Neo forcedly removed my grip from his arm, and they took a few steps back, obviously being intimidated by him.
"Give me your wallet," Bobby ordered, and even though Neo was humiliated, he immediately handed it to him without saying a word.
"How about you two shitheads? Do you need help giving your wallets some space as well?" he asked Sid and Joey, who were both cowering in fear. They didn't utter an answer.
"Y'all only in your 2nd year, but you're already messing with your seniors. Do you seriously want to attend this school in peace?" He took the cash then just threw the empty wallet in Neo's face. The latter couldn't even try to glare at him from what he did.
Bobby then walked to a donation booth nearby and dropped all the paper bills he got into the donation box. The old man guarding it was overjoyed for the significant donation they got.
He immediately returned to our place, and his aura was grim.
When was the last time I saw him this furious?
"The next time you want to show off your money ..." he pointed at Neo's forehead and pushed it that made him step backward. "...the donation booth is waiting there to have it, and another thing, if you mess with my buddy again, I'm ready to be expelled just to break all the bones you have in your body."
The three swallowed at the same time.
"Scram fuckers!" he shouted, and the two left with their tails between their legs, but Neo still glared at me then walked away arrogantly.
I can't blame them for being so cowardly to Bobby. He is a fraternity member here at the university, so it was not easy to get on his wrong side.
"What are you looking at?!" he shouted at the people who were surrounding us, watching the commotion we made. That made them went away. I don't care which website they'll post the video they got. That wouldn't kill me.
Suddenly someone grabbed my cheek, and it was Bobby. He turned my face to him, and worry was written all over his face. "Did you get this from those bastards?!" His eyes burned with rage again because of the cut on my lower lip.
I blinked. "My habit."
That extinguished his fury, and his expression gradually turned soft. "I thought those fuckers harmed you when I was away." He let go and started to make his knuckles crack. "If they dared, who knows what I had already done to them."
"Well, I was about to show them hell, but your timing was really off." I joked, but worry was still painted on his face.
"I'm sorry if I didn't come back right away. I was enjoying eating not knowing you were being bullied by those sons of a bitch." He handed me the paper bag of take-out food.
"Why are you giving this to me?" Even though I was still wondering, I already took it.
"Add it to your food later so that you can gain weight. You always tell me you have food at home, even that might not be the truth. I know you. You'd rather save than eat."
I smiled because he was this worried about me.
Yes, he's frightening when he's furious, but he can never hurt those who are important to him. His heart was even softer than mine.
"Thanks, bro, but believe me this time, I'm telling the truth." My smile widened, and then I put the food inside my bag, and he saw the research papers there.
"Are you still really going to help those jackasses?" he sounded that he wanted me to say no.
"Even if I do, I'm sure they won't come near me again after cowering from your threat." I laughed after remembering how scared the three were because of him. "Hurry. It will rain tonight, so I need to go home." I persuaded him, and he nodded. Now, we were heading to the jeep terminal.
"Did I overstep my boundaries this time?" He was obviously restless. He knows I don't want him to interfere in my business because my "clients" will get scared of me when they know he's my buddy. Still, I was really thankful that he saved me from the humiliation that would have added to terrible memories of what happened earlier.
"No, bro! To be honest, you were really cool earlier that made me so proud that I have you as a buddy!" I patted his shoulder and showed him an okay sign.
"Thank goodness. I thought you'll get mad. But don't worry buddy, just wait two years when I already marry Gabriella, we'll be family! I'll definitely make sure that no one messes with you and with my future wife." He laughed joyously, and his face lit up with happiness.
That's how much he's into my cousin.
"Leave it to me. I'll help you get on Gab's good side so you can earn her favor."
His eyes sparkled, and I burst out laughing at him since he looked like a puppy... A bulky puppy, to be exact.
~~~ * * * ~~~
At the Dome ...
I had already entered the dome, and good thing, the rain mentioned in the news this morning had not yet started.
I checked my wristwatch, and it was seven o'clock in the evening. I lifted the switch controller of the roof of the dome and slowly closed it.
Even though I have been living here for over a month, I still can't get rid of my admiration for this dome because of how high-tech this place is. This was sure eaten a lot of bucks to be built.
When the dome was completely closed, the mist covered it until the rain suddenly poured. What great timing. If I was late, even a few minutes, the rain could have ruined the flowers here that I took so much care of.
The roof was made of glass, so the rain was still visible, but the noise outside does not enter here because this place is soundproof.
I took off the jacket I was wearing, and my face mask then walked to the resthouse.
When I reached the place, I turned on the house's light, but I stopped when I felt a strange atmosphere inside.
I looked around, but there's no one there. But strange, the heater is on, and I can feel how warm here inside because of it. As I recall, I turned it off before I left for school.
My forehead furrowed. "Maybe I just really forgot. What a waste of electricity." I talk to myself. I don't pay for the electricity, but I still don't want to waste it for earth's sake.
I just shrugged it off and went straight to my room to change my clothes. I have only my boxer on and took a towel and then slung it over my shoulder.
I went to the washroom while whistling and opened the door, but I was stunned to see that the bathtub's curtain was closed.
I was confused since I never close it because I don't even use it. There is a separate shower beside it, and I use that instead. The light is also dim here, which I can remember; I always make sure to turn it off.
Another thing is the smell of a very fragrant soap that is definitely rose fragrance here inside.
A lot is wrong here.
I'm starting to get nervous.
Couldn't a thief have broken into this house? But it's impossible because with the hand scanner just outside, it's hard to get in.
What if manang Tonet is back?!
I was even more nervous since I took off my disguise, but I calmed myself down and dared to peek if anyone was inside the bathtub. It would be better for me to know who or what is in it than for me to be fretting because of something unknown.
I cautiously approached the bathtub. I slowly parted the curtain of it and slowly peeked my head in there.
I gasped when I saw a blonde-haired woman with an angelic face having a bubble bath in the tub. There are even lots of petals of red rose on it.
She had her AirPods in, and her eyes are closed, which I think, she is having a nap.
* * *"And most of all! Be careful of Ms. Hyacinth when she visits here. She is the daughter of the deceased owner of this rest house."
"When Ms. Hyacinth visits here, and she liked how you took care at this place, you can expect her to increase your pay." * * *
Suddenly, the words that manang Tonet said before about Hyacinth, the daughter of the owner of this place, came to my mind. To my panic, I immediately slid the curtain close, frightened that she might suddenly wake up and see me. Because of that, the curtain hooks made a loud clanking sound then I heard her startled move in the water.
"Who's there?!" she asked, alarmed.
Fuck!
As if my life is on the line, I run out of the washroom as fast as Flash can.
Damn! I should never be caught! I only have my boxers on!
The towel on my shoulder even fell to the floor, so I hurriedly picked it up and ran to my room, then closed and locked it while heavily panting from panic.
I heard the water pouring out on the floor from the washroom, and I know she got out of the tub to hunt me.
Shit! Shit! Shit!
"Manang Tonet?" she called.
I didn't know what to do, but I tried to think clearly despite my confusion to do what I had to do in this kind of emergency.
I immediately threw the towel on my bed, went to the front of my closet, and quickly opened it. I hurriedly pulled out women's clothes there as well as a bra.
I quickly put on the bra then I got a pink T-shirt. I only had a boxer on, so I searched for what I could wear on the bottom.
"Manang Tonet! Why aren't you answering?" Suddenly there were few knocks on my door, so my heart almost jumped out of my ribs in panic. "Are you inside? Manang!"
"Shit!" I was already frantic and just pulled anything from the closet to wear.
I got a black skirt that I was wearing during manang Tonet's interview. Because I was really in a hurry, I just wore it without any thinking. I also put my wig on.
"Come out, or I'm going to open this door with my master key." threatening, she said.
Fuck! She has a spare key to this room!
I was busy fixing my long wig when I heard the clinking of the keys outside with how she's trying to open the door with her key.
When I'm done fixing my hair, I looked at myself in the mirror of my closet to see if my disguise was convincing. Still, my eyes went round with the sight of my bulging Adam's apple.
Scarf!
I immediately opened the closet again and took a scarf there, then hurriedly wrapped it around my neck. That's until I heard the door of my room finally swung open.
I immediately turned around as my eyes widened and my face glistened with sweat.
Hyacinth immediately peeked in here with a towel wrapped around her hair and another towel covering her body.
I held my breath as I met her stare. I'm about to faint, and my heart was pumping like crazy from anxiety.
Finally, she entered my room, and her forehead puckered. Then, she placed her hand on her hip. "Who. Are. You?" she asked with every word emphasized.
I could answer nothing but just a smile.
To be continued...
Now the queen is back.