章 9: Animosity against her!
Emma awoke from her dream, drenched in sweat. This restlessness was familiar to her, recurring countless times. Despite the dream's repetition, the fear of losing her life from such a height persisted.
She made her way to the window in her nightgown, a silk sleeveless garment barely reaching her mid-thigh. Despite the cold, she didn't reach for anything to cover herself. She sought the cold breeze, hoping to calm her racing heart, even if just for a moment.
Emma gazed out into the night, where a starless sky mirrored the emptiness within her, a void devoid of any guiding light. Her heartbeat echoed in the silence. Her uneven breath shows how afraid she was. She wanted to talk to someone but had no one by her side.
She understood it was merely a dream, yet it once mirrored her reality.
There was a time when she had attempted suicide, consumed by heavy intoxication, yearning to end her pain. But just as she was about to take the last step someone intervened by saving her. She recalled how he held her through the night, but his face eluded her memory entirely. Despite her efforts, it was as if this savior wore an impenetrable mask, forever hidden from her recollection.
Emma knew no matter how much she would try, she wouldn't be able remember him as this was not the first time she tried.
****
In the wake of their fleeting encounter, Xavier's thoughts danced solely for Emma. From the moment their paths intertwined, his sole desire was her presence, a fervent longing to ensure her well-being. Now, in her sight, a serenity came for him, relief flooding his soul at the assurance of her safety. Yet, beneath the tranquility, a question lingers: at what price does this peace come?
Within her gaze, he glimpses a void, complete emptiness surrendered herself to the fate. Her emptiness etches itself upon his consciousness. Despite his efforts of forgetting her, Emma's image persists, an unyielding presence in his mind's eye. He very well knows the reason but...
Since the night they shared, he searched everywhere to find her again. To make sure that she didn't try to commit the same mistake again. However no matter how much he tried he only met with disappointment at every turn.
Just as he resigned himself to the futility of holding onto her memory, she emerges anew with new found of herself. He yearns to dismiss the significance of a single kiss exchanged between them. Yet, he cannot deny the tumult of emotion, the irrational fervor that binds him to Emma.
As the class began to fill with chatter, Xavier found himself still lost in contemplation. It had been a month since he last saw Emma. Initially, the thought of her absence weighed heavily on his mind, fearing she might slip away once again. However, after confirming with the administration, he learned that Emma hadn't sought a transfer or pursued distant studies. With a newfound resolve, he ensured they shared at least one class together so that to keep her into his reach.
Today, he arrived early, eager to catch a glimpse of her once more.
As the room filled with eager students, Xavier's gaze lingered on the entrance, anticipation tingling in the air like electricity. Amidst the crowd of lively figures, a solitary silhouette caught his eye. Emma, wearing a blue hoodie and white jeans and a mask veiling her features, entered the room with a mysterious aura that silenced the chatter around her.
Xavier's curiosity piqued as he observed the reaction of his classmates. Why did Emma's presence hold such effect on them? Murmurs rippled through the room, offering answers to his unspoken questions. Without needing to delve into research, Xavier quickly got the truth about the girl who got both disdain and fascination from her peers.
Emma's behavior starkly contrasted with the typical college girl persona. Not only did she actively avoid social interactions, but she also openly displayed her disdain for their superficiality. Emma consistently defied the expectations of her peers, refusing to conform to their norms.
Others resented Emma's sense of superiority, despite her lack of prominence. Her mere presence seemed to diminish those around her, fueling their resentment towards her perceived arrogance.
"Look who's back! Just when I thought this year might be peaceful..." one girl muttered, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"I thought she'd have the decency to leave after last year's mess. Shameless, really," another added, crossing her arms in disdain.
"What else can you expect from her? She got that professor fired and his nephew to leave just because he supported him," a third chimed in, her tone heavy with scorn.
"And for what? Just because he wanted her to do research with his nephew," someone else remarked, shaking her head in disbelief.
"I'm telling you, the only reason she gets away with it is Kai. She's only like this because of his influence," a girl said, her voice tinged with bitterness.
"Did you hear about her latest stunt? Apparently, she convinced the dean to change the schedule just so it would go conveniently according to her needs. Now we have so many back-to-back lectures," another girl complained, frustration evident in her voice.
"And get this, rumor has it she's been cozying up to some big-shot donor to secure funding for her next project," one more added, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.
"Speaking of Kai, I heard he's been distancing himself from her lately. Guess even he's had enough of her antics," one girl noted, a hint of satisfaction in her tone.
"But mark my words, she'll find a way to weasel back into his good graces. She always does," another warned, her voice filled with a mix of resignation and bitterness.
Despite the barrage of animosity, Emma walked unhurriedly towards her seat. She could hear every biting word, every malicious whisper, but she cared less. To her, this was nothing but childish prattle, unworthy of her attention. She had more important matters to focus on.
"Hey, forget about the freak, who's that handsome boy sitting beside her?" one girl whispered, her voice tinged with a mix of intrigue and disdain.
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