6. Shocking News

"Hey, let me introduce myself. I'm Willy. How much is your rate for a night?" 

"Sha, do you still remember me? It's David. I need a companion for tonight. Can you do it?" 

"Miss Sasha, can I get the price list and the types of services provided?" 

Various unknown numbers have flooded me with horrifying messages lately. Like terror messages from anonymous numbers, but they claimed to know me. What's even more disgusting is that they treated me like a cheap woman who sells herself. 

I didn't respond to any of those insane messages. Who dared to torment me like that? 

I turned off my phone and threw it onto the bed. There was no point in turning it on. What for? I wouldn't even work on my college assignments, even if they were shared in my class group. 

For the past few days, I've felt lost. The mixture of being dumped, betrayed, and feeling foolish for falling into the trap of cursed human beings like Uncle Vincent really drained my life energy, leaving me with little strength to even move my fingers. 

I don't even know when was the last time I touched warm water for a shower. I can't remember the last time I used any skincare products. From what I can see now, my face looks so dull and uncared for. It seems like I'm extremely stressed. 

It's clearly evident from my appearance. I even vomit everything I eat. Drinking water has lost its appeal. However, I don't want to go to the doctor because my emotions are in turmoil. Who wants to take medication when even a grain of rice is hard to swallow? 

The gaping wound in my heart made me realize that there were many things I shouldn't have done in the name of love. I had been so foolish to give everything away to Uncle Vincent. In a situation like this, who wouldn't feel like garbage?

Not only did Uncle Vincent abandon me. Even my mother refused to accept me. I thought parents were supposed to accept their children no matter what. But that didn't apply to me. My mother chose to discard me as well. From riches to rags, thrown away. Perhaps that's the fitting proverb to describe my current state. 

Uncle Vincent's wickedness and my foolishness merged, creating a foolish situation that only brought me suffering. It wasn't the same for Uncle Vincent, who could still stroll around as a respected man. With his handsome and luxurious appearance, surely captivating women, he would be just fine. 

It was as if he was an innocent man hurt by his life partner. But what about me? You probably wouldn't know how terrible my situation was at that time unless you came to my campus yourself and saw my face plastered all over the economics faculty with various derogatory captions. 

Ah, terrible was an understatement. It was truly pathetic. On the bulletin board, I saw a photo of myself edited with the body of a half-naked woman blurred in the private areas, with the caption "Sasha the call girl". There was also a similar photo with the caption "Sasha, your bed warmer". On another bulletin board, my photo and my phone number were pasted, which shouldn't have been spread so recklessly. 

The mystery of why I've been harassed lately with anonymous messages asking for a date rate with me or something similar has been solved. Who could be so heartless to do this to me? 

I don't want to mention Tara. But she's the only one on my mind right now. 

In the faculty cafeteria, similar photos were stuck on tables with various nasty insults directed at me. It made everyone who crossed paths with me shudder in disgust. 

And it didn't stop there. Near the lecture halls, I saw a photo of myself that I suspected was edited onto a steamy movie poster titled "Beautiful Homewrecker," as if it were a box office movie title. They even edited the lead actress's name with mine and added a subtitle that read: "Based on a true story, starring the lead actress." 

Perfect. 

It's easy to guess who's behind all this. It must be Tara, my once best friend who turned into a devil when she became angry and resentful towards me. I started questioning myself. Am I really that terrible that others have the right to publicly humiliate me like this? 

As I walked into the lecture room, I was half-dead with shock when I saw a large banner that read "Sasha, the whore" with the same cursed image along with other pictures. That was absolutely outrageous!

"Come on! Now let's interview the main star!" exclaimed Tara, greeted by cheers from the other female students who were once my friends as well. 

Tara approached me and said, "So, Sasha, the kids want to know how you manage to seduce wealthy men who are already married with children the same age as you?" 

"More precisely, how did you manage to abandon your conscience, just to become a homewrecker?" another friend asked mockingly. 

"Did you sell your soul to the devil? So that your pure heart could be replaced with a rotten one?" 

"Maybe she just wants to always flaunt luxury items like we do!" 

There were many more insults and derogatory remarks directed at me. They even threw leftover food at me, making me feel utterly humiliated and degraded. 

I saw that none of my friends had any intention of helping me, including Jason, my ex-boyfriend, who just stood in the corner watching me being hurt by my friends. 

Tara, noticing where my gaze was directed, then pulled my hair and whispered, "Are you planning to ask for help from your ex-boyfriend after cheating on him with my dad?" Tara asked with a whisper filled with hatred. "Ah, but not really. Jason isn't that good. We've been fooling around behind your back for years, Sha! It's been going on for quite some time now!" 

I stared in disbelief. So, all this time I've been deceived by Tara's kindness? "So, our friendship was fake?" I asked with a trembling voice. 

Tara responded with an evil laugh she had never directed at me before. Her head shook as her eyes narrowed. "Absolutely fake! Disappointed, huh?" Tara asked rhetorically. "As fake as your innocence, Sha! You rejected Jason's advances, but ended up having an affair with someone else's husband. Shameful! You're such a hypocrite, aren't you?" 

Tara pulled my hair forcefully. She then raised her hand, gesturing for something from her companion. She opened a box of donuts, filled with a dozen colorful topped donuts. The girl then smeared the entire box of donuts onto my face and pressed them hard. Everyone around me laughed as I became the target of my own friend's mockery. 

My face must have looked like a clown now, covered in colorful donut toppings. How foolish and pathetic. Vaguely, I saw Jason approaching me. He squatted down and brought his face closer to mine. 

"That's why, baby! Girls shouldn't be arrogant!" Jason said. "If only you had accepted my advances. You would have received everything that Tara's Dad gave her. Remember, my parents are wealthy too!" 

Jason flaunted his wallet, filled with dozens of red banknotes and four credit cards. He promised me luxuries that were no less impressive than what Uncle Vincent used to provide when we were dating. However, I refused because I still had doubts about him.

Jason then leaned in and whispered in my ear, "It's never too late, Sha! I'm willing to accept you, even as a second option. I'm still curious about what it feels like to be with you." 

"Enough, Jay! You're wasting your time with a girl like her!" remarked one of Jason's male friends. 

"She only craves older men!" another exclaimed. 

"I wonder if Sasha would go for grandfathers too," another chimed in, further demeaning me. 

"She seems to have a thing for wrinkled ones!" Insult after insult was thrown at me. 

The female classmates not only enjoyed taunting me but also pelted me with their leftover food or other scraps that I suspected were from yesterday's meals. The smell was pungent, making me feel disgusted. 

Feeling nauseous, I couldn't hold back anymore and vomited the contents of my stomach. This caused everyone around me to scream and scatter. I felt relieved as the cruel individuals no longer surrounded me. 

However, my body felt weak and powerless. I felt weightless. It seemed like my feet were no longer touching the ground. Everything around me was chaotic, and my head was pounding. The surroundings felt jumbled. My ears were ringing, and eventually, everything went dark.

***

The strong scent of medicine and alcohol pierced my nose. I woke up in the hospital with no one waiting for me. Who would it be anyway? My mother had left me. Even if my father were here, I would be the one to drive him away. Tara and Uncle Vincent? How could those cruel father and daughter possibly care about my life? 

I pressed the nurse call button on the right side of my bed. Shortly after, a man in his thirties entered with a nurse. It was Mr. Harry, my kind professor. He must have been the one who brought me to the hospital. 

Unfortunately, Mr. Harry's face didn't look friendly at the moment. It made me feel very worried. Perhaps Mr. Harry felt extremely embarrassed. Had he learned about all the embarrassing accusations against me? 

"Mr. Harry?" I asked as the man approached. "I'm sorry for causing you trouble, Mr. Harry." He shook his head. His face was very serious. 

Letting out a soft sigh, he asked, "Don't you have any family members who can be contacted? Relatives?" 

I lowered my head, nodding slightly. Who could I contact in this situation? 

"Thank goodness, you're awake!" the nurse said cheerfully, breaking the tension between me and Mr. Harry. "The doctor will be here soon." The nurse left the room after making sure I was in good condition. I was left alone with Mr. Harry. 

"How did it come to this?" Mr. Harry asked again. "Are you at odds with your classmates?" 

Once again, I shook my head, still bowing down in immeasurable shame. "It's just a small issue, Mr. Harry." I lied because I didn't want to involve Mr. Harry in my troubles. 

"Well, young people these days. Small issues escalate into major bullying." Mr. Harry shook his head disapprovingly. I could only force a grin in response.

Shortly after, a doctor entered the room with a wide smile and greeted us. The female doctor then approached the patient's bed. 

"Congratulations, sir!" she exclaimed. "Your wife is eight weeks pregnant!" 

My heart stopped beating. Not because I was mistaken for Mr. Harry's wife. But because I... was pregnant? 

"Pregnant?" I asked, seeking confirmation once again. "That's correct, ma'am! The laboratory test results indicate that you're pregnant..." I didn't pay attention to whatever the doctor explained afterward. I couldn't handle all of this anymore. It was all too much for me.