The Victim

The school bell hasn't chimed yet for the start of homeroom classes, but the surge of students everywhere in the Academy's compound filled the area with a vibrant atmosphere of students talking, giggling, and whispering.

In the outskirts of the courtyard, behind the huge walls of the indoor gym, the usual crowd noise faded into the distance.

Just a few birds chirping.

Trees rustling in the breeze.

A low concrete bench sat underneath the canopy of trees with dried leaves scattered on the ground.

Tanya Sandoval lounged comfortably against the bench backrest with her arm stretched out and her legs crossed, revealing her thigh-high socks from the slit of her skirt. Her other hand held a half-eaten doughnut, while her expression looked bored, with no interest.

From her position, a few steps away, someone else was there.

A small freshman with disheveled hair, crooked glasses hanging on his nose, uniform stiff with freshness, stood in front of her with his hands shoved deep in his pockets and shoulders hunched, cowering.

Then, another figure stood right beside him. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders in a clingy embrace.

It was Emma Huang with her glossy lips pouting and still wearing her signature braided buns and vibrant makeup. Her skirt was scandalously short, and her blouse knotted to reveal her midriff.

She looked cute, innocent, and harmless until she opened her mouth.

“Come onnn,” Emma whined in a tease while tilting her head closer to his face and batting her lashes.

“Just one more favor? The convenience store outside has my favorite soufflé pancakes. You said you’d treat me today,” she pleaded in a sweet tone as she began shaking him from her embrace.

The young man swallowed hard as he reached into his wallet from his pocket, opening it slowly to reveal nothing but empty compartments except for loose change of cents.

“I… I already gave you everything yesterday,” he mumbled, voice cracking. “Lunch money, allowance… I don’t have anything left.”

Emma’s pout quickly vanished as her expression changed in her eyes.

“Seriously?” Her voice immediately switched to low and domineering.

"You're already broke ?" She snatched the wallet from his hand forcefully and tossed it back after confirming. It bounced off his chest and landed in the dirt, just before he could react to catch it.

“How can a class A freshman lack funding? What kind of boyfriend are you?” she huffed in dismay.

“I’m not— I mean, we’re not—” He tried to explain, but his voice betrayed him in a startle while bending down to pick up the wallet.

“I thought… " You said it wasn't official,” he continued as his cheeks flustered red.

Emma rolled her eyes.

“Ugh. You are useless.” She stomped on the ground, heading towards Tanya. She bent down forward with her hands clasped in front of her, just as she spoke with her voice shifted back to a sweet and pleasing tone.

“Tanya-jie, he’s all yours. I’m done.”

Tanya took a bite of her doughnut with the same expression. She’d been watching the entire exchange with half-lidded eyes, judging whether this young man was worthy enough of her time.

Once she finished scrutinizing, she got up from the bench slowly, unveiling her full height to the freshman who instinctively stepped back as soon as he glanced up.

She loomed above him with her intimidating, sharp gaze just as she moved closer to him.

“New toy? You know what happens when you run out of cash around here?”

The boy fell onto his knees, shivering.

Tanya bent down, eyeing him further as her lids squinted judgmentally. 

His breath hitched as he whimpered. 

"Please spare me. I will get you more cash later. Just give me time," he begged and groveled frantically.

Tanya scoffed with a slight grin on her lips.

“Hmph. What makes you think I can trust you?”

Emma giggled behind her hand with a phone recording. "Kiss the ground, and I will believe you," she commanded.

The young man glanced up and watched these two hovering above him like vultures. He couldn't do anything and bent down once more. His lips pursed, trembling as he kissed the ground to obey.

Emma began to cackle at the sight while Tanya just scoffed in disgust.

It took a few minutes before Tanya reached out to pull him from the ground. Her soft, slender fingers clasped under the man’s chin, forcing his gaze up. Her perfectly beige, polished nails dug slightly into his skin just enough to sting.

“You're cute. Stupid, but cute. Now, make sure you do, or else. Your life is on the line,” she warned threateningly as the grip tightened, causing her nails to dent further into his skin.

The boy’s breath hitched. “Y-yes...ma'am.”

"Come right back here after classes. If you don't, I will personally find you and drag you out in the halls." She sternly reminded him before she let go of her grip enough to push him back on the ground as she stood up.

Emma bounced right beside her with her usual sweet demeanor. “Ooh, don't forget about my pancake. You can be my boyfriend once again if you bring me the goods,” she added with a giggle.

The two turned their backs on him and began to head back into the crowded areas of the courtyard.

Just in the queue as the bell chimed in for morning classes.

The freshman’s knees trembled, still on the ground, kneeling,  while tears swelled behind his glasses as he whimpered under his breath.

"What am I supposed to do..."

The bells rang from a distance, and the birds still chirped overhead.

The trees lightly rustled from a mere breeze.

He was left there, completely alone, helpless yet desperate.