Seeing the target get into the speeding car of Hasley's, I knew he was a gold digger for sure.
He just herded with patience a girl who had publicly harassed him. How could he still be so cool with her and even remind her what was correct to do in public or not?
Anything for the money, huh?
.
I was going to stand up whilst making sure my face remained hidden when the system's warning siren blared.
[Foul language from the host to the system detected!]
What in the freaking bloody world? Cut me some slack already!
My Points will get deducted once again— seriously?!
[Deducting one point from host's wallet<>]
[One point has been deducted!]
[Host's points balance= 23]
A rebooting sound and then, the screen shut down.
ARGHHH!
The system was the best bully of them all!
Why wouldn't it be kind enough to overlook just one teeny tiny swear that I uttered?
I only said a harmless 'fuck' and it just had to take revenge! The system was such a wicked soul!
Did it even have a soul at all?
"Serves her right!"
"What the fuck is she wearing?"
"I can't believe she had the guts to go kiss him in front of Hasley."
"She is so shameless."
The comments from the crowd were non-stop.
Right, I had forgotten I was sitting on the floor–heavily battered and in front of so many people at that.
I couldn't remain in that position. I needed to flee. From the cameras and from these judging eyes.
Geez, I hate people!
So, as I sat in my crouched position, I glanced slowly up. I was happy I had my glasses on– all I needed to do was sleep and then, my eyesight would get healed.
Then, I wouldn't be wearing glasses anymore and it would be harder to recognize me. I knew it was lame to worry about people recognizing me when barely a few knew me but I was certain this scene would make it to the net.
And then, fans of Hasley would fish me out certainly and deal with me in the most ridiculous type of way.
Not now when I was aspiring for a job in the company of her sister's betrothed.
Oh, this was bad. Very bad.
But first– I needed to get out of here.
I had folded my hands with my face bent into my lap but I allowed myself to look up a bit. I projected how I was going to move before making the actual move.
I would stand on a whim and run faster than electricity. I should be able to do it.
Hence, not minding the soreness and stabbing pain in my joints and stomach, I breathed and counted down before taking to my heels.
The people in my way, I pushed them off aggressively– all of them.
They were saying some shits about how the beatings I received served me right. Now, let's see how the push I gave them served them right when they all stumbled on one another and fell.
"Are you crazy?!"
I heard someone from among them shout behind me as I dashed off. I didn't care though. Not that I had to care anyway.
I ran as fast as my hurting legs could carry me until I was out of sight. Once I had gotten to the intersection of my street, I stopped to catch my breath.
It was all pains and aches all over.
As I bent in front of an intersection pole, my face facing the ground while I panted heavily— the liquid dripping from my mouth turned pinkish.
Blood?
I thought I guarded my face well and she hadn't hit it so how come my mouth was bleeding?
I gurgled and spat the rest of the liquid on the floor before making my way home.
.
The moment I got in the house, I slumped in bed and rested my aching bones for a while. My mind was in a haze as a result of the anger welling up inside of me.
"Why didn't you defend yourself, Cosima?" I asked myself.
I mean, I did nothing wrong to her.
It was a blunt kiss that I gave her boyfriend – if he would remain her boyfriend after this though.
I kissed her boyfriend and she just had to be so mean and hurt me so much like this?
Why was everyone always hurting me unjustly?
Why was I feeling this fury– this rage in me spurring to life and yet, I was not mad at these people.
I didn't feel mad at Mrs. Del Monte for always picking at me at work and firing me unfairly.
I didn't get mad at the loan sharks who had turned my life upside down and quenched my goals, leaving my only goal to be paying off their debts.
I was not mad at Hasley for battering me and ridiculing my dignity in public. Not that I had any dignity left anyway.
Instead, I was mad at myself for letting them. There was a saying my late mother would always repeat to me– 'people can not hurt you without your permission.'
It was all my fault for letting them.
But I swear I could be more than this had ugliness not fried my self-esteem like a pack of crackers.
All I needed was beauty and then, I wouldn't stop until I rose and got to the top.
I would get back at all of these people and watch them kneel in front of me, pleading for mercy until I crushed them finally.
This was a promise I was making to myself. A vow— my new goal.
It was my new dream.
All I needed was to fulfill my daily tasks until I became completely beautiful and presentable.
And my tasks, I shall fulfill.
My phone rang...
With my brows raised in surprise, "Someone is calling me?" I blurted out in wonder.
I was stupefied. Nobody calls me.