Chapter 38

My face dropped down the moment I realized what he meant and my mind recalled the old memories which were bitter than the bitter gourd. It likes all the things happened just yesterday. I twisted the pencil between my fingers and stared at the notebook on my desk, blankly. The professor called the student names one by one and they all collected the file from him except me. "Okay students! Have you collected your files?" He shouted and all the heads in my classroom turned towards my direction while I'm chewing my inner cheeks just to maintain a calm face, the sign of showing them I'm not affected a bit but my inner self was screaming and crying out of its lungs. My eyes welled with tears which caused my vision to goes blur. I avoided all their stares and looked at the professor. Once he met my stares, he threw me a weak smile and began to take a class. Even before he could open the book, the bell rang and I was more glad about the situation. "Okay, students! I hope you all would finish the assignments that I gave you last week. Can anyone collect the assignment and submit it on my table?" He asked and a girl named Priya Lokesh raised her hand. "Okay fine. See you tomorrow." With that, he walked out of the classroom. I stormed out of the classroom once he went out. All the emotions were started to play together which crushed my heart into pieces and I found myself entering the ladies' restroom. Once again I cried my heart out. My dream and future are in the devil's hand. He is ruling my life! I splashed the water over my face and looked at the mirror. The water and the tears were mixed and running through my cheeks like a waterfall. I leaned on the walls and closed my eyes for a minute. I wiped my face with the tissue paper and walked out of the restroom to where my legs carrying, not bothering to go back to my class. At this time I badly wanted to be alone. As I was walking through the hallway I noticed the shadow was chasing just behind me but it stopped on the spot once I stopped walking. I glanced at the shadow through my peripheral vision, somehow it seems familiar. "Sheila." He called my name that sent a cold shiver to my spine. Why it all happening in one day? All these days I was happy without his bully. But today he showed up out of nowhere when my heart was already broken. Without looking at him I took one step backward. I did what my mind screams as to turning my heels I ran towards the lobby, hoping he will leave me alone but all my hopes disappeared once he grabbed my arms roughly. Tears started to pool down through my cheeks. I'm struggling out of his grip but it tightened further. "Look at me, Sheila." He almost whispered taking me off complete guard. Where did his rude voice go? Once I looked at him I stopped struggling out of his grip. He is not the old Karl Parker who I met him before, who was very well known as my bully. He has completely changed. Small stubble has appeared on his always clean shaved face and dark circles under his eyes were evidence for his restless night. His eyes held some emotion which was unreadable for me besides his face shows no emotions. He looked skinny than usual and his fancy dresses were gone. He was wearing a plain black T-shirt and faded blue jeans, his one shoe lays was not even tied properly, seems he didn't care either. "Let me go! I don't wanna talk to you." I whispered not daring to raise my voice in front of him, not that I'm afraid of him. I'm feeling pity for him, that's it. He inhaled sharply before raising my chin with his hand. Somehow I felt uncomfortable under his touch, so I backed away. "Let go of her, Karl." An angry voice sneered from his behind and I know who it belongs to. His body tensed a bit but his grip on my hand even tightened, sure enough to leave a bruise there. He clenched his jaw but closed his eyes tightly to control his anger. "I just want to talk to you, Sheila. Just a minute, after that I will leave you," He confessed harshly but the impatient Harry Grabbed his shirt collar and gave him a punch on his face, and to my surprise, Karl didn't protest. "Listen, Harry. This has nothing to do with you. I just need time with her, please don't come between us." He wiped the blood from his mouth but Harry grabbed his hand, the one has a firm grip on me. "Harry, leave this. I can handle him," I yelled at him sensing the anger between them. But who I'm kidding he didn't give any attention to me instead he punched his face once again. Blood poured down from his mouth but he didn't say anything. They both are stubborn. I wanted to do something before they would kill each other. I tried to release my arm out of his grip but no vain. "Karl, please you are hurting me." I whimpered. Suddenly, he let go of my hand like mine is burning him. Harry took this as a good cue and pushed me away from him before throwing a punch on his stomach. No!! I wanted to scream when my legs tripped on the floor and I felt I was falling back but my voice stuck inside my throat. Goosebumps take over all my body as I felt all the colours in my body drained out. My eyes went wide when I was about to fall on the grill which was attached in the hallway but I managed to hold it tightly with my hand to protect my throat. If I had slightly slipped, the metal would have drilled my throat, deep down.