Alighting from the limousine, I felt all eyes on me. A girl tapped Jean's shoulder pointing at me, the restlessness on Jean's face cooling down as she saw me. Confusion appeared on her face, it seemed, she wasn't sure if I came down from Harry's car because she had been gazing at the gate, waiting for my arrival. Harry sighed as he walked toward his A4 group. They exchanged greetings and hugs, and they are talking about something I didn't hear.

Jean rushed to me, surveying my face. "I watched the news, can't believe." Tears filled her eyes. "Hope they didn't rape you?"

I sighed, nodding and she hugged me.

She looked relieved again but her uneasy appeared on her face as she stare at the limousine. I perceive her mind is full of questions now. The driver starts the engine, driving the limousine out of our school. He would come back when its time for closing hours.

"Harry's mother was the friend of my mother." I stare into her eyes, hoping she understands.

"Oh." She widened her small pink lips. "You are living in their house now?"

I nodded. "I don't expect it. I mean the midnight they came, I almost give up. I don't know how to cope in school... Everybody has known about this..." I broke off. Jean's fingers were under my eyes, cleaning tears, and then she hugged me once more.

"I feel your pain. C'mon, don't let us talk about this again, have you done your math assignment?"

I felt my back is empty. As in, there's no backpack on my back. Oh gosh, had forgotten to carry my bag in the car. Jean had read my face saying, "the driver has driven it back home?"

"Coming," I said, hurrying into the classroom.

"To where," Jean said, running after me.

I looked back at her, giggling. "Don't run, Jean. You might fall."

"Where are you going?"

"Harry would help me call the driver." I walked faster but still waited for a word from Jean before I entered the class. She said nothing.

Walking close to Harry, I felt my heart throbbing as he and his friends looked at me. I stare down, then forced myself to stare into his waiting eyes. "I... my bag... In the car"

"Yo girl," one of them said, "what do you mean?"

"The driver has driven my backpack back home."

"Alright," Harry said, and they laughed.

"Is that what you should say?" I asked him

Charles hissed beside me, staring into the A4 group's eyes. Fear encompassed me like a mother hugging his child. Anger flashes on A4 group eyes.

"Hey girl," Charles said. "What's happening again?"

One of the A4 group removed a pen from his shirt pocket, staring at Charles with evil eyes.

Harry hold him as he wants to attack Charles and said, "Arthur, wait."

Brian, the friend of Charles hurried here, a broken ruler in one hand, compass in the other hand. His appearance irritated the A4 group.

I turned to Charles and Brian. "Everything is alright, thank you."

"I knew nothing is alright," Charles said, "they're making jest of you."

"Let them. It's nothing to me." I snapped

"I'm here to protect you."

"I can protect myself."

Jean held my hand. I understood what she meant, but I haven't accomplished the purpose of me here. I need my backpack so bad.

"It appeared clear to the public," one of the A4 group was saying now. I saw a mark on his forehead as he jerked his finger towards me. "This girl's dating Chris." They laughed. "But Chris wasn't an irresponsible boyfriend. Why did he allow those guys to rape her."

"She was not raped." Jean's voice boomed beside me.

"I'm not even Chris's girlfriend," I added.

A4 group laughed and Arthur said, "Chris must be scared when he heard Annie is living with Harry."

C2 group eyes reddened. I frowned, only Jean know that my hands are shaking. Noises swirled in the class. All eyes flashed on me.

Chris slapped Arthur. Harry pounced on Chris's stomach, and the rest attacked Brian. C2 group would regret they came to protect because the A4 group beat the hell out of them. Amid the struggling, someone slapped me twice. It would be one of the A4 groups, I guess. Jean screamed beside me, someone had slapped her too. The class became chaotic and the noises abated like the oasis in the sky when the school securities hurried in and took them away.

I feel ashamed, and then at that moment, I hated him. I hate Harry. I blamed myself for crushing on him in the first place. Jean pulled me outside the class when she noticed I was sniffing. She doesn't want me to cry in the presence of a gossiper, although she was crying, too.

In the library now, Shakespeare's sonnet blurred before me. I knew the reason, I swiftly wipes my tears off as I pushed the book to the other side.

"You need another one?" Jean asked.

"No." I had changed many books, for I think it would absorb my attention away from the drama that happened in the morning, but all the books had taken failed to do that. I stopped after reading five to six pages and then takes another one.

"Drink your ice cream then."

"No," I remembered I didn't eat since morning, and I don't feel like eating now.

"You are still worrying." Jean sighed, dropping her ice cream. "It wasn't your fault. Those guys were arrogant." She rubbed her cheeks as if she still felt the pain of the slaps.

"I'm tired of this."

"Don't talk to them again." She took her ice cream back. "No one can become their friends, you shouldn't have asked for your bag. I want to ask you a question?"

I looked up at Jean and motioned her to ask.

"Do you have feelings for Harry?"

"To hell with Harry and his friends."

"Why did you pick his book when it fell in the first place?"

"It just helps. Everyone can help anyone without feelings." I waved my hands around the silent library.

"Really?"

I feel guilty for telling my bosom and lovely friend a lie, sighing, I said, "I had a crush on him like every other girl, but he had slaughtered the feeling and buried it in the tomb with his arrogant behavior. I hate him now as I hate the hell's pain."