CHAPTER THREE
“Dude, what the fuck!” Rico gasped, barely processing what was happening before Jake’s fist crashed into his jaw.
“Bastards like you are the reason condoms were invented, motherf*cker.” Jake grabbed Rico by the collar and slammed another punch into his face.
Heads turned instantly. The music died down. Conversations froze.
“Jake, what are you doing?” Julia yelled—right before Rico swung back, his knuckles connecting with Jake’s cheek. In seconds, the two were tangled in a fistfight, growling, punching, dragging each other down like wild animals.
“You guys, stop!” Julia shouted, but her voice was swallowed by cheers from students who wanted the chaos to continue.
“Rico!” She ran closer, grabbing his arm, but he shoved her so hard she crashed to the floor. He didn’t even look at her.
Jake’s eyes darkened. “Is that how you treat a woman, you bastard?” He yanked Rico by the collar again. Their chests heaved, their faces streaked with blood, adrenaline burning through them.
Rico leaned in until their foreheads touched, his smirk dangerous and mocking.
“You don’t know who you’re messing with, new kid.”
“And I’m not afraid of you,” Jake shot back, eyes sharp and unwavering.
Rico chuckled, stepping even closer until their breaths clashed hot and angry.
“I could destroy you whenever I want. Stay off my path if you value your reputation in GGC.”
“Rico, cut it out! Let him go!” a voice shouted. Bryan—his twin, a cleaner, calmer version of him—pushed through the crowd. But Rico ignored him.
“POLICE IS HERE!” someone screamed.
Chaos exploded. Students scattered, screaming, pushing, running.
“Shit!” Rico shoved Jake away and bolted.
Julia tried moving, but she was trampled, shoved again and again until she fell helplessly to the ground.
Jake shook his head with frustration and went back for her, extending a hand. She slapped it away with a glare.
“I don’t need your help.”
“You don’t have a choice.” He grabbed her wrist, pulled her up, and they sprinted out of the compound together.
They didn’t stop until the sirens were nothing but faint echoes. They leaned against a wall in an empty corner, catching their breath.
Julia’s eyes drifted to Jake’s face—blood smeared across his cheekbones, sweat dripping down his jaw.
He looked annoyingly, breathtakingly good.
“Are… you okay?” she asked quietly.
Jake didn’t answer. He closed his eyes, his chest rising and falling steadily as he pressed his back against the wall.
“Your face is still bleeding,” she tried again. “There’s a hospital not far from here. I can take you. Don’t worry, it’s on me.”
Silence. He didn’t even look at her.
Julia clenched her fists. Who the hell does he think he is?
“Jake, look at me. I’m talking to you!” she snapped.
He opened his eyes, staring at her blankly—coldly.
“I don’t need you to worry about me.”
“Then why did you do this? Why did you save me?” her voice cracked, tears pooling despite her stubbornness. He was the only person who ever managed to get under her skin this deeply.
“I didn’t save you. I was raised to teach douchebags a lesson. It wasn’t that deep.” He rolled his eyes.
Julia shook her head in disbelief. “Are you always this heartless? I don’t know who pissed you off today, but don’t take it out on me!”
Jake let out a dry, sarcastic chuckle.
“Were you raised cheap?” he asked, finally facing her fully. “You have everything—money, privilege—yet you act like a slut all the time.”
Her breath hitched. “Excuse me?”
“You just broke up with Kelvin. Now you’ve already got another guy’s tongue down your throat and hands under your skirt. Don’t you feel ashamed? You disgust me.”
Julia slapped him. Hard. The sound echoed.
“When you fought Rico, I actually thought it was because of me. I thought maybe—just maybe—you weren’t as bad as you pretend to be. I was wrong.” Her voice shook with fury. “Go fuck yourself, Jake.”
She stormed off.
At Bryan’s apartment, Rico kicked a chair across the room.
“I was this close—this close—to getting Julia. If that stupid new kid hadn’t interfered!”
“Calm down,” Bryan muttered without looking up from his laptop. “I did a background check on him. He’s not powerful. Parents separated. Lives with his mother.”
Rico paced. “I want to get him back.”
“Well…” Bryan scrolled. “His mother has attachment anxiety.”
Rico frowned. “Meaning?”
Bryan sighed. “Meaning she constantly needs someone—usually a man—around her. She fears being alone. She’s been married five times to five different men.”
“Sheesh…” Rico muttered. “But how does that help me?”
“I don’t know, Rico.” Bryan shut his laptop. “I gave you the information you asked for. I’m going to bed.”
“Whatever.” Rico plopped down and clicked on Martha’s photo. His lips curled.
“Martha Connor… You brought this on yourself, Jake.”
Back in the dorms, Aime hovered outside the bathroom door while Julia cried quietly inside.
“Julia, what happened?”
“I just… want to be alone.”
Aime sat on the floor. “Then I’ll wait right here.”
Eventually Julia opened the door and sat beside her.
“Aime… do you think I’m a slut? Am I cheap?”
Aime gasped. “Who said that to you?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Julia murmured. “Maybe they’re right. I date too much.”
“No,” Aime said firmly. “There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be loved. Don’t ever shame yourself for that.”
Julia smiled weakly. But Jake’s harsh words played on repeat in her mind.
The next morning, in the Fine Arts department, Amanda slid beside Jake.
“I didn’t get to check on you after the fight,” she said sweetly.
“We don’t owe each other anything,” Jake replied.
Amanda rolled her eyes. “It’s all Julia’s fault.”
Julia walked in right then. Jake’s jaw tightened.
Was he too harsh last night?
Amanda noticed his stare and smirked. “Right, Jake?” she said loudly, then held his hand.
“Stay away from Rico. He’s dangerous.”
“I told you not to worry about me.” He pulled his hand away. “And I’d like to sit alone.”
Amanda forced a smile, threw Julia a death stare, and walked away.
Later, outside the girls hostel, Julia was on a call.
“What? My dad’s not coming back for a week?… Whatever.” She hung up—only to find Amanda blocking her.
“I like Jake,” Amanda said. “Stay away from him.”
Julia raised a brow. “Excuse me?”
“Jake doesn’t want you,” Amanda smirked. “Face it, Julia—you might have been enough for other guys, but not for him.”
Julia laughed. “Maybe you’re just insecure. I have natural charms. Something you’ll never have. That’s why you chase after my leftovers.”
That hit Amanda—hard.
“Then prove it,” she hissed. “Make Jake fall for you before the semester ends. If you do, I’ll apologize publicly and transfer schools. If you lose… you leave.”
Julia smirked. “Fine. But don’t cry when you lose.”
Amanda waited until Julia disappeared inside. Then she played the audio recording of their conversation.
“Let’s see how far you get, Julia,” she whispered. “Because if you ever fall for him… I’ll ruin both of you.”
Written by Rhema J
Edited by Ini Crown
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