ELITE

Part 12

“ See? I knew you were hungry “ she takes another bite, speaking while chewing.

“ Of course I was! They don’t serve meat, Mirza! No meat! Some cow has to live another day because people in there eat tofu! What is tofu even made of? Rotten cheese? “

“ Dried soybeans “

“ Soybeans? “

“ They’re soaked in water, crushed, and then boiled “

“ That is disgusting “

“ You’ll find no disagreement from me on that “

He pulls back his hand. She didn’t even realize she finished the granola bar.

“ Are you going to say thank you? Or do you not know how to do that? “

“ I know how to say it. I’m just choosing not to “

“ Just like you chose to spend the night with a random stranger? “

He’s never going to let the Vidi thing go, is he?

“ Oh, My God.. are you jealous? You sound jealous “

” Please! As if I would be jealous of that loser. He may be the captain of the football team, but I run this school “

“ What do you want from me, Mirza? “

“ I just want a thank you, woman! “

Thank you? does he seriously want me to thank him for what happened to me the last 24 hours? Wait. He wasn’t even there at the end of the party!

“ Mirza, when you left the party.. where did you go? “

“ I told you. I had business to take care of “

“ What business? “

“ But I gotta run now, Kirania “ he starts to leave.

“ Whatever, Mirza “stops him in his tracks. He turns to her.

“ You were the one who didn’t want my protection anymore. Remember that “ he leaves the dining room in a hurry, the remaining lunch crowd parting for him as the red sea.

This just keeps going from bad to worse.

***

she leaves the dining room and heads back to her dorm when a sweet-looking girl approaches her in the hallway.

“ Hi. I was told to give you this “ she hands her a note. It says, ‘Meet me outside her dorm room’

“ Thank you for passing along the message “ the girl bows her head and runs away before she can say anything else.

Strange.

A second later, her phone pings with a message from an unknown number. “ Urgent. I’m waiting outside your dorm, “ - M

Is that Mirza? What does he want?

She has just received a message from an unknown number, asking her to meet them outside her dorm.

I have so many questions. If this was Mirza, why would he send me a text from an unknown number?  And if it’s not him, who is it? What do they want?

She hurries to her dorm room. Once she has inside, she sees students abruptly lining the hallway. Apprehensive, she tries to rush past them. But they suddenly starting chanting at her.

“ Slut! Slut! Slut! “ a mean girl said harshly at Kirania

“ At least I’m not an asshole! “

“ Whatever, slut! “ reply heshe start to run, trying to get away from the chanting. But the crowd quickly blocks her. Suddenly, she feels something wet hit her head. Yellow slime drips down her face. She looks up in disbelief, as another egg whizzes by her head. She bends down, grabs the cracked eggshells off the floor, and volley them at the crowd. The shells make contact with a loud, satisfying thwap!

“ What the hell, farm girl! “

“ Two bulky male students hurry towards Kirania, carrying a bucket of water between them.

“ Better get you clean. Elite doesn’t like dirty w****s. But since we’re feeling sorry for you.. “ says random resident

“ We’ll be nice and let you pick “ reply random hot guy

“ Are you serious? “

“ How do you want to get clean? Head or feet? “

“ What are you, 10 years old? “ an angry flush creeps into their necks.

This is all so childish. But fine, if they want to play games.

“ I’d prefer staying dirty if you don’t mind “

“ Oh, but we do mind, farm girl. We mind very much “ a second later, they upsend the bucket over her scalp, soaking her to the bone.

“ Look at that. Farmgirl finally getting clean “ She shivered with cold, grey water dripping down her front.

“ What are you gonna do now, farm girl? “

Ruined! Everything is ruined! My clothes, my bag, my dignity! I should put past the crowd and pretend that I’m fine. She takes a deep breath, looks her tormentors in the eye, and stride past them.

“ Damn, farm girl’s spine is made of steel. “ but a second later, she slips on a puddle of water and falls with a splat! Everyone watching bursts into laughter.

“ Come on, farm girl. Just quit. You don’t belong here! “

“ Yeah, you’re spending so much time on your back that you’re gonna get sores! “

She takes a shaky breath, trying to calm down. Then, in the distance, she sees a familiar face approaching.

“ Leave her alone! “ says Mirza angry

The crowd quickly disperses around her, letting Mirza through. He bends down, placing his arms around her.

“ I’m so sorry, Kirania. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Let me help “ she nod at him. Relief floods his face.

“ Are you hurt? “