Missed Call

VIII. Bloody Book

[A I R]

Short-lived semestral break is over. I'm currently walking in Cain's university to return his book. It's my first time walking in their building, that's probably the reason why I feel overly conscious. It's as if I can feel all of their stares (which is dumb since I don't think I stand out).

Just a few steps more and I can reach Cain in front of his locker but I almost fall on the ground face first if I didn't manage to keep my balance. I heard people suddenly murmuring, "Dom choosing her over Yuri? I don't think so. Must be his charity case."

Curious, I turned around. I came face-to-face to the owner of the legs that tried to trip me. I lean my head to the side making sure she's aware I'm studying her.

She's perfect if you ask me. A goddess at that. Too bad she's a low bitch trying to bully a nerd with a boring trip in a hallway jig. Yes, I'm the nerd.

I was about to walk out and proceed to my mission but apparently, I made my snide remark about her being a bitch audible that I got my hair pulled.

"What did you just say, rebound?" I pay no attention with what she just called me. With my respond to the pain in my scalp, I swing Cain's hardbound law book to her face.

"Shit." I cuss under my breath, removing my hair tie to massage my scalp.

People now start to circle around us. The girl's nose is bleeding, and I find it funny. "Air? What are you doing here?" Great! It's Cain.

Walking towards the girl, I wipe the little blood from the book with the hem of her dress. Her eyes wide in shock and still holding her nose. "Thank you!" I said cheerfully and skip towards Cain to return the book.

"Whoa, that's Yuri." A person with Dom announces after they paved their way through the crowd. And with reasons I don't understand, Dom's eyes are on me... furious.

He winced and offers the girl a handkerchief but instead of accepting it she slaps Dom then walks out. Everyone held their breath, including me. That sounds awfully painful.

The scene was dispersed by Cain's friend, Lim. I was to follow and "disperse" too but Dom dragged me behind their building.

He's been quiet since we've been here (about 10 minutes at most). Starting to get dizzy with his pacing back and forth, I say, "Can I go now? I have my own classes to attend."

"Why did you have to do that to Yuri?" His voice was low and threatening. It triggered my annoyance because he makes it sound like I was the villain.

"I am the victim. She tripped me, she pulled my hair so I defended myself. What are you being so angry about?" I push him back because I hate how he towers over me with those kind of eyes. He's intimidating me, making me want to shut up. It scares me, it makes me want to cry but I am not wrong. I should stand my ground.

Frustrated, he runs his hand through his hair, licking his lower lip before talking again, "You should've been the bigger person and left!" I call him moron but I never thought he really is one.

"How can I leave if her fingers are digging in my scalps?!" I know that I'm attracting a new batch of attention when I raised my voice but I don't think I'll get my point across this moron if I didn't.

Dom closes his eyes, probably holding himself back from further arguing with me or maybe finally realizing that what I did was just right. I continued, "Am I not supposed to be your girlfriend? I should be the one you're defending!"

Laughter was the last thing I expected from him. Feeling embarrassed with what I just said, my eyes start to swell with tears. I fight hard to hold them back then he opens his mouth, "You're just a rebound. And the girl you gave a nosebleed to is Yuri, my ex. The one you're trying to fill in which you can never."

With a deep, long breath I calm myself down. I ignore the single trail of tear on my cheek, with the sweetest tone I can manage I replied, "I never tried to fill in for anyone, Dominic. Especially not a bitch with too much padding."

I held my head high, "Excuse me for going first but there are more important things than getting involved in an ex-girlfriend drama."

"You're a moron." I heard Lim say to his friend when my back is already on them.

That he is, Lim. That he is.