THE DARK CORNER

EVELYN'S POV

Ignoring them was the only way to get over this quickly. 

I pretended not to hear them.

The girls from the courtyard were standing near the lockers, their expensive bags hanging from their shoulders and their perfectly styled hair making them look like they had stepped out of a fashion magazine.

Unfortunately, their personalities seemed to have been left out of the package.

I tightened my grip on my schoolbag and walked past them.

“Hey! Did we tell you that you could leave?”

I kept walking.

A leg suddenly stretched into my path.

Before I could react, I stumbled and fell hard against the floor.

My books scattered everywhere.. quickly picking them up, I genuinely don't want to spend more time here, it would only lead to my hair being yanked out of my scalp.

Laughter erupted behind me.

“Oh my God! Someone help the poor mouse!” one of them exclaimed, laughing so hard she had to hold her stomach.

My uniform was dirty, my knee hurt, and my eyes were already burning.

Don't cry, Evelyn. Please. Just don't cry.

I bit my lower lip until it hurt, but the tears came anyway.

I wiped them away quickly and hurried towards class.

★★★

Lunch couldn't come quickly enough.

Unfortunately, it also meant facing the people who had made my school life miserable.

I had barely opened my lunchbox when a shadow fell across my desk.

“Come with us.”

I looked up…fuck, it was Kayla.

The same girls stood before me, their expressions leaving no room for argument.

“Why?” I asked before I could stop myself.

One of them raised an eyebrow.

“Did you just ask me why?”

My stomach tightened.

“No. I mean… I'll come.”

Good job, Evelyn. One question and you've nearly started an international war.

I followed them behind the old building, away from the cafeteria and the crowded courtyard.

Students called the place the Dark Corner.

It was where the popular girls brought anyone they wanted to humiliate without teachers constantly watching over their shoulders.

I hated it…I knew it too well ... .I forgot the message thunha sent me during the weekend.

“Where are our brownies?” the girl in front demanded.

I swallowed.

“I… I'm sorry. I forgot to bring them.”

“And the two thousand dollars?”

My fingers tightened around the strap of my bag.

“I forgot that too. I'm sorry. I'll bring them tomorrow.”

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Then one of the girls laughed.

“She forgot!”

Another stepped closer.

“Do you think we're joking with you, Evelyn?”

“No.”

“Then why are you behaving like we're your servants?”

I stared at the ground.

They were the ones who had ordered me to bring them brownies and money, but somehow, I was the one being accused of treating them badly.

Truly impressive logic.

“Look at me when I'm talking to you!”

I slowly lifted my head.

The slap came so suddenly that my face turned to the side.

My cheek burned.

I pressed my lips together, fighting the tears gathering in my eyes.

“That's for forgetting what we told you,” she said.

“I said I'm sorry.”

The moment the words left my mouth, another girl grabbed my lunchbox.

“What's this? You brought food for yourself but couldn't remember ours?”

“Please, give it back.”

She opened it and examined the contents before looking at her friends.

“Should we feed our little mouse?”

The others burst into laughter.

Before I could move, one of them grabbed me by the back of my neck while another shoved food against my mouth.

I struggled, turning my face away.

“Stop! Please!”

“What's wrong? Aren't you hungry?”

Their laughter grew louder.

I tried pushing their hands away, but they were stronger than I was. One of them slapped the back of my head, forcing me forward again.

My eyes filled with tears.

I wanted to scream.

I wanted to hit them.

I wanted, just once, to be the kind of girl who could stand up for herself without being terrified of what would happen afterward.

Instead, I stood there trembling while they laughed at me.

When they finally let go, I stumbled backwards, coughing and wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.

“Next time, bring what we asked for,” the leader warned. “Or you'll regret it.”

They walked away as if nothing had happened.

I remained there for several seconds, staring at the ground.

My lunch lay scattered near my shoes.

My cheek hurt, my throat felt tight, and tears slid down my face despite my desperate attempts to stop them.

I bent down to pick up my lunchbox, but my hands were shaking too badly.

Why me?

What had I ever done to deserve this?

I had never asked to be born into my family. I hadn't asked my mother to marry a wealthy man. I certainly hadn't asked to become the school's favourite punching bag.

All I wanted was to finish school peacefully.

Was that really too much to ask?

I wiped my face, straightened my uniform as best I could, and walked back towards the building.

I wouldn't tell anyone.

Not my mother. Not my stepfather.

And definitely not Adrian.

The last thing I wanted was for him to look at me with pity. He already did so much for me, and I couldn't bear the thought of becoming another burden in his life.

I reached the corridor and lowered my head, hoping nobody would notice my swollen eyes.

Then a familiar voice stopped me.

“Evelyn?”

My entire body stiffened.

I knew that voice.

Slowly, I raised my head.

Adrian stood a

few steps away, his brows drawn together as his eyes moved over my dirty uniform, my trembling hands, and the tears I hadn't managed to wipe away.

His expression changed.

“Who did this to you?”