Though Kyle was eager to explain what had happened, the counselor still wrote everyone’s names down for punishment.
They had all been so happy, celebrating their fight against the thugs and saving the girls. Now, they were in big trouble. The punishment was related to their graduation and could have very serious consequences. Everyone was utterly depressed.
The counselor was also irritated to have been called by the police so early in the morning and was pissed off by what he heard. If these students got hurt whilst he was on duty, he would be the one being blamed. So, he had to teach these students a lesson.
Seeing his determination, Diana sighed. She turned to the students who had acted so bravely in saving them, “I feel terrible that you might get punished because of us.”
Antonette also wore a fearful, guilty look. She looked at her classmates and said, “You drove away those bad guys for us. And now you’re getting punished for that. It’s unfair, it was all our fault.”
Their words helped calm their fellow students down. After seeing Diana and Antonette’s grateful reactions, they didn’t say anything bad towards them, though, of course, they were unhappy with how things had turned out.
After the counselor left, Kyle hugged Diana and whispered to her that he would handle their punishment.
In Diana’s opinion, Kyle was always trustworthy in his manners and studies. Hearing his words, Diana was quite relieved. However, Antonette was watching them from across the room and mistook Diana’s relieved expression for something else.
After they got back to the dormitory, Antonette went to the bathroom to take off her dress; it was almost torn to pieces. Seeing the girl in the mirror whose makeup was ruined, arms and legs scratched and bruised, Antonette was overwhelmed with anger, and her eyes were as red as blood.
Thinking of the filthy words Carl said to her and the people’s humiliating comments, Antonette felt they were like swords piercing her body, revealing her secret, unmentionable past in front of everyone.
Carl said so much today, and Diana and Kyle heard all of it. What must they think of her?
Antonette hadn’t wanted to do those things, but in her poverty, she had no choice. At the time, Carl was the guy who was most generous to her, among many other men she knew, so she stayed with him.
She also wanted to be like the other girls who were capable of buying clothes and dresses, instead of living in a ditch and hiding from the sun like a dirty rat. Why could Diana enjoy a rich life and be protected by so many people? What the hell was so bad that made her incomparable to Diana?
Antonette felt like crying, but she wore a beautiful, fake smile instead. Antonette smiled like she had practiced over and over again, till her smile looked perfectly charming.
“I will be among the elites. Carl, Diana Anderson… you wait and see. I will live a luxurious life. I swear!” Antonette looked at herself in the mirror and promised herself she would make this come true. In her mind, a plan was made.
Someone was knocking anxiously at the door. It was Diana. She said worriedly, “Antonette, are you there? Are you okay? Are you crying? Please come outside. Kyle bought some medicine. We need to treat our wounds.”
Diana did worry about Antonette. After all, it was utterly horrible for a girl to be treated as she had. Even Diana had been scared, and she was well known for her bravery. Antonette was such a gentle girl, she must have felt terrible.
Hearing that Kyle had brought medicine, Antonette wore a dreadful look but calmed down at once. Why did everyone look after Diana? What made her so ordinary when standing beside Diana? When they were in the same place, people only saw Diana. Why?
Diana kept knocking at the door.
Antonette finally came out and smiled coldly. Standing beside the door, Diana looked worriedly at Antonette and noticed her weird expression.
Antonette pushed her to one side and walked out.
Diana ignored Antonette’s roughness, she’d been through a lot that evening.
“Antonette, let me help you treat your wounds. Your arms are hurt. They look painful,”
Antonette didn’t speak. So, Diana took that as permission and squatted down to treat her. Antonette’s smooth, white arms were covered with bruises. The wounds looked dreadful after being covered with the medicine. Both girls went to sleep in a lot of pain that evening.