CHAPTER 3 : Prey

Chapter 3

Prey

I am such a mess! I kept on cursing under my breath inside the cubicle. I had fully clean myself, yet the shame didn’t leave me alone. It’s all over my head! Prof Dal being unreasonably mean and my classmates’ laughter! The way they make fun of me seems so overwhelming! Damn it! What now?! It was just like yesterday when I’m asking for an ordinary school year and have fun for a new fresh start.

But I messed it all up. For sure even Nichy wouldn't dare to make friends of me! I grip my hair tightly and groan, I stop my drama when I remembered the earlier guy. I raised my hand to scan the handkerchief. I just had this suddenly urge to feel a little ease knowing that not everyone in this University is awful.

I sighed then twitched my lips. Will it all be alright if I head back? Wait it’s not I have any choice, right? Either I like it or not, I have no choice but to continue the day. I just hope that afternoon class will be gentler. I come out from the cubicle there I saw Nichy like waiting for me. My cheeks heat up when our eyes met.

“Hey,” she broke the silence.

“H-Hey, aren’t you supposed to avoid me?” Her forehead creased then shrug.

“Why would I? I… thought we’re friends?” My eyes quickly glittered.

“Really?! I mean about what happen earlier you might find me trou--” She walk toward me and held my shoulder.

“I do not see you as a trouble, Gina. Honestly, I came here to apologize since I am the reason why Prof Dal done that…” I wanted to cry that time, because at last! I found a friend! I finally built a smile.

“I thought you’ll feel uncomfortable! What happen earlier was really a knock out for me.”

“Never will I, Gina. You’re so friendly and, I am so lucky to have you. It’s my lost if I wont be friends with you. And another one, bullying is normal for wolves, right? So don’t mind what happen.”

Wolves? Ah does she mean wild people like Prof Dal? Well I guess she has the point. I should stop being affected by what happen and just tag along with Nichy. “Thank you for staying,” I almost laugh with my uncool phrase.

“Change topic, feeling better?”

“Yeah,” I said as I finger comb my hair. “But I think my tummy isn't.” She giggle and pulled me out of the comfort room.

“Since I have so many question about the metro, I will treat you for today.”

“Readlly?” I exclaimed.

“Yes! It’s all in me!”

Even though we’re newly found buddies, I find her so comfortable with. The cafeteria she mention is located at the first floor of the building, when I walk in, I saw random students from other year. It’s crowded, but with Nichy’s help I didn’t get lost. We both line up for the order, it was an exaggerated line that almost took us forever before ordering.

“You’re the best.” I smiled widely at Nichy that she just replied with a shy smile. My tray was full that will surely remove my bad memory about today. We’re busy finding a vacant seat when my eyes caught a small scene at the side.

 I got curious so I pry a little. A group of higher year student seems trying to rub a nerd who’s holding unto his wallet tightly. What the hell? Are they seriously doing that illegal stuff in public? I look around and saw people passing by acting like they didn’t notice something’s wrong with the guy. I wanted to meddle to leave the guy alone but Nichy block my way with a worried face.

 “What?” I tried to dodge her but she grip my arm and drag me to a table far from the scene. “Nichy? I am so close in stopping them.” Rather to answer she smiled and put a fries in my mouth.

“Howling University is a chaos, Gina. Please be aware of that. Don’t ever try to be a hero if you don’t want to end up as the victim.”

“W-What?” She shrug and moved the topic into something else. While eating, I am so lost in this following scene. I mean, how come no one even dared to stop the unjust student? Are there no guidance in here? It feels so inconvenient for the victims. I wonder what happen to the guy who’s being rubbed.

Just when I decided to take Nichy’s suggest to keep my own bushiness is also the freaking moment someone took my drink from my hands. My lips parted from the shock, I followed who snatch my drink and there the culprit is. Walking like a king and enjoying how the crowd make a clearing for his path. What made me even irritated is that he lazily drank from my cup.

Is he nuts?! How can he stole someone’s drink that proud?! I can’t control my mood shifting, I stood and walk toward him  before Nichy could stop me. The goon doesn’t seems to be aware of my presence at his back, I didn’t wait for the students to point at me. I tap his shoulder politely, he turn to me with eyebrow furrowed. I smile and pointed my drink.

“I think that’s mine.”

“Is she crazy?!”

“Maybe suicidal?”

“I’ll bet my whole money in this fight.”

I drifted my eyes at the crowd who’s looking at me with both amused and funny face, as if they’ve seen a show. “What again?” The gangster-looking guy asked me in baritone. His eyes was dark, why is he even angry if I just told him the fact?

“You got the wrong drink, that’s mine.” He took a step closer that made me tensed up, his aura is turning icier this time. Is he angry?!

“You dare to talk to me?”

“W-Well, I was just telling the fact.”

“Then fuck you.” I almost yelled when he poured the cold drink in my head, student once again started laughing all fingers pointing at me. I touched my hair now soaking wet together with my uniform. I balled my fist and pointed the guy with anger.

“What’s wrong with you--!” he didn’t let me finish, rather he smashed the cup unto my head causing me stumble in the ground.

“You got your drink back. There happy? Did you enjoyed it?!” He laugh torridly together with the crowd, they’re saying that I was the one at fault for hitting on him.

“Pitiful kitty cat!”

“She deserves it for being a fame whore.”

“Smash her Jericho!”

Excuse me?! Is it a mistake to take what’s mine?! I shake my head loosing all the control I have, I stand on my ground that turned the crowd even wilder. They’re shouting for this guy to end me up slowly. Damn! They lack morals!

I face the enemy with dagger eyes, however he was busy scanning me like a toy. “What? Going to kill me huh? Huh, ready to punch me?” He jokingly pushed me in the shoulder but has force making me step back. “Spill it, freak!”

My feature darken as their chant for the fight louder. He’s insulting every bit of my name. Showing how small I am. With the gathered strength, I position my left foot at the back, with all my might I gave him my mighty punch at the face. I regain the lost energy by chasing after my breath, then I realized what just happen.

I waken up the demon inside. His chest is panting heavily, everyone moved away leaving us alone in hell. I tremble in the spot nowhere to run. “You got my attention, start to kneel now.” Is he seriously going to kill me just because I punched him?! By that look, no doubt he’s really going to skin me alive. Damn, red flag!

“It was still your fault!” I roared before turning to run, but-- wrong move. I groan when he pulled my hair tightly then pushed me in the ground that felt so painful.

“You messed with the wrong person!” I closed my eyes when he position himself to kick me in the face, by the looks on his strength I might end up dead by tomorrow. Shit!

“What’s with the commotion, Mr. Ramierez?” That voice made me open my eyes, and there was the guy who gave me his handkerchief standing with authority in front of my back, like protecting me from the giant. I was bluntly in fear when he turn to me.  “You all right?”

He manage to offer a hand, I look around when they gave me the weird look, as if I’m not the victim. “Yeah.” To cut the drama I stood my own, out of nowhere Nichy came to help me. I know she wanted to lecture me but first let the scene subside.

“Hey, it wasn’t my fault. That bitch intrude, first Harvin!” The Jericho guy appealed, I wanted to depend my side but was cut with Nichy’s grip. I stayed quiet waiting for the result of the clash. “And you know the rules, I’m wit the high rank.”

“Oh I see.”

If this conversation didn’t go well with me, HU is a trash. And what does they mean with the rank? Harvin the good guy look back at me and Nichy. “He hurt me, it’s clearly his mistake,” I said.

“About that, I think we just had a small misunderstanding.”

“What? No, he must be punished--”

“Punished what?! That girl is getting into my nerve! You deserve the beating!”

“No one deserves to be hurt!” I exclaimed back that only gathered smirks from the audience, seriously what’s with their arrogance?

“Stop it, both of you,” Harvin said in between. “First of all, Mr. Ramierez it’s clearly a violation if you turn into a wolf just as you were about to do. No shifting inside the University, remember?” Wolf? Does he mean furious?

“I was carried away, nothing much.”

“Still against the rules. One more red card for you, you’ll pay the price. That’s all for you, you may go.” The Jericho guy clench his jaw, he’s pissed off and left me that wanna-kill look.

I face Harvin. “Wait a minute, you’ll get him off the hook that easily? How about the damage--”

“Gina, please just stay still and let the higher rank decide,” Nichy corrected.

“But it’s unfair--”

“Transferee, right?” Harvin asked when he adjourned the crowd. “I heard about you, and I think as a new comer, you might not be informed about the rules in here.”

Huh? Like the old movies? “What rules?” It was itching me to mwwt the rule that turned the student this pathetic. Instead answering, he gestured Nichy something. “Your friends will inform you, good morning by the way.”

He didn’t let me even touch him to asked furthermore. I watch his frame drift, then I remember his orders to Nichy. “Can you now tell me this sickening rule?” She scratch her forehead and weakly smile.

“N-Not in here, Gina. Let’s head out.” I pulled her back with a warning eyes.

“Tell me first what is H.U’s secret rule.”

“Georgina, please?”

“Spill the beans, right now.”

She bit her lips then laid the truth that drive me crazier. “Howling University has this ranking… where student’s freedom is based in their grade ranking.”