Chapter 8: A Libertine among Riches

Water rolled down my eyes. It was not tears. My tears resist, lingering at the edge. It was water from their glasses—alcohol from their stemless crystal glass and their spit which shattered my ego, my pride.I was on my knees in front of such vile, loathsome, revolting, disgusting personalities.The dress clung tightly to her frame, made of a delicate, shimmery fabric that caught the light with every move. Thin, barely-there straps held it up, dipping low in the front with a plunging neckline that exposed more skin than she'd ever shown before. The hemline was daringly short, brushing just above mid-thigh, leaving her legs bare and vulnerable to the night air. The back, nearly nonexistent, plunged down to the small of her back, leaving little to the imagination. She kept tugging at the sides, trying to cover herself, but the dress was designed to reveal, not conceal. It was her fault.Her fault that she trusted them.Kayla looked at her with indifference. Her eyes were blank. It was as if she was used to this or perhaps to her, I was just a pest. Unworthy of any attention."Women like her are promiscuous" a boy uttered to Eugene. My eyes were swollen and bloodshot, struggling against the flood of emotions. I locked eyes with Eugene, my gaze betraying every ounce of loathing I felt.I felt a hand on my chin roughly pulling my face.A small cry of pain escaped my lips as I winced my eyes."Freya, dear, would you quit looking at Eugene like that?" the voice in front of me said with a cheerful tone."I don't understand." my lips trembled, as if unsure whether to smile or cry, and the corners of my mouth lifted in a way that felt more like a reflex than joy."Why, Adah? Why are you doing this to me?" My eyes gave way, bursting into tears. It was too much—far too much to keep within the fragile walls of my eyes. "Answer me!"Slap!The sound of the slap echoed in the room, sharp and sudden. My head snapped to the side, cheek instantly stinging from the force of Adah's hand. For a moment, I stood frozen, my breath caught in my throat, as the shock settled in. The burn spread across my skin, face flushing red, not just from the impact, but from the humiliation."Freya, you are one of the most unreasonable and unrealistic persons I have ever met. Would that suffice for a reason?" Adah mocked me.Lucy giggled."Look at her, trying to act all high and mighty wearing such a slutty dress."Instantly my hands covered my upper portion. I heard a snicker. I looked down at the floor. My tears without any restrain, my hiccups without any stop, the slap without cooling down and my pride that won't stop falling down." I believe it's time to stop now, Lucy. Isn't it?" I heard a Eugene speaking. "Look at how she is crying. You shouldn't make such a pretty woman cry, now" Eugene said as he came and went to my level on his knees."Miss Collymor did not do anything wrong. She was just being herself." Eugene said.I looked up at him a bit astonished. I could sense the others feeling surprised too."Eugene?" One of Eugene's male friends asked.Kayla, who had seemed disinterested moments before, now visibly perked up. Her eyes, previously dull, sparkled with renewed curiosity as she leaned forward, her attention fully captured by Eugene's unexpected defense ."Max, Miss Collymor was just being a bit free-spirited."Snickers erupted in the room as I could again feel the shame that had subsided for a moment. "She just wanted to show her assets to us. After all everyone wants to be recognised. Don't they? "I glared at him with disbelief as he continued to objectify me."Speaking of which Freya, you would look more beautiful if-"I felt the cold liquid hit me before I even registered what was happening. Eugene's sneer was the last thing I saw before the icy alcohol splashed all over my face, soaking through my clothes. The shock of the coldness made my breath catch, my skin prickling and burning as the alcohol dripped down my cheeks. My eyes stung from the sudden chill and the sharpness of the alcohol, while my heart pounded with a mix of humiliation and anger. The world seemed to slow down, the laughter and jeers around me fading into a distant murmur as the freezing sensation overwhelmed my senses. I could feel the sticky, uncomfortable wetness clinging to my skin, a stark reminder of Eugene's cruel stunt. My hands trembled as I wiped at my face, trying to regain some semblance of dignity, but the damage was done. Every second felt like an eternity, each drop of alcohol a cruel reminder of how small and powerless I felt in that moment.