The Revenge

Lucas knew my secret

THE REVENGE

Chapter 3

I didn't know how long this humiliation would last. I just prayed no one would walk down this street at that moment.

"Deeper" he demanded.

He was forcing me. My best friend. He was choking me, I couldn't breathe. I couldn't handle it. I just wanted to go home. To hug my mom. I felt like I would faint at any moment when he finally pulled away from me and said:

"Well, that was boring. I was hoping you'd put in more passion."

"More passion? He treated me as if I were worth nothing, and maybe at that moment, I felt that way. But no one, regardless of their circumstances, should ever endure such treatment. Nobody.

"Are you serious? I'm going to report this as harassment!" I exclaimed. "What's gotten into you, Alex? You wouldn't even hear me out. This will never happen again. Can you even comprehend what I'm saying?"

He chuckled callously. After subjecting me to such an ordeal, he found amusement in my words.

"We both know you won't report anything, Jasmine. If you do, I swear I'll kill your family and friends with my own two hands. So, you can finally understand what I've gone through because of you! Do you understand me?" He tightened his grip on my arm. "If you utter a word to anyone, I promise you won't be prepared for the consequences. Is that clear?"

Tears welled up in my eyes once more. I had a sinking feeling that he was right—I couldn't risk speaking out, not with the safety of my friends and family at stake.

"And don't think this is the end, that you can just get rid of me that easily," he taunted, his laughter a cruel echo in the room. "Prepare yourself to see more of me because we'll be sharing the same class again."

"What? How is this even possible?"

"Are you surprised?" he looked at me slyly. "Because of the 2 years I haven't been in college, I will have exams. I arranged it easily. So I'll see you tomorrow."

I was left speechless, unable to comprehend the situation.

"Oh, and one more thing," he added with a sinister tone, "in front of the rest of our class, you will pretend that I've forgiven you, and we're friends again. Do you understand?"

"What? Never. I'm not gonna lie to them. They know you hate me."

I couldn't believe the things he made me do. It was entirely possible that during those two years he was absent, he had been meticulously plotting how to torment me upon his return. Strangely, in some twisted way, I understood his motivations, even if I had never anticipated the intensity of his hatred.

"Well, I couldn't care less about what they think. We'll change their opinion. Don't assume it'll be any easier for me. Do you have any idea how challenging it will be to feign friendship when all I truly want is to see you suffer?" With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me in a state of emotional turmoil.

• Jasmine's home •

Finally, I went home. Everyone was asleep. I immediately went into my room. I just wanted to be alone. That night had been nothing short of a nightmare, and I felt like a complete fool. How could I have ever believed Richard's lies? How could I have been so gullible? I should have suspected his involvement. Kindness was not a trait that came naturally to him. And now what? In the same class as Richard and Alex? It was far from the ideal start to our last year. Just two years ago, the thought of Alex and me sharing the same classroom would have filled me with joy, but now... now I was filled with trepidation at the prospect of encountering the new, unpredictable version of him.

• The next day at school •

"Hey, why didn't you come with me as usual?" Riley asked me.

"I just wanted to walk alone today." I smiled.

Riley's concern was evident in her expression. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, everything's perfectly fine. Let's head to class," I replied, trying to divert any further questions. I simply wished for this day to be over, dreading the looming encounter with Richard and Alex after the events of the previous night.

• In the classroom •

Almost everyone had gathered in the classroom, except for two conspicuous absences—Richard and Alex. It was evident that they must have been discussing the events of the previous night.

"Students, we have a student rejoining our class who hasn't been with us for quite some time," the teacher announced.

My friends immediately turned their attention towards me. At that very moment, Richard entered the classroom, followed closely by Alex. The entire room fell into a stunned silence as everyone's gaze fixated on him.

"Hello, everyone. Did you miss me?" Alex smiled warmly, giving off an air of congeniality. But what lay beneath that smile?

"As most of you are aware, I spent the last two years in prison," he continued, his eyes locking onto mine. "I won't deny it, but it was a mistake." He used every opportunity to belittle me. "You may also recall that I once mentioned seeking revenge against someone -Jasmine, my best friend." His tone was unnervingly calm, and he managed to convince the room. "Well, let's forget about that."

Everyone was quite confused by what he had just said.

"Join me, Jas." he smiled falsely at me. I could see what was hiding under that smile. Hatred. I got up and approached him.

"Don't be afraid of me. It's all in the past," he hugged me. How terrible that hug was. Everyone in the room was silent, even the teacher.

"Won't you say something?" he looked at me with a wicked smile. It was like he was saying: either make everyone believe you or the same will follow you as yesterday.

"Of course. We're friends." I said with a timid smile. "Our friendship is stronger than anything." When I said that, I looked at him. I tried my best to remind him of what it was before. To get him to talk to me. I could see the anger in his eyes from what I just said. I could see this anger.

• The school's cafe •

"Can you please tell us what's going on here?" Chloe inquired, her gaze filled with suspicion.

"Wait, you and Alex... friends?" Mark chimed in, looking perplexed.

"Let's not dwell on it, guys," I sighed. "Yes, we're acquaintances."

"Acquaintances?" Riley interjected. "He hugged you in front of the entire class. What's happening? Yesterday, you mentioned being afraid of his reaction."

"I... we... we met last night and cleared things up. That's all. I was wrong to think he hated me," I explained, although I knew it was far from the truth.

I didn't enjoy lying to my friends, but in this case, I had no other option. I trusted them to keep my secret, but the stakes were too high to reveal the current situation right now.

"Could we talk privately, please?" Lucas finally spoke up.

I wasn't sure how to respond. Lucas wanted to speak to me? It had been a year since that happened.

"Sure," I said, somewhat hesitantly.

We left the café and stood by one of the windows in the hallway.

"So?" I gazed at him questioningly.

"What's going on between you and Alex, and why are you lying to us?" Lucas's tone was earnest and stern.

"I..." I was at a loss for words. "I'm not lying to you... I don't understand what you mean. I've already told you that we... we're friends again," I replied, my voice tinged with nervousness.

"Yes, you're friends... come on, Jasmine, you were... with him, I saw you!" Lucas's accusation hit me like a ton of bricks.

I froze, my mind racing. Had he really seen us? This was the second time someone had spied on me during that dreadful night.

"What... what do you mean?"

"Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," he retorted angrily.

I attempted to explain, but I found myself at a loss for words. Alex had warned me not to share anything with anyone.

"What do I not understand? Was that the deal? 'Suck me off and I won't seek revenge, and we'll be friends again'? He glared at me with a disgusted expression, assuming the worst of me.

"No! No, Lucas, it's not like that. You know it's not..." I struggled to explain, my voice quivering.

"I don't even know who you are anymore. You're lying to your friends. Leave me, we're not even friends. But what about Riley, Chloe, and Mark?"

"We're not? But during the school trip last year, after what happened..." I sighed. "You told me we were friends." His words left me feeling even more conflicted and hurt.

"I only told you this to make you feel better. We barely talked, don't tell me you considered me as a friend." he was looking at me with those… dark eyes ready to attack you at any moment.

"Yes. But I was obviously wrong. I thought you cared about me."

"I cared. Until I saw what you were doing last night," Lucas repeated.

"I told you I can explain," I insisted.

"Explain it, then. I'm all ears," he demanded.

"It's... it's not that simple, Lucas. I want to share everything with you, to trust you. I just..." I began.

"Let me guess. You can't tell me," he scoffed. "I want you to understand one thing. You mean nothing to me from this moment on," he declared with anger.

"Did I mean something to you before?" I dared to ask, but my question hung in the air unanswered.