“I don’t see anything good coming out of this...” Luna chose to be honest.

However, Erica shook her head. “What ending did you see that is worth sacrificing your body like this? Everything would have been fine if you just stayed in the library."

Luna merely looked at Erica sadly.

Erica gasped and covered her mouth. Everything that spilled out of her mouth registered in her brain and she felt even more guilty. Fresh tears streamed down her face without stopping again. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound like it was your fault. I'm sorry. I know it's mine. I know it's my fault."

Luna sighed. "Erica... Is Victor really worth all of these? Is Victor worthy of you?"

When Erica did not answer, Luna continued. "You're more than this... Don't reduce yourself to this state. Please?"

Although Luna sounded sad, Erica could pick out the unspoken pride that Luna had for her. Erica hugged Luna's arm and silently cried the whole way home.

Days passed with Erica trying to heed Luna's words and forget about Victor.

‘He's only the best in this school. Beyond it, he's just another fish in the sea.’ Erica repeatedly reminded herself every time she caught sight of him, which was considerably often.

However, her ill feelings towards Rina remained.

What made matters worse was that Erica felt as if she was being taunted every single day. Everywhere she went, there would be news or gossip about Rina. Whether it was about her kind act for the day, her beauty, her gentleness, or how she got saved yet again.

‘What's so good about a damn damsel in distress? Does she even try to solve any of the issues herself? Some of the problems were even created because she was kind to people who held ill intentions towards her.’ Erica was plagued with thoughts like these. She hated weak people who did nothing but cause trouble to the people around the most.

Her family had taught them better than this. It was precisely what fueled their drive to hone their talents to find their place in society with their own strength. That way, they would never be at the mercy of whomever they were reliant on. So, Rina’s existence was like a mockery of Erica’s belief.

Eventually, the day came when Erica came across Rina herself.

Rina was cornered by a group of bullies in a remote part of the school.

It could only be said that it was fate that made their paths cross. Erica only passed by this area on this day because she was running an errand for a teacher.

Watching the scene unfold before her, Erica decided to wait by the side and see. She was willing to give Rina a chance to correct her judgement of her.

Erica effortlessly hauled herself up onto a nearby tree. Hiding among the leaves, she made herself comfortable on a large branch. ‘A pity that I do not have any popcorn to eat.’

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

"How can there be someone as pure as you. I refuse to believe that such a person exists in this wretched world." The girl who spoke seemed to be the leader of the group. She was standing at the front like an alpha in a pack.

"Today's the day when we will reveal your true face." She spat.

The two boys stayed on the lookout while the girls taunted Rina in different ways. They verbally abused her. They pushed and shoved her.

Erica could tell that they were careful in not leaving behind evidence. Nothing they did left a mark on Rina.

For the entire time, Rina shut her eyes tightly and pursed her lips. She kept a tight grip on her skirt and refused to raise a hand against them.

The girls gradually grew frustrated that she was not letting up. So, they swapped places with the boys who were keeping a lookout.

The boys put their arms around Rina, stroked her face, and whispered things in her ear that made her cringe and tear up.

Since Rina did not reject them, the boys became more daring. They reached for her inner thighs and breasts.

Yet, Rina kept her mouth sealed shut. She refused to let out a peep or to try to fight back. Her face only became flushed, with tears flowing down her face. Her body also trembled like a leaf in the wind.

Everything that Rina did, or rather, did not do, only further confounded Erica. Why would Rina put up with such humiliation? If it was Erica, she would rather die than be humiliated this way. Interested to see the extent of Rina’s tolerance, Erica continued to watch the scene unfold.

Rina’s vulnerable image eventually caused the boys' hearts to waver. They concluded that she was not going to fight back at all. It roused their pity and protectiveness.

"Hey... I don't think she is as you said... Is there a misunderstanding somewhere?"

"Yeah, where did you see her behaving haughty again? And who told you all those stories of her private life again?"

Their leader lost her cool. "Shut up! You can't even accomplish something so simple, and you're so easily won over. Don't you see how she just made you like her?!"

The boys' faces lit up in realisation. ‘How insidious is this girl?’

"You're all wimps! Back off!" The leader barked out.

The boys shrunk their heads back in shame and retreated behind Rina.

The leader had a dangerous glint in her eyes as she approached Rina slowly. The ease that Rina had with winning over the boys was extremely annoying and provoking.

The leader roughly grabbed Rina's face with one hand. "Aren't you happy that your face gets you anything you want?"

She flung her hand down and Rina's head turned together with it.

"Want me to prove that it's your face that's your fortune?" The leader slowly pulled out a familiar bottle of clear liquid from her bag. The label on it told everyone what it was.

"Woah, how did you get that?" One of the boys asked in shock. Students were not allowed to bring chemicals out of the laboratory.

"It's easy to smuggle it out.” The girl snorted. “It's not as if no one does it. Good people, good students...” The girl spat on the ground. “All of those are fake. It's only a matter of where their transgressions lie in their life." The leader ended with looking meaningfully at Rina.

"Are you really sure you want to do this?" One of the other girls softly spoke up.

"Do you remember that we don't want to leave anything behind that could be traced back to us?" Another girl reminded.

"I don’t care anymore. Such privileged girls anger me to no end. I'm prepared to die. I shall drag her down with me to hell. Feel free to leave if you're scared."

Everyone looked at each other but no one left. They were feeling powerful at the moment.

The leader opened the bottle and gently swayed it in front of Rina's face. "Let's see what you can get when this pretty face of yours is ruined." She smirked, only inches away from Rina’s face.

Erica almost laughed aloud at this point. ‘Looks like someone else shares the same sentiments as me.’

Rina's eyes bulged in fear. She knew that she was in serious trouble now, so she tried to run away. She could tolerate it if the marks left on her body would disappear. Whereas injuries that would not heal properly terrified her.

"Hold her still!" The boys instinctively reacted to the order and each of them held on to one arm.

Rina struggled desperately and pleaded for mercy. However, it all fell on deaf ears.