Eric moved in the crowd, making sure he didn't try to bump into anyone again. He was sick of meeting, even noticing people who were there. He needed to find Anna and get out of this place as soon as possible. The hairs on the back of his neck kept standing straight, and he knew it meant that he was not feeling good or something bad was about to happen. And he hated each option.
He adjusted the cuffs on his sleeves and continued to move through the huge crowd, hoping to get a glimpse of Anna. She was the only one he spoke with in college. He didn't have friends or even acquaintances with whom he would have the occasional chat. He was a loner, a freak in people's eyes and he hated himself for that. He hated himself for failing at achieving the one thing he was supposed to achieve in a law-abiding society: making social interactions. He sucked at that, and now the consequences were coming back to him. But it didn't matter now. He just needed to find his girlfriend.
He stopped for a moment, scanning the crowd with his eyes, and then he saw her. Looking gorgeous, she was in a conversation with one of her friends, totally at ease and even laughing. He smiled a little, happy that she was happy. But he was a little sad that he was going to pull her away from her group. But she was going to listen to him. She always did, and this wasn't going to be any different.
He made his way to her, walking smartly. He watched as she turned her face to his, her smile fading instantly. There was a slight expression on her face before it also disappeared. He frowned internally. He didn't like what he saw.
'Did she just look annoyed that I'm coming up to her?' He thought. 'Or am I just imagining it. I do hope the latter.'
Anna walked up to him, now smiling again. "Hello, babe."
"Hey. Sorry, I had to cut your conversation." Eric replied. "Don't really feel good."
"Sorry about that." Anna apologised. "You need a drink or something?"
"No," Eric stated firmly, his eyes on her. "I need to leave."
Anna looked shocked, clearly not expecting that. "Leave? Why do you need to leave?"
"I just want to. I don't feel good."
"That doesn't make sense," Anna replied, trying to make a point. "Just because you're not feeling good, doesn't mean you can just leave."
Eric was now confused. "So wait, you want me to throw up on the floor where my college mates are. Embarrass myself and you. Is that what you want?
Anna now looked nervous and unsure. "No."
"Then what's your deal?" Eric snapped. "Why don't you want me to leave?"
Anna was torn on what to say. "I just.... don't want you to leave me here."
"That's bullshit and you know it." Eric spat in anger. "Who do you take me for?"
"Come on." Anna soothed. "Don't be like that. Believe me, I really just don't want you to leave me here."
Eric stared at her, trying to figure out if he should believe her or not. He finally had his answer.
"No." He stated firmly.
"What?"
"You're lying." He spoke, his eyes on her. "You don't want me to leave because something is about to happen and it involves me."
"That's not true. "
"Anna, we both know it's true."
He turned away from her, ready to leave her there. He wasn't going to stay in this place any longer than he had to.
"May I have your attention?" A firm voice called out, silencing the crowd instantly. Eric turned to the voice and so did the other students.
It was Mason Crest and it brought a bitter taste to his mouth. He watched as Mason smiled he knowing that he had gotten everybody's attention.
"It has been a wonderful night, hasn't it?" He asked, his voice calling out. The others agreed with him, everybody smiling and cheering.
"You know, we should be grateful." He spoke. "It's not everybody who gets the luck to attend such a precious university. And also to be children of the most powerful people in the country. Although there are some mistakes here."
The rich students laughed at the remark while the poor slinked further into the shadows.
Eric frowned in thought. What was Mason up to now? He should leave right now but something held him back. It's like he wanted to know what Mason was talking about.
"So there has been someone here that has been really special to me ever since I set my eyes on 'it'. Mason continued, his eyes glinting. "It has been terribly annoying. It has been holding something that is mine. But I decided to prepare a gift."
'Gift.' Eric thought. 'What gift?'
"And I want you guys to witness it. To see how much I 'care' for it." Mason concluded, turning his eyes to where Eric and Anna were standing. Eric's heart beat twice in fear as he stared back at Mason.
"So please turn your eyes to the screen," Mason announced, pointing at the screen.
Eric watched as everybody turned their eyes to the screen. So did he. He couldn't help it. He watched as the screen turned on, and then the small gasps and laughter followed suit. Then his heart sank in both shame and horror.
It was a video.
A video of the compilations of the times when he was beaten, mocked, and cursed. Compilations of him being dunked in the toilets, abused in hidden places, and dominated by the girls. Everything that had happened to him had been recorded and he never knew. And now the whole university was watching. His life couldn't have gotten any worse but it had. But that wasn't the only thing that scared him.
No.
It was even worse.
His family.
The great Asterix family had soiled the name with his embarrassment. He knew what was going to happen. He was going to be ruined for life. His siblings won't care. His father would likely murder him with his bare hands.
And Anna. She was going to be embarrassed by him. Her boyfriend is being humiliated like this. He turned to her, expecting to see the shame and disgust on her face but what he saw made his blood run cold.
A chilling, satisfied smile was on her face. A smile that told everything, a smile that had brought the realization to sink in his mind.
She knew.
She was part of it.
She had brought him to this party to destroy him, and he fell into the trap like a brainless, useless prey. His shame evaporated into anger.
"You bitch!" He spat in anger. "How could you do this to me. I was good to yo.....!"
He never finished the sentence as there was a loud crack that echoed through the huge hall. Then there was silence. Eric looked stunned, his head snapped sideways. He gradually brought his hand to his cheek where he had just been slapped, then he stared at Anna whose hand was still up.
"You...." Eric croaked, still in shock. "You slapped me?"
"I just did!" Anna spat at him. "Good to me! What nonsense are you spouting from that useless mouth of yours? What good were you to me? You escaped from your house every time you're bullied or beaten to seek refuge in a girl's house. What type of man are you!"
Cliff and Gerad were laughing their lungs out.
"Damn," Cliff muttered. "That slap just reset his brain for him."
"Damn, right." Gerad wheezed, cleaning tears from his eyes.
"You're a mistake." Anna was saying. "A total disgrace and you deserve what happened to you."
Eric nearly blew with rage. Blind in anger, he reached out to strangle her when he found himself on the floor dazed. There was a chorus of winces and 'oohs' from the crowd.
Eric spat out blood as he looked up to see Mason standing there, his hand possessively around Anna's as he stared at him like he was a loathsome, disgusting maggot.
"Don't you ever," Mason spoke, his tone icy. "Ever try to raise your hand against my girlfriend your pathetic life again."
"Girlfriend." Eric raged. "So you were cheating on me."
"No," Anna replied. "I was never with you to begin with."
Mason raised a hand in the air. "Security, please come and take this lowlife out of the hall. He's repulsive to the distinguished guests."
Four hefty Security guards appeared and were trying to drag Eric away from the hall.
"Get the fuck away from me! "He cursed. "I'm part of the Asterix family. I'm their son! This is my university! I won't stand to be treated like rubbish!"
Silence enveloped the hall again. Mason raised his hand to stop the guards.
"Did you just say you're an Asterix?" Mason asked.
"Yes."
Mason stared at him for a moment before bursting into uncontrollable laughter, the crowd following suit.
"Mr. Cliff," Mason called out. "Is he an Asterix?"
Eric turned to Chris who was also looking at him.
Cliff shook his head. "Nah, don't know who this clown was."
Mason raised his hand again, still, laughing. "Take this clown away. He disgusts me."
The guards dragged him out of the Hall, and he couldn't do anything about it. He saw Anna smiling at his misfortune. Yesterday, she was his girlfriend and now she was not.
His two brothers were just laughing at him, not caring about the humiliation he was going through.
"Let the low-class take this as a warning." He heard Mason speak. "This will happen to them if they ever believe that they are worthy to stand beside us. They're not and they'll never be."