"Lina! Lina please wait" Valentine chased her through student's clatter begging Lina to let talk to her. It's been three days since the day Lina changed her seat because of her. She didn't want to talk to her again, but Valentine was always on her tail.
"I told you already, leave me alone. Why won't you just leave me alone?" Lina snarled through heavy breathing, walking hurriedly in the hallway. But Valentine caught up with her as a strong girl she was.
"Why are you being like this? I have apologized. Is it that hard to let go?" Lina stopped walking and stood, almost leaning against the wall with her arms akimbo
"You tell me. Is it hard to leave someone alone?" She turned her back to leave, but three words from Valentine bounced her back.
"I like you" she said out loud, and in turn, attracting attention from close students.
"What did you just say?"
"I like you, Lina. I really do, that's why I can't leave you alone"
Lina chuckled. "You like me? You're a beautiful girl but I'm not into girls, sorry" Valentine smiled, supported by blushing.
"Why are you smiling? I said no"
"You said I'm beautiful"
"Oh… obviously…"
"No, no I don't mean like as in, want a relationship with you, like romantic, umm whatever. I mean I like you, because you're nice. I like you as a friend"
Lina stood flabbergasted for a while. "Thanks, Val. But I don't want anyone liking me because I get bullied. At the end of the day it is not real, just pathetic and a gesture of pity. I'd rather be alone. You should too." She advised.
"No, not because of that. I haven't connected with anyone else here like I did with you in a short time."
"Well… seems like you would have to let go. It was nice getting to know you though'' she smiled and walked away. Valentine didn't chase after her again. She lumped into despair.
She watched Lina walk past student groups into a dissolve. She sat down on a bench seat, cuddling her bag.
****
It was in the afternoon that the Triple B and the 4DD's pulled up to school, creating a nuisance with their cars.
Josef got out first and had his way to the first building and off of it to the main hallway.
"Hey, Josef …" Nicholas fell in, running after him and catching up in a few steps.
"Yeah?"
"What are you going to do today?"
"I don't know…" he shrugged. "Maybe stay out of Lady Ganja's reach"
"Ah, cool." He nodded his head, and the others joined them in their royalty match. Once they got to where the students clustered. As usual, they were given the upper hands and all eyes were on them, because every new week, they came to school with new and expensive clothes, shoes, and wristwatches, among others. Most were customized from top world renowned brands. And it was their first time coming to school that week.
Lina showed up at the corner that connected the hall where Valentine sat with juice in a closely fitted bottle. She glanced at Valentine and walked ahead, ignoring her despair look.
Josef and his Four devil doves walked out from the corner to the connecting hall, and once he walked past one of the large pillars, Lina juggled up and her juice poured on Josef's shirt.
Her eyes widened and her heart throbbed against her rib cage. "I-i'm so sorry. I'm sorry, I didn't know… I will have it cleaned…" She pleaded for mercy.
Josef was irritated, and angry. "Whoa that's not good" muttered the students around.
"Damn bitch, do you know what you just did?!" He snarled.
"Sorry sir…" Lina apologized frantically. She tore a piece of her light garment to use it to clean the stain, but he resisted.
"Get your filthy hands off me!" He pushed her away. He looked at the stain and grew more furious. He was hooked on letting it go or punishing her.
"Josef, isn't that the shirt you bought last week in London? How much was it again? Oh Ten thousand pounds. Hmm". Hector had just added salt to a closing wound.
"I'm sorry, please I will wash it. Just give me the shirt" Lina pleaded. Rubbing her hands together for mercy.
Valentine got a glimpse of what was going on and wondered why she was begging a human being like he was a God. She walked into sight. "Oh, boy. What now?"
"No. You can't clean it! Just shut up already! You spoiled it! Do you think this is some kind of fabric that I got from a local tailor?" They laughed.
He ran his hands through his hair and his eyes caught upon a juice bottle in the hands of a girl.
"Hey, can I buy that?" He said to her, The girl, transfixed that Josef Bond talked to her, she couldn't talk but nod her head.
"Come, give it to me" he extended his hand, and the girl walked up to him and dropped it on his hand. "Thanks" he handed her a hundred euro.
He opened the bottle and slowly emptied the content on Lina's body.
"Oh my God" Valentine gasped.
Lina held herself down, whimpering as the juice ran from her head down her body, wetting her hair, staining and soaking her white blouse and skirt, and dripped down to her toes.
Satisfied, he asked for more. "Someone should get me more of these, or whatever" he commanded, but everyone was too cold to move or give it to him. It seemed like no one had any.
"I said get me more!" He yelled and bags were immediately opened, hands handed over different types of juices. He chuckled. "Seems like we would be having a juice party after all" he got more, and opened multiples of bottles at once, dispensing it on Lina who whimpered continuously with her head down. Her body had been soaked and the clothes lapped on her body revealing her bra.
Valentine was bewildered. It disgusted her to see Josef do such a thing to Lina, and it disgusted her even more that she couldn't seem to do anything about it.
She felt sorry for Lina, hoping that Jemima would show up soon. But with a glance at the corners, She saw Jemima leaning against a wall, arm crossed looking at them. She was shaken.
It dawned on her that Jemima wouldn't always be a saviour, and Lina wasn't going to be relieved from the disgrace anytime soon.
A bigger one was brought to Josef's face. "This will do the job well." Hector gave a big bottle of juice to Josef . He opened it immediately, and lifted it up to pour it down like rain on Lina.
She closed her eyes, waiting for the outpour any seconds, but it didn't come. Valentine rushed in nervously. Lina raised her head to see Valentine standing before her, and against Josef , defending her.
Everyone is taken aback, it just became interesting for Jemima. "What is she trying to do?" Jemima muttered.
"Who gave you the right to do this to her?! Huh who do you think you are!? She just apologized to you but your ego won't just let it go, haven't you done enough already!" Valentine's voice silenced every other noise, as everyone stood in admiration; for the first time ever, someone just scolded Josef !?
Josef was baffled, he couldn't believe the new girl's energy as her eyes ranted on him, fuming in anger.
"Does this look like a high school to you? Is there any kid here? You think you can just come to school anyday and instill fear on everyone?! This is a college! Not your house or whatever! Everyone has their rights here, and you shouldn't, no matter what, tamper on that. You and your little boys. Well, I refuse to fear you, I refuse to be caged down like an animal…"
She spit down beside his shoes, Stirring gasps and admiration from everyone else. Lina couldn't help it but smile; Valentine was her savior and really liked her. She got a very important place from that moment in her heart..
Josef had been challenged, and he wasn't just going to stand there and do nothing. "Get out of my way, now." He commanded.
But she refused. "No. You should be the one to get out of here. She is my friend, and I'm not going anyway"
Character lines of amazement were drawn visibly on their faces. But Josef saw a huge threat at that moment.
"Who dares to challenge Josef Bond" Hector muttered with tints of unbelief.
"Valentine Perez… and your reign is over"
Josef raised his hand… "Don't you d—" But his palms hit against her cheeks with a loud slap. The hall was filled with gasps and mutters.
Valentine earned herself a hot slap from the Big bad boy. He didn't mean to, but he had no other options. He couldn't be seen so helpless, and he didn't regret it.
Valentine rubbed her palm on her cheek which had just turned red. Lina held her hand sobbing and muttered to her hearing. "Oh my god, Valentine. Are you okay?!"
"Get out of my way, now" Josef commanded, ready to lash on them again. Valentine held back her tears, and looked into his eyes. “no. I won't give him the benefit. He is not worth my tears” she said to herself.
"No. I'm not going anyway" she clutched Lina's hand tightly. Josef raised his hand again to slap her…
"JAMES!" a voice bumped down his hand. Everyone turned to the emitting source, muttering, falling back and hiding their faces.
"Lady Ganja!" A voice cried out.
They cleared out of their way to reveal the lady who Valentine helped pack some documents. She was surprised. Why were they tearing up because of her? Even the 4DD's and Josef comported.
"You two, in my office. Now"