Gabriel sat in his dorm room, his fists clenched on the table. The memory of Elena, tied up and thrown into the pool, haunted him. Her fragile form, shivering and helpless, refused to leave his mind. He glanced at Andrew, pacing the room with equal frustration.
“This isn’t just bullying, Andrew,” Gabriel said, his voice low but dangerous. “Mia crossed the line this time.”
Andrew stopped pacing and turned to Gabriel, his hands on his hips. “We can’t let her get away with it. But we can’t just punch our way through this. We need to be smarter.”
Gabriel nodded, his jaw tightening. “I’ve got a plan.”
Andrew raised an eyebrow. “This better be good.”
Gabriel smirked faintly, a dark determination in his eyes. “It will be. But first, I need to check on Elena.”
Meanwhile, Elena sat on her bed, staring blankly at the floor. Her wet hair clung to her shoulders, and her trembling hands held a cup of tea Gabriel had forced her to drink earlier. She felt hollow, her thoughts swirling like a storm.
How had it come to this? Being humiliated, tossed around like she was nothing-how much more could she take?
Her mind drifted to Gabriel. His anger, his protectiveness-it confused her. Why did he care so much? They weren’t friends. They barely knew each other.
A soft knock on her door pulled her from her thoughts.
“Elena?” Gabriel’s voice was firm yet gentle.
She hesitated before opening the door. Gabriel stood there, holding a bag of food.
“I thought you might not have eaten,” he said simply, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.
Elena frowned, crossing her arms. “You don’t need to do this. I’m fine.”
Gabriel snorted. “Yeah, because being thrown into a freezing pool by a bunch of psychopaths is ‘fine.'”
She looked away, her lips pressing into a thin line. “I can handle myself.”
Gabriel set the bag down on her desk and turned to face her. “Clearly, you can’t. And that’s okay. You don’t have to fight alone.”
Her eyes snapped to his, her voice rising. “Why do you even care? You don’t owe me anything!”
Gabriel took a step closer, his gaze intense. “Because no one bullies you except me.”
Elena blinked, stunned into silence.
“You heard me,” he continued, a hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. “If anyone’s going to mess with you, it’s going to be me. Got it?”
Despite herself, a small, incredulous laugh escaped her. “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”
Gabriel softened, his smirk fading. “Elena, I mean it. You don’t deserve what they’re doing to you. And I’m not going to stand by and let it happen.”
Back in Gabriel’s room, he and Andrew are ready with their plan.
“We’re going to hit Mia where it hurts the most-her reputation,” Gabriel said, leaning over the desk.
Andrew grinned. “Public humiliation. I like it.”
Gabriel outlined the details. They’d gather proof of Mia’s bullying, including videos from students who had witnessed her behavior. Then, they’d release it during the upcoming university assembly, ensuring everyone saw her true colors.
“People like her thrive on power and fear,” Gabriel said. “Once we take that away, she’s nothing.”
Andrew clapped him on the back. “Man, you’re ruthless. I love it.”
Gabriel smirked but said nothing. His mind was on Elena. This was as much for her as it was to take Mia down.
Mia’s Growing Tension, Unaware of the storm brewing against her, Mia strutted through the campus, her head held high. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
Whispers followed her wherever she went, and the usual admiration in people’s eyes had been replaced with doubt and suspicion.
“What’s going on?” Mia hissed to one of her friends.
“I don’t know,” the girl replied nervously. “But people are talking about… you know… what we did to Elena.”
Mia’s eyes narrowed. “Who’s talking?”
The girl shrugged, avoiding Mia’s glare. “Everyone. There’s a rumor that someone has proof.”
Mia’s stomach dropped. If that proof got out, her perfect image would be ruined.
The next day, Gabriel and Andrew walked into the cafeteria, their presence commanding attention. Gabriel’s sharp eyes scanned the room, landing on Mia and her gang.
“Let’s do this,” Andrew muttered.
As they approached, the room fell silent. Mia looked up, her smirk faltering when she saw Gabriel’s expression.
“What do you want?” she snapped, trying to sound confident.
Gabriel leaned on the table, his face inches from hers. “Just a friendly chat.”
Mia swallowed hard, her bravado slipping.
“You think you’re untouchable, don’t you?” Gabriel said, his voice low but filled with menace. “Well, let’s see how you handle being on the other side.”
Before Mia could respond, Andrew pulled out his phone and played a video. It was footage of Mia and her gang dragging Elena to the pool. The gasps around the room were deafening.
“You… you wouldn’t dare show this to anyone,” Mia stammered, her face pale.
Gabriel straightened, his smirk cold. “Watch me.”
Mia struggls to figure out how to stop Gabriel, while Gabriel and Andrew walk away, their plan in motion. Elena, watching from a distance, feels a mix of gratitude and fear, knowing this battle is far from over.