~ At University of Imperial Knight ~
Sophia was still waiting for Zhen-Zhen to come back when someone approached her. He was the last person she wanted to see right now. Marcus knew that Zhen-Zhen and Sophia often hang out in the mini-forest.
For the past few days, he would always come and join them. So he knew that he would be able to see Sophia in the mini-forest.
"Sophie… can we talk? I'm really sorry." Marcus softly mumbled.
Sophia froze on her spot after hearing that familiar voice. She was reading her book while waiting for Zhen-Zhen, that's why she failed to notice that Marcus was already there, standing just a few steps away from her.
Sophia didn't know how she would act in front of Marcus. She wished she could just stop her heart from hurting because of Marcus' betrayal. She didn't want to feel anything anymore. She wanted her heart to become numb so that she could no longer feel this pain and sadness.
Even the feeling of anger, she didn't want her to feel any emotions at all. She just wished to forget everything, even her feelings for Marcus. But she couldn't… because until now, she could still feel those emotions.
When Sophia didn't respond to him, Marcus spoke up once again.
"Sophia, Please... Believe me. I swear I have nothing to do with the drugs that John and Lester had mixed with the wine. I know nothing," Marcus said with her desperate voice. He wanted Sophia to believe him.
Sophia didn't know what to believe in anymore. Marcus already broke her trust. Besides, she already learned that Marcus didn't approach her willingly. He was just forced by his sister. That's the sad truth.
Sophia balled her fingers into fists as she stood up. She walked over to approach Marcus. After reaching his spot, Sophia raised her hand. The next thing that was heard was the loud smacking sound of a palm hitting someone's face.
*Pak*
Sophia slapped Marcus hard on his face. She wanted to vent all her frustrations in this one slap. Marcus was utterly astounded by Sophia's action. This was the first time someone slapped him.
It hurt his ego. He wanted to get mad but he tried his best to control his anger. He knew it was his fault but he didn't expect that Sophia would hit him.
He was asking himself what he did to deserve that hard slap? He already told her many times that he didn't have any involvement or participation with that drugging incident.
He turned his head only to see Sophia on the verge of crying again.
'What the hell? I was the one who was slapped. Why is she crying again?' Marcus felt helpless at this moment.
The anger inside his heart dissipated into thin air after seeing Sophia's expression. His eyes softened. He had the urge to hug her and ask for forgiveness over and over again.
However, the moment he moved forward to reach Sophia, she stepped back to maintain their distance.
"Don't come near me, Marcus! I hate you. You, your sister and your friends… all of you planned everything. You plotted against me." Sophia cried once more as she couldn't stop the tears from falling.
"Stop lying, Marcus! Stop deceiving me already. I know all of you just want to use me! How dare you do this to me?"
"Everything that happened inside that room… all that we did in that room… it was all recorded in the video! Don't pretend that you don't have any idea about that too?!"
Marcus didn't know what she was talking about, the confusion resurfacing in his eyes. "What video? Recorded everything? What do you mean?"
Sophia shook her head in disbelief. Here he was again, pretending he didn't know anything.
Sophia wiped her tears and smiled bitterly at Marcus.
"I don't know how good you are in acting. Your expression almost convinced me that you know nothing. Marcus, stop acting anymore." Sophia said, with eyes filled with both sadness and hatred.
"Your sister and her friends just talked to me a while ago. They blackmailed me using that video. The things we did in that room…. They were all recorded in a video. O-Our scandal video, Marcus. Did you hear me?!" Sophia snarled at him through gritted teeth.
She was mad. She was used by them….humiliated by them, toyed by them and now they still had the guts to blackmail her. So wicked! So evil!
Marcus, on the other hand, was still absorbing what Sophia had just said to him.
'Video of me and Sophia? Scandal video… this only meant our intimate moment was captured and recorded… behind our back. Then my sister and her friends….they tried to blackmail Sophia because of that video?'
Marcus didn't know what to feel about this. It seemed that he was also betrayed and used by his friends and his own sister for this evil scheme.
Marcus cursed several times as realization struck him. If John and Lester were able to spike Sophia's drink then it's not surprising if they were also the ones who installed the hidden camera inside that room.
A boiling fury sparked within him. Marcus felt his temperature rising, vein bulging out of his head as he clenched his teeth. He wanted to beat someone right now.
Without saying a word to Sophia, Marcus marched out of the mini-forest with a chilly aura surrounding him.
Sophia just watched his retreating figure with mixed emotions plastered on her face. She could tell that Marcus was angry just the way he clenched his fists so hard that his nails could cut into his skin.
'Was Marcus telling the truth? He had no idea about the video as well?' Sophia pondered at that thought.
If her assumption was right then Marcus was probably going to confront his friends right now.
Sophia was still in a trance when Zhen-Zhen came back to their favorite spot together with FaMo.
"Hey, Sunbae? What's wrong? Did you cry again?" Zhen-Zhen asked her worriedly upon noticing her swollen reddened eyes and the mark of her tears on her cheeks.
"It's Marcus. He just left when you arrived. He came here to talk to me. He apologized for what happened. It seemed that he had no idea about the video recording too." Sophia informed Zhen-Zhen.
"I think Marcus is now on his way to confront his friends about the video," Sophia added.
When she heard that, Zhen-Zhen simply glanced at FaMo, giving him a go signal to follow Marcus. She asked for his help to destroy and take down that video.
FaMo understood Zhen-Zhen's signal. He greeted Sophia quickly before leaving them to follow Marcus.
Sophia was surprised to see FaMo who she knew as Zu Wan.
"What's Mr. Zu Wan doing here? I didn't expect that he was the person you met after leaving a while ago." Sophia asked Zhen-Zhen after calming down her emotions.
Zhen-Zhen nodded at her while giving her a gentle smile.
"Yes, I called him to come here. I need his help. Don't worry, Sunbae. Mr. Zu Wan will help us to eliminate the video."
"He is included in your protection squad, Sunbae. Matthew, Tristan, Zu Wan, and I...you have us so don't be afraid. No one is allowed to bully you. They will have to go through us first before they can touch you."
Sophia hugged Zhen-Zhen. She really felt grateful to her. "Thank you, Lillie. I really appreciate this. But you know you are a silly girl. I am your Sunbae. I should be the one protecting you, not the other way around."
Zhen-Zhen let out a soft giggle. "You don't have to worry about me. I am a strong woman. A very strong woman. I can protect myself." Zhen-Zhen said to Sophia meaningfully.
Sophia didn't fully believe her. In her eyes, Zhen-Zhen was a delicate fragile woman who also needed protection.
"Silly girl," Sophia mumbled, pinching Zhen-Zhen's lovely cheeks.
******
Meanwhile, Marcus finally found his two traitor friends. Never did he imagine that these two people whom he trusted would do such things behind his back.
He somehow guessed that his sister played a big role in this scheme. But before confronting her, he decided to face his two friends first.
John and Lester walked toward Marcus the moment they saw him approaching.
"Hey, where did-" John was not able to finish his words since he was welcomed right away by Marcus' fist.
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