A clash with the bullies

BETH'S POV

Surrounded by the trio I hated the most in this college, I stood helplessly, hoping Clement would come to my aid as usual, but the reality that we were actually done, became vivid.

“Clement never loved you. As the hottest boy in Blue Ridge College, he wanted to prove to Rick and Jake here that he could get in your pants, which he did successfully. I thought you were a saint, always proving to be better than every other girl but now I know you're just a shameless whore!!!” She hollered in my face with hatred looming in her eyes and I let out a sardonic chuckle, unable to believe what I just heard.

“Clement, tell me she's kidding. That's not true, right?” I asked, holding on to the last string of hope I had.

“So naive. Clement actually wanted to prove to us that even weirdos could fall in love and he did it so swiftly. Mind you, the stake was just $10,000. That's how cheap you are!” Jake scoffed and my already broken heart ripped into a million pieces.

I hated to seem weak before these people, and I tried to put on a tough front, but the stream of tears rolling down my cheeks wasn't helping issues. Even though I never offered my body to Clement, I felt used and betrayed.

“Get out of my boyfriend's room and never show your disgusting face here again!!” Cassie yelled and I took to my heels, unable to bear the pain and shame.

I felt stupid to think I could ever have a guy as perfect as Clement; Handsome, wealthy, popular and every lady's spec, even when I was just an illegitimate child whose father wasn't even willing to associate with.

I increased my pace towards my hostel to prevent anyone from seeing the tears. I hated myself for being so weak. I blamed myself for being born into such a cruel world, even though it wasn't my fault.

‘Even your biological parents don't want you, why do you think Clement will?’ A voice sounded in my head and I found myself concurring with that voice.

‘No one deserves to be with an illegitimate child like me who can't even stand up for herself when being bullied.’ I acknowledged with great difficulty, curling up in bed with a heavy heart.

Layla arrived some hours later, and she prepared herself to confront Cassie the moment I narrated what happened, and I stopped her before she could leave the room.

“Why did you still go back to that asshole after all he said to you yesterday? To have your heart further broken? Who loves so blindly?” She scolded furiously.

“The doctor said he paid for the process, and I just wanted to go appreciate him, even though he doesn't want me anymore,” I said in my defense but she was in disbelief.

“Are you saying he paid such an amount for your treatment after his outburst yesterday? Why? To pay you off for your time he wasted? Or your feelings he took for granted?” The anger blazing in her eyes screamed disaster and I knew she could commit murder if I let her confront them that moment.

“It's fine Layla, at least I know now I was only being a fool. I can now decide the next step to take in my life now that he's out of the picture.” I muttered with a bitter smile.

“You'll be just fine without him. He's a fool, and this is his loss,” She comforted me, but I knew the expression on Clement's face back there wasn't that of a loser.

I opted to refund the money she had sent for the treatment but she refused to take it back, asking me to keep it for myself. I was extremely grateful, and I thanked God for bringing Layla, an angel in human form, my way.

She tried to lighten my mood by discussing topics different from my relationship with Clement but it helped just a bit. She asked about the treatment and I told her how awkward it felt to be exposed completely before a fellow woman.

“That's exactly how you were born; there's nothing to be ashamed of,” She cut in, and we burst into laughter. I was able to forget about Clement for a while.

Hours transgressed to days and days became weeks. I went about my usual routine without heeding the doctor's advice. I tried my best to avoid Clement and his clique but they seized every opportunity to pick on me.

I couldn't stay indoors because of them, considering the fact that the holidays were fast approaching and I wouldn't want to miss classes to avoid failing my last continuous assessment test for the year but luck wasn't on my side as I was returning from class on one fateful day.

I sighted Cassie and her group of friends from a distance, and I turned towards the other direction to avoid having an encounter with them, but they were quick enough to run towards me. They surrounded me in an instant and I gripped my bag firmly, looking them in the eyes.

“Here comes the shameless slut! I warned you to stay away from Clement, didn't I?” She asked and I remained silent, wondering about the last time I had an encounter with Clement.

“I don't know what you're talking about. As for that piece of shit, Clement, I have nothing to do with him anymore.” I retorted and a resounding slap landed across my cheek. I boiled with fury and tried to return the slap, but Jessica pushed me backwards, and I stumbled, crashing against a pillar.

“You dare call my boyfriend a piece of shit when you've been the one hovering around him? Weren't you trying to kiss him yesterday?” She asked and my eyes widened. I tried to recall the encounter I had with him on the previous day and realised she got it all wrong. He cornered me on my way to class and muttered disgusting things in my ears at close range.

“What if I tried to kiss him? What do you intend to do about it?” I challenged her head-on, tired of being bullied by my peers at the age of twenty because of my quiet nature.

“Did you just ask me that? Watch me show you what I intend to do about it!” She charged forward and grabbed my hair, which I wrapped in a bun, pulling it with all her might, and I yelled in pain, trying to break free from her hold while her friends stood akimbo, laughing at the sight.

“Go easy on her babe!” I heard Clement's voice from the lawn and turned towards his retreating figure with tears clouding my vision.

“Sure, cookie!” She responded with a grin still holding on to my hair.

“Let go of me!” I yelled, struggling to gain my freedom but the intense pain I felt from my scalp wasn't helping at all. I grabbed her thigh, trying to pull her off her feet. This riled her up and she smashed my head against the pillar with all the strength she could muster.

Blood drained from my face and my eyes sunk into their sockets as I felt a splitting sensation from my frontal lobe. The pain was unbearable, and blood trickled down the edge of my face as I panted heavily, trying to remain alive. My vision became blurry and my head spun in a hazy spiral.

The faint sound of their laughter was still slightly audible and just when I thought it was over, Layla’s voice sprang up a little ray of hope as she hollered my name from afar.

“Bethy!!!” Her voice reverberated as I gave in to the darkness.