An Eye For An Eye: The Rise Of Cassius Lucas

The Final Betrayal

Lucas stood frozen, gazing at the floor as the judge rapped his gavel.

The defense attorney approached him.

"I’m sorry, Lucas Ross. I really did try my best. I know you're not guilty of the offense, but the evidence is undeniable. I’m truly sorry," she said, gently tapping him twice on the shoulder.

"Thanks," Lucas replied quietly. "You did your best. I really appreciate all your efforts.”

The defense attorney left the courtroom, and others began to leave as well.

"You shouldn’t have cheated," a voice said, echoing through the Courtroom.

Lucas lifted his head, meeting the gaze of the invigilator, who stood with a smirk on his face.

“I don’t have much to tell you, but I will surely miss you when you are gone,” the invigilator said, laughing mockingly at Lucas as he left the courtroom.

Just as he was about to exit, he stopped, turning to Lucas.

“Did you...?” Lucas began to speak.

But before he could finish, the invigilator cut him off.

"Don’t stress yourself, kid. You’ve already gotten what you deserve. Pack your belongings and move out of this university," he said, his shoes echoing in the room as he exited the courtroom.

After a few minutes, Lucas finally got out of the courtroom, his jacket full of sweat.

As he stepped out, a large crowd of students had already gathered. Some were whispering among themselves and pointing at him while others were recording him with their phones as if he were a Criminal who has just been sentenced.

A tall student among the students stepped forward, standing in front of Lucas.

“You call yourself a human rights activist?” he asked mockingly, folding his arms. “You're supposed to inspire people, lead by example, and hold wrong doers accountable. But instead of doing all these, you were caught cheating in your final examination. You didn’t get expelled because the system failed you. You got expelled because you broke the rules. You weren’t silenced. You were exposed. Your activism? It’s not leadership anymore. It’s just a footnote to your own downfall.”

People laughed loudly, making fun of Lucas.

Lucas moved forward, using his right hand to make way for himself.

Suddenly, someone from behind shoved him roughly.

“Where do you think you’re going?” the student jeered. “You think you can just walk away, you poor man? After all that you were caught doing? You will keep asking us to try our best how much as we can. To you, you were our mentors– Helping us with what we are finding difficult. Unfortunately, you don't even practice it. You are nothing but a cheat”.

Cheers and laughter followed his words as if it were some kind of show. The student who pushed Lucas raised his arms like a champion, soaking in the attention.

Lucas stood frozen for a moment, his heart racing and his face burning with humiliation.

He had no words to say. Nor does he have the strength to argue or defend himself.

Without hesitation, he pushed through the crowd and hurried to the nearest tricycle parked by the roadside.

He entered it quickly and directed the driver to take him to his hostel.

As the tricycle was about to pass through the crowd, some students started throwing stones at him while others were pointing at him, cursing him.

When Lucas arrived at his hostel, he was met with the most unexpected and heartbreaking sight of his life.

There, right in front of him, sat his girlfriend, Sophia on the lap of his best friend, Adam.

For a moment, Lucas couldn’t move. He blinked twice, hoping his eyes were playing tricks on him. But nothing changed.

“Sophia,” he finally managed to say, taking a slow step forward.

“What…..What are you doing on my best friend's lap?”

"Hmmmm".

"Just relaxing, sweetie".

Sophia turned her head towards him, a smirk playing on her lips. Then, without a hint of remorse, she laughed loudly.

Instead of getting up, Sophia leaned on Adam even more. She wrapped her arms gently around his shoulders and, to Lucas's surprise, pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek.

“Don’t be surprised,” Sophia said calmly as she rose to her feet. She walked towards Lucas, her shoes echoing in the quiet room.

She stopped just inches away from him, her gaze fixed on Lucas's Jacket.

“I never actually loved you,” she confessed. “I only needed you for what I wanted—and now, I’ve gotten exactly that.”

Lucas's heart raced as confusion clouded his thoughts.

“You never loved me?” he asked rhetorically, his voice shaking.“What do you mean by that?”

Sophia laughed loudly, the sound echoing in Lucas's ears.

“Well," she said, moving towards him and standing in front of him.

She gently placed her hands on his jacket, her touch as calm as her betrayal was cruel.

“I never loved you, Lucas,” Sophia said with a cruel smile. “Honestly, someone like you—a guy who can’t even afford three square meals a day—do you really think you could be with someone like me? You don’t deserve me, Lucas!. My status is very far from yours. You only deserve being my slave, not the man I will give my heart to, Lucas”.

She laughed again as she gently touched the jacket’s Pocket.

Lucas stood frozen, his heart racing.

Adam who was watching the scene signed heavily as he rose from the chair. He walked over to Sophia and stood beside her, wrapping his right arm around her shoulders.

“There’s something you don’t understand, Lucas,” Adam said. “Did you really believe a poor guy like you could be allowed to graduate as the overall best student in this university filled with wealthy people like us? Come on, man. Don't act above your status. You are far below us, Lucas”

“Did you set me up?” Lucas asked, his voice shaking as his hands trembled at his sides." Did you planted the crumpled sheet of paper in my jacket just to achieve this?".

“What have I done to deserve this?. Sophia, I loved you with the whole of me. And you—Adam—you’ve been my best friend since my first day at this university. Why would you choose to stab me at the back??”

Sophia rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.

“I just can't sit back and watch you become the best graduating student,” she said. “ I just felt like a poor man don't deserve any place in this world”.

Lucas stared at her, looking surprised.

“ Was that the reason why you planted the crumpled sheet of paper in my Jacket, Sophia?” Lucas asked, looking in disbelief.” WHY? You wasted five years of my life. All my struggles, my efforts, my achievements are gone, just like that. I trusted you with everything I had. Why would you choose stab me in the back?”

“ Lucas", said Adam as he removed his hand from Sophia's shoulder.” A poor man doesn't deserve a place in this world. The position you are supposed to be running after is how to become a slave and lick the feets of the wealthy people. And I don't really think Washington City needs more lawyers. Even if it does, a poor man shouldn't be considered”.

Sophia laughed, leaning toward Adam and gently wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.

“ All I have been doing since all these years is nothing but a camouflage,” She added, smiling mockingly. Lucas, I never loved you—not for a single moment. Adam has always been the one I truly wanted.”

As she spoke, she tilted her head toward Adam and gently pressed her lips on his, kissing him once more right in front of Lucas.

“ All these,” Sophia said, pointing at the collection of awards neatly arranged on the wall, a mocking smile tugging on her lips. “They are now completely useless”.

“ Do you guys think you will get out of this?" Lucas asked, gazing at Sophia and Adam.

A single drop of blood dropped from his forehead, landing with a sound on the floor. He blinked and touched his head. When he lowered his hand, it was covered in red.

He stared at his bloodstained fingers for a moment before turning his gaze on Sophia and Adam.

"This happened because of you," Lucas said, moving slowly toward them."And I promise you…. You will be fed with your own medicine".

" Because you ran. That's why it happened”.

" You shouldn't have done that, Lucas. But the security did his job anyway. This is clearly your fault not mine”.

" Step back or you will regret it”.

"And what exactly will you do?” Sophia asked, pointing at the blood oozing from Lucas's head. "Don’t forget that you only have two days left before you're kicked out of this university.”

“You don't have to remind me”.

" But before that”.

" You will face the consequences”.

Without hesitation, he charged toward her, his right hand curled into a tight blow.

"You won't get away with this!" he shouted, raising his arm to strike.