CHAPTER 61: CHAPTER 61

Rhea politely gave her a smile back.

I don’t like the look in that girl’s eyes. Why does she always have this expression, like we are dragging something? she thought, glancing away from her and back at the other group members.

"And that will be the end of today’s class. Your scores will be announced in our next class," the lecturer said before making her way out.

"Wow, that was refreshing, don’t you think?" She asked Luke, stretching in her seating.

But no response came back. His attention was solely on Athaliah, and he was practically drooling.

Is he drooling?

Her face contoured into a frown as her gaze flicked to what he was looking at and it was Athaliah.

That is disgusting and weird.

"Luke?" She called once, then again.

He didn’t answer. More like he wasn’t even hearing her.

"LUKE?!" She shouted a little, shaking him by the shoulders.

"What!?" He snapped back to reality, his gaze disoriented and distracted. Confused maybe.

"You okay?" She asked, "I’ve been calling you." Concern etched on her face.

"I’m fine." He said brushing her off not sparing Rhea a glance, heading straight towards, Athaliah.

Rhea watched him in confusion as he went, sat beside Athaliah, and a longing expression on his face directed at her.

"Okay. What’s going on here?" She glanced around the room, then back at Luke, before making her way down to the row they were seated.

I’ve never seen Luke like that before. Is she his first love or what?

She hesitated at the entrance, glanced back at Luke before stepping out of the class.

"Hmm. I guess it’s not every day a person stays the same." She trailed her way down the hallway, going further into the faculty corridor.

"Think I should go see my man today, I’ve missed him." She whispered to herself, trying hard to hide her blush.

"Sir, I like you."

Said a soft, feminine voice. Was the first thing that hit Rhea ears as she froze at the doorway, her palm flattening against the wood as if it could hold her upright. Her pulse spiking.

"Seeing how you look at me during classes, I know you like me too." The words flowing into Rhea’s ears like poison at the entrance of Zeenare’s office.

Her brow furrowed instantly, her hands break into sweat.

I know that voice, but whose is it? Rhea thought.

Like a war drum her heart pounded in chest echoing in her ears. Even as her her hands trembling, she tried hard to be firm.

As her chest caved in. Sweat pooled at her palms, her breath catching like her ribs were locked shut.

What is he doing? Was the first question that came to her mind

Does he really looks at someone else other than me? She staggered back a little.

There’s... someone else? The question spiraled in her head again and again.

"Ms—" Zeenare’s voice began, but it cut short, swallowed by a low, throaty moan.

The sound ripped through Rhea like a blade. Her hand clamped over her mouth before the gasp escaped. Tears pricked her eyes so fast she couldn’t stop them.

No! That’s... He said he loves me. He said—

A sharp thudfollowed, then the sound of something crashing to the floor echoed from the room, as another moan ripped out again. Shadows dancing under the door. Then silence.

Everything went still as she reached for the doorknob, her trembling fingers hovered over the it. One push, and she’d know. One push, and she’d see. But her body wouldn’t move.

She couldn’t bring herself to open the door. To see what might be happening inside. She doesn’t know if it’s her fear whispering in her ears or if she doesn’t trust him enough, for her to believe that nothing was happening inside.

As tears trickled down her cheeks. She thought, do I really bore people? Her mind trailed back to Zack statement that night.

Maybe I do...

Her mind reeled, as she moved backward, dragging her feets away from the door. Swiftly dashing down the hallway.

Through the corridor, down the steps. Out to the courtyard. She dropped between the flowers like a wounded animal, chest heaving, tears streamed down her face, as she hit her chest, over and over and over again, her heart suffocating within her rib cage.

The soft breeze fanning her skin was a cutting blade in her chest.

Why does it hurt so much? It’s not like we are in love. It’s not like we are dating. I shouldn’t be hurting. So why does it hurt?

I was the one who clearly told him ’purely physical indulgence’ and nothing more. So I shouldn’t be feeling like this.

"I’ve never confirmed my feelings for him, so he did nothing wrong right? Ah!" She wiped her tears with her dress, but that did nothing as it kept pouring.

Her weeping, echoeing within the bush, with her nose and cheeks turning red from the heat burning underneath her skin.

The soft soil beneath her palms dug into her nails, staining her skin.

Rhea curled into herself muffling her tears between her clothes when the snapping of branches made her flinch.

Her swollen eyes lifted and froze.

Zack? What does he wants now?

He stood over her, his green eyes gleaming with malice, a smug curl to his lips.

"I saw you running," he muttered, tilting his head. "What happened, princess? Did your sugar daddy finally dump you?"

Rhea scrambled to her feet, trying to shove past him. "Move."

"Heyyy..." he blocked her, his smirk widening. "You don’t get to walk away."

"Get out of my way!" she roared, shoving him, but he didn’t budge.

"Why should I? You almost killed me few nights ago. Aren’t you going to compensate me for that?" He waved his palm at her face.

"While I was at the hospital, I wondered how that was possible. Slamming me against the wall without even touching me." He held her chin.

"I was scared before, but not anymore!" He stepped forward, a creepy smile on his face, moving forward against her. "Not after she showed me how you did it and what you used."

Her stomach twisted, What is he saying? Who is he referring to? Rhea pondered. Her eyes not leaving him.

"Who are you talking about?" she demanded, her back hitting the tree behind her.

"Ohh, baby you don’t get to know that." He trailed his hands through her hair.

Rhea recoiled from his touch, her brows furrowed, disgust lacing her fear.

"Then what do you want?" She asked.

His grin sharpened. "What I want? I want to destroy your life, for the humiliation I got from you." He stepped into her space, his breath on her face.

"But why? Her voice shook, anger bleeding into her despair. "Didn’t you break up with me because I wasn’t your class. So why are you still doing this?"

His fingers dug into her jaw, pulling her closer. "Because I can’t stand seeing you smile at anyone else. If you’re happy, it should be because of me. If you’re broken, it should also be because of me." His breath grazed her lips, vile and possessive.

Rhea’s expression hardened, fury cutting through her wet cheeks.

She scoffed at his face, "I never knew you were not only delusional, Zack. But also schizophrenic."

Zack face twisted at her words his grip grew tighter.

Her face twisted to a hateful frown, as she spat, shoving him back with every ounce of her strength. "You’re seriously pathetic."

Her voice was steel, her eyes blazing through the blur of tears.

"My life doesn’t revolves around you, Zack. Get a grip."

Rhea winced as his grip around her jaw tightened. His eyes growing wider.

"Is seems you don’t know the situation you’re in right now. Look around you, there’s no one here to save you. And..." He leaned close to her ear. "It’s getting dark too."

Making Rhea realise that; she’s at a disadvantage if anything bad should happen right now.

"You are crazy!" She sneered, as her legs shot up, kicking him straight at his balls.

"Ughkg!" He groaned, falling on his knees, releasing her. Millions of veins popping out of his tempest and neck, his face twisted in raw agonizing pain.

Rhea whizzed out of the courtyard, headed to her car not looking behind. Not even for trillion dollars lottery ticket.

"I will get you for this!" Zack voice cracked as he shouted weakly, "Just hope for the worst. You are done for, bitch."

Rhea skillfully slid into her car, and drove out of the parking lot, her heart not giving her a chance to breathe.

"What was that fucker planning to do to me?" She flew down the highway not noticing the speed she was driving at.

As she drove she reached for her phone, her fingers scurried through her bag. Books, pen and some other things falling on the seat and the floor of the car.

A gust of warmth spread through her chest, as her fingers brushed the phone.

Rhea brought the phone to her face, her eyes darting to the road and to the phone.

She swallowed the lump in her throat as her finger brushed the power button, but nothing happened.

"Why is it at a time like this, you choose to be off." She snapped, throwing the phone against the seat.

Her focus back on the road, clamping the wheels with both her hands.

As Rhea reached her apartment, she practically vanished into the building, tapping her feet rapidly in the elevator, begging for it to move faster.

I have to get out of here! What if he’s at the hallway waiting for me?

Rhea absentmindedly turning her fingers into a jerky, What is wrong with him? He wasn’t like this before. He was a cheating scumbag, yes. But that was all. So why is he like this?

The moment the elevator door opened, Rhea’s heart stopped for a beat, as she desperately scanned the hallway, though it was eerily quiet she dashed 0 to her room door, reaching for the door handle.

When suddenly, her body went still, her head snapped backwards, her eyes crawled deep into her head, her eyes turning white, the moment her palm reached the knob.