Althea's POV
“Is she the girl who had a fight with Randall the other day?” The girl on my right whispered to her friend, but I can still hear it.
“Yes. How dare she. She blames Randall for her stupidity,” her friend replied.
“Yeah. She's old-fashioned and definitely does not match Randall. She intentionally bumps into her to get his attention. Argh! How annoying!”
I pretend I can't hear them and keep eating my food. I haven't seen Randall since this morning and I'm relieved because it means my day won't be worse. I reached for my bottled water when someone grabbed it and sat on the table.
I sighed in disbelief because it was Randall. I pushed my glasses before looking at him, “Give it to me, please.”
“Wow, you're saying please. I didn't know you could say that, Althea. Do you want this?” He asked.
I nodded, “Yes.”
He opened the water bottle and poured it on my head, making his friends laugh and other students. The cafeteria was filled with laughter, but all I did was remove my glasses and wipe the water away.
I stood up, not planning to finish my food when he grabbed my arm and threw it on my shirt. I gasped in shock while staring at my shirt that was stained with spaghetti sauce. The laughter becomes louder, but I remain silent.
“Randall!” A young man interfered. “Enough with this childish act.”
He furrowed, “Move away, Zachary. She is mine.”
“Your dad will be disappointed if he finds out about this. You must remember that you still have problems to deal with,” he stated.
“I don't give a f*ck. Now, move!”
The young man shook his head before handing me his handkerchief and left. I wiped the spaghetti sauce on my face and shirt, but was stopped when Randall walked closer to me while keeping his distance from me.
“It looks better on you, Althea. The spaghetti sauce gives more color on your granny clothes. How many of that kind of clothing did you have?” He questioned while laughing.
“What do you want, Randall?” I inquired.
“This is payment for taking the job my father offered you, Althea. I told you not to accept it but you were too bold enough to annoy me. Now, your life will turn to hell and I will not stop until you get tired of this.”
“Well, you're dealing with the wrong woman. This is not my first rodeo when it comes to bullying, so if you want to throw things at me. Go ahead.” I take the pudding and show it to him, “You want more? Let's add more.”
I wiped the pudding in my shirt and his friends were amazed by what I've done. Meanwhile, Randall smirked as if he wasn't impressed by what I did.
“I have someone check on you, Althea. I discovered your parents were divorce and lived with your dad until he died. You don't have a good relationship with your mom, but you're living with her now. Let me guess, hmm. Your father died because he had an ugly daughter that he couldn't stand to see every day,” he murmured.
“You don't know me and my dad, Randall.”
He grinned, “Perhaps, but I know nerds like you. Besides, I've been trying to track down your mother's relationship with my father and once I found out she's seducing him, I will make you pay for it.”
“My mother is not seducing anyone, Randall.”
He moved forward, causing me to step backward until I hit a table. His serious aura wrapped me, and it feels dangerous. Randall was looking at me as if he was positive about his accusations with my mother.
“Your father has been spending time with my dad at our house two months before you arrived. She's a flirt and can be a golddigger, maybe you were using the same strategy. That's why you agree with my dad's proposal, Althea. Your mom is a flirt, so her daughter is also a flirt too—” I slapped him.
The cafeteria was covered with student voices. They were surprised with my actions, same as mine. Even though my mom and I don't have a good relationship, he has no right to insult her.
“How dare you!” He grabbed my neck and pinned me on the table. “How dare you lay your filthy hands on me!”
“Randall!” Mr. Stone's voice echoed through the room but it didn't scare him.
“Let go of my daughter!” Mom stepped in, she pushed him away. She glared at Randall and added, “What my daughter did to you and you're hurting her?! Is this about the job offer she took?”
Randall scoffed, “Stay out of my way, woman! You're nothing but my dad's secretary, so don't raise—” he was cut off after being slapped by his father.
I widened because his dad slapped him in front of many people. Randall's fiery eyes landed on me and my mother, like he was blaming us for the shame he was facing. The room fell in silence and no one dared to speak as if they were terrified of Randall.
“This isn't what I'm expecting to see if I visit your school, Randall. I don't know what got into your head, but you are being too much. You are grounded! I am confiscating your car key and credit card,” he said and laid his hand in front of his son.
Randall looked at his dad's hand before diverting attention to me. I looked away because I suddenly felt pity for him, not because he was slapped by his dad. But because his father didn't respect his reputation, and even if he deserved it. I still found it unfair.
“I'm waiting, Randall. Don't make me count to three,” his dad's voice has a trace of warning.
He took his key and wallet from his pocket before putting it in his dad's hand. “As if I need it. Keep it because I don't care about your rules.”
Randall walked past his dad and stopped at my side. He whispered, “We’re not done yet, Althea. You might be saved today, but it doesn't mean you're safe everyday.” After vowing, he walked away.