The Black Swan Behind

95 The Deterrent effect

Ron didn’t deny that no matter how much he spoke and no matter how hard his tears flowed, he wouldn’t be able to wake Mezu up. A man as strong as Mezu was even made to be like this by a mysterious man who was said to have a midget body. Ron couldn’t believe it, but he knew he had to. During his wanderings in the cruel world of combat, Ron had never seen a midget man win in a battle with a much bigger opponent.

“My brain is not as smart as Kei. But, I believe.. this body.. can protect Hell Gate!” Ron said with both fists clenched.

***

The two green eyes caught the figure of a girl in a blue and white coat, walking down the campus hallway, “EMMA!!” her scream echoed there, followed by the sound of running boots.

“Kathy! Oh, you’re here too, Poppy ..” Emma replied, after a reflex to cover her ears at Kathy’s loud scream.

“What happened to you, Emma? Why are you limping?!” Kathy asked hoarsely.

“Did you have a road accident, Emma?” Poppy added.

“No, guys. I slipped on the terrace while cleaning the snow yesterday. That’s why I didn’t go to campus. It’s because I seem to have sprained my leg.” She lied.

“Didn’t yesterday you say that you just weren’t feeling well?” Kathy looked at her accusingly.

.....

Emma grinned awkwardly, “Sorry, I didn’t want to worry you guys. So I made the problem a little bit smaller.”

“Why you even would that?” Kathy complained with a chuckle.

Poppy smiled awkwardly as she rubbed Kathy’s back, “Just don’t mind it, Kathy.. It seems like Emma really doesn’t like to bother people. We also know that she is very independent.” Then, she looked at Emma from head to toe, “But, is the injury serious? Have you seen a doctor?”

Emma nodded, “Yes, after that, I went straight to the hospital and the doctor said the injury is not serious. I just need to rest for a while and reduce physical activity. It seems that in the past few days I can’t take ballet classes.” She explained.

Poppy nodded, “Then, you really need to rest for a speedy recovery, Emma. I’ll tell Miss Diana that you’re injured.”

“Ah.. thanks, Poppy. But think I’ll go see her myself and tell her I’ll be absent for a few meetings.”

“Okay, if that so.” Poppy answered.

Then the three girls stopped by the cafeteria to have lunch together. While sitting in that place, they felt the rumours of scorn and stares from the people in the large room.

“I’m so sorry, guys. I made you uncomfortable.” Poppy said while looking down. She didn’t even touch her salad at all because she had lost her appetite.

Emma shook her head, “Don’t worry about it, Poppy. We don’t mind at all. They don’t know what you’ve been through, so they can judge you however they want.”

“Emma’s right. And you don’t need to keep your head down like that either. You’re only making them more likely to corner you. If you ignore them, they’ll eventually get tired by time.” Kathy added. Then, she cut up the beefsteak and scooped up the spaghetti to pass onto Poppy’s plate, “And... please eat more. You’re too skinny to go on a diet.”

“Ouh..” Poppy lamented her plate that was now full of food, “I don’t know if I can finish this..” she muttered.

“Finish your food! Many people starve to death in this world.” Kathy replied, taking no resistance.

Emma couldn’t help but chuckle in sorry for Poppy. Kathy did have a tough and arbitrary character. But, she really cared about people she considered friends. Well.. the way each person showed their love could be different sometimes.

“Hey, look! Isn’t that Brian and Lary?” Kathy whispered, pointing curtly at the cafeteria entrance.

Emma and Poppy immediately looked at what the girl pointed. Yes, that’s right, it’s the two assholes who were best friends of Donny Gruge who was currently still lying in the hospital. But Brian was seen wearing a large cast all over his arm. He really looked stupid with that thing. Behind Emma’s faint smile, she was laughing loudly inside her heart, because she had managed to teach a lesson to the loser man. Even Brian seemed to be teased by some of the guys as he walked. Now, he could feel the loser’s position he used to bully.

Lary and Brian were seen bringing their lunch. Brian even had to struggle to carry the tray in his stupid hands. Incidentally, all the tables were full that day, so they both looked confused looking for a table. But suddenly, the four men who were sitting beside Emma and her friends’ table finally got up and left after they finished chatting after eating their lunch.

Brian pointed at the table with his chin, then, he and Lary walked towards the empty table.

“Geez.. They’re coming.” Kathy mumbled with disdain mixed with panic.

Emma immediately looked at Poppy whose face instantly turned pale white when she saw the two guys who had taken part in destroying her life, were getting closer. She seemed unable to hold her head down for fear. What these bastard men had done left a very deep trauma on Poppy.

At first, Lary and Brian didn’t realize that the girls who occupied the table beside the empty table were Poppy and her friends. Then at the end, when they put their lunch on the empty table, Brian just realized Emma was staring at him very cruelly.

“Shh!!” Brian nudged Lary’s arm, then pointed at the table beside him with a glance.

Lary was a little surprised when he realized that the three girls beside him were Poppy, Emma, ??and Kathy. Yes.. Poppy.. the girl whose life they ruined. The girl who became the reason why Hell Gate group was being hunted by a group of heroes who suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

Brian immediately felt a pain in the bones of his hand. It was as if he was traumatized when the man in the black helmet broke his arm and dislocated him. Frantically, he looked around and his eyes fell on the two large tables near the door. He gulped when he realized that all the Jita Kyoei members’ eyes were looking at him with a warning look. Then, he turned his eyes in another direction. There, he could see Calvin Lee was waiting in line for food, also looking at them with murderous eyes.

“Let’s get away from here,” Said Lary who had also seen what Brian realized.

Brian nodded quickly and picked up his lunch again from the table. Then, the two of them threw away all the lunch and went out of the cafeteria.

Seeing that, the three girls burst into laughter. Even Poppy had no idea what had just happened. Her face looked very relieved and happy.

Emma smiled in joy while directing her eyes to Jita Kyoei’s group who were sitting at the table by the door. Then, her eyes met those of Nicko and Troy. Emma smiled warmly by moving her mouth a silent ‘Thank you’. The two men nodded their heads back.

After the funny incident, the three girls returned to enjoying their lunch in peace. They may look weak and prone to being bullied by thugs. But from a distance, there was a group of men who did not hesitate to break the hands of anyone who dared to touch them.

“Oh, Poppy.. Do you have other activities outside of college?” Kathy asked, chewing on her steak, which tasted very good.

Poppy thought for a moment then shook her head slowly, “Unfortunately, there isn’t currently. Before that incident, I was actually busy consulting with several ballet teachers from various studios. I had thought about working as a private ballet instructor for teenagers.”

“That’s a good idea, Poppy. I’ve also noticed that there are very few ballet studios in Handway City. I don’t think the qualities are good, either. So far, the ballet training I’ve liked the most is at this university.” Emma responded in full support.

Poppy nodded, “That’s true, Emma. Most of the ballet instructors here think only about money. They don’t really teach ballet with their heart. I can feel that.. Also.. has Miss Diana already told you about it?” she asked.

“About what?” Emma replied with a more question.

“Actually, Miss Diana is pregnant.”

“Woah! Are you serious? I didn’t even know she was married..” Kathy said.

Poppy shook her head, “She’s not married yet. Miss Diana is pregnant with her boyfriend’s child. They say they will marry after the child is born. But because of that, Miss Diana will likely be on a hiatus from teaching for more than a year.”

“Ah.. That makes sense, because she must be worried about her pregnancy..” Emma muttered with a disappointed expression.

“Hhh... Ballet class would be even more boring if we got a new coach. Should I just drop out of that class?” Kathy thought as she squirmed lazily. From the start, she did not like ballet. She shouldn’t have to obey her mother too much.

“Well.. It can’t be helped.. Miss Diana has to prepare herself to start her little family.” Emma shrugged as she took her steak into her mouth.

“It seems that my aunt learned a lot from what happened to my mother and me. The problems that happened to me made her sad too, so she’s very afraid if she has to work while taking care of the children. She feels that she was unable to divide her time.” Poppy explained.

“Well.. We do have to learn from other people’s lives too. But I’m sure, eventually, she will find the right way if she really loves her career. I mean.. everything must have a way out, right? It doesn’t mean a woman has to give up her career and her dream just for becoming a mother.” Kathy thought.

“That’s right. As long as that mother manages her time well and doesn’t push herself too hard, for me, everything will be fine.” Emma nodded.