There they are. The rat bastards. Lea runs up to them. Before he knows what's happening, Lea whacks Dito across the face. The entire hall falls silent.
"You bitch! How dare you? "Holding Lea's slap cheek in his hand, Dito responded with anger.
"You're an asshole, Dito! "
"Maybe I am, farm girl. But I made sure that no one laid a single hand on you. This is the thanks I get? "
How dare he! "You'll pay for this "she turns her heel and stalks out of the men's dorm.
She arrives outside of her room, only to find one of the mean girls affixing something to her door.
Is that a drawing of me with a human face and cow body? I can't catch a freaking break, can I?
Lea shoves the mean girl away and enters her room. Lea quickly plops onto her bed, trying to hold back the tears. Amira is already waiting for her.
"Are the rumours about Vidi true? "
"No, they're not true. Dito drugged me, and left me with Vidi "
"What? "
"When I woke up, I was in his bed. I know he didn't do anything, but I don't understand any of it "
"Well, Hadyan's heard the rumours and he's not happy "
"Uh, shit. I forgot to tell you. I made a wager with Hadyan "
"Why the hell would you make a deal with the devil? "
"He provoked me! "
"What kind of wager did you make? "
"I told him I didn't need his protection any longer "Amira stares at Lea.
"You what? That was a mistake, Lea. Without Hadyan's protection, your classmates aren't going to be as nice to you "
"They're going to say and do whatever they want. At least I can do the same "
Lea sighed, heavy with dread. "Do you still have your key card? "
Lea checks her pockets, realizing that she doesn't. "Girl, I hate to be the one to break this to you. You are totally and completely screwed. You better find that card, because you sure as hell won't survive Elite without that and Hadyan.
If I go back to the men's dorm, I might run into Hadyan. If I check the hallways, I might run into the mean girls. But without the card, I might never be able to eat again.
Apprehensive, she heads back into the men's dorm. A row of boys wolf whistles assure walks past. She desperately searches the hallway for her card.
"Well, well, well. Look who we have here. Back for more? "
"Leave me alone "
"No can do, sweetheart "
"Yes, you can, and you will "replied Hadyan
Lea whipped around. Hadyan stands there, staring daggers at the guy. Eyes wide with fear, the guy scurries away. Hadyan turns to Lea.
"Are you okay? "Hadyan asking Lea. She nods. Hadyan scowls.
"You should go back to your dorm before anyone else sees you here " without waiting for a response, Hadyan hurries away. A second later, she finds her Access Card lying on the floor, clearly dropped in haste.
Lea returns to her dorm room, shaky with adrenaline. Suddenly, a loud ping sounds from Amira's phone. Amira reads her text and looks up at Lea.
"Hadyan just texted. He wants to make sure you go to class tomorrow " Amira asking
"Do I have a choice? "reply Lea
"Not after last night. Not if you want to survive at Elite. Now, I need to sleep. Good night, Lea. We'll handle this tomorrow "
Easy for her to say. She's not the one trapped in this mess.
She changes into her pyjamas and gets into bed. She tosses and turns for a while.
I can't sleep
Text Hadyan
'Hey, you up? '
'Yes '
'Can we talk? '
She waits for the ping, but it never comes. She put her phone away and eventually fall into a fitful sleep. The next morning, she has groggy and tired but determined to put last night behind her.
I'm going to wear the most boring outfit I have today, to head off any rumours.
"Rumours goal is to get people to stop looking at you, I'm not sure a suit is the right answer asks Amira
"At least they can't accuse me of being a slut in this "
"Oh, they can and they will "
Lea enters the hallway, only to be met with giggles and whispers.
What's the point of making an effort, if they're just going to laugh at men anyway?
She side-step the giggling crowds and heads straight to the classrooms. But as she leaves, she hears,
"Just because you wore that outfit, doesn't mean you're not a slut. A cow can't change its spots, cowgirl " says mean girls, Lea doesn't her name.
It's official. I hate college.
She heads to her politics class, dreading it every step of the way. Until she sees-- Hadyan. He's waiting at the door.
"She made it to class. What a surprise. I would have thought you'd be with your new lover boy, Vidi"
I can't be freaking believe this. He nods toward the giggling girls inside the classroom.
"By the way, there's a lot more where that came from. Unless you admit you've lost the wager, and you need me "
"Hadyan, I .. "
"Yes? "
"I didn't sleep with Vidi "
"Okay "
"That's it? "
"Unless you have more to say "
"I thought you wouldn't believe me "
"There's nothing to believe or not believe. You woke up in his bed this morning "
"Yes, but it's not what it looked like! "
"I know what it looked like, Lea. The whole school knows what it looked like "
He turns and walks into the classroom. Left with no choice, Lea follows. " Alright, class, today's going to be a little different. We'll be playing through several board games to learn effective strategy implementation "
Maybe this won't be so bad, after all.
"Lea, you'll be paired with me "
***
After rumours of Lea sleeping with the captain of Elite's football team go viral, Hadyan tells her that he wants to team up with her for the class project.
He's barely said anything to me since the whole Vidi incident. Now he wants to work together, even though he's technically the substitute professor?
"Come one up, Lea. We haven't got all day " Kirani stand and nervously makes her way to his desk.
"If you walked any slower, you'd be walking backwards "
"Just trying to live up to my namesake "
"I think you're getting cows confused with turtles, farm girl. Unless you'd like a change of nickname. Now, let's get to it "
"Get to what? "asked Lea confuse
"Choosing the board game. I say Settlers of Catan. Do you know it? "
"It's my favourite board game. My grandmother was a big fan "
"Then your grandmother had good taste. All right, then. Settlers of Catan, it its " as soon as he says that, her frown.
Hold on. That's not going to work. " Don't we need more than two people to play Catan? "
"Ah, good catch. Well then, why don't you find other people to join? "
Other people? Does he not know the whole school hates my guts right now?
"Do you guys possibly have room for one, or two, more? " one of the boys shares a look with another boy in his group.
"Yeah, we're totally into threesomes, aren't we? " says a male student
He high-fives his friend. Hurt and insulted, she return to Hadyan's desk. He sighs in exasperation. " This is the real world, Lea. You can't just tattle on the mean kids in class. Does nobody want you in the group? Be in the group anyway. Someone stopping you from doing what you want? " he returns to the papers on his desk.
He's right. I should do what I want, damn the rumours and gossip and naysayers.
"Hadyan. I want us to work together " he stops writing
"You what? "
"You heard me "
"I must have heard wrong "
"You didn't. I want to work with you "
"Even after the way I've treated you? " Lea shrugged.
"I trust you. More than the others, anyway "Lea's words make an impact on him. He swallows, his eyes wide with surprise.
"Unfortunately, the rules of the game dictate that a group must be involved. But… I will join you " he nods at her to follow him. They both approach the boy's group.
"Uh, hello Professor "
"No need for formalities. We're all on the same team now "
Hadyan and the others immediately jump into strategy, the others gravitating to Hadyan like magnets.