"Hey! Can't you go a little faster. You're blocking me stupid."
Just early in the morning, Irene had already started her day with ridicule from others. Not that the corridor is small, even the space is wide enough for 10 people to walk side by side, but there are always something about her that make other people unhappy with it.
Seeing Irene just ignoring her words, the girl that walking behind pulled Jieun's arm and slamming her to the corridor wall.
"Should I teach you about manners too? You should be responds when people are talking especially the people in the upper class unlike you. No wonder people call you mute in this college."
"What now Ami?" Irene tried to control the tone of her voice which was clearly irritated by the situation. At home earlier, she was already getting scolded by her stepmother, so, her mood now is certainly not that good for serving others.
"Huh, what's wrong with you this couple of days, you actually know how to speak probably now I see." Ami holds Irene's hand hard making Irene flinches a little of the pain.
Irene watches the girl feeling unbelief. Just now Ami said that she is mute and suppose to talk, but when she's actually talking the same girl now getting mad by that also. What is she supposed to do then?
"I said, walk faster. Don't you hear? You spent my energy this morning by talking so many times. You also irritated me yesterday when the professor assigns us to the same group for the research which is you suppose to decline or something. Being smart doesn't mean I like being in the same group with you. "
Irene sighs a little hearing the non-stop complaining. "It's a group assignment, of course we need to working together, whether we like it or not." Irene tries to explain the logic which is that girl definitely know long time ago.
Ami released her grip, but continued talking.
"You want to teach me now? Do you think I didn't know about that? You made my reputation as a popular student at this college tumble just because being in a one group with you. Seeing you alone makes me disgusted. I've never had a poor acquaintance, looking all like that." Ami's face clearly showed the seriousness with her words. There was no guilt or sympathy from this girl at all.
Irene at the moment saw the other students passing by ignoring Ami's actions towards her. She realizes now, no one was on her side at the time. No. Not just then, but all the time. No one wanted to help her when she was bullied. She just seems invisible to other people's eyes and that making her feel so sad.
Then, Irene looked at Lisa's face as she walked down the corridor. Lisa just looked at her without any feeling. Ever since the day Victor warned Carl, Lisa's boyfriend, their friendship has also been strained. She still remembered clearly Lisa's words the other day,
Flashback:
"I'm friends with you because out of pity. But, I sincerely thought you are good person. But, after what happen to Carl, I cannot be silent anymore. I never thought you're a person that like to complain to the director of this college. Luckily Carl doesn't have to be suspended from college or getting any discipline action otherwise his performance as an honour student will definitely decline. Are you done that deliberately because you wanted to be the only one honour student?" Lisa accuse her out of nowhere.
Irene cannot believe her ears now. How could Lisa accuse her doing something that so low. She also cannot believe that Lisa could change that much.
"Lisa, please believe me. I really didn't do anything." Irene still trying to clear the misunderstanding.
"That's enough Irene. I don't want to hear your excuses anymore. I already know everything from Carl. From today on, you live in your own world. I don't want to have anything to do with you anymore. If I knew you were bothering Carl again, I will deal with you myself. Remember that." Lisa managed to warn her before stepping away.
"Hey! What are you daydreaming about when I'm here talking to you?" Ami shouting made her memory of Lisa the other day disappear.
Irene looked at Ami's face, which was clearly still angry with her.
"Are you finish?" She asked, making Ami a little deadpan.
Then, Irene tried to get out of there. She didn't want to linger there any longer listen to the absurd words in her view. But, as much that she wanted to get away, she definitely didn't as Ami once again grab her, but this time her hair is the victim. She pulled harshly, making Irene moaning in pain.
"Ami, let me go!" Irene pleaded.
"Now you know what would happen when you ignore me. Try once again, you will feel worse than this. Take a look at yourself now how pathetic you are."
Somehow during the pain, Irene suddenly remembered Victor's words to her. 'Why are you just standing there like a doll when he does that to you?' The words sounded repeatedly in her ear.
"I'm... not... a doll." Irene said in her struggling breath. She then grabs Ami's hands that pull her hair and tries to fight back. Ami, who didn't think that Irene would fight her was a little shocked by the matter.
Seeing Ami still not wanting to let go of her hair, Irene pushed Ami's body in the back of her body until Ami was now slammed into the corridor wall. The impact makes Ami automatically let go of Irene.
"You! How dare you do that to me?" Ami questioning Irene.
Irene just glares sharply to Ami as she also cannot control her feeling at the time.
"Its just a self defence and you also know that. Don't pretend that I hurt you first. If you are not satisfied with the group arrangement you can go to the professor by yourself and ask for a new arrangement. If not, we can do the work until it finish or you can use me by dump all the work on my shoulder and just take a credit like all other people did. Now choose which one convenience to you, not that I care anyway. " Irene glare at Ami looking determine. For once she let go what inside her mind without much thinking.
A still furious Ami walked over to Irene, stood in front of her, then,
Pang! A strong slap landed on Irene's cheek at that moment.
"Ouch!" Irene gasped for a moment. She held her cheek that was sore from the slap. "What are you doing!" Her voice was a little loud as she wasn't happy with Ami's behaviour towards her.
"Don't you dare to pretend to be strong in front of me. Who said you could teach me this and that? Who do you think you are? You studied here because of the scholarship only. If it wasn't for the scholarship, you would have been a prostitute for a long time so you wouldn't have to be a beggar!"
Pang! It was Irene's turn to slap the girl's cheek.
"W.. what?!" Ami was shocked by what happened to make her stutter.
"You have already gone too far." Irene said with her eyes already red. Ready to cry. "I'm here by my own advantage and I'm proud of that. Not like you, being pampered as a rich making you not knowing how to respect others. You should be shame on yourself."
"Hey! Mute girl. What are you doing with Ami?" Eddy the one that always bothering her before coming on the scene. Of course, for the worst case ever he has been Ami boyfriend.
"Eddy, look at her slap me like this." Ami started acting crying in front of her boyfriend.
"Stupid bitch! You're good at playing rough now huh. Probably because your backup is Mr. Victor you think you can be brave? Tell you what, I don't care about that Mr. Victor threat anyway. I just not bothering you because you're boring. But now... " Eddy approached Irene fiercely.
Irene began to feel a little scared.
"Is this the market or the college?!" One cold, loud voice finally stopped everything. Irene looked at the owner of the voice. The tears that had been held back finally fell when she saw Victor, who suddenly appeared there.
Seeing the stiff Eddy standing in front of her made Irene walk quickly towards Victor and stand behind him as if asking for protection. Irene herself doesn't know why she feels safe after seeing Victor's face. Victor just silently watched Irene's behaviour at that time. He smiled a little contented.
"Disperse before I give you a sentence which will definitely affect your exam marks." With that, the existing students immediately left. Ami and Eddy also left with a heavy step, however, still managed to give Irene a sharp look.
Victor then turned to stand in front of sobbing Irene. He could see the redness of the girl's cheeks. Of course he feel furious. In fact, he had seen what was happening from the beginning, only he did not want to interfere because he wanted to see what Irene, herself would do.
Not disappointing, he thought.
"Come to my office." Victor directed Irene as his hand held out his handkerchief. And Irene nodded slowly and picked it up.