2. Mystery Man

Chapter two

Mystery Man

I LEANED AGAINST THE BUILDING, casually scrolling through my phone as I pretended to take in the sprawling campus filled with students rushing to their next class. The sun beat down on me, causing a light sheen of sweat on my forehead, which was crazy for a fall day. Small gray clouds that suggested an impending storm occasionally interrupted the lazy white clouds high in the sky. A light mist hung in the air, creating a hazy backdrop for the trees, whose leaves were starting to turn brilliant shades of red and orange.

My eyes wandered around the grounds, eventually landing on the group of girls I had seen yesterday, deeply engrossed in conversation. I shook my head and quickly looked away, but not before catching snippets of their discussion with my keen ears.

"That bitch doesn't deserve the new guy's sympathy. She's a fucking whore. The video proves it." She cast a fleeting glance in my direction, but seeing that I did not meet her gaze, she huffed in annoyance and promptly returned to gossiping about the girl in our class.

I felt resentment for these girls and their harsh words towards someone I didn't even know, and perhaps they didn't either. But before I could dwell on it too much, they continued talking about how this girl didn't deserve any sympathy or respect from anyone.

Feeling uncomfortable listening to their judgmental talk, I left and walked away from them without turning back.

On the way to my next class, I passed a group of guys huddled together, utterly engrossed in the video on their phones. The screams coming from the screen immediately caught my attention.

Curious, I walked closer to them and saw they were watching the same video the girls talked about moments ago.

"Hey?" I called out to them, and they quickly swirled towards me.

"Sup?"

"What are you watching?" I asked.

My stomach churned as I watched the disturbing scene unfold. The girl's cries for help were heart-wrenching, and it was clear that she did not consent to what was happening.

My eyes snapped up to them. "Why are you watching this?" I asked, my voice trembling with anger and disgust.

The guys shrugged, seemingly unaffected by what they were seeing. "They were just having fun," one said with a smirk.

"Fun?" I retorted, feeling my blood boil at their callousness.

"Relax, dude. She was a willing participant," another chimed in.

"It doesn't look that way to me," I snapped back, unable to hold back my frustration any longer. "That girl's cries for help aren't some entertainment piece on television. She's being violated, and you all are just standing there, ogling the video, and laughing at her pain. That's fucking disgusting."

I could see their sudden uneasiness as they realized I wouldn't let it slide. "Look, man, whatever. We're just watching the video. It's not like we were involved," one of them said, rolling his eyes.

My gaze shifted upward toward the guy who was playing the video. "Turn it off," I urged with a low grumble.

"Come on, man. It's hot. Look at her beg." He continued to admire the video.

I was filled with uncontrollable fury as I snatched his phone and slammed it onto the ground, shattering the entire screen. "I told you to turn it off!" I pushed him, and his companions thought they could overpower me. One swung at me, but I quickly evaded it and followed with a powerful punch to his jaw, sending him sprawling. Another one rushed toward me from the side, but I swiftly turned to face him, grabbed him by the waist, and threw him several feet over my head. They were gasping for air, but I was just getting started.

"Come on." I motioned for the other two to come closer. One of them mustered the courage to step forward, but it quickly turned to regret as I trapped him in a tight chokehold. "Delete that video off your phone now," I growled into his ear, my teeth clenched. My threat was clear: if I caught him watching it again, there would be worse consequences than taking a beating in front of the campus.

Admitting defeat, he nodded as if tapped out. I forcefully pushed him away from me.

As I stood straight, I scanned the large crown assembled, and there she was. She held her books close to her body, trying to hide her beauty underneath that damn hooded sweatshirt, as she has done every day since I met her. When our eyes met, she quickly looked away and left.

Neither of us had exchanged words yet; that was how she liked it. We both found comfort in the silence. I've always been solitary, but I strongly wanted to protect her. I couldn't quite understand why.

I slowly walked back to class, letting my mind wander as I replayed what had happened. I could not help but feel a sense of satisfaction, knowing that I had done something right. Although I had not even met this girl, I felt connected with her. It was impossible to deny it. From this day on, she would see me as someone willing to stand up for her.

That could be what I needed to make me feel whole. Someone to protect. A purpose.

It has been a week since the fight, and I have not seen her. I am uncertain whether my actions in confronting those individuals frightened her even more or if she continued to be tormented in my absence. But one thing was sure: I had no intention of letting her go through this alone. All I can do is be there for her whenever and wherever she needs me. I wouldn't let anyone or anything hurt her again.