CHAPTER 16

After Glen's meet up with victor, he tried reaching out to Charlotte through the phone, but she wasn't responding to his calls or chat. He hoped that he would run into her in school, but he barely even saw her around school like usual. He went to her major but immediately she saw him approaching through the window, she hid under her desk.

"Are you okay?" One of her female friends enquired perplexed.

Glen peeked inside the hall sneakily but couldn't catch a glimpse of her and decided to head out.

"I'm okay, I just felt a sudden plowing pain on my feet."

She responded awkwardly and sat back on her sit, her face constrained with a forced smile.

Glen thought Charlotte was really busy with schoolwork, unknown to him that she was totally avoiding him.

He trudged into the restroom in a daze when his gaze locked with lebron—almost colliding with him. It was Henry's friend that wanted to hit the other time. He was alone this time. Glen flinched and wanted to flee the bathroom but lebron slammed his hands on either side of Glen causing him to become petrified.

Glen had hoped that they quickly forgot about his existence in the course of the year that had already passed, his heart thumped as he stood there unable to look at lebron leaning closely behind him. He would've easily made a run for it, but the they were behind the door.

"Is you, the fag from that day."

Lebron said cooing a derisive smile—not even caring that he was too close to Glen.

Glen was still unable to move nor speak, he just stood there like a tree. Lebron yanked his collar forcing him to face him and looked him dead in the eye, but Glen who hated eye contact averted his eyes.

"Please…"

He responded trying to hide his face, but Lebron groped his cheek puffing it up to keep their eyes locked.

"Look at me in the eye while I'm taking to you. You're beginning to piss me off again."

"I-I'm sorry…please don't hit me." He implored muffled.

Lebron halted to examine Glen's face an noticed he was quite good looking. He leaned more closer to sniff the smell that was emitting from Glen properly.

"Do all gays usually smell this good? Or is this what you use to lure men in?" He said with a contemptuous chuckle and continued. "You know what? I'm in a good mood today, so I'll let you slide."

He retracted his hands from either side of Glen's head. Glen was pretty much still trembling with a wincing expression.

Lebron groped his face once more but not harder and leaned closer to better look at his face again peeved with discontent.

"Such a waste. If you were a girl, I wouldn't hesitate to fuck you here and now!"

Glen's eyes widened and his pupil dilated with revolt to lebron's vulgar statement. He slowly raised his gaze to Lebron's face that was filled with contempt.

"We better don't run into each other from now on or else," He yanked Glen away from the door by his collar and violently shoved his hands into his pocket. He continued. "I will beat you to a pulp."

He walked out of the rest room and some students boisterously walked inside whilst Glen stood there grasping his chest through his cardigan.

Why does he seem to have a problem with people like me?

— — -

Their department lecturer suggested a project between different groups in their departments. They were supposed to take a short trip to a near by forest to capture natural scenery for their next project. It was a voluntary expedition for their art gallery.

Glen was curious, and a trip sounds like a fun thing for him. The photography aspect of the course was handled by Williams and the lecturer was supposed to follow up the trip to closely observe the students and ensure their safety.

Glen was among the few students that volunteered. It sounded like everything would be perfectly pleasant for him.

He bumped into Williams on his way out of his lecture hall—almost falling to ground but Williams grabbed him just in time.

"Senior Williams."

"Glad I caught you just on time."

"S-sorry."

"I'm sorry I have something to discuss with your lecturer."

"Is it about the trip on Saturday?"

"Yes. Catch you later." He beamed a soft smile and strode inside the hall to meet with the lecturer.

Senior Williams is going to be there! I'm so glad, at least I won't feel entirely left out.

On his way to the school yard, his eyes caught Charlotte with someone. He saw it as an opportunity to take her by surprised.

He sneakily approached her and tapped her shoulder giddily.

"Charlotte."

She flinched and turned to look at him. "G-Glen? Fancy seeing you out here." She forced a smile awkwardly.

Glen only just noticed that she was talking to a guy.

"Charlotte let's talk…" he said.

"I-I'm kind of busy right now." She stuttered awkwardly.

"Please." He insisted.

The guy noticed something was going on between them and decided to give them their space.

"Charlotte, let's talk later."

"O-okay."

She watched as he walked away and returned her attention to Glen's grimly expression.

"You've been ignoring my texts and calls…did I do something? I've been trying my best to not believe you're ignoring me on purpose."

"I-I'm just busy I promise."

"Victor told me what is going on with you, he-"

"That!…I, I don't want to talk about that right now…"

She cut him off before he could finish whatever he was saying, it only made him feel more depressed.

"Im you're best friend Charlotte…aren't we supposed to share our problems?" He responded in an anguishing expression.

She halted. "I'm sorry Glen, we're still best friends."

Charlotte felt remorseful about her behavior wrapping her arms around Glen as tears trickled down his eyes.

"We're still a family, and I'm sorry I haven't been checking on you." She nuzzled her face on his shoulder.

"I've been missing you…I didn't know what I was supposed to do."

"I'm sorry, I won't ignore you anymore…as for the thing that victor told you, I'll tell you when it is convenient for me."

"O…Kay." He sniffed and hugged her more tightly for a moment.

They indeed really cared for each other and had their own problems to deal with.

— — -

The day of the trip came as planned, all volunteers met up at the suggested bus stop to wait for the bus to arrive. Williams arrived a few minutes late.

"Hey everyone." He greeted them.

"Hello senior Williams."

"Good morning."

Numerous greetings from the students followed.

"Bad news, Mr jay wont be able to make it." He announced.

"Huh? Is the trip canceled then?"

"What the?"

The students mummured sulkily as if they only wasted their time arriving early.

"Calm down guys, I never said the trip was canceled. We're still heading for it, Mr jay already sent a substitute lecturer to meet us at the forest park."

The students lightened up boisterously.

"Be sure that your materials are all intact as you make your entrance to the bus."

Williams ensured everyone was inside the bus and Got insider. Glen hastily assumed the extreme back sit.

Williams approached his sit to join him since he was sitting alone. The bus engine came on and it began the ride for the trip.

"Hi Glen." He said beaming a soft smile.

"Hi…" he responded nervously.

"I guess it's your first time taking an academic trip." He asked softly.

"Y-yeah."

"Let's take care of each other then."

"O-okay. Im in your hands."

— — -

They arrived at the forest park, it was such an incredible sight to behold, there were beautiful flower trees, outdoor benches fields and so on. some people boisterously paraded around taking photos of the landscapes, tress and lakes. It was a tourist spot.

They all waited a few minutes for the substitute lecturer to arrive before they could start their day. The lecturer eventually arrived with his luggage and the students hurriedly surrounded him with greetings.

Glen's eye widened and his pupil dilated—his heart thumping faster. It was one of his nightmare, Mr Roy.

Mr Roy's eyes met Glen's anxious expression and a sudden evil grin emerged on his face. It was as if he didn't expect Glen to take part in such a thing.

Glen instantly regretted coming for the trip, he never thought he would be running into the lecturer any time soon. The lecturer had already been tagged as a threat to him and he knew he needed to stick to Williams or someone else, otherwise the lecturer might try to make another move on him.

They all split into twos on different parts of the park to start their photography. A female student picked Glen as her partner while Williams stayed behind with Mr Roy to keep records at his small table set up at a spot in the park under a big tree shelter. They scrutinized contents in some paperwork for a moment before Roy arranged his own papers and stood up.

"Where are you heading Mr Roy?" Williams enquired.

"I want you to look through every document here and watch my table for me while I observe some of the students. We have to make sure they are doing perfectly."

"Okay? Not a problem."

Williams watched as Roy hastily left their space and continued with whatever he was looking through.

A girl's voice sounded abruptly from above him.

"Hi."

He looked up and it was a pretty girl dressed in frilly dress. She appeared to be touring around the park too.

"Hi?"