Chapter 3

Andrea’s POV

“Here is our guest of honor,” Erica said as she moved toward me.

“She looks so surprised. You weren’t expecting us to be waiting for you here, right?” one of her minions asked.

“What do you want from me?” I asked.

“We just want to play with you. Why are you being rude to us?” another answered my question.

“But I don’t want to play with you, guys. I have to head home,” I said, moving out of Erica’s hold, but she pulled me back.

“Don’t be a killjoy and just come with us. We want to play, so you will have to play,” Erica warned as she pulled me along with them.

They took me to a building that wasn’t far from our school. We got into the elevator and went straight to the roof. All through the journey, I kept on wondering what they were up to. We got to the rooftop, and Erica released her hold on me.

“You must be wondering why we brought you here, right?” Erica asked.

“Why have you brought me here?” I asked as the cold breeze wafted into me, making me shiver a bit.

“To play, of course. All we want is to play,” Erica said as she pushed me.

“But this is not playing, and I want to go back,” I said as I began to head back.

But her friends held me and pulled me toward the edge of the building.

“What are you doing?” I asked, now terrified.

“Playing, of course. I told you that we want to play with you,” Erica said as they kept on pushing me over the edge.

“Why won’t you just beg and cry out for mercy? All the students we have bullied always begged me, but you are different,” she said.

“I never did anything to you. Why should I beg you? I only lied. Haven’t you ever lied before?” I asked her.

“Don’t get me wrong, Andrea. I’m not doing this to you because you lied and deceived us all, but because you are poor, and I despise poor people, especially those who try to think of themselves as rich.”

“Is it a crime to be poor?” I asked, and she walked toward me.

“There is no crime in it. I just don’t like poor people!” she yelled at me.

“Fine, then you want me to beg, right? Then I will beg. Just stop with this madness.”

“What did you just say? Did you just say that this is madness? How dare you…” She raised her hand, wanting to hit me, and I was waiting for the lash from her, but nothing came. Instead, I heard her say, “Who are you? Let go of me!”

I opened my eyes to see a guy standing in front of her, holding her hand.

“Who am I? I’m someone who hates bullies, and as for letting your hand, I will do that right now!” he said, letting her hand so suddenly that she fell on the floor.

The girls holding me quickly went to help her up.

“Now scram before I bully you all myself,” he said, and quickly Erica and her friends ran away, leaving the stranger and me alone.

While he picked up his bag from the floor, I had time to look at him. Not only was he handsome, but judging from his uniform and the accessories he had on, I thought he must also be rich.

He turned to leave, and I quickly thanked him. He stopped and stared at me. “I did not do it for you,” he said stonily.

“Pardon?”

“Are you that weak? Why have they been bullying you? Couldn’t you stand up for yourself? Why let them go so far as to bring you here?” he asked all the questions so fast that it was hard for me to reply.

“I…”

“Don’t answer. I know you will give me a useless reply,” he said and turned to leave again.

“I wasn’t bullied because I wanted to!” I yelled at him, and he stopped again.

“I told you, right? You will give me a useless reply. It’s best that you save it and just go home,” he said again and left the rooftop.

Quickly, I picked up my bag and ran after him. It was getting dark already, and I was scared that Erica and her friends might return to bully me again. He was just entering the elevator when I caught up with him. I got into the elevator and stood quietly beside him. He might be good-looking, but he had a very hot temper.

“Well, thank you for helping me,” I said again.

“I told you that I didn’t do it for you!” he said impatiently.

“But still, I will have to thank you. You saved me from those bullies, and…”

“Enough!!! Apart from hating weaklings, I also hate those who thank someone. If you had been able to do it yourself, you wouldn’t be indebted to anyone,” he said, silencing me.

The elevator opened, and we both got out. As soon as we walked outside, he turned one way, and I did the same.

“Being poor isn’t a crime. Lying and being a weakling is what I call a crime,” he said to me for the very last time before turning and walking off.

Throughout my journey back home, I kept thinking about what he said. I never thought that he would have heard my conversation with Erica and her friends. I never wanted to lie, but I had to because I knew that it was the only way to stay at Excel High. But that will have to stop now. I will tell Mom about the bullying, and I’m sure that she will do the right thing. ‘If it means sending me to a public school, she will,’ I thought as I walked into the large compound.

I went straight to the kitchen, and there was my mom, but she looked kind of different. She wasn’t happy, and she wasn’t cooking, which was very odd. ‘But no matter what, I have to talk to her,’ I thought as I went toward her.

“Oh, you’re back,” she said, forcing a smile onto her face.

“Yes, and I have to discuss something with you,” I said as I put down my bag.

“What now, Andrea?” she asked.

“Mom, please let me transfer. I don’t want to go to Excel High again, and this time I have a good reason for saying so,” I said to her.

“Not now, Andrea. I have a lot of other things running through my head right now. Besides, whether you want to or not, you will be transferring,” she said, and I stared at her in surprise.

“Why?” I asked.

“The boss is selling her house. Seems like she went bankrupt, and typically, we will have to leave because we are now fired. So it’s best that we start packing up,” she said.

“But where will we go?” I asked.

“To the city, to try out our luck. Maybe I can get myself a job as a maid and then find a school for you,” she said sadly.

I just hope that it will not be another rich school.

“Why are you still standing there? Go in and pack,” she said to me, and I dashed off to our room.

To my mom, it’s really sad and painful news, but to me, it’s the greatest news I’ve ever had in ages. And I hope that the city we are going to will favor us.