The Challenge

Before Derek could assimilate her sentence. He was pushed into the pool unexpectedly. Leah widened her eyes, shocked. She had never seen a crazy woman like the one she is seeing now.

And who dares disrespect Derek? The third son of a powerful businessman? His father has the biggest properties in the country and no one has dared to offend them.

"What are you doing, crazy girl?" Leah shouted, getting up slowly and staring at Derek that was already swimming out of the pool with fear in her eyes.

"That is what bad boys like him deserve. He is nothing but a jerk," Anna said, dusting a speck of unseen dust off her hands.

"Don't you know him? Are you tired of living?" Leah asked, walking towards Derek who was already out of the water.

"I know who he is. He is an ugly motherfucker," Anna said out loud, scowling.

Derek was already out of the water. He removed his shirt and threw it on the floor. He was looking hot as the water seeped down his abs. Leah forgot about her dilemma for a few seconds and couldn't help drooling.

"Who are you?" Derek asked, anger was written all over his face.

"A student like you. Just so you know I am in the same school as you and I will be watching you every second. Don't even dare treat girls like a toy again," Anna threatened and turned to walk away, but Derek held her hand, stopping her from moving.

Anna struggled to yank his hand away, but it was futile. She gave up and turned to face him with a sneer.

"Are you the lifesaver?" Derek asked but Anna was mute.

Derek couldn't hold his laughter after realizing she was the famous lifesaver everyone was talking about. Does this woman think she is a power ranger because she managed to save a girl from being raped?

"Wow!!! Seems you thought you are a superwoman because you saved a girl from being raped," He said, chuckling. Derek moved closer to her and whispered into her ears, "If I were you, I will be on my knees now and ask for mercy,"

Anna shifted her head backward and pushed his head backward with a finger. "Begging for your mercy is equal to suicide. I will rather die than ask for mercy from an asshole like you," Anna said, audibly, hissed, and left the swimming room.

Derek kicked his shirt into the pool and sat on one of the loungers as he stared at the exit. "Finally, someone is going to make my days here interesting,"

* * * *

The lecture had already started by the time Anna got to the lecture room.

Everyone burst into a peal of laughter as soon as she walked in. Her dress was so funny because she was dressed like she was still a college student.

"Silence," The lecturer, Mr. Wilton shouted.

"We can't, lecturer. The clown beside you is the one disturbing your class," Chloe Garcia said, holding her belly from laughing. The lecturer shook his head and asked Anna to follow him to his office.

"A new student?" He asked as soon as they got to his office. He sat on his chair, made two cups of coffee, and placed one in front of Anna and the other for him.

"Yes, I am a new student. I am on scholarship," She replied, smiling.

"Scholarship? Oh! The lifesaver?" He asked and Anna nodded proudly.

"Wow!!! You chose the best university. Well, why did you resume with a school uniform? Have you forgotten Montessori is a university and not a college?" He asked, sipping his coffee.

"Erm... I wasn't aware things will be different at the university. I thought I still need to put on a uniform like a college," She explained and Mr. Wilton chuckled.

"It is okay. Take your time to study the environment today. I trust you will do better tomorrow. And, don't mind your coursemates. They are nice people," He said and she chuckled. "Yeah! They are really nice," She thought, sarcastically.

(ANNA)

I wouldn't lie I had a bad day at Montessori University. It was even my first day at the university. Can I call it a bad first day at the university?

I was already tired by the time I got home. My parents haven't gotten back from work by the time I got home. I went straight to the kitchen to prepare dinner. I ate dinner and went to bed immediately. I was too tired to wait for their arrival.

"The Next Day,

The chirping of the birds woke me up this morning. I said my morning prayer and went to the living room. My mom was already packing my breakfast in the lunch box. "Good morning, mum," I greeted, rubbing the sleep off my eyes.

"Good morning, my angel," She said, closing the lunch box and placing it on the table.

"Mom, you don't need to stress yourself. I will eat my breakfast before leaving today. I am not in a hurry," I said.

"Okay, I will just pack your lunch then,"

"No! Don't worry. I can just get my lunch in the school cafeteria. It is free," I lied. Well, I wouldn't call all I said a lie. The part where I said I would get food from the school cafeteria is true but it is not free.

"Okay, I will dish it on a plate for you. Go and take your bath before it gets cold," She said, pushing me back into my room.

I went straight to the bathroom, took my bath, and dressed for the activities of the day. I was having a bad premonition for the day but I didn't take it seriously. I have even forgotten about the crazy guy, Derek Hunter.

I had my breakfast and left home. I got to the school later than the previous day but I didn't expect the school to be filled with students at that time of the day. I footed into the school gate and the scene before me was terrifying.

It felt like everything halted at that moment. I wanted to open the ground and hide there but I don't have the power.

"Who could have done this?" I mumbled absently and everyone noticed my arrival with the noise. They stopped what they were watching and turned to look at me. Everyone was looking at me with disgust and rancor.

"Shameless," One of them shouted and spat on my body. Before I could retaliate, another student threw an egg on my forehead.

Why has everyone turned against Anna?