Chapter 4

First, they are prying into my personal life. And now she wants to get me in trouble. Augh! She reeks of arrogance and self-entitlement.

I look at Jason next to me. He had his brows furrowed and eyes narrowed. He held that worried glance a bit longer.

I need to ask Jason for help, but I need to be careful so Emma will not hear me speak.

I mouthed a 'Please help me' to Jason.

He looks at Emma and then at me. He nods, telling me that he understands.

I have to endure Emma's hurtful words.

She continues to insult me. I feel embarrassed and upset but I cannot defend myself.

"Bear with it", I tell myself. "I have to stay away from trouble."

Jason stands up suddenly.

"Emma, that's enough! Stop it already. Quit harassing her. she has done nothing to be attacked like this!"

Everyone in the room stops what they are doing. I raised my head and see Emma's embarrassed face.

I and the others are waiting for her reaction. She looked around and noticed it. She returned her death stare to me.

Oh my god! She's boiling mad at me. She likes Jason, and his standing up for me angered her.

"You witch! I hate you! You made Jason hate me, you bitch!"

Fighting mad, Emma runs to my desk, flips it over and grabs my hair, and pulls it.

“Stop it, Emma! Now! I don't want to hit a woman! You better stop and let go of her hair immediately!”

"No Jason! Please don't hate me! You don't understand. This girl is not who you think she is."

The moment she lets go of me; I feel a sharp pain in your head. My arm stings. I bend down and saw bruises.

"What did I ever do to deserve this? I've been tolerating their baseless and malicious rumors for a long time."

Tears well up in my eyes.

I just want to avoid trouble but being publicly humiliated, I don't deserve it.

I'm at my limits now, I'm tired of brushing their offenses off. I won't let others disrespect me.

I accidentally push Emma in my attempt to go away.

I just wanted to leave this situation.

“How dare y-!”

Emma froze for a second, and then looked at everyone. Still, with wide eyes and a gaping mouth.

“I was just trying to protect myself, Emma. You were hurting me.”

“You bitch! You dare hit me in the face!!!”

“I just pushed you. What are you talking about? Everyone saw that. I just pushed you.”

I rise and in a short stride reach Emma.

“You don't have any right to humiliate anyone!”

In a swift movement, I smack Emma on the cheek.

Was it that hard that her head turned at 360 degrees?

Why should I care? she deserves it!

“You are sick, Emma! I guess money and good looks can't cover up your nasty attitude.”

“So, you think you're a good person here? Huh! Aren't you hiding things from everybody, too? You hypocrite!”

Emma tries to attack me again, but before she gets near me, Jason reached me already.

Jason put his arm around me. He uses his body as a shield to protect me.

“I said stop it, Emma! Don't retaliate or else I will have to use force against you.”

Slowly, I tilted my head back so I could look at him. Behind him, I caught a glimpse of Emma.

Emma just stood in stunned silence. She's shaking her head in disbelief. Even I cannot believe that this is happening.

It was my first time being embraced this way, other than my father.... as well as the first time I've been protected.

“Are you okay? Your heart is beating so fast. “

“N-no, I am fine. T-thank you for protecting me.”

“What Emma did was wrong. Why does she act that way?”

His arms are comforting, I feel a sense of security in his embrace. I came to my senses gradually.

“Here, let me help you. Let's treat those wounds before they turn into scars. “

“I know the school authorities will look for us after what happened. We should be waiting.”

What he did and still doing right now makes me feel special.

“You don't have to do this. It makes me feel even more helpless.”

I just can't help but show my appreciation to him. Friends hug, that's normal.