Chapter 3

If Grandpa Eddie ever found out I was being bullied, he would come charging off Dreadvault Isle no matter what. And if he did, there would be no going back.

"Just come home if you miss us! All of us here miss you a lot too. And don't forget to tell us if anyone is giving you a hard time."

Then, Grandpa Eddie laughed heartily, telling me to eat more and not to skimp on money.

My eyes stung, but I forced myself to lie, saying, "There's no one giving me a hard time. My teachers and classmates are all very nice to me, really."

Then, I hung up hastily and collapsed to the floor without a word.

When Leonard saw me hang up, he kicked me. "What's the matter? Are those fisherman grandfathers of yours too scared to answer the call? I knew it. The moment they heard they'd have to come to the college, those broke old geezers would just hide on the island and play dead."

I kept my head down and said in a hoarse voice, "My grandfathers are old and can't travel long distances. They won't be able to make it here. Whatever compensation you want, just tell me. Please just don't get them involved."

Mr. Hargrove gave a cold snort, grabbed a fistful of my hair, and forced me to look at him. "They won't be able to make it? You bit off half my son's ear, and you think that telling me they're old is reason enough to brush things off?

"Seems to me like you won't see the severity of the matter unless you're faced with the consequences of your actions. Give me your phone! I'll call those damned fishermen myself!"

With that, he bent down to grab my phone.

Clutching the phone to my chest, I scrambled backward like a madman. "No!"

All of a sudden, Leonard grabbed a thermal mug off the office table and, without the slightest hesitation, poured the steaming hot water in the mug onto one side of my face.

"Ahh!" I let out a bloodcurdling shriek and rolled on the ground, clutching my face. My skin instantly blistered and swelled from the burn. The burning pain was so intense that it nearly shattered my sanity.

Leonard planted his foot on my face, his lips twisted in a menacing smile. "Look at you, acting like such a coward. What happened to all that spunk you had earlier when you bit my ear?"

I convulsed in agony, barely able to speak. "I-I'll do a-anything… as long as you d-don't go after my grandfathers."

Leonard crouched down and patted my cheek. "Fine. Starting tomorrow, you'll wait at the campus gates on your knees every day, shining my shoes where everyone can see.

"Also, you owe me five thousand dollars in medical fees, not a cent less. Otherwise, I'll call the police and have them go straight to that little island of yours to arrest your grandfathers."

I agreed through clenched teeth. "Y-yes, I promise. Please, just don't call the police."

Leonard excitedly pulled out his phone and started recording me. He clicked his tongue and said, "Don't you usually act all high and mighty? But look at you now! You're behaving like a well-trained dog!"

After Leonard left, I had just walked out of the academic building when Grandpa Frankie gave me a video call. I panicked and quickly adjusted my collar to cover the side of my face that was red and swollen.

On the screen, Grandpa Frankie was clumsily fiddling with pieces of a building set. The former formidable boxing champion was now wearing reading glasses and sweating profusely.

"Eli, look, this is the Black Comet spaceship you said you wanted before you left for college. But my hands aren't very steady, so I'm only halfway done after working on it for two weeks. I'll give it to you when you come back during break."

Then, he smiled at the camera with a simple, honest grin.

I gripped the tree trunk beside me hard enough for my nails to dig deep into the bark just to stop myself from crying out loud. "Grandpa Frankie... it's beautiful. I love it."

He nodded happily with a chuckle, gave me a few more reminders, and finally ended the call.

The moment the screen dimmed, I could no longer hold myself up. I slid down the tree trunk and sat on the ground.

I just had to make it until graduation. As long as it meant my grandfathers could live in peace, I would accept whatever it was, even if it meant living in humiliation.