Chapter 3: A Broken Hope

Judy POV

I've arrived at the college where I wanted to begin my MBA, but sadly, that won't be happening. They simply let another person in instead of me. My capabilities strangely don't meet their demand to take my MBA there, Professor Ahan wrote in a mail that I received when I woke up in the morning, yet a few days earlier, I was eligible, and everything was set. I'm here to speak with the professor because I have no idea what happened. “May I come in, sir?” I ask if I may have his approval to enter. He turns to face me with a disgruntled frown spreading across his face. He gives me a hesitant nod.

The girl, who appeared to be extremely wealthy based on her appearance, doing some paperwork while sitting across from him. She has straight blonde hair and a lot of makeup on, so I can't guess her age. She turns to face me. I'm not sure why, but I feel a little uncomfortable speaking in front of her. Nevertheless, I must, but the professor starts talking before I can even get my words out.

“I cleared everything via email." "Why are you still here?” As the professor's words sink in, a deep sadness envelopes me like a suffocating cloak. All of my labor, passion, and dedication have brought me to this point when all of my aspirations are going to crumble before my eyes. “My apology, Professor, but can I at least know what the actual reason behind my termination is?”

I can not believe it is happening to me after putting in countless hours of work, giving my all energy during the application process, and fighting against all odds to earn admission to this prestigious college. “Come on, Judy; I already told you that you could not complete our eligibility criteria.”

The professor's caustic tone pierces my heart like a sharp dagger, leaving me feeling helpless and dejected. All I want is an explanation, a reason for my dismissal, but the professor's remarks are meaningless, devoid of substance or logic. He isn't even confident since he knows he's wrong, which is why he stutters. Disbelief surrounds me from all sides.

“But this seat belongs to me, I obtained it by my hard work, isn't it, Professor? What more do you need from me? I am about to pay my admission fees, but before that, you just sent me your baseless email! Can I know what kind of joke that is?” This time, before he can say anything, the rich girl turns her chair to look at me and starts to speak, slightly smirking.

“Look at me, girl,” she says, staring at me intimidatingly. “If you have something to ask, then ask me.” I look at her, a little surprised. “You know why you are not accepted?” She says this while staring at me. “Because I am taking your seat, and you know your merit is nothing to my power, so you can leave now,” she says, rolling her eyes while shifting her gaze somewhere else. Folding her hand around her chest, she flips her hair back, which feels like she is just teasing me. My misery is only increased by the affluent girl's sneer, which makes me feel inadequate in front of her. She has an unfair advantage due to her privileged background, her income, and her connections, and she is now pointing it out to me. I find it difficult to control my tears as they start to fill up in my eyes. I can't bear the idea of losing everything I've worked so hard for just because I allegedly didn't meet some arbitrary eligibility requirements. I feel lost and alone right now, like the whole world is against me. Still, I can't believe it. “Is it true, Mr. Professor?” The professor takes his head down without saying anything. He loses his courage to speak further. “I didn't know that your college values power more than merit.” “You can leave now, Judy,” he commands, which makes me even angrier. "Not until you give my hard work back.” I have never felt so helpless in my whole life. I cry out loud.

“Girl, keep your voice down and leave.” “If you don’t, I’ll call the guard,” he sneers. ”Please calm down, Professor.” “I know what she wants,” the girl says while taking out her phone and calling someone immediately. I don't know with whom she is talking, but something ominous is going to happen in my life, I can feel it.

When I'm talking to the professor in his office, someone strides into the room but doesn't bother to uplift my head to check because right now, I'm so down. I can perceive from the shadow a tall, muscular guy entering the room. My ground splits in two when I finally get a good look at him. He is the man from the previous day whom I slapped hard. He goes directly to the girl and hugs her. They exchange a quick peck in no time. By seeing their activities, anybody can predict that they are twain.

“Rylee, my darling, is she the one messing with you?” He asks the girl, giving me a bitter look. “Yes, Ellen,” she responds instantly. A sly grin conquers his face upon seeing me, but I try to avert my gaze from him. He is slowly approaching me, which is making my blood pressure low. I wished not to meet this man ever again, but he is in front of me. He says with a mixture of shock and fury in his voice, “I can't imagine how a girl like you would think of messing with my girl!” I know nothing about him; even his approach is the worst thing to encounter, but when he addressed her as his girlfriend, I don't know why I kind of feel bad. "I've never met a cheap girl like you! How did you dare to provoke her?" His question makes me confused. What does he mean by provoking? I didn't even talk to her. With his fierce gaze, he looks at me as if I'm someone so heinous to look at. I don't know why his deadly stare is making me more sad. "How did you dare to slap her?" Hearing this, thunderstruck me in the head. Someone can tell such a big lie, I can't even imagine this! As I turn my gaze, she smirks in return. "A lot of energy in your hand, right?" He asks, "Why don't you answer me?" Being unable to bear it, I look at him angrily while pointing my finger at his girlfriend, Rylee. “The way your girl is trying to snatch my seat!"

“What do you mean by snatch?”

“I am the one who deserves to get admitted, but your girl is trying to snatch my seat. I’m the one who studied all day and night to secure my place. Don't you think your girlfriend is doing something wrong?" I don't know why I'm trying to convince him, although everyone here is just against me. Why am I so vulnerable that I'm crying inside for his sympathy? He looks at his girlfriend. "What is she saying, Rylee?" Rylee's dark aura falls on me; it feels like she is calculating something. "Ellen, can't you see how annoying she is? She is just lying; I don't know why. She didn't even attend the examination, yet she is here bargaining to seek your attention. If you don't believe me, then ask the professor." This can't be true! How can a woman be so cruel? "You know she threatened to kill me!" Rylee says. My head is not working on what she is trying to say now! Ellen's deadly stare falls on me. My heart starts to thump against my ribcage, but nothing is coming out of my mouth.

She is telling lies one after another; I can't take it at all. I can't leave behind what belongs to me. "Please, stop lying," I request her. "Professor, you know everything, then why aren't you opening your mouth?" "Why do I open my mouth when you are the liar?" My blood starts to boil while listening to him. “Shame on you, but I am not weak, and I am not going to give up on what is mine." He gives me an angry look.“Do you know why you are not eligible?” Professor's voice makes me look at him being quizzical trying to find out what the actual reason can be.

“Because you are a liar and arrogant and can’t even provide half of the money she provided, you should leave without making the situation worse,” he says in his commanding tone. I just let out a deep sigh of frustration. “I see you have some guts,” Ellen scoffs, “but do you realize you’re messing with the wrong people?” “You’re wasting our valuable time, silly girl,” Rylee tells me, giving me a creepy look. “Babe, you know well what she wants.”

“Yeah, I know well what she wants.” Ellen nods his head. He takes out a credit card from his pocket and shows it to Rylee. She snatches the card from his hand and throws it on my face in no time, making me flinch. Their actions are so heavy for my poor heart. I take a step backward, glaring at Rylee.

“Take this card and go away from here!” She yells at me. I close my eyes, trying to convince myself not to punch her. “You can put the digit on your own, and if you need more, then you can ask me without any hesitation,” Ellen says, smirking proudly, which makes me scowl at him defiantly.

I don't know what happened to me that I'm just all sulking at this unknown man for not believing me. After taking the card, I throw it directly in his face, which makes him shocked and angry at the same time. “You know you and your girlfriend both are just a**holes, and you’re proving it again!” I speak loudly, “You better use it to buy some brains for you and your girl, you blockheaded man!"

“How dare you?” He yells, earning a scoff from me. I give him a dirty look. “I’m warning you—don't test my patience because you don’t have any idea about my power; once you mess with me, I won’t take a minute to destroy your life.” His anger makes me laugh; it only serves to enrage him more, no wonder. A man who can't differentiate between the lie and the truth doesn't even stand my standard. I've already started hating him.

“People like you only know how to use force, threaten, and take credit from others—how shameful!” My words are oozing with hate and disdain. He responds by giving me a fierce glare.

My glare falls on Professor Ahan while maintaining a firm and unwavering demeanor. "You are a rotten tomato." With my statement, the environment gets even more tense and uncomfortable. I sneer at Rylee and say, “Take admission here, girl. You should be grateful for the alms, I’m giving you.” “How dare you, b**h?” Rylee scowls at me. Ellen reaches out and glares at me. “I think you’ve crossed all of your limits,” he growls, his voice seething with anger. Fury makes his eyes blaze. “What did you say?” He bellows, “Say it again!” “Didn’t you listen?” I ask him with a mocking tone. I know my hope is broken, but why not refund them what they deserve? “I’ve given my seat to your girl as alms,” I shout at him.

"Don't shout, cheap girl. I just need only two minutes to prove you as a sl**t!" I never thought my bad luck would end in this humiliating way. How disrespectful a man can be! After losing the chance of getting admitted here even not hurting me this much as much as it's hurting to hear how he can talk so badly about me. I'm brutally humiliated that the agony is just increasing. My agony turns to anger by seeing the way Professor Ahan and Rylee are laughing at me.

I slap Ellen, and luckily the sound of my slap stops the horrific laughter of the two insects instantly. “I’m ashamed to know that this handsome face is just to cover up the rotten personality of yours.” Hatred for him covers my face. Frustration and anger are clogging my throat. I storm out of the room, hoping not to see them again in my whole life, my footfall resonating loudly in the subsequent silence.