Today was already Friday. The last few days had passed in an oddly quiet way, almost too uneventful for someone who had recently gotten himself into such complicated situations. Nothing interesting had happened since Monday. I didn't receive any messages from Vanessa, nor did I run into her on campus. She seemed to have completely vanished from my daily routine, as if everything that had happened between us had been put on pause. Bianca, on the other hand, remained exactly the same as always. Cold, arrogant, self-centered. She pretended that the events of that Monday had never existed, as if ignoring them were the best way to erase anything inconvenient. To her, it was just another disposable episode.
Incredibly, that day I wasn't late. I woke up earlier than usual, still a bit sleepy, but strangely motivated. Maybe it was simply because it was Friday. The weight of the week was finally coming to an end, and that alone was enough to improve my mood a little. I took my time showering, got ready without rushing, and left the house feeling that, for once, I was in control of my schedule. I arrived at the classroom early, something rare enough to give me a quiet sense of pride.
That feeling, however, didn't last long.
As soon as I walked into the room, my eyes were immediately drawn to a scene that made my stomach twist. Nathan was sitting in his usual seat, but he wasn't alone. Three guys stood around him. From their posture, their laughter, and the way Nathan shrank back in his chair, it was easy to understand what was happening. That wasn't a friendly conversation. It was intimidation.
Nathan is the classic nerd type. He wears glasses, has freckles across his face, and a fuller body. He's not fat, but he's not skinny either. He's always been like that since childhood. On top of that, he has a shy demeanor, speaks softly, and avoids conflict at all costs. Unfortunately, that makes him an easy target for people who feed on others' weakness.
The other students watched the scene in complete silence. No one said anything, no one interfered. And I understood why. The leader of that small group was Luther.
Luther had bleached yellow hair, tanned skin, and an athletic body clearly shaped by the gym. If we were in an Eastern country, he would easily fit the classic image of a school delinquent. He radiated arrogance. The kind of person who walks as if the world owes him something.
I approached them without hesitation.
"Hey. What do you think you're doing?" I said in a firm, irritated tone.
The three stopped bothering Nathan and turned their attention toward me. I didn't recognize the other two, and honestly, I didn't care. To me, they were nothing more than Luther's lackeys, followers without personalities of their own.
"And who are you?" Luther asked, clearly annoyed that I had interrupted his fun.
"A friend of his," I replied bluntly. "Mind telling me why you're doing this?"
I don't know exactly why, but just being near that guy made my blood boil. Maybe it was the natural disgust I feel toward people who bully the weak. Or maybe it was the teachings of my old martial arts master, who always said that strength exists to protect, not to humiliate. He used to say that martial arts should be used against people like Luther, not in their favor.
"Dude… we were just asking to borrow some money," Luther said mockingly. "Is that a problem?"
I knew exactly what that meant. Nathan's family was well-off. His father was a lawyer, his mother a public servant. Those idiots took advantage of the fact that Nathan couldn't defend himself to extort money from him.
I ignored Luther for a moment and turned to Nathan.
"Nathan, do you want to lend them money?"
He hesitated. He stayed silent for a few seconds, clearly torn between fear and the desire to tell the truth.
"Be honest," I encouraged him.
"I don't want to," Nathan finally said.
I turned my gaze back to Luther, who now looked visibly irritated. Nathan had only answered honestly because he trusted me. He knew I was there. In response to Luther's expression, I gave him a mocking smile, though behind it there was a tremendous amount of anger.
"Looks like we've got a problem," I said calmly.
"Hahaha… you got me," Luther laughed awkwardly. "And what are you going to do about it?" he added, stepping toward me.
I prepared myself to fight, but froze when I noticed a sudden change in his behavior. The irritation on his face softened almost instantly. I glanced over my shoulder and understood why.
Olivia had just walked into the classroom.
Luther immediately straightened himself. He discreetly signaled to the two guys behind him and started to back away. As he passed me, he whispered:
"You got lucky."
He headed straight toward Olivia. At that moment, everything became clear. Despite being from another major, if I remembered correctly, physical education, Luther was just another one of Olivia's pathetic admirers. The difference was that he was far more aggressive than the others.
I saw with my own eyes how his behavior completely changed as soon as he noticed her. He clearly didn't want Olivia to see who he really was. And judging by her reaction when he approached, it was obvious he was nothing more than an annoyance to her. She smiled politely, but her eyes showed pure displeasure.
"Are you okay?" I asked Nathan, looking away from them.
"I am. Thanks for standing up for me," he said sincerely.
"I won't ask why you never told me about this before," I replied. "But if it happens again, let me know."
He nodded.
Not long after, the bell rang. Luther and his group left the classroom. As he walked out, he shot me a look that promised payback. I responded with a mocking smile, which only seemed to irritate him more.
After that, the rest of the day went on normally. After lunch, I received a message from Vanessa telling me to meet her at her house at 7:00 p.m. She didn't go into details, only said it was important. Since I had agreed to help her, or rather, had been practically forced into it, I decided I would do my part and, if possible, take as much advantage of the situation as I could.
When I got home, I found Bianca impeccably dressed. Her makeup highlighted her beauty even more, and she was wearing a tight black dress that hugged her body in a very sensual way. High-end heels and a designer handbag completed the look.
"Going on another date?" I asked.
"None of your business," she replied, irritated as always.
I knew she was heading into yet another doomed date. All of her dates ended the same way. Deep down, I hoped she would find someone and finally move out of my house.
"Well… good luck," I said, walking past her.
I went to my room to get ready. Vanessa had been clear: I needed to dress well. As elegant as possible. That made me uncomfortable. Dressing elegantly usually meant a luxury event. I asked her why, but she only replied, "You'll find out tonight."
I hated that kind of mind game.
I took a shower, used my best cologne, and styled my hair neatly with gel, something I rarely do. I put on a black suit, a white dress shirt, and black dress pants. Polished black shoes completed the outfit. I avoided wearing a tie because I don't like them. That way, I looked elegant but not overly formal.
When I left my room, I found Bianca sprawled on the couch, visibly irritated, furiously typing on her phone.
"Men are useless," she complained angrily.
I chose not to comment. I just let her know I was leaving.
"Bianca, I'm heading out. I don't know what time I'll be back."
She looked at me with irritation, but her expression changed the moment she saw how dressed up I was.
"Wow… trying to impress someone dressed like that?" she mocked.
"Obviously a woman," I replied. "And don't drink."
"Shut up!" she yelled.
I left and headed to Vanessa's house.
She greeted me at the gate, beautiful in a long white dress. We walked through the mansion's garden toward the entrance.
"I'm glad you came," she said.
"So what's happening here tonight? A party?"
"Tonight there's going to be a meeting with my father and the family he wants to arrange my marriage with," she replied. "I'm going to announce that you're my boyfriend."
"What?!"
My eyes widened.
"If I had told you beforehand, you wouldn't have come," Vanessa said with a smile.
"Holy shit."