Chapter 4 Bad Feeling
Sure enough, the bad feeling that had been haunting me since yesterday was confirmed today. When my feet stepped into the university gate, the people around there looked at me and whispered to each other.
Some of them looked at me sarcastically, but others smiled disdainfully. I don't know what happened, but this situation made me feel like an alien creature among humans.
"Did you hear that gossip? She tried to trick Melisa by pretending she could tell fortunes. Oh my God, how stupid. How can anyone in modern times still believe in fortune telling?"
"Hahaha...you idiot, I can't believe she dared to charge such a huge fee just to make fortunes. Oh my gosh,she's really crazy!"
"Does she think everyone is stupid like her? What prophecy? What a lunatic!"
Their whispers were quite clear and I could hear how they called me a fraud. I don't know what happened and how did they know about this problem?
Along the way to class, I tried to hold back my feelings every time I heard their taunts. I really don't understand, why would they think that I was lying?
"The fortune teller's coming in! Hey Layla, how about you tell my fortune too? I'll pay you one dollar!" Said Julian, one of my classmates. He laughed out loud with his other friends in a very loud voice.
"I think that's too much for a trash fortune telling, you can pay her one penny!"
"Hahaha...you're crazy!"
Their laughter filled the classroom and I was probably the only one who couldn't laugh. No, not just me. In the corner of the room, the man who approached me yesterday sat quietly while looking at me with cold eyes.
"H-he?" I was surprised, since when was he in the same class as me? Am I the one who never pays attention to anyone because I wasn't close to anyone here in the first place?
Their laughter and teasing got worse and worse, they started making fake jokes as if it was really happening. I don't know how to stop them.
"Layla, how about coming to my house today? You can tell your fortune and after that we can go on a date!"
"Stupid Denise, how could you date a girl like that?" How about just going on a date with me?"
"Julia, you are too boring. I prefer mysterious girls like Layla!"
"Tch, you stupid boy! How beautiful is she? Only her breast is big!"
"Guys like big breasted girls-"
Their words immediately stopped when a man entered the classroom which was initially chaotic and filled with laughter. I can calm down a bit now and sit in my chair without having to hear their laughter again.
At the front of the class, our famous handsome and charismatic painting lecturer looked at us with eyes that were difficult to understand. Mr. Henry Freeman, he is the most popular lecturer on this campus, especially in the arts faculty.
"Layla Arden!" He called me while I was thinking about it. I spontaneously stood up from my place.
"Y-yes, sir?"
"Come here and help draw this pattern!" He said.
"Okay, sir!"
No, this wasn't the first time he called me to the front of the class and asked me to help him. Since entering the third semester in September last year, for some reason he has paid more attention to me. He asked for my help more often than the other students, even though he once praised my ability in painting, but I'm not sure that was the only reason why I was the only one he often called on.
It's not that I don't like it or feel uncomfortable, to be honest, I really admire Mr. Henry. Come on, he is very handsome, tall and charismatic. He is a famous painter whose works have been displayed in various art museums, bought from collectors at fantastic prices.
The closeness between me and Mr. Henry is one of the reasons why I am hated by my classmates. I don't have any relationship with him at all, although I don't deny that he is someone I really admire.
"Forget it! Don't think too much about it. The gossip will only last for 75 days." Said Mr. Henry while arranging the books on the table. For some reason, without realizing it, I complained to him about what happened to me today.
"For 75 days? How do you know, sir?"
"I heard that from my parents first."
He looked very calm and dignified, I was happy because he wanted to hear my complaints.
"So, what do you think I should do?"
"You don't have to do anything and just let it be! If you try to do something to make the rumors die down, it will just make them create new rumors."
"I-is that so? F-fine if-"
"Are you still here long?" Said the strange and mysterious young man who without me realizing was standing in front of the classroom door.
He looks annoyed and that makes him even creepier. He wore a black t-shirt that was tight enough to shape his muscular body and jeans with black shoes.
To be honest, I was really afraid of him because throughout class time, he sat behind me, making me feel like he was watching me.
"You just wait in the car, I'll be there soon!" Said Mr. Henry. I was surprised because they looked quite familiar.
The young man left after he died with a murderous look that made me almost pee my pants. I don't know why he looked at me like that, was it because I didn't want to sell him the ring?
"You know him, Sir?"
"He is my younger brother!"
"Younger brother?"
"His name is Xavier, he has graduated with a PhD for the aerospace engineering program in Massachusetts. But for some reason, he said he was a student again and entered the arts faculty last year."
"Is that possible?"
"Xavier is such a genius, he can do whatever he wants."
