Back in eighth grade, a new girl transferred into their ss. Word was she came from the countryside, but instead of being rough around the edges, she was delicate, pale, and almost angelic–she caught everyone’s attention the moment. she walked in. Even the job of holding the ss sign at the uing sports meet, which should have gone to Ileana, was handed to the new girl under the pretense of “helping her fit in.”
That’s why, the night before the sports meet, Ileana called her to the auditorium–to show her, in no uncertain terms, who was in charge, just like everyone else before.
At first, the girl tried to shield herself with her hands, but she was nowhere near as fast as Alessia. The basketball mmed into her arm, leaving dark bruises that stood out starkly against her fair skin. Ileana justughed, delighted with the spectacle.
She’d expected the transfer student to beg for mercy. Instead, the girl actually tried to fight back. Too bad she wasn’t paying attention and tripped over a rolling basketball, twisting her ankle. Her scream was music to Ileana’s ears. She knew then–no one else was getting that sign–holder spot but her.
“Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell the teacher?” the transfer girl choked out, red–eyed and trembling, the picture of helplessness. To lleana, though, she looked like she was just putting on an act. Jealousy wed at her insides, making her want to punish this girl even more.
“Your family’s broke, right?” Ileana sneered, towering over her, the smugness thick
in her voice.
“What do you think would happen if I gave your parents ten grand? Wouldn’t they just fall at my feet with gratitude?” She cocked her head, pretending to be curious, a cruel smile ying on her lips.
The transfer student turned ghostly pale, unable to utter a word. She’d had to fight tooth and nail just to convince her parents–who never wanted to invest in their daughter–thating to this city school wouldn’t cost them a dime. She’d promised them she’d win enough schrships to send money home every year. Only then had they grudgingly agreed.
<b>If </b>she had to go back home… if she had to go back, it would all be over. That terror gripped her so hard she couldn’t stop shivering.
“Please…” Her voice was barely a whisper, thick with tears.
<b>13.28 </b>
Chapter <b>205 </b>
She stared at Ileana’s expensive designer sneakers, tears spilling <b>down </b>her cheeks and sttering on the gym floor.
“Please what?” Ileana’s grin only widened.
“Please don’t tell my parents. I’ll do whatever you want, I swear. I’ll listen–I’ll <b>do </b>anything… please…” Sobbing, the girl clung to the hem of Ileana’s uniform trousers, only to be kicked away in disgust.
She fell silent, crouched on the floor, too afraid to speak. The fear of being sent home outweighed everything. Only one thought echoed in her mind: I can’t go If I go back, my life is over. I can’t go back!
back.
“Remembering all the disgusting things you did?” Alessia’s voice snapped Ileana out of her daze.
Her eyes lost focus for a moment.
What ever happened to that transfer student? Ileana recalled how, after months of relentless bullying, the girl’s grades plummeted. Less than half a semesterter, she lost her schrship, and the school revoked her tuition waiver.
Her parents, furious at losing the money, stormed the school in a rage and dragged her back home.
And after that? Ileana had gone out of her way to ask around. She heard the girl’s life had only gotten worse–her parents married her off as soon as they could, and no matter how hard she fought, it made no difference. She was married off young and had a child not long after.
After that… Ileana hadn’t bothered to care anymore.
“Funny how you can ruin a girl’s life and forget about it so easily, Ileana.” Alessia tapped her cheek, her expression icy cold.
“How–how do you know about that?” Ileana stammered, disbelief in her mostly fear. Fear <i>of </i>Alessia, fear of that night–but not a shred of guilt.
eyes,