When Vicky came back to the library he was happily humming away, seeing him this way Ric did not even ask what happened, it looked like whatever had happened his friend was happy about it so he was going to leave it at that, he was too distracted with his own puzzle to even be curious.

Vicky sat back down and stared at him, "you seem so busy solving what she said that you don't even know what is happening to her because of you right?" he said cocking one of his eyebrows, Vicky looked up, "what do you mean happen to her because of me?" he asked, "All the girls in the class ganged up on her and bullied her screaming curse words at her since she wouldn't say how she had seduced you, her friend was not with her the fiery one, and your girl just took it all silently...." Vicky didn't get to finish his sentence Ric who had started packing when Vicky had started talking grabbed his bag and ran out of the library, he still didn't know where she stays but he had to meet her he had to make sure she was ok, he banged his fisted hand against the lift wall, "stupid me I shouldn't have done that in class" he said screaming aloud in frustration, "aaagh, why the heck am I so popular". He knew this will only increase the gap between him and Ria, she will never forgive him for sure, the thought of this was making his panic attack come back, and he started taking deep breaths and gulping in air as though drowning.

Having taken the stairs Vicky found Ric bent over double and gasping when the lift door opened on the ground floor, Vicky quickly helped his friend out and to a chair in the lounge, "get a grip man what is happening to you? she is fine I saved her from the mob before they could do too much harm, even her friend miss understood the reason I was holding her arm and punched me see" he said pointing to his black eye, trying to distract Ric, who after a great effort was able to calm himself down enough to avoid a full-blown attack. " Tell me everything that happened," he asked, Vicky did not leave out any details including the tears, to the apology snacks that he still had in his hand. Ric just sat there unable to move, he didn't know what he will tell her to make her forgive him and the thought made his chest feel too tight to even move.

"Why don't you leave the poor girl alone, she is too timid to be your girlfriend, I couldn't stay silent I don't know why she didn't give them a piece of her mind, so scared of a bunch of girls then she deserves to be bullied," said Vicky getting angry at how this timid girl was disturbing his immovable friend like this, "why don't you forget her..." interrupting Vicky's rant Ric whispered "She is mute...she couldn't talk back even if she wanted to" Vicky. was shocked into silence, and now everything started to fall into place, Ric always had a soft spot for anyone who was mute since his mom and his niece both were born mute due to genetic issues that skipped a generation. "Oh!" was all Vicky could say."What will I do?" asked Ric looking lost and sad.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

His phone buzzed, but Ric ignored it, he just was not in the mood to do anything, he felt like he was dumped even before they got together, the few pegs he had with Vicky just made things look sad, so he was drumming a sad tune on the table and his phone buzzed again, I hate this phone he said and was about to throw it when he saw the notification that flashed on the screen and was sober immediately, "it's from Ria" he said not believing his own words, his finger trembled as he opened the notification...

Ria: I heard you were looking for me. it's ok I am good, can I ask you for a favor? can ignore the whole thing and behave like today didn't happen? I am planning to do that I hope you can do this favor for me.

Ria: I hear you are at a bar, Vicky told Marice, please don't drink too much it is bad for your health, have a good night.

Ric jumped up and down happy after reading the message for the 3rd time, Vicky clapped watching his happy dance, "she like me, she likes me" he sang and danced and they both went back to their dorm and after thinking for half an hour he replied...

Ric: I am sorry for what you had to go through, I can definitely act as though nothing happened this time, but if they do that again I will do whatever I need to, to protect you. Thanks for worrying about my health, I am so happy there is someone to care about my health that I am happy to stop drinking totally, have a good night.

He clicked on the send button knowing that she might be asleep by now and he shouldn't expect a reply, but every time his phone buzzed he hurriedly looked at the notification and was disappointed that it was not from her. He spent the night re-reading her messages and smiling to himself. He was still humming when he got ready in the morning and when he got to class he sat in his usual place and ignored everyone happy in his own world. His phone buzzed.

Ria: Thanks

He banged happily on the table seeing the reply not realizing that class was going on, " Sorry sir a mosquito" he said sheepishly while Vicky rolled his eyes at how kiddish his friend was being. "Can you act your age at least outside?" he asked Ric trying to maintain a serious face and Vicky kicked him under the table, "let me enjoy my moment" he said which made Vicky laugh and get a stare from the professor again. He wanted to turn back and look at her, but he promised her that he will keep his promise even if it kills him. Once the class was over everyone headed to their different electives, Ric and Vicky walked behind Ria and Marice at a small distance to not make it obvious but close enough to see them, she looked cute in a yellow pinup dress, and her hair left loose, as they turned into the next corridor Ria turned and smiled at them both and Ric almost stopped dead in his track. "Can I be hers?" he thought to himself dased by how cute she looked when she smiled.