Chapter 2 Price of rebellion

The school corridor is more crowded; even students from another classrooms have come just to watch the show. Guess what?

“Is Silvia Claire going to kill that nerd? Fuck, this is interesting.”

Not a single person has any sympathy for me; they’re even recording my vulnerability—my black hair is pulled forcefully, my head bowed as my feet are dragged wherever Silvia’s rage takes me.

“I’ll make you regret it—SO much that even thousand apologies won’t fix it.”

Regret? I don't think so. Revealing that the most popular couple in this school has actually broken up, plus the reason. Even worse.

Silvia was cheating with a college guy who's also popular on his campus.

Evan Hectory; handsome, buff, popular. Compared to Martin, he's no match when it comes to money. But when it comes to charisma, he looks like a grown man while Martin is just a spoiled brat who uses money to wipe away his tears.

That hurts Martin’s pride, which is why they broke up—quietly. Because no matter how badly Silvia treated him, Martin is still too attached to that blonde girl to risk ruining her reputation.

And look at me, a nobody. Instead of regretting it, I feel cool for having embarrassed Silvia in front of so many people—they'll immediately start looking for proofs to Silvia’s secret relationship with Evan Hectory.

Silvia drags me into the bathroom; her friends—Fanny and Alexa—lock the door, but I know people outside are trying to peek inside like documentary team.

Silvia pushes me against the sink; my abdomen hitting the edge making me winching, but I try not to fall. She yanks my hair again as if she's going to rip out every single strand.

“Who do you think you are to talk like that, huh?” Fanny and Alexa are recording it up close; I know they'll sell this video for a high price in the student community.

“Go, Silvia! Go, Silvia!”

Silvia isn't fired up by the cheers, but by her rage toward me. It's pure, palpable every time she slaps my lips until they feel swollen.

“Don’t you have parents to complain to? Should I make sure you have no mouth so you can’t complain at all? HUH?!”

I can’t count how many times Silvia pushes me to the floor, forcing me to get up only to slap me until I fall again. A salty, iron taste fills my mouth; my glasses fall in the hallway, so I can’t see clearly where to grab hold. In fact, when Silvia drags me into the stall, they pours me with cold water faucet.

The cold makes me gasping; Silvia forces my mouth open and sprays water down my throat—as if she has forgotten that I could die, and I certainly will.

But the bathroom door is yanked open from the outside, and a high-pitched, firm voice I recognize echoes through the room.

“STOP!”

I'm out of breath, my face is a mess, and I'm soaking wet. Outside the bathroom, Martin is staring at me with sharply furrowed brows. I know it. Martin is cold toward me, but he's not as cruel as Silvia and these people. He's my savior!

“Get out.” Martin doesn’t ask; he orders.

“But, Mart—”

“GET OUT!” Silvia’s small shoulders jerk in surprise at that—the three of them have no choice but to obey.

Martin takes Alexa’s phone and watches the video, his eyebrows furrowing even deeper.

“NOT A SINGLE ONE OF YOU IS ALLOWED TO HAVE THIS VIDEO! OR I’LL MAKE YOU REGRET HAVING IT!” Martin threatens everyone who's recording, inside or outside.

Something inside my cold body warms up and feels relieved, and a little satisfied as Silvia walks out with a scowl on her face. Martin exhales, short and harsh, as if holding back something troubling him inside.

I'm not trying to look miserable—I already am. But when Martin says, “Stand up and follow me,” I feel like I am seeing a glimpse of the future where Martin finally comes to his senses and stands by my side.

But that's just my imagination, because what actually happens is; Martin takes me to the sports hall, makes me stand in the center of the basketball court with both my hands raised above my head.

After standing for nearly 15 minutes, my body is almost dry while the floor I'm standing on is wet. I thought Martin would watch me like some kind of dirty spectacle because this wet shirt and jeans make my body curves more visible, but he's too busy playing a game on his phone. Then when he's bored, he gets up from the audience seat, pulls a chair in front of me, and sits down casually.

He opens Alexa’s phone, rewatches the video, and laughs.

My eyes look at him in shock, even though my brain knows it's not impossible for Martin to do this.

“Haha, this is lit. You know Alexa would get fucking rich overnight after she puts this episode up for sale. But I'm not going to let her be, because I should be the one holding the copyright, right?” Martin says jokingly, his expression so light as he looks at me until his laughter stops, and his tone turns colder and heavier, “since you have crossed your damn line and act like you own my fucking life.”

“Martin, I'm so sorry—”

“No. I don’t want to hear that classic shit. Stand up straight!”

I force my trembling hands to stay still, as if Martin will kill me if I move even an inch. He sends the video to his phone and then deletes the one on Alexa’s; I don’t know why, but it's definitely not to report it to the police.

After that, Martin just sits there. His hands rest on the chair, his legs spread as if he's sitting on a throne. And I am trembling as if Martin is stripping me naked with him only looking at my eyes—eyes that dare not meet his.

“Why won’t you look at me? Weren't you so bold with Silvia just now?”

I don’t answer; I don’t have the courage. I'm not afraid of Martin; I'm just afraid he'll hate me.

“I told you not to bother Silvia, didn’t I? Why did you make her so angry? If I hadn’t come, you would've be dead. Do you really want to meet your mother that soon?”

“She keeps talking badly about my mother. I can’t take it anymore, Martin.”

“You've always kept quiet until now. What makes you brave enough this time?” I bite my lip, and Martin’s voice strikes me. “ANSWER!”

“I…”

“Is it because you are tired of working for me?”

“No—Martin, don’t think that—”

“Oh… or is it because you think I'll stop defending Silvia just because we broke up? Do you feel great now?” Martin stands up, his tall frame towering over me, and his green eyes seem to condemn me as he asks, “How does it feel to be the first one to announce my breakup with Silvia?”