Chapter 4
Ms. Elena didn't pursue the previous matter any further. Rey's racing heartbeat also calmed down. As they were walking out of the classroom towards the nurse's office, they met an unknown acquaintance.
Reena walked out of the principal's office. She was a flawless beauty with snow-white skin. Her golden locks were like shimmering sunlight. She had a supple body, combining with her calm appearance, she was a perfect example of a honor student.
Just seeing her caused Rey's trauma to jump back. His heart started to beat fast, and he started hyper-ventilating. He tightly hid behind Elena. Even Elena was surprised by sudden timidity. She thought he would be hyperventilating due to his anger towards her. But it was Rey started shaking violently with fear. He held out his hands tightly grasping Elena's clothes and asked her.
"Does..... Does…. Does the principal know about the incident? Am I going to be expelled?" asked Rey crying.
"Don't be a crybaby. Why would they expel you if you haven't done anything wrong? It's better if you apologize to her for bumping into her and end this matter." said Ms. Elena.
"Good evening, Ms. Elena" said Reena
"Good evening. What were you doing? It's already past 5" said Ms. Elena.
" Just some small errands for the principal. It's a pleasant surprise to find you still in campus Mrs Elena" said Reena
"Is it so surprising to find me after work hours?" asked Ms. Elena
"No, it's not. Excuse my rudeness" said Reena.
Ms. Elena signaled Rey to speak up.
Rey wanted to confront her but his body wouldn't move. "She believes that I just bumped into her." thought Rey finding some comfort in his traumatized mind. But it was in no way Elena's belief in Rey's words.( It may have been a lie or it may have been someone's testimony regarding the incident according to the current Rey stuck in the toy bear. But the naïve Rey was caught up in the moment thinking he had achieved acknowledgment). But it was now a fight against his mind and his body. His mind had been resolved to apologize for bumping and put a stop to the rumors but his body and his mouth wouldn't move. On the other hand, it got worse. In fact he couldn't stop trembling.
Elena couldn't take it anymore. She waved a piece of paper towards Rey and pushed him forward. Her expression warned him that if he doesn't move now, his assignment will be read in front of the entire assembly.
"This isn't the right time to threaten me Ms. Elena," thought Rey. But comparing that embarrassment, he preferred the simple apology. He tried to stabilize his trembling body and slowly started to walk towards. He concentrated all his efforts to walk. But as soon as he looked at Reena, no words could come out of his mouth. He wanted to apologize, but his mouth wouldn't move. His mind was blank. He was having a panic attack at that moment.
"No, not now. Not in front of her again" thought Rey recalling the tragic incident caused due to his incapability to explain himself. He tried to calm his trembling body. But finally, Rey broke down completely.
"I'm sorry for bumping into you" cried Rey with tears flowing from his eyes." I really didn't mean to do that. It was an accident" broke down Rey crying with tears flooding down his cheek.
"Why are you apologizing? Do I even know you?" said Reena who was completely taken aback. Rey was devastated to hear that. The bump had caused trauma to his already suffering body. He was forever labeled as a groper. He had lost the trust placed in him by Ms. Lina. But the perpetrator did not even know him.
Ms. Elena couldn't take it anymore. She sighed deeply and interfered with Rey's conversation.
"He's the one who bumped against you. Referring from the way you said you don't know him, nothing significant happened between you right?" asked Elena lifting Rey's head and brushing off the hair covering his forehead uncovering his iconic blue eyes.
Rey's blue eyes caused her to fall in a trance causing her to remember a past event. "I remember now. You're the one who bumped me in the evening" said Reena a little loudly but supressing herself from showing any emotions. But that subtle hint of joy didn't miss Elena's eyes while it completely missed Rey
Rey couldn't answer her at all. His tongue was completely tied and he couldn't talk with her at all.
"Yeah, he's the one who bumped into you. As you can see, it's just a misunderstanding. So I'd like you not to pursue this matter any further." said Elena
"What matter? Why would I pursue this matter even further?" answered Reena averting her eyes from Elena's vision. But Elena continued "It's because he's been labeled as the groper who's groped you. I hope you can clear this misunderstanding"
"He's the one who was labelled as a groper?" asked Reena tad bit confused before calming herself. "I was not groped so I can promise you not to pursue this matter. But I can't say I can clear this misunderstanding. I believe that those rumors are short-lived and not going to last" replied Reena calmly without hesitation
"That's enough. Thank you Reena" said Elena and looked at Rey, "Now you're not going to be expelled. You can rest assure now" continued Elena. "Now I got to meet up with the principal to discuss some matters," said Elena excusing herself.
"It's not like you to barge in into student's details even if some student urged you to," said the principal pointing out towards Rey.
"Maybe you're right. It's definitely not like me to jump into student matters. I felt something special in him. Maybe I'm just playing favorites. Now let's talk about the pressing matters. You have already learned from the victim that it was just an accidental bump. You are not considering expelling him for that, aren't you?" asked Elena
"Well the victim also claimed that nothing of the sort happened" said the principal
"Then you can brush off this petty matter, right principal?" asked Elena
Well…..
After Elena left, Reena turned around to face Rey. Rey's impression of Reena had turned sour when she said she didn't remember him. But Reena hadn't caused any problems for him; in fact she didn't even remember that insignificant event. Thus he didn't have a reason to bear any grudge against her as he could continue his usual life.
"Aren't you ashamed of yourself? You really disgust me" said Reena out of the blue
Rey was completely shocked by her complete 180 degree turn in attitude. Her gaze felt like the gaze of a person looking at an insect.
"Making the teacher to clear your own problems, are you even a man? Learn to fix your own problems, don't cause problems for others" continued Reena
Rey was completely caught off-guard. But he couldn't refute her. Rey was struggling to talk, but no words would come out.
"You're not gonna refute anything. Doesn't that mean you agree that my points are valid? Personally, I couldn't mind that incident, but you were responsible for blowing that incident way out of proportion. If you had refuted them right there, you wouldn't be labeled as a pervert. You are a broken puppet who needs others to solve your problems." said Reena
"It's not…. It's not me. It's their fault not mine" said Rey facing the ground without making eye contact but deep in his mind he knew that too
"Continue to be in a state of denial. This half-ass answer is gonna convict you in the future. I may have dropped this matter as something trivial but society is not so forgiving. Once you put your weakness into the open, they'll use all means to trample you. Personally, if Ms. Elena hadn't cleared things up for me right now, I would have perceived you as a stalker who followed me all the way from that incident. society is not going to change for you, you have to adapt to the society." said Reena.
"Shut up!" said Rey and ran away as fast as he could crying all the way.
"Two faced bitch! I don't need you to point that out. I know that it's my fault. But my body doesn't listen to me. I'm helpless here and more so I'm the victim here. I was falsely accused" cried Rey but he stopped after a certain distance. "Maybe she's right. Maybe everybody's right. As a human I'm destined for a failure. No wonder all people lost hope in me. All my hard work and my marks don't count as long as I stay in this form" thought Rey
Elena walked out of the principal's office with a weary face to find out that Rey had disappeared.
"Where is that punk?" questioned Elena.
"He ran away crying" answered Reena. Elena gave her an odd look.
Reena scratched her cheeks sheepishly "I seemed to have scolded him quite harshly" said Reena averting her eyes. Elena still had that annoyed expression in her face which deemed to ask her to explain more.
"I had an high expectation from him but he got caught in an imaginary crime that he didn't even commit" said Reena still averting her eyes. But Elena was still glaring at her.
"After getting caught, he even asked a teacher to resolve that misunderstanding and get close to me" said Reena sounding resolute.
Elena hit her head and deeply sighed, "Why would you say something like that to that wimp? He wasn't the one who asked me to intervene; it was one of the girls who carried him to the nurse's office"
"Why did they want you to intervene? And more importantly what do you mean carried by girl's?" asked Reena questioning her logic.
"Well he passed out." said Elena tapping her hands unsteadily. "Even with all that he came to apologize and you had to rub salt on his wounds"
"Well it's can't blame you either. But it's interesting to know that you have high expectations of a stranger. Is it rivalry since he's at the top? Or was it love at first sight?"
That was the last, people ever heard about Rey.