I stood frozen in place, unable to move from fear. My fingers barely registered the chill in my muscles as I watched Dad choking someone to death.
“S-Sir…” Anthony’s lips trembled as he struggled for air. “S-Sir… I love your d-daughter…” He desperately grasped Dad’s arm, but Dad remained unfazed.
My father grinned wickedly and tightened his grip on Anthony. “You think I care about that, young man?” he sneered. “Blame your father for this!”
I bit my lower lip and cowered behind a thick pillar, my vision blurred with impending tears. I searched for my voice, but it failed me.
I had gone to the university to meet Anthony, but I hadn’t expected to find Dad strangling him.
I clutched tighter the gift I had prepared for Anthony. Instead of surprising him, it seemed I was the one taken aback. I didn’t know the extent of the feud between my Dad and Anthony’s father, but at that moment, only one thought crossed my mind; my father was there to find and kill my boyfriend.
I wanted to step forward and stop Dad, but fear paralyzed me. I knew he was ruthless; I had seen how he treated his employees. I couldn’t bear to face his wrath.
Why?
Perhaps it was because of our secret relationship that Dad sought out Anthony and upon seeing him and knowing who his father was, Dad couldn’t restrain himself from choking my boyfriend.
Maybe that was what happened.
I gasped as I heard a thud. My eyes widened as I looked at Dad. Anthony laid motionless on the ground. I held my breath.
Was he dead?
No, he couldn’t be.
But why wasn’t he moving?
I scrutinized Anthony closely. He lay still on the ground, not even a twitch. I cursed softly under my breath.
A chill ran down my spine as I contemplated the possibility of his death. My gaze darted to Dad. Was he truly a murderer?
My face paled as the realization hit me, and my chest tightened in denial. No. How could Dad kill someone so much younger than him?
He pulled something from his pocket and placed it beside Anthony. Then he stood upright. I pressed myself harder against the wall. I didn’t want him to catch me witnessing his crime, fearing what might happen to me.
I heard his footsteps fade away. I sank to the ground and leaned against the wall. I looked up at the sky, closing my eyes to calm the pounding in my chest.
After a moment, I opened my eyes and quickly hid the gift box I had prepared for Anthony under the dense grass at the edge. I couldn’t bear to take that gift back home after witnessing my boyfriend’s death. It would surely haunt me in my dreams.
I stood up and took a deep breath. I kept telling myself that I wasn’t the one who killed Anthony, yet my body continued to shake. Perhaps it was shock, or something else, but it wasn’t safe to stay here any longer; someone might discover me.
I emerged from my hiding spot and approached Anthony’s body. I looked at his face. He seemed to be peacefully sleeping. There was no sign that he had fought back against Dad’s grip.
I bit my lip.
Why didn’t he fight back? Why did he let Dad kill him? Was it because of me? Did he know that I loved my father and didn’t want to lose him? Or was it because Dad was just too strong for him to resist?
“Anthony,” I whispered, my voice choking with tears. “I-I’m sorry…”
I knelt beside his body and brushed his cheek. He was a handsome and promising young man. Many girls admired him, but here he was, lying motionless and breathless.
I clenched my fists tightly. My muscles went cold as a chill wind blew.
“I-I want…” I shook my head, frowning. “I want to seek justice for you, but he’s my father… he’s all I have right now. I’m sorry, but believe me, I loved you, Anthony.”
It felt ironic to say that I loved him when I couldn’t even get him justice.
I looked up at the dark sky and threw my head back, laughing bitterly. Hypocrite. Such a hypocrite!
What kind of role model student was I? I was a coward and a hypocrite!
Tears streamed down my cheeks as I wiped them away, standing up. I took a deep breath and, in a daze, walked towards the crowded part of the university.
I snapped out of my thoughts when someone bumped into me, causing me to sit on the concrete floor. “Oh!”
I blinked and looked up. I saw Jenica running towards me, her eyes wide and her mouth agape.
“A-Anthony! Anthony is dead!” she exclaimed.