Chapter Thirteen

LIAM BENJAMIN

I was about to leave the canteen when three guys blocked my way. The one in the middle mocked me, I just looked at him and passed because I really wanted to get out of this suffocating place. But, one of the guy colleagues pulled my arm to the point I almost dropped my food.

“Wait a second! Don't turn your back on us,” there's a silliness on the guy's grin who grabbed my arm.

What is their problem, and why are they preventing me from getting out? The guy in the middle approached me and his troublesome grin widened as he asked me.

“Are you the transferee of class 4-A?”

Why is he asking? What does he care if I am the transferee of 4-A? I just looked at him, and I didn't attempt to answer. They stared at each other and one of their companions chuckled softly.

“I think he's dumb and deaf Shawn, eh. Look, he doesn't seem to hear you.” The one in the middle looked at me again, he was probably Shawn. But I don’t care because I prefer to actually get out and come back in the room.

Shawn approached me, I stepped back because he barely brought his mouth close to my ear, “ARE YOU THE TRANSFEREE OF CLASS 4-A ?!”

The three of them laughed, I jumped in panic because of Shawn screamed in my face. Fuck! The earache of what he did! I'm not deaf for him to shout like that, and even more, I'm not dumb!

Even though I had a bad trip, I answered his question, as if they were going to keep quiet if that was all they were bothering about. “Y-yeah that's me. W-why?”

Shawn looked at me as if he looks annoyed with me. Why? What did I do to him? I don't do anything, I just buy my food, that's all. So, why if he stares at me, does he seem to want to pulverize me?

“So, it's you?” The heck? Why is he repeating this question?

I think he was the one who's deaf and didn't hear what I said. One of his friend who grabbed my arm handed him something, it was bottled juice. I backed away again as Shawn slowly approached me again. What's wrong with him, and he is being getting closer and closer to me? Does he want the food I bought? If that's the reason for bugging me, then I will give it to them, just leave me alone and don't bother me! I just want a peaceful meal, for pete sake!

He opened the bottled juice as he glared at me. “We have a ritual with transferee students here in Eastwest, and unfortunately, you need to experience it too… even if you are a 4th year student, no one is exempted in this ritual.” I gasped in terror when he smirked devilishly.

He slowly raises his hand holding the bottled juice. Wait, will he pour that on me? This shithead! Is he crazy and will pour me his juice for no reason? And ritual? What school did I attend? A cult?

His hand is on my head, any time I can take a bath in juice. Even though I want to run, I can't do it because my feet stuck on the floor, and… I'm used to pouring water, juice, paint, and other types of liquid. So, what's the point of saving myself from this fucked situation?

I thought, I'll never going to experience this shit again. I thought this school is different from my previous school. But, it is just my thought…

I close my eyes tightly, waiting for something cold to flow down my face. But a few seconds later, I still didn’t feel sticky. I felt someone snatch the bottle of juice from Shawn's hand, causing me to blink. And in my dilation…

“Hey! What the fuck are you doing ?!” Shawn growled in annoyance as she snatched the juice he was holding. I was stunned by what I noticed when I glanced at that person.

It was her.

She stole the juice of this naughty student, and now she is drinking it. How did she get that? Shawn had a height same as mine, and her? She's only up to my chest!

Shawn's expression shocked and exasperated because of what Aerielle did, same as was the reaction of his two companions. She just kept drinking and didn't seem to care if Shawn glared at her.

“Hey, that's mine!” Shawn shouted again, Aerielle stopped drinking, and I was stunned again by what happened next …

“BUUURP!”

She just burped out loud!

What the hell did I witnessed? Is she really a girl or a man? She even beat me when I burp! The whole canteen could hear her loud belch. She's really ridiculous and disgusting! She doesn't even make excuse before releasing carbon dioxide.

Shawn got even more annoyed as he groaned, and it approached her. “Didn't you hear me? I said that juice you were drinking are mine!”

Aerielle just looked at him and laughed. "Is this yours? I'm so sorry, I just felt thirsty. I don't want to line up at the counter to buy water. The distance of counter is far from here! So, I just took this from you.” She pointed to the counter and made a peace sign while giggling. Shawn's face fumed even more and grabbed her right arm.

“Do you think I'm making fun with you ?!” he said stiffly, looks like Aerielle was hurt by what Shawn did because I saw her frowned.

There is a part of me that I want to help her, but I can't move my feet. I'm afraid I might be the one to blame for these idiots. But I should really be their target if only Aerielle hadn't joined the scene. Why did she let herself get involved in this mess started by these fools?

Instead of she gets scared at what Shawn had done, she even managed to smile cheerfully and pulled her arm from Shawn's grip. She snatched something from her coat's pocket and handed it to Shawn. “Here, just buy your juice again. I'm sorry! I'm just really thirsty.”

Shawn looks at her with disbelief, and it seems like any time he can hit Aerielle. “Seriously?!”

Aerielle's forehead furrowed at Shawn's reaction. She snatched something again from her pocket and handed it to Shawn. “Isn't enough? Here, take this too. Buy your juice and snacks too.”

Shawn smirked, like he's out of patience. He is not taking his glaring eyes away from Aerielle. The frown was evident in the look on his face. I intended to approach them, but I was stunned by the flare of anger on Shawn's face.

He threw the money at Aerielle. The coins and fifty pesos scattered on the floor that she had given him. “You really want to get hurt, huh?” he grabbed her collar furiously and threatened the petite girl in front of him, but she didn't even show fear, she even managed to smile and have courage to look straight in Shawn's fuming eyes.

Because of Shawn's shouting, he caught the attention of everyone here in the canteen. They have all looked in our direction, and some are already approaching in curiosity.

I want to leave but I can't, my brain tells me not to leave Aerielle here…

I wish to help her, but what can a loser like me do? I can't fight, I can't defend myself. How else could she? Even if I wanted to move my legs to approach her and drag her away from this place, I couldn’t.

Shawn's fist was about to hit her when his companion pulled him away. “Bro! Stop it!”

Shawn turned to him irritably, “what ?!”

He approached him and whispered. “Don't you know her? That's Nicolai's friend! We'll be all dead when you retaliate her!”

Shawn turned back to Aerielle whose smile was still deary like the flower in the field that blooms in spring. Shawn seems to be hesitant whether he will hurt the girl he is holding or just let go.

Eventually, he let go of Aerielle's collar and whispered to her, “you're lucky.” Aerielle just smiled at him so sweetly, that gave Shawn more piss.

Before Shawn's group finally left, he stared at me sharply and then approached me. “We're not finished yet,” they passed me afterwards.

“Ba-byeee!” Aerielle shouted gleefully.

-AndyThoughts-