12 Bullying

"Aren't you the new student from the Philosophy department?" Griffin asked looking at Ariana. The smile on his lips didn't falter the second he sat next to her around the round table.

'There he goes... again..' Ariana cursed mentally but didn't let it appear on her face.

Yes, she was aware of being the new student, but why does everyone have to let her know? Wasn't gawking with curiosity enough that they had to verbally express it.

"Yes..." came Juliana's voice from the side. "She joined just today" she further mentioned adding fuel to Ariana's annoyance.

"I can see that since you have been grabbing a lot of attention since morning" Griffin chucked as he commented.

"I know" Ariana gritted her teeth in annoyance as she tried to maintain her fake smile. She just wanted to escape this table and find another where she wouldn't have to keep listening to the same rant.

Griffin Walter was the most popular boy in the Philosophy department but his popularity got overshadowed by the new professor who joined the same year and took away all of the attention.

Since childhood, Griffin had been used to getting attention, especially from the opposite sex. After getting enrolled in Orchid, he thought of maintaining the same popularity but everything got ruined when Lucian joined as the new Professor and soon everyone started losing interest in him leaving him bitter.

But now he would once again regain his position by making Ariana his girlfriend. He didn't know much about her but the moment he saw her stepping out of Lucian's car, he had a feeling that the girl was close to him and he wanted to take advantage of it.

"Should I bring something for you?" he asked eagerly looking at Ariana.

Julianna on the side felt like a glass of cold water being thrown on her when Griffin only asked Ariana and not her. The shyness slowly faltered as she surprisingly looked at Ariana.

"No, I will get it myself" Ariana politely rejected his offer and pushed the chair behind her before she stood up and turned to Julianna.

"Anna, what do you want to eat? I am heading toward the counter" Julianna was overwhelmed by Ariana's calling her Anna. Her mother used to call her by that nickname.

Brushing off her thoughts Julianna stood up and took a step towards her and said," Let me join you" With a smile Julianna grab hold of Ariana's hand and dragged her towards the counter leaving Griffin alone on the table.

Watching the girls leave him alone like he didn't exist, Griffin's lips twitched in annoyance.

"Thank god you dragged me from there. That boy is so.."

"Annoying" Julianna finished her words and watched Ariana bob her head in agreement as reached the counter.

Resting her hand on the marble surface of the counter, Julianna placed the answer while Ariana turn to look at Griffin who already left from there.

"Thank god.." she once again mumbled heaving out a sigh and turned towards the counter when she noticed Julianna smiling at her.

"Why are you smiling?" Ariana asked.

"You know you have a weird way of rejecting people" she stated as she watched Ariana shrug her shoulder like it was normal.

Julianna had sensed Griffin was trying to flirt with Ariana as he had mastered that field but what shocked Julianna was Ariana's response to his over-friendliness.

There was no girl who didn't fall for his charm, she was also one of them but what amazed her was Ariana politely rejecting his reflex.

Picking up their orders they walked back to their seats and started having their food. They still had to attend a class after the break so it was better that they filled their tummy.

Ending the food, both Julianna and Ariana picked up their backpack and turned to leave the canteen when suddenly Julianna stumbled and fell on the ground with her bag falling next to her.

"Ouch" Arianna quickly squat down and helped her friend stand when they heard an annoying voice.

"Oops...I didn't see you" Remy pulled her leg behind as she crossed her leg over the other and smirked at Julianna.

Both Julianna and Ariana failed to notice the group of bullying girls entering the canteen and taking sea at two tables away from them.

Julianna glared at Remy who didn't seem to be genuinely sorry for her. In fact, she was enjoying everything.

Ariana on the other hand didn't fail to remember the girls. They were her classmates.

"Did you hurt anywhere Julianna" Stella fake her concern right on their face as she let out a chuckle which provoked them.

Julianna looked at the girls and then scanned her eyes around the canteen. Most of them were laughing at her. It wasn't the first time they had humiliated her but today they crossed the limits.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she adjusted her clothes and tucked her bag on her shoulder. "Come on Ariana let's leave," she said avoiding meeting her gaze.

Ariana snapped her eyes at Julianna. She was shocked at how she was leaving without questioning them.

Everyone had seen that Remy had purposely put her leg in front of Julianna and she ended up falling. Instead of asking her the reason why she did that, Julianna was leaving.

"Anna," she tucked her hand and the second she looked at her with those teary eyes Ariana felt her blood boil.

"Please..." she silently cried begging her to leave.

Ariana didn't understand why Julianna wasn't confronting her and just enduring the girl's open bullying.

Feeling helpless, Ariana heaved out a sigh of defeat and composed her fury. Holding Julianna's hand, she took a step ahead but not before shooting a glare at the trio as they both left the canteen.

"You said your target was the new girl, then why did you attack Julianna," Natty asked turning her eyes from the departing girls to Remy. She was confused by her action and found it quite strange.

"You still don't understand me even after being with me for so long. It is a trick used to know your target, Dumbo" Remy said as she sipped her coffee.

Natty creased her brows as she still didn't understand her and turned her attention towards Stella who wasn't bothered by anything that happened just now.

Natty leaned closer to ask her but her blank face made her swallow her words and she sat on her chair like an obedient child. "No one explains me anything" she complained and continued eating her food.

*****

Reaching a spot far away from the canteen, Ariana let go of Julianna's hand and turned to face her. She was still upset by her cowardliness and wanted to confront her.

How can she let anyone bully her and that too in front of so many people?

Watching her still ignore her, Ariana's anger subsided a little and she asked calmly. "What's wrong Julianna? Why didn't you confront her" her soft voice somehow made Julianna raise her head and she looked at her with her red swollen eyes.

Julianna could see Ariana was still upset but there was nothing she could do to fight with those girls. She was weak in front of them.

"I'm sorry" she apologized.

Ariana could tell something was off and decided not to push Julianna to speak much. She would let her calm first before they talk further about it.

Placing her hand on Julianna's shoulder, Ariana tried to calm her. "You don't have to apologize to me, Anna. I know we aren't that close enough to share our problems, but I hope someday, you will talk to me about this"

Ariana didn't want to force her if she wasn't comfortable but she won't let this matter slip like that. She had to inform this bullying thing to the authorities, so they could stop them from targeting weak students.

Julianna gave Ariana a sad smile. She so wanted to be courageous enough to fight for herself but she couldn't knowing that nothing will change and she will still remain a weakling.

Ariana noticed the sadness in her eyes but decided to ignore it as she didn't want to make her feel bad about herself.

"Let's go or else we will be late for the class," Ariana said changing the topic.

Julian's eyes grew wide when she realized how much time had already passed since they left the canteen.

Looking at the wristwatch in her hand, she gasped," Oh my god we only have five minutes before the class starts"

Ariana too sucked her breath on Julianna's words. They both were about to run when suddenly Julianna whine in pain and kneeled on the ground.

"AHH... my leg" stopping midway, Ariana turned to look at her friend who was now kneeling with her hand resting on her injured leg.

"You are bleeding Anna" Ariana too kneeled next to Julianna and watched the cut she received due to the fall earlier.

"We need to treat this first" Ariana suggested.

"No, it's okay. I can handle this much pain" Julianna tried to stand up but failed.

"Ouch.. what the hell.." this time it wasn't cut that hurt but the sprain in her leg stopped her from taking a step ahead.

Julianna looked at Arianna and watched her give her a stern look.

"Hehe... I think we should head to the infirmary" embarrassed Julianna quickly dropped her head down only to hear her friend sigh.