The girl sitting beside her was already too much for Nora to handle when from nowhere three girls also paid a visit to Nora's desk.
"Looks like we have got a new student here." Three girls in short dresses walked to the last desk. They looked at Nora with a smug and angry look.
This time Nora didn't bother herself to look up even. Paying her full attention on her phone she ignored them. However Shailey started shivering in fear. And of course Nora noticed it.
Getting no response from Nora, it irked those girls immediately. Slapping hard on the table one of the girls spoke first.
"Are you deaf! Didn't hear us? Want my slap to clear your eardrums!"
Her slap on the desk was loud enough to get her classmates attention. Knowing how their way could be criticised by others, the other girl in the group held Sam to stop creating a mess and spoke slowly.
"Hey hey hey, calm down Sam. It looks like she is a total newbie here. Doesn't even know the fact that she can't wear her mask and cap at the same time in the class."
"Or don't know the fact that who we are and who she shouldn't sit with. And if she does, what will be her future?" Sam added.
All this while the girl standing in the middle of their group, Aka, spoke nothing to the situation. She silently stared at that face which was hiding behind Nora.
Shailey's hand trembled with that girl's look on her. Little by little she moved close to Nora. Although it's her first time meeting Nora, she somehow still finds her a safer place for herself than anything or anyone in the class.
Aka turned her body and took support of the other desk in front of Nora's. Tapping her fingertips on the desk she seductively crossed her legs and gave a smirk to Nora at first and then Shailey before asking.
"Shailey this isn't right of you to ignore your old friends once you get a new one."
"I... I... I am not." Shailey meekly replied.
"Then why don't you introduce your new friend to us." Aka said without shame.
"She isn't-"
"Get your books out." Before Shailey could deny the relation, Nora accepted it first and ordered her.
To her words, Shailey was a little shocked but instinctively opened her books. Whereas other girls were either annoyed or frustrated by her ignorance.
"You actually dare to ignore us?" Sam annoyingly laughed with her question. She wanted to slap that face right away but her friend Monica is holding her back.
Nora still wanted to ignore her words, but her being constantly irking her nerves, she finally gave her answer to Sam.
"If I ignore something that means it exists for me. But fortunately for you, you don't. So no, I am not ignoring you."
Her words once again flabbergasted Sam with Monica and stunned Shailey. After Sam's slap on the desk, everyone's attention was on them. Hearing Nora's reply to Sam, all the students started laughing at once.
Nora's expression however excited Aka. Not just her expression excited her, but her beautiful eyes amazed her too. Moreover she never saw such a blank gaze to her ever before. Her gaze actually meant nothing for Sam or for anyone in the class.
Aka also wanted to laugh at Nora's words but didn't want her sidekicks to see her laughing at them. With pursed lips she looked away from Nora to control herself.
"You! I-" Sam's eyes turned red with embarrassment. She was about to take action but their teacher entered the glass.
"Professor is here."
Professor's presence instantly made the classroom quiet and made all three of the girls leave Nora's side. Once the attendance started, Shailey couldn't hold herself and warned Nora with a good will.
"Nora, don't fight with them. They are not nice people."
Not minding what the warning was, Nora asked back. "Did they bully you?"
That question scared her wits. Of course the answer was yes, but would she dare to answer it as yes? No she wouldn't. Looking down to her book she replied whisperingly. "...They are really not nice people."
"They did because you let them." Nora said anyway.
Shailey felt a lot embarrassed by Nora's words. She sure is getting bullied because she can't fight back with the bravery Nora has. She is weak and cowardly, and that makes her feel uneasy.
"I am sorry."
"Why are you sorry to me? Feel sorry for yourself if you can't even fight for yourself." Nora said back and got back on her business with ignorance.
***
After completing her classes, Nora, as planned, had lunch with Mike. At lunch Nora rarely talked but listened to every word by him. Whatever Mike talked about she put her attention to it.
Surprisingly, Mike for the whole time only talked about stuff he found necessary for Nora to know. No nonsensical talk was there. And that's why Nora felt comfortable and also learnt a lot about her college.
Before they could complete their lunch, Nora's classes got cancelled. Knowing that, Mike wanted to go somewhere for fun with her, however, also understanding the fact that Nora won't be comfortable he didn't ask.
They were on their way back to the taxi stand when a car stopped by their side. Both Nora and Mike vigilantly looked at the driver side.
Seeing Ryan in the driver seat, Nora frowned a little but there was a deep frown on both Mike's and Ryan's forehead. They both had a deep meaning behind their stare to each other. One was curious, while the other was annoyed to see Mike with Nora again.