Chapter 9: Chapter 9

Campus, March 2018.

Fathia didn't like the many glances directed at her. She still remembered how embarrassed she was when Antony picked her up, and she felt like everyone at the café was talking about her. It wouldn't be surprising if that became a topic of gossip on campus, considering that she was using a bodyguard's service.

It was all because of Sebastian, but she couldn't deny it, especially when she recalled that horrifying incident. She didn't want to take any more risks. She only asked for one thing after that, "If I don't break curfew, can I have a little freedom to breathe some fresh air, Sebastian?"

That was it. And Fathia took full advantage of it. Not that she made many friends, no. Fathia was too afraid to start. Until...

Her steps hurriedly approached a group that was cornering one of them. Fathia frowned and recognized the blonde girl whom she felt she knew. Ah... right, she was a classmate and majoring in the same field as Fathia. Her name was Jesslyn Rasopati. At least, if Fathia's memory served her right.

"Jess," called Fathia, making the group turn to her. Jess, who looked fierce when she stared at them, began to fix herself up a bit. Her hair was slightly messy for some reason.

"What's up?" she replied mockingly. "Do you want to play tough, Princess?"

Fathia closed her eyes briefly. Her guess was correct. It must have been because of the incident at the café that her name became famous for having a bodyguard.

"Come on, Jess." Fathia extended her hand, hoping that Jess would accept it quickly because she herself was trembling. She had never confronted so many people before. But she had seen the dislike and bravery in Jess's eyes, and Fathia knew she had to help her.

Jess fought against five people at once, did she think she could get away with it? The hallway was empty, with the exception of Fathia, who enjoyed her solitude in the library.

Fortunately, Fathia's hope came true. Jess approached and slightly brushed her shoulder against one of them.

"Hey, you two, stop pretending," one of them said. Fathia thought she was the most stylish one, very different from herself, who preferred to wear loose pants and comfortable shirts. She also tied her long hair high to avoid interfering with her activities on campus.

As for the one who spoke just now? She looked like a campus model. Glamorous and stylish.

"Sorry, but I don't know you. I don't know which faculty you're from, or what semester you are, either. But ganging up on someone for whatever reason is not fair. One on one. Not five on one," Fathia spoke, hoping her voice didn't sound nervous. She looked at each of them while firmly holding Jess's hand.

"YOU!" she pointed without hesitation. Fathia closed her eyes again, trembling with fear. Why did she act so bravely?

Jess was a lively person in her eyes, always cheerful in class. Occasionally, she would share her homemade bread, saying it was a secret promotion from her kitchen experiments.

Delicious. Fathia liked it. Perhaps it was because of that bread that Fathia didn't want Jess to get into trouble.

"What's going on here?"

The universe was kind. They all turned around and saw a campus organization leader standing not far from them. Not just one person, but four people. They looked at Fathia sharply and the group that had cornered Jess.

"Nothing, Kak Seno," said one of the group members. Fathia didn't know their names and didn't want to know.

Feeling relieved that they got distracted, Fathia quickly pulled Jess away. She would thank Jess later. After all, that person named Seno only asked, right?

Fathia let out a sigh of relief when they were already in the garden next to their campus building. Jess did the same. Then Jess smiled brightly.

"Hey, thanks for helping me get away from them earlier."

"Who were they, anyway?" Fathia wiped her sweaty forehead. Apparently, walking quickly from the library corridor to the garden was draining her energy. It seemed she hadn't exercised in a while. Her breath was panting like someone being chased by a rabid dog.

"You don't know them?"

Fathia shook her head without hesitation.

This surprised Jesslyn, who laughed until tears welled up in her eyes. "You really don't know them?"

"Is it important?" Fathia was still confused about the exact correlation between knowing that group and Jesslyn, who had almost been attacked earlier.

"Well... not really, I guess. For your information, they're the pretty girls' group on campus."

The girl with long black hair just nodded.

"And you don't need to bother approaching me just now, you know. I was waiting for them to confront me."

Fathia furrowed her brows. Was this... really Jesslyn? Fathia's head couldn't understand how to fight with such uneven odds.

"They often insult me about the bread. But I'm actually the bread tester for my new bakery that I'll be launching next month. My café is in front of the campus, Amore', you must know it. You pass by it every day, right?"

Fathia was flabbergasted. "Is it yours or do you work there?"

"Wow... you're really formal, huh? Just relax... um, what should I call you? Your name is hard." Jess grinned while scratching her neck and fixing her slightly messy hair. "Damn it, Evelyn. It makes my hair look like a lion's mane," she grumbled.

Ah, so far, Fathia rarely engaged in conversations longer than two minutes. She preferred to do things on her own. But this time?

"Fathia."

"Ah, yes. Fathia. You don't have to be so formal with me. Just like with anyone else." Then Jess reached out her hand. "Shall we get to know each other?"

Fathia chuckled. "Sure. I'm... uh, me? I'm Fathia."

Jess laughed quite loudly. "Jesslyn, you can call me Jess."

For the first time, maybe this is what it means to make friends. Something Fathia had never done before, except for casual acquaintances. Who knows, maybe this introduction will be long-lasting or not.

"Let's go to my café, come on. My treat."

"You haven't answered my question. Do you work there?"

Once again, Jess burst into laughter. "I'm the owner."

Fathia was flabbergasted.

And for the rest of that afternoon until evening, the two of them sat together in a corner of the café. They had a variety of delicious dishes that Fathia admired and deserved a thumbs-up. Fathia even dropped the menu; cheese-covered pasta, which became her favorite.

"So, Fathia... is the gossip on campus true? That you're using a bodyguard?" Jess asked so casually that Fathia almost choked. She quickly grabbed her iced cappuccino just to swallow a bite of pasta. She should have picked up a bottle of mineral water, but the iced coffee was in front of her.

"No."

Jesslyn furrowed her brow.

"That person is my uncle's hireling."

"Huh?"

Fathia nodded slightly. "Yes, my uncle's hireling."

"I don't understand, Fathia. What do you mean? Come on... tell me. Is he your uncle or your fiancé?"

However, Fathia didn't want to tell Jess, whom she had just met. For her, Sebastian's warning echoed in her head. She shouldn't let too many people know her identity. She didn't know when the threat would come back. It's better to keep it guarded, right?