From Pit to Palace: Charlie Emerged

Chapter 3: Franklin kicks Charlie in the stomach

Chapter 3

Megan threw herself shamelessly in front of Charlie, into the young man's arms, and declared, sweetness in her voice. “Charlie, meet Franklin, my new boyfriend. You're nowhere close to his wealth. I love him, not you.”

She relaxed in his arms, pressing her head comfortably on his chest.

Franklin Jones is the popular, wealthy student on campus. He is from a wealthy family. Naturally, he's proud and also a playboy, however, girls on campus had been dying to be with him.

Megan was the beauty goddess on campus so she won him over.

“Charlie,” Franklin called out, one hand casually relaxed in his pocket and the other wrapped around Megan, keeping her warm. “From now on, Megan is mine. She belongs to me and not you so I'm warning you, stay away from her or I'll have you visit an early grave,” he said wickedly.

Charlie's face was red, his blood boiling, but he couldn't utter a word. He loved his life so he knew better than to be silent. Franklin had connections with dangerous thugs on campus and if he dared to talk back or attack him, Franklin might end up hiring the thugs to beat him up.

“Got it, boy?” Franklin laughed at Charlie's silence.

Soon, students began to gather, watching the scene. One had seen when Franklin kicked Charlie in the stomach and she had called to her best to come have a look.

Her best friend also called hers, and it went on that way until the place got filled with students.

Some looked with outer disgust at Charlie's figure, while some looked with pitiful expressions.

“I saw it. He kicked him right in the stomach, but he's a coward, he couldn't fight back,” one said.

“Franklin is a big shot and you want a pathetic pauper like him to fight back? You want him dead, don't you?” Another student replied.

Then heads turned toward Megan who nestled in Franklin's arms, wide-eyed. “Isn't she supposed to be Charlie's girlfriend? Why is she so comfortable in Franklin's arms?” One student murmured.

“She just broke up with him,” another responded. “She said he isn't up to her level, that he's pathetic.”

Everyone burst into laughter, watching Charlie get humiliated.

Meanwhile, Franklin, enjoying the moment, reached into his pocket and pulled out some bucks. Holding it up to Charlie, he mocked, “Boy, I remember you could do anything for money, correct, right? Now, here's six hundred, I want to have Megan in bed so go to the pharmacy and get something…..you know what I mean, right?” He laughed mockingly. “Get it, then keep the change.”

Everyone burst into another segment of laughter.

“Oh, what a generous gesture. That's so kind of you, Franklin,” one student said, clearly mocking Charlie.

“Will he really do that after his girlfriend has been taken from him?” Another inquired, covering his mouth.

“What choice does he have? That's a generous amount that Franklin had offered so he'll definitely go to have the change to himself.”

Charlie clenched his fists at his sides, hearing those annoying and taunting words from the students. His face exploded with anger. How dare he tell him to get that for him!

He felt like propelling a dangerous punch to Franklin's face, but he managed to hold back, knowing the aftermath.

“Hey boy, don't keep me waiting. Are you grabbing this generous gesture or not?” Franklin asked again with a smug smirk. “I can have someone else do it if you don't want to.”

Charlie totally ignored him, turning his angry expression toward Megan who still remained nestled in Franklin's arms, his muscles tensed, almost pulling out.

Since he had been dating her, Megan had never once allowed him to touch her, but she felt so relaxed in another man's arms just because of the money.

He stared at her, hesitated before saying. “Megan, I hope you never regret your decision someday.”

Megan couldn't help, but chuckle. “What a joker you are. What makes you think I'd regret leaving a loser like you? I'll never regret it.”

“Okay.” Charlie didn't say anything else. He turned around and started walking away from the crowd with a shattered heart.

As Charlie left there, he went to the small apartment that he had rented. It wasn't far from school. He preferred staying in a dormitory, but because of his part-time job, he chose to rent an apartment to enable him to move out at night to work in the bar without restriction.

Charlie collapsed onto the bed, face up, staring blankly at the ceiling. Memories of his good time he had with Megan began flooding his mind. Tears formed in his eyes.

“How could she?” He muttered to himself, broken. “I loved her, but what did she do? She traded my love for money?”

How Megan spoke to him flashed through his eyes. “She even called me names. That I'm pathetic. Loser. All sorts of names like I meant nothing to her.” Tears started to drop down his cheeks.

But then….snap!

Knock, knock, knock.

The sound of his door echoed, snapping him out of his shattered emotions.

Charlie quickly wiped his eyes, his eyes darting toward the entrance. “Who's that?” He asked, trying to steady his voice. “Wait, I'm coming.”

Charlie didn't get to reach the door when it burst open. A woman walked in, her face grim.

Charlie was taken aback as he quickly recognised the figure. His heart throbbed.