Chapter 22 : Dangerous Man (4)

I lost my senses the second I felt his grubby hand feeling up my thigh. The only thing I could think at that time was how to plan this man's funeral. Never in my life have I felt so humiliated.

Scorned by people while being abused verbally every day? Check.

Being beaten blue and black occasionally? Check.

Being treated unfairly in any kind of situation? Check.

Threatened and molested by your homeroom teacher? This is a whole new level.

I bit his hand hard, causing him to pull out his hand. Like a psycho he was, he was laughing as I growled at him. "Release me this instant. You disgust me!"

Mr. Gilbert chuckled as if he was expecting me to say that. "But I adore you very much. Nobody would take someone like you anyway. Might as well give your every first to me, and I promise I will help you."

This was the reality. Everybody treated me like a nuisance and an eyesore, so I never expected for a second that anybody would be attracted to me. I never thought anything along that line at all. Nevertheless, despite their own personal feelings towards me, I guessed some people didn't mind who their partner was as long as they could relieve themselves. Mr. Gilbert was one of those people.

He hates me. That much I knew all along. He didn't approach me out of kindness, or because he had even a shred of good favor towards me. He treated me like those convenient women whom he could call or push away anytime he pleases. That's why since the beginning, I never trusted anything he said. I would be crazy if I accepted his offer!

"Get off of me! I said I am not interested in your sick fantasy!" I said as I struggled fervently. I violently stomped on his feet, and elbowed his flank brutally, to the point he had a hard time suppressing me.

He clicked his tongue annoyingly. "Shut up."

Using one hand, he choked me from behind. His large hand enveloped my throat and squeezed it forcefully, blocking my airway and made it hard for me to breathe. I wheezed as I desperately gasped for air.

"It seems you prefer it rough, huh? I tried to be gentle, but since you resisted it so much, I don't have a choice but to play the hard way."

Tears started to pool in my eyes at my powerlessness. I recalled an almost identical situation in the past, and it wrenched me with so much pain inside. Compared to that time, I am older and stronger now. That terrifying man was long gone too. So why? Why am I still like this? Why do I need to suffer this again?

"Are you crying? Aah, that expression is so good. Your reaction is so cute. Are you seducing me right now?" He giggled maniacally as he whispered in my ear. "To have such ability to arouse a man, I guess it's in your blood after all."

I flinched involuntarily. His words were the same as that man, and it stabbed me like a knife. I closed my eyes, trying to chase away the fear that came along with those agonizing memories. My hands were busy beating and scratching his hand on my throat, but it only made Mr. Gilbert even more eager. I could feel something hard poking on my lower back, and I shuddered at the thought of what was going to happen.

'No, please! Someone! Anyone! Save me!'

"I… don't… want… to die…" Amid my struggle, I managed to choke out those words. The same pathetic words I uttered just like before. Reminding me every time of painful reality, that nobody will come. No one would save me.

Just like that time.

My uncontrollable fear and despair force a bead of tears to roll out of my eyes. At that time I regretted it. If only I could turn back time, I'd never come to this school. If only I didn't cling to false hope, I wouldn't be in this situation. In the end, no matter how much I struggled, my fate was set in stone. I couldn't change anything.

My strength gradually left my body. I put down my hand as I resigned myself to my fate.

KNOCK KNOCK

My consciousness was starting to fade when I heard the sound of a door knocking. Mr. Gilbert flinched and he stopped moving altogether.

"Excuse me, Mr. Gilbert? Are you in there?" said the person from the other side of the door. That voice...

Mr. Gilbert clicked his tongue in irritation. He whispered in my ears in a threatening manner. "Don't you dare say anything unnecessary. Remember, we will sink or swim together."

He released me abruptly. My legs were shaking so hard I couldn't stand properly without leaning on the wall. I was feeling disoriented and couldn't form a coherent thought for a while before the reality finally sank in. I was saved.

I looked at how Mr. Gilbert already put on his usual amiable smile as he opened the door, revealing Mrs. Victoria who was frowning. I was so relieved I almost jumped out to embrace her, if not for my wobbly legs.

"Mr. Gilbert. Do you happen to see Miss Williams? I was looking for her but some students said she was summoned by you."

Mr. Gilbert didn't reveal anything on his face as he made an expression as if he just remembered something. "Ah, Miss Victoria. Conveniently, you are here now. I was just about to go out and call you."

Mrs. Victoria tilted her head in confusion when she finally noticed me from the corner of her eyes. She looked surprised as she exclaimed, "Miss Williams! What happened to you?"

She walked towards me hastily with a worried expression. "Your face is so pale!" She put her palm on my forehead to check my temperature with a rigid expression, but after some moments her face loosened in relief. "You didn't have a fever, thank goodness. But your face is pale. Did your body hurt somewhere?"

I shook my head as I grabbed her arms. Mrs. Victoria was taken aback by my reaction. He gazed at my hand on her arms, and a complicated expression was shown on her face. "This can't do. You might get anemia. I told you to not come to school if you are not feeling well yet."

Mrs. Victoria held my upper arm as she helped me to stand straight. "Let me help you walk to the infirmary. You need to be examined again. Mr. Gilbert, she is unwell, I'll take her to the infirmary for now."

Mr. Gilbert nodded his head immediately. His face was laced with worry and anxiety. "I know something was wrong. Why didn't you tell me you are feeling unwell, Williams? Do you need me to help you take her, Mrs. Victoria?"

'What a good actor he is. If I didn't know any better, I might believe he was truly concerned with me.'

I sneered inwardly as I squeezed Mrs. Victoria's arm. Mrs. Victoria seemed to catch my signal and replied. "It's okay Mr. Gilbert. Let me take care of her. You must be busy with your counseling duty."

Mr. Gilbert shook his head, but thankfully he didn't insist. Mrs. Victoria helped me to walk without saying anything, but her face scrunched up uncomfortably.

After arriving at the infirmary, he forced me to sit down on the bed as she pulled one of the rolling chairs and sat down in front of me. She folded her arms in front of her chest and looked at me with a frown on her beautiful face.

"Care to explain now?"

I avoided her gaze by looking down on my lap, but I guessed it's useless since it was obvious Mrs. Victoria was able to catch something fishy was going on from her short interaction in the counseling room.

Due to my scuffle with Mr. Gilbert, my hair and uniform were disheveled, and I was found leaning on the wall weakly, which was highly suspicious from an objective perspective. Unless Mrs. Victoria was super dense, she ought to notice something.

She stared at me so intently, waiting for me to start talking. I bit my lips, unsure of where I should even start. In the first place, would she even believe anything I said? I had enough facing against an adult. It's too exhausting with a high risk.

Nevertheless, I also realized I couldn't handle Mr. Gilbert alone. He caught on to my weakness and is now trying to take advantage of me. Fighting against him directly meant I should say goodbye to any hope of continuing study in this school. I wanted to avoid that.

I let out a bitter laugh. Just moments ago, I was so determined that if I could turn back the time, I wouldn't come to this school, but here I am now. After being saved from a step into that abyss, I ran straight towards that abyss again. Should I call myself persistent or shameless?

My train of thought was interrupted when Mrs. Victoria's displeased expression appeared in front of my face. "Be honest. Did Mr. Gilbert do something to you?"