CHAPTER II

"What is wrong with you?" Jemimah looked mad while looking at the tall guy. 

"What happened?"  I whispered Keyla while she's still hugging me. My head is still aching because my hair was pulled earlier but it was now bearable.

"He pushed Jemimah a while ago when she doesn't want to let go of your hair. Good thing she let go before she was pushed 'cause she might pulled your hair with her when she fell on her butt" Keyla let out a short laugh but stopped immediately and turned serious again when she realized how heavy the atmosphere is.

I glanced at the back of the guy again who is looking down at Jemimah. He offered his hand but she just slapped his hand away and stood up with the help of her friends.

The guy then faced us, not caring on the rejection of Jemimah on his help like he doesn't really wanted to help her but he needs to, and when I finally saw his face, I can't help but stare. I can even feel Keyla pinching my arm. This man standing in front of us looks really handsome.

His cold emerald green eyes screams intensity but it also shows gentleness while staring at me. He has dark eyebrows that are sloped downwards in a serious expression. His dark colored hair is combed back highlighting his well-defined chin and jaw. His lips looks so soft and captivating. This man is gorgeous. 

"Charles." we all look at the girl who was being bullied earlier when she spoke. Oh! I forgot about her. 

"Don't you have classes?" the guy, who I think is Charles, asked.

"I have. I-I just got into a. . a problem" the girl explained and she lowered her head. I think she's still scared of Jemimah and her friends. I approached her and held her hand for support "Don't be scared, we're here" I gave her a smile although I maybe look like a mess because of my ruined hair and teary eyes.

"I'm sorry that you got hurt because of me" she apologized. I tightened my hold on her hand "It's not your fault, silly. It's theirs. You are a victim here too. Don't worry they won't get away easily" I continued smiling and look in her eyes "I'm Maureen Annaliese, by the way. You?"

"I'm Allena Jane" she introduced herself in a low voice. I nodded and glanced at Keyla who is watching and stealing glances to the guy "Oh, and this is my best friend, Keyla" I put emphasis on her name to get her attention. She's literally embarassing herself right now. 

I succeeded and then she smiled at us looking unbothered, "Hi! I'm THE pretty Keyla Elizabeth" she looks happy and energetic as she took the hands of Allena.

I tried glancing at Charles but he was staring at me so I quickly diverted my look at Jemimah instead. She's still holding her butt while glaring at us and complaining to her friends. She raised her brows at me and about to say something when school officials came together with some of my personal bodyguards that I don't know where when my hair was being pulled. 

My cousin's wife which is one of the young professors in the university came rushing to me. She held my face gently looking so concerned and tried fixing my ruined hair "Who did this to you?" 

I glanced at Jemimah with cold eyes. She turned pale but I don't care. She brought this to herself, might as well face the consequence. I have warned her many times but she didn't listen and even pulled my hair. She deserve to be punished.

"Jemimah Millers" I answered and Helena, my cousin's wife, turned serious before nodding. She glanced the Jemimah group, "Who is Ms. Millers?" and they all pointed Jemimah. Oh! How sad that they easily turned their back against her.

"Helena, they are all bullying a girl a while ago. They all deserve to be punished" I added because I think it's  only fair that way. She nodded and asked for them to follow her. 

They all look so scared when a while ago they look so proud and confident while bullying Allena. They followed my cousin after she kissed my cheeks and left together with some of the school officials.

One of my bodyguard went near me and apologized, "I'm sorry, Miss Maureen. We got a call from your dad so we lost you. We sincerely apologize" then the two of them bowed slightly.

I let out a sigh, "It's fine. It's not your fault that Jemimah is a warfreak" I said then they all stood straight and waited for my next orders. Sometimes, it's awkward that they are always with me but actually, years ago, I have at least 10 bodyguards 'cause our family received lot of death threats and they are worried about my safety. Good thing, it lessened when I grew up so I only have four right now and they don't stick with me at all times. They are advised to protect me stealthily.

I glanced at Charles who is now picking the things of Allena who is standing in front of him. Are they together? Is he her boyfriend?

Keyla on the other hand is standing beside me texting. I think she's now telling my brother that she met a handsome guy. She's always like that. She tell my brother about stuffs like this. I just hope that he doesn't tell my brother yet that I almost lost my hair.

I walked near Charles and Allena leaving my bestfriend who is busy, "Are you good now?" I asked Allena and gently held her arm.

She nodded, "Thank you for protecting me" 

"No problem" I smiled at her and glanced at Charles after. He is done picking Allena's things and put it in her bag. He handed it to her.

"Next time, if you will only get yourself hurt by protecting others, call your bodyguards instead." He said using his deep and manly voice that added to his appeal. I glanced at Allena thinking it was for her. I was waiting for her to answer when she just stared back at me with sad eyes.

Wait. It's me who got hurt because I wanted to protect Allena, right? I also have body guards. Is it for me? Is he talking to me?

I looked at him in disbelief. He's staring back with his cold expression. I rolled my eyes at him before talking, "My bodyguards are not here a while ago, obviously. I approached them not thinking that they can hurt me because I thought that I have my bodyguards around but they're not. Why are you blaming me when I only wanted to help?"

"I'm not blaming you. I wanted you to be careful next time. Those two are different" he answered and waited for me to talk back but I never did, I rolled my eyes and look at Keyla, who is still busy texting, instead. I crossed my arms before checking the time.

"Oh no!" I panicked when I noticed that we are already ten minutes late to our class. I completely ignored Allena and Charles to pull Keyla, who is still busy texting, to go to our room. I'm so mean and unrespectful for not saying goodbye but I need to go to our class now.

"Keyla! Can you walk faster? We're late already" I was literally panicking here while Keyla is taking her precious time on walking.

"Maureen, why do we need to rush? Nothing will change if we run, we will still be late" I rolled my eyes at what she said. Where in hell did she get that?

"We have a quiz. Do you want to fail?" I'm really nervous right now but Keyla is really calm and she look like walking in the street of Paris.

"Don't worry, we won't fail just because we miss ONE quiz" she argued but I continued walking faster. 

Good thing that our classroom is only on the second floor of the building and we arrived fast. Well, I did, because I walk hurriedly but Keyla continued walking, not caring a bit if the professor is here or not.

When I entered the room, I wanted to shout 'Hallelujah' when I noticed that my prof isn't here yet and my classmates are busy with their own worlds.

"See? We panicked for nothing" Keyla rolled her eyes as she put her bag down and take a seat.

I did the same before answering, "Excuse me, I panicked, you didn't"

"Well, I got a feeling that the prof will be late" Keyla shrugged her shoulders and spoke in her usual sassy tone. 

"Whatever. I'm just happy that we're not late" I told her while getting my iPad out from my bag. Keyla did the same before remembering what happened a while ago. She literally forgot how my hair was pulled if she didn't get a text from my brother asking about the handsome guy. 

"Maureen, don't do it again, okay?" I frowned at her when she said that. I know she's worried but I can't just ignore someone who's being bullied. I didn't answered and stared at my iPad.

"I'm serious. What if they do something even worse on you? I mean, good thing you didn't had a hair treatment recently 'cause that would be really bad but just let your bodyguards fix those kind of things for you. I don't want you getting hurt, Maureen" she added looking sad but I can't help but chuckle because she pointed out the hair treatment thingy. We planned to have a pamper day last weekend but it was cancelled, so I think that's a good thing?

"I didn't expected that she will pull my hair, Keyla. I just wanted to help. And I'm thinking that I have my bodyguards on stealth but yeah, dad's call is a bad timing" I reasoned out and took out my apple pen. My bodyguards are advised to protect me from a distance because I feel stuffed when they stick to my side all the time.

Keyla was about to talk back when the whole classroom turned quiet at once like they are shocked and nervous. We both turn our heads in front to see if the professor is here but my forehead furrowed when I saw the man earlier named Charles, standing proudly and intimidatingly at the podium. What is he doing here?