Chapter 6 : The bullies

I walked alone in the lobby and I saw the Circle of 8 before me. 

I felt the weight of their stares as I was about to pass them. They were a group of bullies whom I had a history with before they were paid off by Anthony to protect me, but since he had traveled, they seemed to revel in taunting me.

As I walked past them, I could hear their snide remarks and hurtful comments.

"Look at her, all alone. Where's your Superman now, Catherina?" one of them jeered, causing the others to laugh cruelly.

"Yeah, he used you and dumped you. You were just a plaything to him," another added, with a smirk on his face.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I tried to ignore their words, but they cut deep into my heart. How could they be so cruel? I had thought I was safe with Anthony by my side, but now it seemed like I was just a joke to everyone since he was gone.

He had been gone for a day and now all this drama had ensued. How long will this last? How long before he calls and helps me deal with them?

"Pathetic," another voice spat out, causing me to quicken my pace as I walked past them. I could feel their eyes boring into my back, their laughter echoing in the lobby.

I finally got out of the lobby and I walked towards the garage. The garage led to the schoolyard from which I'd leave the school space, and that was the refuge my heart offered.

How could they say such things? Did they really think I deserved to be treated this way? I wondered. 

As I lay there, my mind raced with thoughts of Anthony and how he had swept into my life like a whirlwind, promising me the world. But now it seemed like it had all been a lie, a cruel joke at my expense.

Why hadn't he called? What was holding him back? 

I wiped away my tears, trying to push away the hurt and anger that threatened to consume me. I couldn't let them see me broken like this. I had to be strong, for myself if not for anyone else.

I took a deep breath and straightened my head, determined to not let their words define me. I knew I wasn't jilted by Anthony, and I couldn't bring myself down to think that I had been jilted by Anthony. 

Again, as I walked towards the school gate, Sasha approached me. She was also Anthony's crush, and she had been neglected by him since he started dating me.

I tried to avoid her, but she blocked my way three times. I tried to go another way, but she pulled the helm of my clothes. "Halt. Do you know who you are? Let me remind you. You are just a girl on community budget, raised to standard by Anthony, and now he is gone. What else can you do?" she taunted me.

I looked up at her, but I couldn't find any words to say. I just wanted to walk past her again, but Sasha pushed me to the floor.

I felt the sting of humiliation as I hit the ground, my heart racing with anger and frustration. Sasha towered over me, a sneer on her face as she looked down at me.

I could see the triumph in her eyes, relishing in her power over me. I tried to push myself up, but she shoved me back down.

"You think you're so special, don't you?" she said, her voice dripping with malice. "But you're just a cheap imitation of what Anthony really wants. You'll never be able to fill the void he left behind."

I gritted my teeth, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill over. I refused to let Sasha see how much her words hurt me.

I felt a surge of anger rising within me, a fire burning in my chest. I wouldn't let her break me down. I wouldn't give her the satisfaction.

Without a word, I pushed myself up from the ground, my hands trembling with rage. I met Sasha's gaze, holding it steady despite the fear and uncertainty that churned within me. I refused to back down, to let her intimidate me any longer.

I opened my mouth and she squinted, waiting for what I was about to project but it was another utter silence and a look away to avoid her gaze.

With that, I turned on my heel and intended to walk away, leaving Sasha standing there in stunned silence.

“How dare you turn your back on me?” she sneered, pulled, and pushed me to the floor. 

As I  looked at her going her way, I sat on the floor  when my phone rang. Startled, I scrambled to pick it up and saw an unknown number  flashing on the screen. "Hello," I said, my heart racing with expectations.

“Hello, baby,” he said.

"Anthony?" I called out, unable to contain my excitement. 

"Yes, it's me," he replied. 

I could feel a smile spreading across my face. 

"Sorry for taking too long to call you. How are you doing?" 

"I have missed you," I blurted out before I could stop myself. 

There was a pause on the other end of the line before Anthony responded, "I know, I miss you too."

I took a deep breath, realizing how much I had longed to hear his voice. "I am being bullied," I confessed. "By the Circle of 8 and by Sasha."

Instantly, Anthony's tone turned serious. "I will take care of them.”

I knew he would. I knew all it required was to put a call through and he's promised to do so. How he'd do it, I don't know.

“I know you will, Anthony. I know you will. How is it over there?”

“It's been cool…” 

He hadn't completed his statement before he ended the call abruptly. What was happening? I wonder.

I stood there, stunned by his words. Part of me was relieved that I heard his voice and that he was doing fine, another was that  he was going to help me with the bullies as well as with Sasha, but another part of me was worried about why he ended the call. 

I wanted to call him back, to ask him how he was, to tell him more about what had been happening to me.

But deep down, I knew he had his own battles to fight. And as much as I wished he could be here with me, I also knew that he needed to focus on himself.

I stood up slowly, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside me. I missed Anthony more than words could express, but I also knew that our paths were not always meant to be crossed. Our love was fierce and passionate, but it would also be complicated and tumultuous.

One question was on my mind… “Why would he end the call that way.”