CHAPTER 2

His Greatest Fears

Sandra, a rude and arrogant girl in her early 20s, happens to be one of the top-class students at Opulent University. She wastes no time but holds Liam by his shirt immediately. "That phone costs $70,000. You've ruined it from your carelessness, so you'll have to pay up right now."

Liam startles, not knowing what to do or say. He looks blankly at Sandra; his gaze shows a level of confusion and remorse. The other students cheer Sandra, who is breathing heavily, her eyes burning in provocation.

"Sandra, please calm down. It was a mistake. Please forgive me," Liam pleads.

Even after hearing his apology, nothing changes. Sandra still stands with a sad demeanour, her lips tightened as she pulls Liam to and fro.

"I dare not want to hear you say it was a mistake. I want you to pay up right now, or you hand me something expensive that you've got in exchange for it," Sandra grumbles.

"It's too much for me, Sandra," Liam laments. "I would definitely pay up for it in due time."

Sandra grumbles, raising her brows, "Who told you to say such? Who isn't aware that you're sent here on a Scholarship? Poor thing."

Liam didn't finish his statement when Sandra spanked him on the face. The class jeers, "Slap that motherfucker! He needs to learn more lessons in his life."

Liam can't stand the humiliation; he bends his head, rubbing his hands on his cheek. Tears flow uncontrollably from his eyes, his heart heavy with regret, the weight of his misfortune pressing upon him, threatening to crush his spirit completely.

But immediately, a fair tall girl fondly called Vanguard walks in. She rushes to rescue Liam, "Hey, let go of his shirt. I'll fix that up. I mean it. Let go of him," she says as she drags Sandra's hands off Liam's shirt.

"Thanks, Vanguard. I appreciate this," Liam replies as he walks out of the class.

"Poor rat," Sandra sulked as Liam turned to walk away. The words pierce Liam so badly; he walks away sobbing.

But just as Liam walks some inches from the classroom, into the long corridor, Vanguard rushes out towards him.

"Hey, wait, nothing is free, boy, you owe me," she says faintly, her eyes fixed on Liam's feeble look. "You'll have to assist me with all my assignments till the end of the semester. Is that fine with you?" Liam stood taciturn

She hisses as she turns to walk away.

In a lonely hall, Liam weeps bitterly, allowing his tears to flow as needed. It flows uncontrollably as he sits on the wooden bench, bending his head to the ground to show a sign of regret.

"What the hell am I going through?" he asks himself, stamping his feet on the hard floor. After several minutes of sobbing, he opens his bag and pulls out his textbook, placing it on the table, but he couldn't see the letters clearly as tears blur his view.

"I can't go through this again," he says to himself in a regrettable tone. Just as he is panting, he hears some group of students singing and cheering.

"The school fee must be reduced! We are tired of the daily increments of school fees," the song is so loud that he had to wipe his face immediately, standing up to pry through the windows.

***********

Liam turned, cleaning his eyes and walking out of the lonely hall. He needed to find himself something to eat for breakfast, but then he had Little amount of money in his pocket.

He steps out through the path, his hard leather shoes making a trod sluggish sound as he heads towards the seller at the front of the gate.

"I can always get myself a snack, even if my money ain't enough; he whispered to himself.

Just then a tall, muscular man in dark blue coat wearing dark sun shades walked out of the library, his phone glued to his ear.

" Have you spotted him?

"Yes Macho, the young guy you talked about just walked past me"

Liam turns but decides to remain calm, he keeps a friendly posture as he walks sluggishly towards the school gate.

" Hey, wait there" the man said as he walked faster towards Liam. His fist tightened as he grips the phone to his ear, showing a more darkening expression.

It was scorching already, but the man moved as though he wasn't affected by the heat.

Every other student who walked past him, turned to shake their head.

" I'm told he smashed my girlfriend's phone," Macho replied on the phone.

His demeanour changed, he is too small to cross his boundaries. I think he has crossed the wrong path, the man answered while doubling his footsteps.

" I said, wait there and do not move an inch anymore, he ordered, his voice deepened.

Liam turned to confirm if he was referring to him, he turns his neck back and forth, checking to find if there was someone else which he could possibly be referring to.

Just as he dropped the call, a guy stopped to greet him. "Hey, Phils, the tyrant, I'm loyal boss"

Raising his hands to show a sign of respect, I would say that he was prostrating.

Phils, an older brother to Sarah has been a hard time bully and intimidator for over seven years, according to rumours, he has escaped jail twice, and now Romsey was in his trap, a prey right in front of the predator.

"Sorry, were you referring to me? Liam asked, his voice was almost a whisper, one could tell that Liam was not only stammering but healing from several wounds beneath.

Phil punched Liam on the face, Liam staggered covering his face with his hands.

" Follow me, small rat, you smashed my sister's phone. Who the hell do you think you are?"

" Please wait, I can explain " Liam yelled, bending one and then the other part of his knees.

" Fuck off man, say no more" i will teach you a lesson you'll never forget. Liam's face swelled, dark rounded circle covered his eyes.

" Where are you dragging me to? " He pleaded as Phils pulled him towards the bushy area of the school, the reserved area was basically for the students of forestry and wildlife, who went there occasionally for practicals and examinations.

Liam screamed but his voice was merely heard, he tried to stagger but phils punched him on his stomach.

" You son of a bitch, I will kill you today, no one dares to come close to what I hold dear" He snorted, his voice like a lion's roar.

*I mean it sir, it wasn't intentionally done, I didn't do that purposely. He sobbed as Phils kept hitting him.

He turned to check if there was anyone to assist him but his eyes were blurred with tears, he couldn't see properly.

"Let me go" Liam yelled again, biting Phil's tightened fist.

Phil turns with a hiss, he picks a heavy branch of the honey locust tree, it thorns protruding through like a pointed nail edge. Slammed it on Liam's head, he fell to the ground, Phil pushed him down a cliff, But then something happened.