::SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE::
"Oi! What are you doing here huh ?!"
Irene was shocked hearing the man shouting loudly to her like that.
"This place now become dirty with your dirty clothes."
"Carl! Why are you talking like that to Irene?"
"Why do you want to defend this poor girl? You heard it mute, don't sit near here again tomorrow. Don't you know this is where I always hang out. And you, don't bring her here again." The man then went away without a word of apology.
The man was one of the famous students in this college. Who is very cruel, heartless, not directly sensitive to other people's feelings.
'Who bought this chair anyway? This clearly belongs to the college why he treats it like his own? He should remember that I'm a little older than him.' All the complaining words are only expressed in her heart and not once ever out of her mouth.
"Don't take it to the heart Irene. You know exactly how he behaves." Lisa tries to ease Irene feeling. She is the man's lover anyway.
"It's okay Lisa. I'm fine."
"I want to go eat at the cafeteria. Do you want to come? "
The packages brought from home were hugged tightly. Just that enough answering the question of her only close friend in that college. Lisa was heavy to step on but since her stomach was already rumbling to be filled, she left with a heavy heart.
A few steps away Lisa turned back towards her friend then her lecturer's words before come into her mind.
"What do you know about Irene? How is she in class?"
"Mmm ... It's normal for me sir."
"From my observation, she's too passive in class, doesn't talk and if she goes anywhere she must be with you. Doesn't she have any other friends?"
Lisa scratched her non-itchy head. This is a strange question, but it is also true. As long as she knew Irene, her friend was a very quiet person. Especially with boys, she seemed to never interact directly. If she has free time, she just enjoys it by reading books.
"You have to help her. She needs to be more proactive in class. Even she's an excellent student, but she also needs to learn how to socialize." Lisa's reverie stopped there. With a small sigh, she then moved to step away.
After Lisa gone, Irene open her bento. As usual she just prepare a regular sandwiches only. The important thing is she can save money by bringing lunch like this. Even she always eating that, she still liked it and did not get tired of it. Her difficult living conditions made her not fussy about food. All that matter is her stomach must be filled. She knew that if she lived a hard life, there would be other people who were living harder than her.
"Guys! Look at this mute girl eating shit. "
The loud voices are surrounding her suddenly. Irene decided to pretend not to care about the presence of the humans. She's used to it. Since the first day she stepped into this prestigious college, she already knew that she would be a target of the rich children who studying there.
"Eddy, her shit is a big deal today." The other boy said.
Their leader, Eddy, now approached Irene, who was pretending not to hear their conversation.
"Oi, how good is this thing you're eating?"
'Just ignore it Irene', she trying hard to calm herself. She just keep eating her without answering the question.
With a disgusted face Eddy issued more abusive words.
"What that I tell you before? There is a cheap college out there but you still dare want to come to an expensive college like this. With that shabby clothes and messy hair. Do you know that you have embarrassed this college? I can give you lots of money if you wanted, but first, how about become employee in my night club which more suitable for you? What do you think?"
This time Irene was impatient. She stood up bravely while giving a death sharp glance to those who surrounded her.
"Is it wrong for me to eat this thing? Did I use your money to make this? Why do you always mess with me? "
Those who were there were shocked. The golden voice that came out also exceeded not one or two but more words.
"Oh my God! Mute is talking guys." Eddy shouted announcing the matter.
With a flushed face Irene wanted to run away from there.
"Hey, we're not done yet. Are you going to cry and call for mommy?" The other man deliberately teased.
Irene did not turn back. She kept running without a care about her surroundings. Every day there is the only scorn and insult that she always get. Sometimes she thinks of what she has done in her past life that make her has always been the target of such ignorant people.
Even when she sits at home, there is never calm in her life with the issue between her father and stepmother that are endless. In conclusion, she just couldn't relax wherever her go. Her mind and emotions now were too much tired already. She just hope that it is enough for today. But suddenly,
"Ouch!"
Irene sat on the ground after she collide with something that made her fall like that. As she lifted her face, she saw a handsome man stood there and in his right and left accompanied by some people who look like bodyguards dressed in black suits.
There was no need for anyone else to tell her that she was in a mess up condition because just looking at the man's cold sharp gaze towards her was enough for her to know.
There was a sigh behind her that belonged to Eddy and his gang who had bullied her just now. Apparently they now sat quietly and watched the scene.
Irene looked at the man's legs. The shining expensive branded black shoes belong to him clearly showed some footprints on it. Quickly Irene stood in front of the man and apologized repeatedly.
"I'm so sorry, sir. Please forgive me. I don't watch where I am going and suddenly run into you. I'm very sorry. " Irene say politely.
She is hoping in her mind that the man is not someone important but at the time she hear Eddy question something to his minion.
"Is it Mr. Victor? Our college board of director? "
Listening to that, Irene continued to grip both her hands as she began to feel scared. Who doesn't know Mr. Victor? A young billionaire and successful entrepreneur that always comes out in newspaper and magazine. Every day, it's always news about him here and there.
Even Irene doesn't know his face that well, but she also knows about all the gossip about the man as Lisa always told her about which include that he used to kill people around but never being caught as he have a connection with the mafia organization.
Although Irene never actually believed the story because there was no solid evidence of the gossip, she still feels scared now when she's now confronted with the man.
"Your name?" The man's loud hoarse voice asked.
"I...I… I paid for your shoes." Without much thought Irene uttered the words in a stutter.
"Are you sure about that? I don't think you can afford to pay even you own shoes. " That man speaking again while his eyes glanced at her shoes which were clearly cheap and torn here and there.
Irene gulps a little realizing her mistake.
"I don't like asking twice." His voice now sounds a bit irritated.
"Irene. Irene Kim. " She said it faster this time.
Satisfied with that, Victor watch Eddy and his gang in the back and say, "She's mine. No one except me should touch her. " He announce his prey with a smirk making Irene now sweating heavily.
She knows that she's just met with the doom. Her life will definitely be much more miserable than it already is. Why out of all the people here she get to have a problem with Mr. Victor, who is said to be a gangster? Is her life now at the tip of the horn?
After the event she just ran to the toilet, which is where she pours out her feelings and mourns her fate almost every single day.