Chapter 38: Chapter 38

It’s been days since Ryan met her parents in the coffee shop. She hadn’t told them the truth yet, fearing that they might ask her to get out of the house.

Even so, Ryan knew that she must tell them everything.

“They will get mad if they find out about this from other people,” Ryan murmured as she walked inside the comfort room of the campus.

She looked at her reflection in the mirror and spoke to herself.

“I feel guilty for lying.”

He put her folder down and rummaged inside her bag. Her favorite pen fell and rolled inside the cubicle. Ryan carried her bag and folders while walking inside the cubicle to pick up her pen.

As soon as she stepped inside, she heard a group of girls talking to each other inside the comfort room.

“Have you ever heard about Ryan Mcguffin?”

Ryan was surprised to hear her name from someone she doesn’t know. She pointed to herself, thinking, ‘Are they talking about me?’

And so, she stayed inside the cubicle and listened.

“Yes. That is the girl who lives together with five men, right?”

“A shameless b*tch. Isn’t she?”

Ryan scoffed silently. It is rare for her to be the center of attraction in school. But now, she has become the center of gossip.

“Yup. An sl*t rather. They said she had no choice but to live with the five men because of her name. I think it is just her excuse.”

“Do you think she had a score with one of the five men?

“That face? She looks pretty normal. Why would they bother bringing that woman to bed?”

“Who knows? A guy is a guy after all. If she takes off her clothes and jumps on their beds, they might fall into the bait. Besides, we are talking about those men. They are big shots, b*tch.”

“Oh right! It was just a rumor. But I also heard that those men are insanely rich.”

“Good looks excluded, if I am Ryan, I am willing to lose my v*rginity to either one of those guys.”

“Pffft… Girl. You are not a v*rgin anymore.”

Laughing together, the girls left the comfort room.

The surroundings went quiet.

Ryan exited the cubicle and looked in the direction where the girls left.

Biting her lower lip, Ryan tightened her clutch around her bag.

She was certain that this rumor wouldn’t easily die down.

And she was right. When Ryan walked into the campus hallway, she noticed students looking at her.

‘Does everyone know the rumors, or I am just overreacting?’ she wondered.

She sped fast through the crowd and succeeded in isolating herself. However, Ryan found out that moving away from the crowd wasn’t a good idea.

“Are you Ryan Mcguffin?”

Ryan stopped and looked at the three women who blocked her way. They are wearing thick make-up and short skirts. Even without their uniform, Ryan recognized them as part of the cheerleading clubs.

“Are you Ryan?”

“I am Ryan. What do you want?” Ryan asked.

The three looked at each other and laughed.

“This is it? She’s not even that pretty.”

“But her skin is good. What’s your secret, dear?”

Someone tried to hold Ryan’s face. And so, Ryan stepped back.

“Don’t touch me,” Ryan warned.

“She’s like a wild cat. Roar,” the third one teased.

“If you don’t have anything to say, I’m out,” Ryan uttered. She turned around and walked away but the three blocked her path.

‘Geez. Now I am entangled with girls who play like a villain in a romantic campus novel. This is creepy,’ Ryan told herself as she rolled her eyes and looked back at them.

“We are not done yet, baby b*tch.”

“You only need to answer some questions. Okay?”

“First question. How was living with five sexy guys? Did you f*ck one?”

“Excuse me?” Ryan asked in disbelief. “That question is very rude.”

“You are the rude one because you don’t know your place. An ugly duckling like you doesn’t belong to their group. So, get lost.”

“Stop acting like a teenage villain, please,” Ryan said. “We’re in college, dude. And I don’t give a damn about any of those weird rumors going around. I didn’t do anything bad.”

‘Well, besides hiding from my parents that I am living with men. I am innocent,’ Ryan thought.

“Girls, that was out of line,” a man’s voice made Ryan turn her head behind.

She was happy to see Sylvester playing like a Knight in Shining Armor.

‘That’s it, my friend! Save me!’ Ryan thought while looking at Sylvester.

“If you are jealous of Ryan, just say so. Don’t talk dirty, b*tches,” Sylvester said.

Ryan and the three girls went pale.

Is this really Sylvester?

He was known for his friendly countenance and his kind personality! But right now, he looks so different with his hair brushed up and the deep frown marring his forehead.

Sylvester looks sexier than before. Perhaps, because he’s not smiling just like he always does.

“W-We are not jealous of her!” one defended.

“R-Right! We are not!”

“Really?” Sylvester asked before he grinned. “Then get lost. LEAVE HER ALONE, YOU PIECE OF SH*T.”

Sylvester’s warning was enough to make their knees tremble. They walked away, hoping to leave as soon as possible.

Finally, Sylvester and Ryan were alone.

Ryan peered at him. She couldn’t believe that this guy was really the Sylvester she knew!

“Thank you, dude,” Ryan said at a slow pace.

“Not a big deal,” Sylvester mumbled. He turned around and was ready to go.

“Hey! Are you mad at me?” Ryan asked.

Sylvester stopped walking but kept his back against Ryan.

“These past few days, I noticed that you kept on ignoring me. Did I do something wrong? Is it because I ran from you when you tried to give me that worm?”

“…”

“Answer me.”

“I am not mad at you,” Sylvester said. He looked back at her and added, “I am mad at myself. I am in a mess.”

‘Mess? What does he mean?’ Ryan pondered.

“Is there a problem? You can tell me! I can help y…”

“ I wonder who made you into a mess,” someone said.

Sylvester and Ryan both looked at Terban.

“Terban,” Ryan called him and smiled.

When Sylvester saw Ryan’s smile for Terban, he felt worse.

“So, what’s wrong with you?” Terban asked Sylvester.

The temperature between them suddenly decreased. Ryan wondered why as she looked alternately at these two handsome guys.

Sylvester is a cool guy. He never picks up a fight with Terban, unlike Chaylen and Vincent. Yet now, Sylvester’s eyes were sharp against Terban.

‘What is really his problem?’ Ryan was so confused.

“Thank you,” Sylvester said to Terban after quite a long time. “For giving me the answer.”

Terban frowned. He felt ominous about how Sylvester answered the question.

Couldn’t take it anymore, Ryan spoke.

“Excuse me? I really don’t get this conversation. Who made the mess? What is it? And why are you looking at each other as if you wanted to punch each other’s face? Because if you really do, I decline to be a part of this. Leave me out.”

Sylvester chuckled and said, “No way. You can get out, Ryan.”

“What do you mean?” Ryan asked.

Sylvester shrugged his shoulders. He turned around and walked away with a grin on his lips.

“He’s being weird,” Ryan said while looking at Slyvester’s back.

“I found you first,” Terban said.

Ryan looked at him, wondering what he was talking about.

“When the three ugly frogs came to you, I saw you first. Slyvester was closer to you at that time, so he helped you. But Ryan, you need to remember that I saw you first. It was me. Okay?”

“Do you really need to take someone else’s credit?”

“OF COURSE. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME,” Terban answered.

Why did Terban feel the urge to remind Ryan who found her first?

Because Terban saw the jealousy in Sylvester’s eyes when he looked at him. A fit of jealousy that no one can extinguish.