Chapter 29 - Campus Life
Chapter 29 – Campus Life
One month had already passed where Anne became the new student at the University of the Art of London. She was in the same class as Linda, someone she accidentally met and helped during re-registration. The two of them became good friends and they were always seen together wherever they go. Anne liked Linda's hardworking personality. She also found out that Linda came from a village in Dunster which was one of the most beautiful villages in England in the West Somerset district. Actually, Linda's family had large enough farms in the village, and Linda was asked to continue her family's hereditary business. However, Linda didn't have the passion in that field and she finally refused her family's offer and decided to move to London to pursue her dream as a fashion designer.
"Have you called your mother, Linda?" asked Anne quietly as they were in the cafeteria for lunch.
"I called her this morning and we chat for a bit, as usual, she always asks me to come home," said Linda irritably.
"Your mother misses you, Linda, so it's only natural that she asks you to come home," said Anne softly with a smile.
"Almost every two days my mother would call me and all her words have not changed, she never gives up asking me to go back to the village and continue the family business. Even though my brother already works as a veterinarian there, but my mother always asks me to return to the village to continue my family's hereditary business. I have told them I have my own passion in another field of industry," said Linda curtly.
Anne smiled at Linda's words, she knew that her friend was really into fashion. It was not surprising for her to hear that Linda voluntarily refused his mother's request to return to the village.
"You can refuse your mother's request but never to speak rudely toward her. Try to explain it politely. Don't let your mother feel sad because you've spoken to her harshly," said Anne softly as she grabbed Linda's hand on the table.
"I know, Anne," said Linda shortly.
"Okay, let's eat, my spaghetti is getting cold," Anne joked in a rising voice, trying to break the ice.
Linda smiled seeing how Anne ate, she knew that Anne was actually trying to cheer her up. She quickly put up a smile on her face, she then followed Anne to scoop the spaghetti into her mouth.
While enjoying the spaghetti, Anne's eyes suddenly diverted when she looked at the pool not far from the canteen. She saw that some of the seniors from Edward's circle were bullying new students in the same year as Anne. When Anne had just entered college, Edward had already shown his power to her. He even deliberately frightened new students with his friends who had quite big figures.
"He's here again," Linda said softly when she looked in the same direction as Anne.
"Until when he would grow up and stop acting like he's the most powerful man on this campus?" asked Anne softly without realizing it.
"Her father was a high-ranking university official so no one dared to go against him, Anne," Linda replied softly as she put a sliced onion into her mouth.
"How arrogant!" Anne hissed irritably as she took the mineral water bottle that was beside Linda and she immediately emptied it.
Linda chuckled at Anne's reaction. Since Anne didn't want to interfere with Edward's business, she finally continued her lunch. But unfortunately, she already lost her appetite after what she saw.
"We can't get involved with them, Anne. You still remember what happened in our early days when we just started classes at this campus, don't you?" Linda asked softly trying to remind Anne again about Edward's actions.
"Of course I remember how rude he was then," said Anne softly.
Anne then remembered what Edward had done to her in the first week she started campus life. On the first day, Edward had hit Anne to the point where she almost fell if Linda didn't help her. The second day, Edward tried to annoy Anne by abruptly taking Anne's chair in the canteen which caused Anne to almost fall if the canteen's waiter didn't call her up. The kind-hearted canteen's waiter wanted to return Anne's change. But it was actually an excuse since the waiter wanted to save Anne from Edward's prank.
All of this continued for one week until Edward finally stopped bothering Anne because he felt that Anne did not respond to all of his infuriating behavior. Edward then looked for other prey for him to annoy. Usually, the new kid on campus will indeed be the target of the Prince Campus, a title Edward got because of his exquisite piano playing ability. Edward was born from an artist family, it was no wonder he was so good at playing the piano that the Prince Campus title was eventually given to him.
"Linda, let's go home. I'm sick of being at the campus surrounded by a jackass like him and seeing his behavior," said Anne suddenly.
"Aren't you going to the library?" Linda asked confusedly.
"It's okay, I can just postpone it or I'll just look for the book in the bookstore instead of borrowing it at the library, I can't stand to see his arbitrary actions," said Anne briefly as she grabbed her bag and files and walked out of the canteen.
Seeing Anne leaving, Linda finally followed her best friend's steps while running. She had a hard time catching up with Anne, who was walking very fast.
"Hey, cheetah! Don't walk too fast!!! Wait for me!" Linda shouted loudly for Anne.
"Hurry up!!" said Anne briefly.
"Your feet are moving too fast, I can't keep up with you Anneee …. !!!!" Screamed Linda in a loud voice.
Not only did Anne turn around to hear Linda's loud screams, but Edward and his men also heard Linda's screaming, they immediately focused their attention on Anne and Linda.
"It's you again!" Edward said quietly as he looked at Anne.
"Do we need to take care of them, boss?" asked one of Edward's men.
"Don't … don't touch my toy, this girl is different comparing to the rest of the girls here. She makes me want to play with her longer, how could there be a girl who refuses Edward Cole's charm on this campus?" Edward replied confidently after stating that Anne was the only new student who hadn't fallen for him.
"Okay, boss," said all of Edward's men in unison.
There was a smile blossoming on Edward's face, the more Anne denied him the more challenging it was for Edward.
To be continued