VI - Taste of Own Medicine

Earlier..

"Are you okay?"

"Cheska, what were you doing?"

Cheska stood there tongue-tied, blankly staring off in the distance, to a tight space full of people. Her hands and shoulders held and petted of comfort by her friends, but none would budge her to speak. 

Just right after the guests left, their never ending gossip became louder and louder. Luckily they looked away and focused on the guests trailing off the place. The bodyguards went overprotective now they won't allow anyone to record the whole thing just a while ago. 

"No videos please."

"Remove the cameras"

Overreaction here and there. They complain why cameras are suddenly prohibited, they gossip about the mystery of the alleged death of Mrs. Historia, the children whine, the concerned parents thinking they wasted their fee on this backfiring field trip. Chaos, it's spreading.

While they were distracted, Cheska immediately tiptoed out of the crowd.

"Cheska, where are you going?" exclaims one friend of hers, not looking back or else everyone will regain the attention back to her. 

Out of all the people looking in front, Denise looks behind, Watching the humiliated girl run and disappear out of the corner.

Her eyes narrowed scanning those trio of colorful dolls, sure they matched with Cheska, they shopped, they walked, and they talked with Cheska. It's definitely worth doing that with friends, yet unsure if those 'friends' of her's were ever genuinely concerned of what Cheska has done. Unsure if they'll truly stick with her, especially at this time.

"Hey, do you still pity that spoiled brat?" Denise flinched, she was too busy in her own world watching for others, looking back it's another classmate who slipped in between Denise and Isaac, between the two friends.

The classmate seems to notice she's looking at the different way. Preferably at the trio.

"Me?"

"Yeah, you know you're not alone getting pushed into trouble with Flores' crap, right?" As soon as Isaac and Denise locked eye contact, confused at their colleague's random interaction, he just shrugs.

"Don't worry, you don't have to lie, we all agree she deserves it." They added "Karma's a bitch but not this one."

Not giving her a minute to reply, the colleague already walks off sneering. Finally, the two friends can get close back again "Denise, look." Isaac whispers.

Looking around, some of her colleagues are laughing. Maybe in second hand embarrassment, or maybe in triumph. But judging their tucked chins up high and smug smiles, they're most definitely satisfied with the mean girl getting the taste of her own medicine.

"Isaac.."

"Yeah?"

"Do you agree with her, with them?" Not breaking eye contact, but Isaac blinks in reluctance and repeatedly inspects the mixed feelings that the crowd chaotically creates.

"I know you wouldn't like this." He sighs "But yes, I do agree with them."

Click-clack click-clack! 

Not even the sound of her little heels would be heard on the marble floor from the amount of noise people make for the guests. She carefully sprints off until she gets further away where she can't hear or see them anymore.

Seeing the clear blue sky and the warm rays of sunlight streaming through the huge exit right in front of her, she finally stops running. Her hands down on her knees and taking heavy breaths. But her heart wouldn't stop beating so fast, it was so fast she could even hear the beat through her head. 

Her hands indecisively quiver where to cover herself, her head, her chest. But the feeling beneath her long fluttery eyelashes getting watery, she quickly covers her face.

"Excuse me, are you Cheska Flores?" Those are the similar heavy footsteps she heard earlier at the beginning of guests' bestowal, but the unfamiliar deep voice of a stranger startled her to turn around.

Looking now after she carefully traced her fingertips onto her pastel eyelids, quickly wiping her tears away before it might smudge her makeup, those two men in suits were the same bodyguards specifically securing Mrs. Amber by her side.

"That's me.." She croaks, hearing her own voice sounds low and weak, she clears her throat and straightens her position, "What do you want?" Crossing her arms as she also tries speaking much clearer to appear much stronger.

"Mrs. Elyas would like us to take you to her."

This caused to raise her eyebrows from the bodyguard's reply, "She wants to see me?"

As expected from the professionals, no reaction, no second thoughts, the bodyguards simply stand there gesturing for the college girl to walk with them and lead her to the angered aunt.

There's no other choice but avoid her burst of tears. She sighs, and quietly follows.