I was utterly dumbfounded when I saw her leaving; never in my dreams had I expected that reaction from her. Though her father had described her as fat, rude and arrogant, I remembered her as a timid girl who was afraid of nearly everything.
However, as soon as my eyes fell on her again, she was already near the bus stop and I found a man holding her hand. For some reason, my blood began to boil. I got there immediately but before I could reach her, she jerked off the man's hand.
"He is a scoundrel," I thought.
However, when I walked up to them, close enough to hear her conversation, she seemed more furious than before. "I am sorry, but Selena told me that a random guy picked you up, and perhaps you would be in danger, so I rushed here." The man spoke.
"Richard, even if I am in trouble, you shouldn't leave your class and come here like this. People are already spreading nonsensical rumours about us; this act of yours would prove them right."
For some reason, her harsh words, delivered in an angry voice, sounded like music to my ears. I stepped forward; however, the man named Richard pushed me back with his arm and turned to me.
"How dare you try to mistreat her?" He grabbed my collar and looked me in the eyes; the fire of rage in his pupil sparked a weird interest and envy.
"I didn't mistreat her." I said without raising my voice, "Were you going to stalk us all the way to our place?" I questioned genuinely.
"You threw her out of the car in the middle of the road, and you dare say you didn't mistreat her?" He avoided the latter part of the question and tightened his grip.
"Richard, leave him alone."
To my surprise, Raven stepped in and glared into his eyes. However, those pair of eyes looked distant to me and intimate to him. She was scolding him and taking my side, but it didn't appear to be the case.
"Look, your boyfriend is assaulting me," I teased her, but in the pretext of that, I wanted to confirm what their relationship is.
"Richard, leave him." She didn't take the bait and she continued to convince him. Is it true? If they are not in a relationship, perhaps it's a situationship; that's what today's kids call this.
Richard slowly let go of me and straightened his attire. He was dressed like a handsome rich nerd from the dramas my youngest sister watched a lot, and from that, I remember that he looks exactly like the main lead of the drama Raven used to post a lot about.
Don't judge me; let me explain. My sister followed her on a social platform and I sometimes used her account to scroll through reels; thus, I sometimes viewed her stories and liked her posts.
This sudden realisation hit me like a bucket of burning fire. Weirdly, she was sitting next to me, and I kept sweating profusely. I felt the same heat but this current one was bitter and thorny.
Should I kick him? And if she takes my side and asks me to stop? Well, I don't think she trusts me enough that I would listen to her as much as this damn Richard guy.
"My classes are all over; I have none until next Tuesday. Please go back to the university; I have some other matters to deal with." She convinced the guy. However, he irked me, and I could not let him go unhurt after he made fun of me in front of so many people.
To my surprise, before I could attack, he trampled my feet, giving me a valid reason to slap him. I raised my hand right away and swung it with full force to imprint my fingers on his clean-shaved face.
"Ahh…" The feminine voice of a cry sent my soul to heaven. My eyes popped out as I found Raven on the ground, covering her cheeks.
She actually blocked my attack and took it on herself. Why? Just because of this nerdy dog? Am I so bad that she couldn't even hold my hand and stop me the way she did to Richard?
This annoying guy rushed to pull her up, but she jerked him away. "Do not touch me, Richard."
An old lady rushed to the scene and said, "Gal, let me see." She removed her hand from her cheeks.
Not only did the four of my fingers leave a deep mark on her face, she was also bleeding, as if a lion's paw had scratched her. As soon as she discovered blood in her hand, her eyes immediately turned on me. She didn't pay attention to the murmuring crowd that pitied her and scolded me.
Her oceanic eyes nestled a deep grudge against me, a strongly rooted hatred. She was picked up by the lady, but her eyes were still on me.
"Look at this poor girl; even her boots are torn. I wonder in what way she offended you rich bastards that you had to push her like this." The old lady brushed off the dirt from her dress. Meanwhile, Richard saw the opportunity and blamed me: "He is the one who slapped her! Look at his killer thumb ring; it can even take the life of a person."
The old lady turned to me, ferocious and yelled, "Beat him; beat him to death. How dare he assault a girl?"
The public began to surround me, and I didn't move my eyes away from Raven. I knew that after being hit so badly, she would not forgive me. In her heart, she must want to whip me.
"Granny, let's not hit him." She spoke up as soon as a man raised his fist at me. He stood midway and turned to her and asked, "Miss, why do you say so? Even if you know him, you should let him be beaten, so he never does this again."
"Uncle, it is an auspicious day for me. It is my birthday. I don't want this to happen on this day. It was a misunderstanding." She sounded as polite as she could be.
"I am so glad that you all came here to rescue me, despite your busy schedule. This is lunch time; please don't waste it on me." She bowed her head and said, "Believe me, I am very touched. Thanks for helping me."
"Miss, don't say that; it is our duty to protect each other. Don't thank us. You are so kind. I wonder how you got such a man." The man's grimaced face made me turn red from shame; it would have been better if she let them beat me.
"Gal, I understand you. Don't be disheartened. Here, take this." The old woman handed her an envelope of money. It was loaded with cash.
"No, I can't." Raven refused firmly, but the old lady slipped it into her bag and said, "Take it as a birthday gift from me. Don't worry about me; I am rich." She whispered.
"Buy a good meal for yourself." She hurried to her car so that Raven could not catch up with her and return the money.
The men dispersed because they had to take the bus. Leaving Richard and I alone with her. He turned to her and said, "It is my fault I didn't protect you."
She smirked and said, "I don't expect you to protect me. This is between Aidan and me. I'd feel guilty if you got hit because of me. I would have to care for you, and it would trap me in a vicious cycle."
"You fear the vicious cycle so much?" He spoke, his eyebrows curving, and disappointment washed over his face, as if referring to some sort of love.
"Yes, I am a practical person to begin with." Her cold answer made me freeze. It wasn't just Richard that she was warning. She was also telling me that I should feel guilty for what I did but I shouldn't pity her to the point that it changes the form of guilt.
"Wait, are you Aidan?" Richard turned to me, losing his colour, and asked.
"So what?" I looked at him from top to bottom, but he glanced at Raven, who reached the bus stop's seat and sat down as if she didn't know either of us.
"No wonder." He glanced at Raven and left right away.
What did that mean? His gaze appeared to have lost the brightness of hope and was overtaken by disappointment, which he perhaps didn't expect. It frustrated me so much that he didn't make it clear. Why would he turn so pale after learning that my name is Aidan?