Chapter 7: The Rival

Halora was discharged by the hospital nurse upon completing all the necessary tests she needed to undergo. She has to visit her doctor for further check-ups regarding her condition.

She was confused upon seeing herself in the hospital bed, wearing a blue robe. She wanted to scream but she chose to remain silent and calm.

"Today, an urgent and disturbing incident had caught the staff's attention including myself. Two days ago, there was a student who's reading a book inside of the classroom. She... she was a–alone," The school's principal paused.

She looked at Halora's brown eyes in disbelief and guilt. "Until the lights blinked and off that made her frightened and surprised. She was too afraid of the darkness that caused her to faint."

All of the students gasped while listening to the Principal's speech. They couldn't believe that a serious incident happened inside the school premises.

They have different perspectives, opinions, speculations, and suspects. "Silence," spoke one of the school's staff who stood on the stage.

"I am dishonored, disappointed, and disheartened. As the principal of La Milanosa Academy, it is my responsibility to secure each and everyone's safety. And because of that incident, we decided to include a very popular, common rule inside and outside of the campus!"

There was sadness in her eyes, pity for the victim of bullying. But, instead of putting justice in her hands, she chose to take it regarding the incident.

She took a deep breath before announcing the new rule. She has nothing to do with the suspects but she must be fair to everyone.

"Bullying is a crime and we do not allow it to happen again, especially inside of the campus."

"As an immediate action, if you are being caught by any form of bullying, you are automatically be suspended and will be kicked out of the school...," she said, convincing the students to act normally, to respect each one and another without expecting in return.

"What? That is too much! I... I can no longer tease that ugly, freak woman!" Sandra rolled her eyes while murmuring.

Secretly, Lou nudged her elbow and said, "Shut up! Mrs. Lim is looking at you!"

"And as punishment, your parents will be in jail for two days to repay your wrong deeds." Mrs. Lim added that brought a greater tension between the students and the school's staff.

Yet, Halora couldn't find the justice she's seeking. She doesn't want to see them suffering from their mistakes. She wanted them to change their behaviors and treatment towards other people.

She looked down, playing with her fingers while listening to the Principal. "I should live my life to the fullest...," she whispered, pretending to be grateful for surviving from death.

"You must live, laugh and love while you're still alive and kicking!" spoke a young boy from behind.

Hermione turned her head to see the boy's face. Until she covered her eyes in disbelief, "Roy? Is that you?"

She couldn't believe she will go to see him again. After long, long years, finally, they meet again.

"I've been following you since last month but I'm afraid that you might have forgotten me! So I've decided not to bother you until I saw you today!"

Roy was her long, lost childhood friend. They were living in the same town when she was five but unfortunately, Roy's family needed to migrate to the US for a business trip.

From then on, they never meet again until Roy saw her in the covered hall. "How are you? It's been eleven years since we left the town!"

There was a wide smile on his lips until it shrouded off by seeing Hermione's gloomy face. "Wh–what's wrong?! Di–did I said something insulting? or... or– just tell me what happened?"

She couldn't find the courage to tell him everything that took place, decades ago. Her life was a mess, miserable and hopeless.

"Remember, we are not tolerating any form of bullying inside and outside of the campus. We are looking deeply into this matter to avoid any conflict and accidents that are life-threatening."

Everyone hissed but shut their mouth. "That would be all, thank you for listening and I hope you will stop degrading other students just because of your family's connections."

Sandra swallowed greedily upon hearing it. She could feel the tension inside of her body, and Mrs. Lim's deep stare.

"Maybe we can talk about it later during recess?" Halora asked him, pulling her bag, and looked at his amber eyes.

"Sure thing! Should I wait for you in the cafeteria or I'll fetch you in your room?"

Roy noticed that she struggled to pull her bag off the bench. He knew she was in pain and so, he took the bag from her grip and said, "Let me help you this time. I know what happened to you that night,"

Surprised, she quickly covered his mouth. "Shhh, keep your voice low! I don't want anyone to know about that anymore!"

Hermione looked around and ruled upon seeing Sandra with her friends standing right behind Roy. Crossing her arms, she raised her eyebrows, "Wow! First, the Campus bad boy, and now, the transferee who is the Campus Heartbreaker? You are such a bit–"

"Say it and I will never hesitate to hurt you, woman!"

Sandra gasped, widened her eyes by his deep gaze. She never thought Halora will be surrounded by handsome, popular, and rich men.

"L–leave me alone, Sandra! I do–don't know what you're trying to say!" She finally got the courage to fight with her verbally.

She then quickly looked away from Sandra's sharp stare and turned her back from them.

But, "Don't you dare turn your back on me again! You don't know who I am and you will never wish it to happen!"

Halora saw her eyes changed its color. She noticed that Sandra's teeth are slowly shaping into a vampire's fang. "Sandra, let's go! This is not the right place to stay with that wimp girl!"

Fortunately, Sunny pulled her away from her. They forced her to go back to their room before she could hurt her again.

Roy took a deep sigh of relief and said, "You will never be alone. From now on, I will save you from anyone until my very last breath."

Cupping Halora's face, Sebastian Woo stopped running from a distance upon seeing her and a rival inside of the covered hall.