School Drama
The next day at school, as Adrian and Elsa arrived, a bespectacled student suddenly blocked their way at the entrance to the school building.
"You're Adrian, right?" the student asked.
"Yeah, why?" Adrian replied.
"You're trying to cheat, aren't you? You got first rank by cheating, didn't you?" the student accused, pointing at Adrian.
All the students passing by turned and stopped to watch. Adrian observed the student's face.
"Do you know him, Sa?" Adrian asked Elsa.
"Nah, who is he?" Elsa asked.
"You don't know me, Elsa? Seriously? We were in junior high together. You know who was ranked first back then, don't you? You were always ranked second!" the student retorted.
"Oh... no, who?" Elsa asked again.
"It's me, Niko! How can you not know me? You always lost to me!" Niko replied.
"Huh... I don't remember competing with you. That's weird. Let's go, Dri," Elsa said.
"Yeah, let's go," Adrian replied.
But as Adrian was about to push Elsa's wheelchair, Niko's foot suddenly stomped on Elsa's footrest, making Elsa almost fall forward and her wheelchair stop. Adrian immediately grabbed Elsa's shoulders from behind.
"Where do you think you're going, huh? We're not do—"
Before Niko could finish speaking, Adrian had grabbed his collar and lifted him, his fist ready to strike his face. Seeing Adrian's now muscular body, Niko instantly became scared.
"If Elsa falls because of you, I swear you're done for right here," Adrian warned.
"Sorry... sorry... I didn't mean it. Sorry, put me down," Niko pleaded, terrified.
"Shut up. What do you want for blocking me and Elsa? Speak up, what's your problem with me and Elsa? I'll deal with it," Adrian demanded.
"That's enough, Dri, it's okay. I'm fine," Elsa said, holding Adrian's shirt from behind.
"I just wanted to say that for the next exam, I won't lose to either of you. That's all... that's all, sorry," Niko stammered.
Adrian lowered Niko, who then bolted, scrambling away from them. The students watching immediately dispersed, acting normal as if nothing bad had happened. Adrian calmed down and walked back behind Elsa's wheelchair.
"I told you, don't be like that," Elsa said.
"But what if you fell?" Adrian countered.
"I'd just get back up, right? Promise me you won't do that again, especially now that you're different," Elsa insisted.
"Sorry, Sa," Adrian replied.
"Don't say sorry, you didn't do anything wrong. I'm happy you got angry for me, but I don't want you to cause trouble, you understand?" Elsa said.
"Yeah, I get it. Come on, let's go to class," Adrian replied.
They walked towards their classroom again, unaware that a female student was watching them intensely from behind.
"I'm going to steal that cripple's boyfriend. Just you wait," the student muttered, glaring at Elsa's wheelchair.
*****
Lunch Break Confrontation
During lunch break, Adrian, Elsa, Erik, and Yuni gathered in the classroom. Since they brought their own lunches, they planned to eat together. Adrian and Erik pushed the tables together so they could share a meal. Then, both sat next to Elsa and Yuni. Elsa recounted what happened that morning at the school gate.
"Ugh, that kid's such an idiot. He's always looking for trouble, making up stories to teachers, or trying to force himself on Yuni. I almost smacked him. He's just weird; don't even bother with him," Erik said.
"Oh, really? I didn't know that," Adrian replied.
"Me neither, haha," Elsa added.
"What? You knew, Sa! Remember that time I told you about a guy who just grabbed me and talked nonsense? That was him!" Yuni exclaimed.
"Oh, I forgot about that. Sorry, Yun, I just thought you were fine back then," Elsa said.
"It wasn't a problem for me, but after a while, it got annoying, so I finally told Erik, and he threatened him. That's when he stopped," Yuni explained.
"What's his rank now?" Adrian asked.
"He's ranked third, hahaha," Yuni replied.
"Yeah, he lost to both of you," Erik added.
"Oh, no wonder," Adrian said.
"But are grades really a competition like that? They're not, right?" Elsa asked.
"He's the only one stressed about it, so just ignore him," Erik replied.
Suddenly, someone tapped Adrian's shoulder. He turned and saw a very beautiful female student standing beside him.
"Hi, can I get to know you?" she asked, glancing at Elsa with disdain.
"His name's Adrian. What do you want, Vero?" Elsa asked.
"Ugh, I know, I just want to get to know him. Why are you answering?" Turn to Adrian, "who is she to to you Adrian?" Vero asked Adrian.
"My future wife, why?" Adrian retorted curtly, having already seen the contents of the small box in Vero's head.
"Oh, seriously? Why would you want to be with a crippled girl like her?" Vero scoffed.
Splash! Yuni stood up and doused Vero with the mineral water bottle she was carrying. Vero wiped her face and glared at Yuni.
"You got some nerve, Yun! You know who my dad is, right?" Vero challenged.
"I know, and I don't care. Say something like that again, and you'll have to deal with me," Yuni warned.
"Sit down, Yun. Don't bother with a spoiled girl like her," Erik said next to Yuni, holding her hand.
"Yeah, sit down, Yun," Adrian said, standing up and staring at Vero with such a sharp gaze that it made Vero recoil.
"Sa, let's go to her mom's office now," Adrian suggested to Elsa.
"Huh? You know who my mom is?" Vero asked, surprised.
"Ms. Grace, right? I know your dad too, Mr. Davin, right?" Adrian countered.
"Let's go," Elsa said.
"What do you want to do at my mom's office?" Vero demanded.
"I want to tell the foundation head that her daughter's mouth and mind are trash," Adrian replied.
"What did you say?!"
Vero raised her hand, intending to slap Adrian, but Elsa pulled Adrian back, making him take a step backward. Whoosh! Vero's slap missed, causing her to spin, and then thud! Vero fell, slipping on the water that had soaked her uniform.
"Hahahaha, that's what you get for being so stuck up!" Erik immediately teased.
"Serves you right!" Yuni added, smiling.
Vero slowly got up, her face furious as she looked at Adrian and Elsa. She stood up and brushed off her skirt.
"You just wait! Don't think this is over!" Vero threatened.
She then limped out of the classroom, her uniform soaking wet. Erik and Yuni burst into laughter. When Adrian sat back down, Elsa leaned her face close to Adrian's ear.
"What was she really thinking?" Elsa whispered.
"She wants to take me from you because she hates you," Adrian whispered back.
"Hmm, really? Why would she hate me...? Oh, I think I know," Elsa mused.
"Why?" Adrian asked.
"I think it's because her mom took me to the notary once to pick up my newly processed deed. She was there and asked whose apartment it was, and I said it was mine. Then, I guess she got a little jealous of me. And when I first started school, she tried to bully me, but since Yuni and Sinta were there, it didn't happen. But after that, she spread rumors that 'the cripple' got all that and became rich by seducing old men, though no one really listened to her," Elsa explained.
"Hmm, I see," Adrian replied.
"Hey, the world doesn't revolve around just you two, you know? There are others," Erik teased.
"Hehe, what were you two whispering about?" Yuni asked.
"Nothing, just curious about what just happened," Adrian replied.
"Yeah, he asked if I knew Vero," Elsa added.
"Ah, I thought it was something serious. Come on, let's eat; the bell's about to ring," Erik urged.
They continued eating their lunch. A thought crossed Adrian's mind: it was possible that Vero was the one spreading rumors about him and Elsa living together, all part of her plan to bring Elsa down, something he'd just seen in Vero's thoughts.