Good girl, bad boy

CHAPTER FOUR; PART ONE

Emily strode into her room, excited; and shutting the door behind her, she flopped herself on the bed, back first, staring at the ceiling and thinking of Riley, smiling to herself.

"Riley Doyen…." She uttered his name affectionately, beaming to herself as Eugene flung her door open, calling her for dinner.

Emily pouted as she followed him behind. Eugene shrugged; unknown to him, Emily was upset because he had disturbed her reveries of Riley.

"How was school today…?" Prudence asked her children as they ate their dinner.

"School was great, Ma" Eugene was concise.

"....My athletics sessions are going well too." Emily chipped in happily.

" Oh yeah. How was it?" Eugene asked. "I hope Riley Doyen is not giving you a hard time."

"So far, so good" Emily replied vaguely.

"Riley Doyen? Isn't he the son of Tech in Group…?" Prudence asked

"Yes, mother. I heard he is the heir..." Emily answered hastily, smiling heartily.

"The other shareholders won't oblige to his leadership without a fight for power and support. Everything will depend on his capabilities." Prudence replied meticulously before noticing that Julia was peculiarly silent all the while.

"Julia, you haven't told us about your activities at the University today"

"I hardly enjoy my time there anymore" Julia shrugged, unable to look at her mother.

"Why is that?" Eugene and Emily asked simultaneously.

"You love spending time at the institution" Emily added.

"Is there something you want to tell me, Julia?" Prudence asked calmly but, Julia remained silent, hesitanting to tell her family what was bothering her. Prudence smiled, caressing her daughter's cheek fondly.

"You know you can tell me anything" she added with a soft voice.

"There is this professor in the department of Philosophy.…" Julia started but, Prudence stopped her midway as she turned to her twin children, signalling them to leave.

The twins sensed the intensity of the matter and left without contestation as Prudence turned to Julia, giving her an approving smile.

"The professor.....he wants a relationship in exchange for my grades, mother" Julia sobbed. "I work so hard... I complete my assignments and study hard for my exams too but, he still fails me unless I accept his love"

"How long has it been now?" Prudence asked her daughter. She was deeply sorry to hear the hardships her daughter had been through.

"...for a year now but, I keep rejecting his advances."

"l believe you but, the man is untouchable if we don't have evidence"

"I have a witness. His name is Richmond, his former PA. He told me that he saw my photos in Professor Makk's briefcase at around the time he started asking me out"

"The former PA is going to be of great help."

"Richmond and I want to find out if he stills has the photos."

"...good idea but becareful... also being a woman is not a weakness but, a blessing. From today onwards, never let anyone intimidate you for being a girl"

"Yes, mother." Julia replied, wrapping her arms around her mother; crying profusely as Eugene and Emily listened to their sister's sobs, saddened.

"What do you think happened?" Eugene sighed deeply.

"I suppose it's something we aren't supposed to know about" Emily answered before turning to her phone. Miles had sent her a goodnight text which she was replying to.

"Yet again, I wonder why...it's not like we are kids" Eugene sighed.

"I heard you and Kendall are friends again" Emily said, changing the subject untactfully.

"Riley told you...and you believed him? How could you be so gullible?" Eugene shrugged.

"I noticed you're fond of Kendall yourself" Emily sneered.

"From what I see, you're also becoming fond of Riley....."

"Excuse me?" Emily was flustered, unable to deny the truth.

"It's written all over your face..." Eugene laughed.

"Think whatever you want" Emily snorted.

"Riley is surely playing with your feelings." Eugene told her.

"What could he possibly do to me?" Emily smiled to herself, brushing off whatever Miles had told her.

***

Julia walked down the corridor to Professor Makk's office. A few steps away from the office, Julia saw Bridget leave professor Makk's office, suspicious. Hiding, Julia watched Bridget intently as the latter shut the door behind her carefully. She buttoned her blouse hurriedly as she looked around frantically.

The coast was clear with emptiness pervading the corridor; making Bridget smirk, relieved that no one had seen her. Julia watched as the former walked away feeling exulted. But, what exactly was Bridget doing in Professor Makk's office? Did her friend, Sonile know about it? Julia wondered, rushing to the door as soon as Bridget had disappeared. Without knocking, she opened the door hastily and found Professor Makk putting on his shirt, shamelessly.

"You came back for more?" He grinned, not looking up to see who it was. Julia was flustered and speechless with her silence making the professor look in her direction.

"Julia…!" He said; although he was surprised to see her, he looked unfazed about the situation."Come in…"

"I came at the wrong time"

"Your timing is perfect, my darling" He told her, leering into her as he finished buttoning his shirt.

"I brought the assignment papers you asked for." Julia said as she approached his table, eyeing the briefcase on the table. "Where should I put them?"

"What's the rush? You and I haven't spoken in a while" Professor Makk said, placing a hand on her shoulder casually.

"Indeed but, you professor are to blame" Julia forced a laugh, putting the papers beside the briefcase. "You haven't created a suitable rapport for me"

"You are the one who's been avoiding me" The professor said casually, walking towards the shelf of books behind his table and perusing through its books devotedly. Julia smiled, taking this chance to open the briefcase and see if she could find the photos that Richmond had told her about but, professor Makk suddenly came up behind her, frightening her.

"What are you looking for? He asked, smirking mischievously.

"I was looking for the old examination data sheets. I would like to see it for myself before I can believe that I have failed your course thrice now" Julia lied to him so he wouldn't get suspicious of her initial plot to take him down.

"Do you think I would keep it with me...?" Professor Makk replied, laughing heartily as he traced his finger on Julia's cheek.

"I had to try...."Julia told him confidently, shrinking back.

"This is why I love you. Julia. You are a go-getter, keen and bold, entering the lion's den; aren't you afraid…" The professor said as he walked to his armchair and sat down, eyeing her up.

"You said you love me"

"And so?" Professor Makk smirked, amusedly.

"You can't treat someone you love with contempt; it's unethical" Julia chuckled.

"You're my student after all." Professor Makk told her, proudly.

"I will take my leave now"

"When will you give into me?" Professor Makk asked, standing up. He closed the distance between him and her, taking Julia's hand into his as he leaned closer to her face, eyeing her with desire and making her flinch as she felt his breath on her skin.

"You are so beautiful, Julia. I can't stop thinking about you even if I tried" Professor Makk whispered through his breathy voice, aiming for her lips as he leaned in steadily to kiss her. Julia was flustered. Was he going to force himself on her? She wondered, panicking. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door, taking the professor aback.

"Who is it?" He asked, walking back to his seat.

"It's Richmond... professor"

"Come in…"Professor Makk replied; Richmond walked in, confidently approaching the his table.

"I didn't hand in my paper, sir" He said.

"I told you..till you do what I want, you can't pass this course"

"I am still thinking about your offer, sir"

"It's been three years, Richmond."

"I should take my leave now" Julia saw an opening to escape, leaving immediately. Professor Makk signalled Richmond to put his paper on the table. The young man obeyed him, gently putting the paper on the table before leaving the office.

"Are you alright?" He asked Julia after meeting her outside; she had been waiting for him. Julia threw her arms around Richmond, holding onto him desperately.

"Thank you, Richmond" Julia lowered her voice."How did you know….?"

"My intuition told me to follow you and I did." he told her, smiling as he hugged her back.

"Plan A failed miserably but, I recorded my conversation with him"

"Good....Let's go before he finds out we played him." Julia simpered, slapping Richmond's shoulder playfully as he took her hand and walked away.

***

Julia walked into her room, staring hard at her reflection in the mirror. She was cumbered by gloom as she remembered her encounter with Professor Makk.

"You are so beautiful Julia. I can't stop thinking about you even if I tried" Professor Makk's words echoed in her head. Julia shrunk back, taking a seat on her bed as she recalled how the professor had leered at her and touched her shoulder and face; and having an ingrained aversion for his behavior, Julia aggressively undressed and hurried into the shower room, standing erect under the flow of hot water, scrubbing herself and letting the water run down her body to wash off the awful feeling pervading her mind.

"I can't let him touch me ever again!" She told herself as she consistently scrubbed her body; bruising herself.

"Being a woman is not a weakness but a blessing…" she heard her mother's voice and calmed down, stooping, as she wept profusely.

"I have to unmask Professor Makk" she clenched her hand in a fist.

Meanwhile, Emily slumped on her bed, looking at Riley's contact on the screen.

"Should I call him?" She pondered with her heart and mind torn apart by desire; desire to speak to Riley and desire to forget him generously but, her urge abruptly beat her to a decision with her finger subconsciously pressing on the call icon.

"It's ringing!" she yelped, disconnecting the line but Riley called back immediately.

"Cold blood?" she heard him say as soon as she had answered his call.

"Hello…" she replied, not knowing what else to say.

"Did you call just so I could listen to you breathing?" Riley asked.

"Do you know who you are speaking to?" Emily stuttered.

"Of course, it's cold blood." Riley laughed.

"You have my number?" Emily said happily.

"This is not something you should be happy about. Normally, girls get upset when a boy gets their number without her consent" Riley grinned, sensing the excitement in her voice.

"I'm not like other girls." Emily told him. "Besides, this makes us even"

"We saw each other earlier…. I didn't expect you to miss me so soon"

Emily scoffed. "You're so overconfident" she told him, chuckling with disbelief.

"Oh so, you didn't miss me?" Riley laughed.

"No" Emily replied in haste.

"Then, I'm hanging up"

"I felt restless and wanted to talk to you" Emily admitted.

"Close your eyes and think of the person you would like to see the most...you will be asleep in no time"

"Does that work?" Emily asked, laughing.

"You know you can trust me" he told her.

"Thank you. Riley". she said, delighted that she had spoken to him. "Goodnight…"

"Goodnight, cold blood" Riley replied before she disconnected the call.

"The things you are making me do. Emily Wilson" Riley said to himself, sitting up straight on his bed and staring at his reflection in the gigantic wardrobe mirror facing the direction of his bed.

Miles peeped into Riley's room through the small opening in the door knob. He had overheard his brother talking to someone on the phone as he walked to the kitchen for a glass of water. Riley was never the type who conversed with others via the phone; he either texted or spoke to people in person and overhearing Riley talking on phone came as a great shocker to Miles.

"Just who can this preeminent person be?" Miles asked himself as he walked back to his room.

***

Kendall approached Eugene after the basketball game, smiling heartily as he looked at her.

Hello, Kendall" he said. "You didn't go to the track today?"

"Mr. Dickinson didn't show up today and Riley is busy with Emily"

"Too bad you didn't make it in the girls' basketball team"

"Athletics is my life" Kendall said as she reached in her bag, taking out a gold coloured key holder; engraved with Tech In Group's logo. She took his hand and placed it in Eugene's palm, meticulously.

"Peace offering…"she told him. "I really miss you and I'm hoping we can be friends again"

"I miss you too, Kendall" Eugene admitted. ".. it's just that my ego was at play"

"I'm sorry about what Riley said to you. His paranoia gets the best of him sometimes"

"Let's just say, it's all the time" Eugene said and both of them broke into laughter. Suddenly, Eugene stopped laughing and gazed at Kendall instead; looking at her apologetically.

"I don't know why but, I feel relieved.... like a huge burden has been lifted off of me" he told her, taking her hand and pulling her into a tight, warm hug. Kendall leaned in, resting her head on his chest, beaming quietly.

Flustered, Wang Sue watched them from a distance, wallowing in self-pity and jealousy. She had had a crush on Eugene since the first day she saw him; it was that very day when Kendall approached him on his first day at Chestnut High School. She had seen him first though; while he and Emily stood at the parking lot, talking to Julia. That was the time when her heart skipped for him. Wang Sue narrowed her gaze at Eugene and Kendall as they spoke, smiling at each other; she struggled to keep her emotion intact with teardrops threatening to betray her desire to compose herself; and turning away from them, she walked in the opposite direction, not looking back.

After what seemed to be a long conversation between Eugene and Kendall, it dawned on Eugene that he was supposed to meet Wang Sue after the game. He looked around frantically, his eyes searching desperately around the court but, she was no where to be seen.

"What happened? Who are you looking for?"

"Wang Sue." Eugene replied. "I promised we would join the math club together"

"Math club? Why not solely focus on basketball?" Kendall asked him, curious and envious.

"Wang Sue loves math" Eugene replied concisely.

"And so…?"

"I want to get to understand her by being a part of what she loves"

"That doesn't make sense" Kendall was flustered.

"You wouldn't understand" Eugene said before hurrying off.

"Eugene!" Kendall called after him, distraught.

"Sorry, Kendall; I've got to go" he told her, looking back only once.

"Have I lost my chance...?" Kendall muttered to herself as her gaze shifted down. " Have I really lost you, Eugene?"

Eugene ran down the corridor, looking around for Sue. He suddenly saw her walking down the corridor, hurrying to the exit. Her tears had betrayed her by flowing down her cheeks, unrestrained and she had to make sure no one saw her.

"Wang Sue!" Eugene called after spotting her. Hearing Eugene's voice, Sue stiffened. Eugene ran after her; and catching up with her, he turned her towards him.

"Hey, I was waiting…" he began before noticing her teary swollen eyes and her wet collar. "Did something happen? Who did this to you?"

"I, um I just…I mean you..." Wang Sue stuttered, unable to explain why she was crying.

"Shhhh, calm down. Tell me what happened to you."Eugene said, embracing her. She was so small that his hands completely wrapped her body into his arms. "You know you can tell me anything"

"I saw you…" She stammered, complitorn by what she saw. "...forget about it"

Eugene smiled, cupping her face his hands. "You know a pretty girl like you shouldn't be crying like this out here"

"Pretty?" Wang Sue brightened up, chortling and forgetting her earlier pain.

"Yes, pretty" Eugene grinned. "Aren't we going to the math club"

"I can't go looking like this" Wang Sue remarked, laughing.

"Then, I will walk you to the train station" he told her insistently.

"And Emily? Aren't you supposed to go home with her?"

"They will understand. Besides, I can find my way home" Eugene laughed, taking her hand as they walked down the corridor to the exit door of the school, beaming at each other endlessly.

Kendall was the last one to reach the parking lot; and getting into the car, she sat down quietly, looking out the window as the driver started the car, speeding off into the main road. She sighed, recalling her encounter with Eugene. She could almost see his countenance and gaze when he spoke about Wang Sue. Perhaps, she had taken so long to return and now it was too late.

"Kendall, Kendall" Miles called her severally before she responded, absentmindedly.

"Yes, did you say something?" Kendall answered.

"Are you feeling alright?" Riley asked, concerned.

"I'm alright. Don't worry about me." Kendall muttered.

"You don't look alright" Riley was relentless.

"Look at you talking like you care, Riley?" She sneered at him, rolling her eyes. "It's almost believable."

"I beg your pardon?"Riley furrowed his brow, offended.

"Riley, Kendall; now isn't the best time for this. Let's talk at home" Miles chipped in. Riley snarled, about to retort but, the driver looked at him, shaking his head, making him relent while Kendall shrugged impudently, looking out the window, grimaced.

"What could the problem be now?" Miles' inner voice pounded, wearisomely. Miles leaned back, against his seat, closing his eyes before they arrived home. His intuition told him, the three of them would have a long exhausting conversation as soon as they arrived home.