Chapter 35 : Commotion in the corridor (2)

Mrs. Victoria glared at us as she approached. Despite putting on such a serious and intimidating face, she was as beautiful as usual. The way her long hair fluttered and her neat eyebrows frown, and how her eyes narrowed down as she exuded an air of authority was mesmerizing.

Her presence was so strong it made students unconsciously step aside to give her way. My heart unconsciously beats along with the rhythm of her steps. Was I waiting for her? Or was I afraid of what she intended to do? I couldn't tell.

Beatrice clicked her tongue beside me. She let go of her hand while whispering to me in a threatening manner. "You better watch your mouth."

I rolled my eyes inwardly. If she was so worried, then why in the world she started making a scene in the middle of the corridor?

Beatrice 'pretended' to help me up. She squeezed my forearm tightly as a further warning. With a voice laced with fake concern, she asked, "Are you okay?"

Mrs. Victoria looked at our exchanges with squinted eyes. She clearly didn't buy Beatrice's act. "I don't know what happened here, but do you have to be so harsh toward her?" She asked accusingly from the get-go. I felt an incoming headache.

"What do you mean? I was just helping her after she tripped herself." Beatrice smiled innocently.

"I saw it with my own two eyes how you slapped her. Cut your useless act." Mrs. Victoria glared at her in a condemning manner, as she reached out to me and pulled me to her side protectively. Then, she turned to me worriedly. "Are you okay?"

As much as I appreciate her concern, this development was not good. For her for the most part. In this school, age and seniority meant nothing. The only thing that matters was money and influence. The students here are so rotten, they didn't hesitate to bully an adult if it's necessary. Defending me like this would make Mrs. Victoria became their new target.

Slowly, I retracted her hand from her grip as I simply nodded my head. I deliberately didn't look at her to not arouse suspicion. I hoped she took the hint and stopped her interference with this.

Mrs. Victoria seemed taken aback by my cold response, but in the next second, she appeared to realize something. She shifted her attention back to Beatrice and stared at her sternly. "Apologize to her."

Not only Beatrice but almost every person in the corridor, including me, was shocked upon hearing her demand. Asking someone to apologize on my behalf was equivalent to a war declaration against the whole school. At this point, every student started whispering to each other.

"Is she crazy? Why would she defend 'that' thing?"

'

"Wait, isn't she the new school doctor? Whoa, she is as pretty as rumor has described."

"That's beside the point. She is digging her own grave due to her ignorance!"

"Out of all people, she just had to defend that one. She is doomed."

If I could hear what they were saying, Mrs. Victoria, who stood beside me surely could hear it too. With an expression of disbelief, she threw the surrounding students a dumbfounded look. "How could you say that? A person is beaten up like that in front of you, but that's all you are going to say?!"

I facepalmed inwardly. Can she read between the lines? She was so eager to help she practically dived headfirst into trouble. The students around looked at her weirdly, as if she was talking in a different language.

I secretly tugged on her sleeve, silently begging her to stop talking. However, Mrs. Victoria seemed to misunderstand my intention since she tapped my shoulder with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, no one will dare to bully you with me here."

Oh god. Is there any way to salvage this situation at this point?

"But I didn't do anything wrong? Why should I apologize?" Beatrice asked with raised brows. She folded her arms while smiling provocatively as if Mrs. Victoria's glare didn't faze her at all.

"You are still saying that? Then tell me why did you slap her?"

"She bumped into me first. I'm just paying her back for that as a joke." Beatrice said as she twirled her hair around her finger, seeming disinterested in this conversation.

"Just because of that and you slapped her?!"

"You are too biased, Ma'am. What if I fell so hard I twisted my ankle? How is she going to take responsibility for it?"

"You can do that IF your ankle truly twisted, but as far as I see you are perfectly fine."

Beatrice's bored face started to change into an annoyed one. Sensing the impending conflict, I grabbed Mrs. Victoria's arm. "Mrs. School Doctor, she is right. It's just a friendly gesture and contrary to how it looks, her slap didn't hurt at all."

Mrs. Victoria looked at me incredulously. I gazed back at her imploringly, trying to send a message through my eyes. This time, Mrs. Victoria appeared to understand my intention, since she didn't pursue the matter anymore and instead wrapped her arm around my shoulder. "Your cheek is red. Let's go to the infirmary."

After giving Beatrice one last warning look, she was half-dragging me to follow her to the infirmary.

***

After she settled me down on a chair, Mr. Victoria handed me a bottle of water. "Drink this first."

I received the bottle and drank a gulp as Mrs. Victoria took a seat in front of me. She wore that upset look again on her face. "I don't understand you. Why would you defend them like that? They are clearly ganging up on you, but you can still act like nothing happened!"

I knew she was going to talk about this, so I casually shrugged my shoulders. "It's just the usual thing."

"Usual? They often did that to you?" Mrs. Victoria looked at me with a trace of pity and hurt in her eyes, making me slightly uncomfortable.

"Not often, but it's not the first time," I said, trying to keep the details to myself. "Don't mind that. More importantly, why do you want to meet me here?"

"Don't try to brush off the topic!" Mrs. Victoria sternly reprimanded me. "I knew they treated you badly, but I never thought they would go this far. And nobody seemed to care at all! How could they treat this as a normal situation?!"

'Hey, I knew you were angry and upset, but there was no point scolding me like this, yeah? I didn't ask to be beaten like that.'

If Mrs. Victoria was flustered just by what she saw earlier, then what would happen if she saw worse? According to my experience, slapping was the lowest level they could do to torment me.

Of course, I was glad she was angry for me and standing up on my behalf, but I was too preoccupied with the thought of how to help her to get out of this situation. Even though I knew this was not the time for worrying about others.

"Thank you for defending me earlier, but as you can see, nothing would happen even if you do that. On the contrary, you may as well become their next target."

Mrs. Victoria snorted. "What could a bunch of kids do to me?"

"This is where you thought wrong, Mrs. Victoria. It will be in your best interest to stop treating them like normal kids."

"I truly don't understand you, Eirlys. From what I saw, it's not like you are afraid of them, but why would you go so far as to endure everything? If you said it like that, then you must realize they wouldn't stop just because you silently accept everything they threw at you, right?"

I pressed my lips in a thin line. The ultimate reason for that, of course, was because I wanted to remain in this school until graduation, and received my high school diploma. I thought about the scheduled disciplinary meeting and lamented my limited choice. If only, there was another school willing to accept me.

'Huh, but then again, who can guarantee it won't end up the same in the new school?'

Mrs. Victoria gently gripped my hand. "You must have a reason for that, right? I will try my best to help you, so can you tell me about it?"

The warmth of her hand seeped into my heart, and it soothed me a little. It's nice to have someone worrying about you when you are at your lowest like this. It made me want to cherish this moment.

I smiled thinly. "There is a reason for that but I'm afraid there is nothing anybody could do with that. Please don't be offended, it's not because I didn't trust you, but I'm afraid you will feel bad later."

"You don't know that for sure if you don't try it first!" Mrs. Victoria stubbornly pressed on. Her eyes blazed with determination.

I think I know Mrs. Victoria better now. Contrary to her gentle appearance, she was a fiery and motivated person. Silence prevailed as I contemplated it. In the end, I could only sigh in resignation.

"Fine, I'll tell you. I need to tell you if we want to talk about this morning's announcement, anyway. But promise me you won't do anything reckless without me knowing."

Mrs. Victoria nodded enthusiastically. "You had my words."

"Actually…"