Chapter Two

Milton woke up with a piercing headache. Throughout the night, he kept tossing and turning. He couldn’t sleep even a wink, how could he when all he kept hearing over and over was Sadie screaming at him?

When he arrived in college, something was amiss, the students were pointing at him while speaking.

“The audacity he has. How dare he pretend to be humble when he is a conniving thief?” One student said, anger dripping in his tone.

Another student supported, “he should be rotting in jail right now.”

Milton pushed it off, telling himself they were talking about someone else entirely after all, why would they call him a thief? 

Down the hallway, the students continued talking. They were not hiding how disgusted they were by his behavior. Milton was sure the names he was hearing would keep him up at night. Nevertheless, he didn’t stop, took it all in, and finally arrived at the end hall.

Milton assured himself Natalie wouldn’t be mad because he was empty-handed. He entered the hall and asked a student softly, “Hi, have you seen Natalie?” 

“No. I…” The student paused when he saw who it was. She jumped back, pointing, “don’t you dare touch me. Are you aiming at traumatizing me so you can take my necklace?”

Milton swallowed nervously and looked around the hall. His eyes fell on Natalie. His heart stopped beating for a second as his breath hitched. Natalie had her tongue down the throat of another student named Dickson.

Every student parted as he approached Natalie, their faces showed mischief and hate. They rolled their eyes at him.

“Natalie,” Milton called, his voice breaking on the edge.

Natalie didn’t stop kissing Dickson, she moaned into the kiss. Dickson winked at Milton. His blood boiled in rage. He called again, “Natalie.”

“Arrgh. What?” Natalie asked, turning around. Her eyes were cold and Milton couldn’t believe even for a second that Natalie was staring at him as if he was a piece of garbage.

“What do you want, Milton?” Natalie fired, staring at him from head to toe.

“Natalie, what are you doing?” He questioned, feeling his world-shattering.

Natalie threw her head back and laughed maniacally. Now, everyone was moving closer. Ready for a free drama. 

“Natalie…”

Natalie interjected angrily, “you are pathetic. Don’t you ever talk to me again.”

Milton was conflicted. He asked her slowly, “why are you kissing someone else?”

Natalie rolled her eyes, “why wouldn’t I? Milton, you are crowding. Every time I am with you, I am suffocated. Furthermore, you can’t afford to buy me even a cup of coffee. You are as poor as a church mouse.”

Milton opened and closed his mouth, his mind has gone blank.

“See, Milton. I have been with you for only one thing and now I have Dickson.” Natalie pulled Dickson to her side and linked their hands together. “Milton, don’t you ever call or text me again.”

“Natalie, don’t do this to me.” Milton pleaded.

“Look at you.” Natalie mocked, pushing him with her hand. “Go away, you thief.”

Milton’s eyes widened. “Natalie, I can explain.”

“No. Leave me alone. I am sure you have been stealing my blouses as you stole from that woman. Poor Sadie.”

Milton looked around and everyone was on their phones. “How do you know about Sadie?”

“Oh, so you are not denying stealing?”

Before Milton could answer, Dickson took his phone out and showed it to him. “Man, you shouldn’t steal from old women. People like you should be gotten rid of this world. You have no place even here in college.”

“Yes, yes. We should report to the Dean.” A student fired.

“Exactly. Our college’s reputation has been destroyed by him.” “Yeah. I feel bad for Sadie. Milton, you destroyed her. Now, she wouldn’t trust anyone to help her out.”

“Milton, are you happy for making an old woman cry?” “You disgust us, Milton. You are a lazy fool who loves to take shortcuts.” “You should be taken to crazy people facility.”

Natalie finally said, “and you had the audacity of paying her fifty dollars. That blouse costs more than your life. You are a sick sicko. I regret ever knowing you.”

All those words from the students felt like nails digging into his heart. He rewatched the video as the students continued calling him names like a narcissist, a pretender, a hater, and not a human.

“College man steal an old woman’s blouse.” Milton read the video’s title.

Dickson grabbed the phone from Milton’s hands. “Don’t you dare steal it?”

“Natalie, you have to…”

Natalie shook her head vigorously, “you are an awful human being and I hope a truck hit you today.”

Milton hoped anyone would come to his defense but nothing. He tried again to persuade Natalie to listen to his side of the story and she slapped him hard across the face. Dickson pushed him back when he tried to hold her hand.

He was humiliated.

Natalie took Dickson’s hand and kissed him again.

Milton closed his eyes, sadness coursed through his blood.

The students started yelling at him to go away while others told him to turn himself in to the authority. All the while, Dickson had an arrogant grin on his face.

Natalie gave him a side eye and pushed him from the way.

Milton pulled his hair in frustration. When the lecturer entered, he looked at him with disappointment. The video has circulated all over the college.

Throughout half of the day, the students didn’t hide their enormity towards him. During lunch in the college’s mess hall, a student threw a plate at him, saying, “clean it up and I will pay you.”

They looked down on him and treated him like trash.

The insults kept coming.

Milton couldn’t take it anymore. He felt like everyone’s eyes were on him. Judging. His heart was troubled. And as the clock ticked, Milton became more and more depressed. He finally picked up his bag and left.