"How was your visit home?" Sharaina's tutor screamed at her with his spit sprinkling on her face -- vein on his throat throbbing like it would burst any minute.
"I didn't go home." Sharaina tried.
"Shut up! Do you think that I am an idiot?" he asked her and shoved her back. "I gave you one instruction and you couldn't follow it."
The tutor raised his hand to slap her and Sharaina faced away with her eyes closed tight.
The slap didn't land.
She opened her eyes and became stunned to see his hand just hanging in the air. He tried to make it move but he couldn't. The look of frustration could be seen on his face as he struggled to get his hand down.
"Damn it!" the tutor roared. "Which one of you is doing this?" he asked the students but they were all silent. "I will have you all expelled for this!" he spat.
The passersby looked on at the tutor and some started laughing at him. They found the whole thing hilarious. Sharaina looked around to see who could have been possibly doing that but she couldn't find the person.
"You there!" the tutor called out to a student. "Go and call the captain now!"
After a few minutes, captain Shrave stepped out of the portal with the student. As soon as he arrived, the tutors hand was free and he protectively held it. He was feeling so angry that he felt suffocated. He glared at Sharaina and pointed his finger at her. Sharaina stepped back with her hands up in surrender.
"Do you think that what you have done is funny?" he furiously asked her.
"I didn't do anything to you sir." Sharaina said.
Her tutor took a step closer with his hand raised against her again. To his shock it froze in the air again. "You have done it again!" he raised his voice.
"Be quiet Flan. She is not the one doing this." Captain Shrave ordered him.
Flan was relieved when his hand was freed again and he stepped away from Sharaina.
Watching everything from the third floor of a restaurant was Light and Jayniss. He chuckled softly with her when they saw the Flan's frustration.
Earlier, Light was having his lunch with Jayniss when she spotted Sharaina. He was taken aback to see Flan's aggressive attitude towards Sharaina.
"So you couldn't just sit and watch her get slapped huh?" Jayniss teased him.
"What man would?" Light asked back with a naughty grin.
****
"Why are you upset with Sharaina?" Captain Shrave asked Flan.
"She disobeyed my orders and went home." Flan defensively explained.
Captain Shrave shot a glare at Sharaina. "Is this true?" he asked her.
Sharaina fearfully waved her hands. "No sir, I assure you that I didn't go home. Please give me a chance to explain myself." she pleaded.
"I'm listening." Captain Shrave motioned his head up.
"Sir, I had a rock in my boot so I couldn't stop myself from thinking about it. So instead of opening a portal to the Pala tea shop, I opened a one to a sandy and rocky dimension. When I realized my mistake, I opened another portal to here. Please what I tell you is the truth." she pleaded with her hands together.
"I don't believe her." Flan snarled.
"How long was she gone?" Captain Shrave asked Flan.
"She was gone for ten minutes sir." Flan quickly answered.
"She speaks the truth." Captain Shrave said to Flan's dismay. "No one can only spend ten minutes at home after been away for so long." he said and turned to Sharaina. "Regardless of your innocence, you must still be punished. Technically you disobeyed your orders. This will teach you to be focused on your orders next time."
"Yes sir." Sharaina accepted with a bow.
"You are to help out in the fields all day today. You will also not have lunch and dinner today. Not even a drop of water will touch your tongue until the next sunrise." Captain Shrave punished her. "In order to make sure that you do your punishment, you will be under close supervision by Flan." Captain Shrave concluded and this time Flan smirked victoriously.
****
Light and Jayniss watched captain Shrave disappear into a portal. The two of them looked at Sharaina get patted by the other students. Light stretched his lips mischievously when he saw Flan go for Sharaina again. He swiftly twirled his fingers and caused Flan to fall on his face. Jayniss cracked up laughing while Light giggled softly.
Stariss arrived at Light and Jayniss's table. She was disgusted to see that it was Sharaina who had gotten all their attention. She took one look at Flan dusting his uniform and sat down uninterested.
Stariss cleared her throat and startled Jayniss. Light on the other hand didn't take his eyes off Sharaina.
"Mama was right when she said that you have an unhealthy obsession with that girl." she said in disgust.
"Her name is Sharaina and you will refer to her as such." Light said to her and drank from his cup.
Stariss scoffed. "I don't see what you see in her Light. I mean she isn't of our status and she is known for being a mischievous drunkard. Don't you care that you are hurting mama with this foolish decision you have made?" she asked him, annoyed.
"When did you become old enough to question my decisions Stariss?" Light asked her.
Stariss clapped her hands slowly. "And there we have it! I try to advise you and I end up looking like the villainess. You will regret this decision Light and when you do, don't come crying to me. A girl who would willingly snatch someone else's fiancé is characterless and shameless. She is a fucking disgrace."
Light felt himself getting angry but he kept his composure. "That's enough Stariss. You have said enough. You have some nerve pointing at Sharaina after what you did. Anyway, it should be expected especially considering that you have never experienced true love of a man."
Stariss was visibly hurt by Light's words. "What are you trying to say Light?" she asked him.
"Alright guys why don't we calm down and have our lunch in peace huh?" Jayniss pleaded with them. She felt so tensed.
"No! I want him to tell me what he is trying to say." Stariss glared at Light.
"I believe that I was fucking clear Stariss. You have never experienced the love of a man. This is why you can't understand my feelings. I know about the affair you had with one of my married colleagues. I know this because his wife came to complain to me. If anyone is a man stealer here, it's you." Light boldly said and sipped his drink.
Starris slammed the table annoyed. Heads turned to them while Jayniss looked around tensed.
"Are you angry? You shouldn't be because I am saying the truth. Well at least now you know why he no longer keeps in touch with you." Light couldn't wipe the smug look off his face. "The black eye he had for weeks has pretty much been explained too now hasn't it?"
"Guys please let's not do this here." Jayniss whispered as she begged.
"She is still a man stealing bitch." Stariss whipped her hair back.
Light scoffed and looked her in the eye. "Why are you blaming her for my mistakes? Is it her who betrayed Yolin and her family?" he lifted a finger to himself and set it on his chest. "I knew that I was engaged but I still went after her so why are you blaming her? What wrong has she done? Hm, tell me. Speak up." he asked her and she faced away annoyed.
Light finished his glass and cleared his throat. "I know that respect for others isn't one of your best qualities so I tolerate your rudeness. However, bad mouthing Sharaina and my relationship with her is something I will not take. In fact let me make this clear, if you ever call her a man stealing bitch again, you will surely feel my wrath."
Starris felt dejected. She furiously got up. "I don't have to sit here and listen to this." she picked up her purse and dashed out of the restaurant.
Jayniss frowned at her and she turned to Light. "Don't you think that was a little harsh?" she rebuked.
"I know it was. You know brutal honesty is the only way to get through to her." Light sadly answered and gestured to the waiter to go to their table.