doesn't have any friends because of her bad habits," The story of her male classmate Kyle, the one she always keeps up with when she comes home. Not just Kyle Ledesma but also his Friends — now her friends also. Kyle was putting some sliced apple on Hera's plate. The usual, she is used to not only that, despite Kyle  is Lucas San Diego, who puts a straw in her drink that has not been opened. She is really getting used to it. 

"Yup! She doesn't even know how to respect herself. It's a good thing that even though I'm drunk I was able to reject her," Lucas said with so much disgusted with his eyes. 

"Supposedly disgusted but if I didn't catch it, it probably would have continued," Laughing promise by Joshua Lambert. He is the noisiest of them all and he is also the one where Hera feels very light. Maybe because the way he stares at her was not the same way Kyle and Lucas stared at. Those two are bit serious while Joshua is so fun to be with. He is so talkative, that’s why.

 "You, Joshua, are very gossipy. How did you know they were there? Huh? I hope you didn't disturb their game. Bro, Lucas is still dry," Tiffany replied. The woman had no brakes mouth. 

She just frowned because of what they were talking about. "What game are Lucas and Sofia playing?" Hera innocently asked her colleagues.

 In fact, she was always out of sync whenever the four were talking. The four of them look at her flatly. Simultaneously also pushed each other who would explain to her. 

 ‘What game did I just ask but it seems like there’s  difficulty of my question.’ Hera frowned. 

 "You explain Joshua after all you're the most talkative," Kyle said and nodded at Joshua. 

"You know what, f*vkers! If I were to explain to Hera, I'd rather explain to my nieces who are still in grade sixth," Said Joshua. 

"Oh! What's up Tiffany? Don't keep quiet there. With us sitting here now I know, you're the one with the most unfiltered mouth," Lucas urged Tiffany. 

‘Was the game they played so hard that they couldn't explain it to her quickly?’ Hera muttered quietly

 "Your hopeless Hera!" Tiffany said to Hera who was innocently waiting for their answer. Tiffany added . "As much as I want to tainted your mind, everytime you're looking at me so adorable and innocently makes me back-off," Tiffany said. 

Her friends shared a loot at each other and  answered 'yeah' 

"But don't worry, I thought of a way for us to little by little color your innocent brain." Tiffany smiled sweetly at Hera. 

She immediately thought what else could this woman think? 

"Tiffany! Don't you dare bring Hera to a bar!" Lucas warned Tiffany.  

"Oh! You just gave me a brilliant idea. But don't worry not right now. I thought of something else,"  

Hera frowned at what Tiffany was saying. What way?  What? Where?