PIGGY

By lunchtime, Isabella Hayes had already decided that her first day at Lockwood University was a disaster.

She sat beside Emily in the business faculty’s outdoor courtyard, staring at the sandwich she hadn’t touched.

Emily: “Bella, you need to eat something.”

Isabella: “I’m not hungry.”

Emily: “You haven’t eaten since this morning.”

Isabella shrugged, pulling her cream cardigan tighter around herself.

Every time someone laughed nearby, she wondered whether they were laughing at her. The coffee incident had been humiliating enough, but what frightened her most was the possibility of running into Harry Lockwood again.

Isabella: “Do you think he’s still angry?”

Emily sighed.

Emily: “Who cares? He’s an asshole.”

Isabella: “Emily, please.”

Emily: “What? You apologized. What else does he want? Your fucking kidney?”

Despite herself, Isabella laughed.

Emily smiled triumphantly.

Emily: “There she is.”

Unfortunately, their peaceful moment didn’t last.

A sudden commotion near the courtyard entrance caught everyone’s attention.

Three expensive cars had pulled up outside the faculty building.

Students began moving away from the entrance.

Not because anyone had asked them to.

Because they recognized who had arrived.

Harry Lockwood stepped out of his black Lamborghini, followed by James Bennett and Jack.

He wore a fresh black shirt, his sleeves rolled to his elbows. A cigarette rested between his fingers, and his expression was as cold and unreadable as it had been that morning.

He walked through the courtyard without acknowledging anyone.

A group of boys standing near the entrance immediately moved aside.

One of them accidentally brushed Harry’s shoulder.

Harry stopped.

The entire group went silent.

Harry: “You got a fucking problem?”

The boy’s face drained of color.

Boy: “No, Harry. Sorry.”

Harry stared at him.

Harry: “Then learn to fucking walk.”

Boy: “Yes. Sorry.”

Harry flicked his cigarette onto the pavement and continued walking.

Nobody said another word.

Isabella watched in disbelief.

Isabella: “Why does everyone act like that around him?”

Emily lowered her voice.

Emily: “Because nobody wants to find out what happens when Harry Lockwood gets seriously pissed off.”

Across the courtyard, James said something that made Jack laugh.

Harry didn’t smile.

He simply took a seat at the largest table beneath the shaded terrace, stretching his legs out as though the entire place belonged to him.

Within seconds, the students already sitting there gathered their belongings and left.

Harry hadn’t even looked at them.

Isabella felt uncomfortable watching it.

Nobody should have that much power over other people.

Emily: “Don’t look, Bella.”

But it was too late.

James had spotted them.

James: “Oh, shit.”

Jack followed his gaze.

Jack: “What?”

James grinned.

James: “Coffee girl.”

Harry was looking at his phone.

Harry: “What?”

James: “The girl who gave your shirt a very expensive shower this morning.”

Harry didn’t bother looking up.

Harry: “And?”

James: “She’s sitting over there.”

Harry finally raised his eyes.

His gaze traveled across the courtyard until it landed on Isabella.

She immediately looked away.

James laughed.

James: “See? She’s terrified of you.”

Harry slipped his phone into his pocket.

Harry: “Then she’s got a functioning brain.”

James chuckled, but Harry wasn’t laughing.

A few minutes later, Isabella stood up.

Isabella: “I’m going to throw this away.”

Emily glanced at her untouched sandwich.

Emily: “Bella—”

Isabella: “I’ll eat later. Promise.”

She picked up her rubbish and walked toward the bins near the terrace.

She kept her head down, deliberately avoiding Harry’s table.

Unfortunately, James had other plans.

James: “Hey! Coffee girl!”

Isabella froze.

Several students turned toward her.

She slowly looked up.

James was grinning.

James: “Come here a second.”

Isabella hesitated.

Isabella: “M-me?”

James: “Unless there’s another girl who baptized Harry with coffee today.”

Jack laughed.

Isabella’s cheeks burned.

She glanced toward Emily, who was already getting to her feet.

Emily: “Bella, come back.”

But James continued waving her over.

James: “Relax. We’re not going to eat you.”

Isabella reluctantly approached the table, stopping several feet away.

Harry sat in the middle, leaning back in his chair. His dark eyes moved over her with obvious irritation.

Harry: “What the fuck do you want?”

Isabella blinked.

Isabella: “I… he called me.”

Harry turned toward James.

Harry: “Why?”

James shrugged.

James: “Thought you two should make peace.”

Harry’s expression hardened.

Harry: “Do I look like I give a fuck about making peace?”

James immediately stopped smiling.

Isabella took a nervous step backward.

Isabella: “I’m sorry. I’ll go.”

Harry’s gaze returned to her.

Harry: “Stop.”

She froze.

He looked at the sandwich wrapper still clutched in her hand, then at her cardigan.

A cruel smile barely touched his mouth.

Harry: “What’s your name?”

Isabella swallowed.

Isabella: “Isabella.”

Harry: “Isabella what?”

Isabella: “Hayes.”

Harry studied her for another moment.

Then he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

Harry: “Listen carefully, Piggy.”

The nickname hit her harder than she expected.

James’s eyebrows rose.

Jack looked away, suppressing a laugh.

Isabella’s face turned bright red.

Isabella: “P-please don’t call me that.”

The temperature around the table seemed to drop.

Harry’s expression went completely blank.

Harry: “What did you just say?”

Isabella immediately regretted speaking.

Isabella: “Nothing.”

Harry stood.

He was much taller than her, and the sudden movement made her instinctively step backward.

Harry: “No. You said something.”

His voice was quiet.

Dangerously quiet.

Harry: “You think you get to tell me what to do?”

Isabella shook her head quickly.

Isabella: “No. I’m sorry.”

Harry stepped closer.

Harry: “Then don’t fucking do it again.”

Her eyes filled with tears.

Behind her, Emily hurried toward them.

Emily: “Isabella, we’re leaving.”

Harry slowly turned his head toward Emily.

For a moment, he simply stared.

Harry: “Then take her.”

Emily grabbed Isabella’s hand.

Harry looked back at Isabella one last time.

Harry: “And next time, Piggy, stay the fuck out of my way.”

Nobody laughed this time.

Nobody even whispered.

Emily pulled Isabella away before she could start crying in front of everyone.

Harry returned to his chair, already reaching for his phone.

James watched him.

James: “Jesus, Harry. She’s just a girl.”

Harry didn’t look up.

Harry: “Then she should learn to keep her mouth shut.”

James: “You really are a fucking bastard.”

Harry lifted his eyes.

James immediately leaned back.

James: “Alright. Forget I said anything.”

Harry returned his attention to his phone.

To him, the encounter was already over.

But for Isabella Hayes, something had changed.

She had arrived at Lockwood University hoping to leave the cruelty of her high school years behind.

Instead, she had just been given a new nickname.

And this time, it had come from the one person nobody in Lockwood City dared to challenge.