Charlotte Quinto

3.

CHARLOTTE

∞≠∞

           Charlotte Quinto was determined to make the new girl’s life miserable at Libangon National High. After that incident where Steffy humiliated her in front of their classmates and Sir Greg, she wanted nothing more but to be the big bitch that everyone in school had been dodging to cross with.

           That afternoon, she directly went inside Teacher Greg’s private office and initiated a kiss. She was so mad at him because he had ignored her on the first day of school and he did nothing when Steffy grilled her in front of her classmates.

           “What the hell are you doing, Charlotte?”

           The girl continued to ravage the teacher’s lips as her hands moved to unbuckle his pants. The teacher firmly held her shoulders and angrily told her to stop what she was doing.

           Charlotte was taken aback. “What now, Sir Greg? You don’t want me anymore?” she taunted. “Why? Because you’ve already grown tired of my body? Or is it because you have now a new plaything? The new girl, right?”

           “Just get out of my office, Charlotte. I have important things to do.”

           “Just fucking tell me!” Charlotte screamed.

           Teacher Greg’s fists flew on the table and the girl was taken aback.

           “You don’t have the right to boss me around, Miss Quinto. Get out of my office now.”

“This cannot be! You can’t do this to me! I’m sorry, Sir—”

           “Get out!” Teacher Greg said in a threatening voice.

           Sniffling a tear, Charlotte stomped out of the teacher’s room and cried at the girl’s bathroom. When she got out after a couple of minutes, two of her friends came across her and they both all agreed to change in their PE uniform at the locker room. Surprisingly, the new girl was already there, silently rummaging through her locker.

"Hey, bitch!" Charlotte said. "I love your hair, you stupid hoe. Do you want us to shave it all off for you?" Then laughter followed.

Steffy was irritated now, and yet, she seemed to be so composed with herself. Steffy ignored the assault by attempting to get away from them. But instead of letting her go, Charlotte pushed her on the floor and Steffy groaned at the impact. She plastered a smirk.

“Suits you right!”

"What do you want?” Steffy asked in a disgusted tone. Charlotte pushed her towards the locker, making the metal doors roar in her ears.

"You humiliated me yesterday, remember?”

“It wasn’t my intention to humiliate you, but you seemed to have a problem with me so I just dealt with it!” Steffy replied.

“You don’t have the right to talk back, newbie!”

“And what right do you have? Why are you terrorizing everyone? Why do you hate me so much?”

Charlotte snarled at Steffy as she pinned her even more. Just looking at her pretty face made her blood boil with anger. “I saw you yesterday, bitch," Charlotte hissed. "Sir Greg escorted you through the rain."

Steffy looked surprised. "You came to me just because you saw Teacher Greg escorting me through the rain?" Steffy said, giggling.

Charlotte was taken aback. Once again, Steffy made her look like a fool in front of their classmates.

"Tell me, Charlotte. Is that what you came here for?" Steffy coolly asked again. “I cannot imagine the level of obsession you feel for our handsome adviser, Charlotte.” Steffy then laughed villainously.

"Why are you laughing, bitch!”

"Do you realize how pathetic you are, Charlotte?"

Charlotte’s expression softened as Steffy said that. Her face also reddened with anger. "How dare you say that! Aren't you scared of me?"

“I should be the one asking you that," Steffy retaliated. Her trimmed eyebrows raised and her eyes glittered with pure amusement. Charlotte didn’t like it when she was taken as a fool.

"Look here, newbie. I hate you! And I came here just to make sure you see that. Girls like you should know their place."

Steffy shot her with an eerie smile. "You're the one who should know your place, Charlotte. Not me. You don't know me, nor the things that I can do to you and the rest of your—" she pauses and says with pure disgust, "—cults."

Charlotte was now really mad. She cannot imagine where Steffy’s different bravery came from. She charged Steffy and furiously grabbed her collar. "You've pushed my limits, newbie. I am the queen of this school and Teacher Greg is my king. Mine! Now, you're going to pay for humiliating me and for trying to steal him from me.”

Steffy only giggled at that. “Come on, Queen Charlotte,” Steffy replied mockingly. “Are you out of your mind? I didn’t steal anyone from you!”

“Shut up!” Charlotte yelled. "You'll pay for this! Girls, hold her!" Immediately, two huge girls grappled with Steffy's arms.

"You're crazy, aren’t you, Charlotte? I swear I wouldn't do that if I were you," Steffy remarked, the hint of angst and contained anger was now evident in her voice. Regardless, Charlotte ignored it. She raised her hand and sent a head-swirling slap on Steffy's face. Steffy received the blow but still managed to laugh sarcastically in front of the girls.

"You're testing my patience, newbie—"

Charlotte's threats hung in the air as Steffy slammed the girls’ heads together. They screamed as Steffy mercilessly kicked their faces, making them kneel helplessly on the floor. Blood immediately dripped through their broken nose.

"You're the one who's testing my patience, bitch!" Steffy exclaimed.

Using her right hand, Steffy charged Charlotte and dragged her by the hair. The latter screamed agonizingly as Steffy’s firm grip reaped through her scalp. Charlotte tried to strangle Steffy but the latter was taller and much stronger. She did not have a choice but to submit to the pain. The rest of the girls backed away and tried to leave.

"No one leaves that door! Lock it," Steffy roared in a threatening voice, making them stop on their tracks. A shivering girl hurriedly walked to the door to lock it from the inside. Then, with a strong movement of her arms, Steffy yanked Charlotte towards the corner and sent her to the floor. Her face hit the edge of a wooden chair. Everyone felt scared now. Plastering a creepy smirk, Steffy walked over Charlotte, hearing her groan in utter pain. She squatted in front of her as she playfully tucked several strands that covered her face.

"What do you want us to do? W—We’ll do anything," Charlotte said pleadingly as a tear began to fall from the corner of her left eye. “Just—Just let us go.”

"Very well. I'll lay my conditions,” Charlotte blew a sigh as Steffy stretched her hand to her.

∞≠∞

Teacher Greg wondered why Charlotte and the rest of her friends have not shown up in any of their classes.

"Anyone knows what's happening to Miss Quinto and her friends? They have been absent for two days—"

"We're here, Sir. Sorry, we're late."

Everybody turned to the door to see who had spoken. Silence flooded the room as soon as they saw Charlotte and the rest of the girls by the door. Eventually, one student was not able to stop a chuckle, and in a split second, the room burst into a peal of laughter.

"Settle down, everyone!" Teacher Greg boomed in an authoritative voice. Then he saw Charlotte bow her head in embarrassment.

"Sit down, girls."

The group went to their respective seats without saying a word. Charlotte, especially, was filled with bruises. Her lower lip also had a small cut.

"If you don't mind me asking—what happened, Miss Quinto? Why did you chop your hair?" the Teacher asked again.

"You look like Shaolin girls," one of the boys taunted, sending another wave of jeering from their classmates.

"You're bald. All of you are! Is that a new fashion trend?”

"You look good with that, you big bullies!" they all said simultaneously.

"Karma is a bitch!" another girl exclaimed in the background.

Charlotte and the girls remained silent amidst the taunting of their classmates. Momentarily, they sent frightened glances at Steffy and that action did not escape the teacher’s observation.

'Does Steffy have anything to do with this whole fiasco?' Teacher Greg cannot stop himself from asking that. Heaving a sigh, he tried to shake the idea away. From where he sat, he could see sweet innocent Steffy in her seat, having a deep conversation with her classmates. The teacher felt guilty for accusing her.

"Okay, that's enough. Get your history books now and turn to page 77."

He could only shake his head.