Chapter 7 To Wake Up From a Nightmare

• Vero found her cell phone, and she was pulling it out of her bag when someone crossed the side hall and stopped when he saw them.
• “What are you doing here? Isn’t the lecture over?”
• A tall, thin man like a dry tree in winter appeared and gave Vero goosebumps. Looks like it’s one of the campus staff. His appearance and face reminded Vero of Ms. Caroline. Both were pale-faced and seemed to have no feelings.
• All the girls were shocked and the arrogant attitude they had shown to Vero just now disappeared.
• “We’re taking Vero for a walk, introducing her to the campus area,” said Mia. The lies she told were so smooth that Vero wanted to compliment her.
• “You can do it tomorrow, at lunchtime,” the man said in an even tone. He barely even opened his mouth as he said it.
• “Okay, Mr. James,” said Ava.
• Mr. James glanced at Vero. “You’re the new student? Verona Windward?” he asked.
• “Yes, sir,” Vero answered, nodding.
• Mr. James gave Vero an appraising look from head to toe.
• “I hope you’ve read and memorized the rules of this place, Ms. Windward. We don’t want you to get in trouble or cause trouble here.” Mr. James paused. “Pay attention to the curfew and what you can and can’t bring into the campus area.”
• Vero nodded again, this time swallowing hard. Her hand was still in her bag, clutching her cell phone. Then she realized that this time she had broken one rule. If she takes out this phone now, she will definitely get punished and in the future, Mr. James and the lecturers and all the staff in this place will watch her more closely.
• Vero let go of the phone and let it fall to the bottom of the bag. Then she zipped up the bag and slung it over one shoulder.
• “Back to your respective dormitories,” ordered Mr. James. “Now.”
• No one disputed the order. They turned around and together went down the stairs. Mr. James followed them to the exit of the building and kept watching them until they turned onto the road that led to the dormitories.
• As the path leading to the dormitory split into two, the other girls headed in a different direction from Vero.
• Vero was relieved to find that they were in a different dormitory building, so he didn’t have to prolong matters with them all the way to the dorms. Mia suddenly stopped and called out to her. “You,” she said. “Stay away from Lev.”
• Vero rolled her eyes at the empty threat. Are they deaf? She has absolutely no interest in Lev. She just wants her life back and Lev is the only way out. Vero turned and sneered. “Or what?”
• “If you dare to approach him again, I will not let you live peacefully here, Verona.”
• The wind blew after Mia said that. Leaves from the bushes rustled and flew around them. The smell of the lake, like melting snow and the sun, tickles Vero’s nose.
• Without waiting for a reply from Vero, Mia rushed to catch up with her friends. Maybe she was afraid that Vero would hurt her again with words or actions like she did in the canteen.
• Vero will let Mia go this time, but if Mia pulls a stunt on her again, Vero won’t stay silent. She can do more heinous things than Mia has ever thought.
• If only Vero’s friends were here, she would easily handle her and shut her mouth for good. But now she is alone.
• A feeling of loneliness suddenly swept over her and followed her into the room. She met several students. Some were sitting on the steps chatting, some were clustered in the hallway and busy with their cell phones. Everyone turned and looked at her as she walked by, but no one greeted her or at least smiled at her.
• Not that Vero wished they did.
• Rumors have spread like the wind during a storm, Vero thought. On her first day, she became the talk of the whole campus and all thanks to Lev. One more thing to add to the list of why Vero hates Lev.
• As soon as she got into her room and closed the door, Vero threw the bag on the table, then took off her clothes and threw them on the bed. Dressed only in her underwear, she looked through the veranda door and looked at the large houses across the lake, then remembered Mia’s words.
• Lev’s family is one of the most respected families in Duradel. Does that mean one of the houses over there is his house? If indeed he came from a respectable family, what was he doing in that nightclub? It was obvious that he was looking for a girl to prey on. That wasn’t the behavior of a young man from a respectable family at all.
• Even though Mia is a pain in the ass, Vero can’t just ignore her words regarding the advice she gives. Vero will find out about Duradel through a search engine after she takes a shower. To be honest, this place made her even more curious.
• The sky was getting dark and the lake now looked like a huge black hole reflecting the moon. It looks beautiful and mysterious.
• The sight comforted Vero, even if only for a moment.
• She wanted to return home, to friends and metropolitan life.
• Vero closed the blinds on the verandah door and headed to the bathroom.
• After spending almost an hour in the bathroom, Vero came out and got dressed, then took her cell phone from her bag.
• Just as she took out her cell phone, the screen lit up and showed a call from her parents. Vero immediately picked up the phone and called out, “Daddy!”
• Her father’s voice sounded weak on the other end. “Hey honey,” he greeted. “How are you doing there? Is everything safe? Are you happy there?”
• “This is a beautiful place, Daddy,” Vero said. “Thank you.”
• “It’s good that you like it.”
• “But I want to go back,” said Vero, quickly. “There seems to be a misunderstanding! It turned out that the young man was not dead! He’s still alive, Dad! He’s here! So I’m safe and can go home.”
• Vero was so excited and she hoped her father would be happy to hear the news. She waited for her father’s response. Maybe he’ll ask what’s going on here and who knows if he’ll come here to talk to Lev in person.
• Everything will be over quickly, like waking up from a nightmare.
• Vero waited for about half a minute, but her father didn’t speak.
• Vero frowned and pulled the phone away from her ear, thinking the line had been disconnected. But no, the call is still connected. She put the phone back to her ear.
• “Daddy? Are you still there?”
• “Vero,” said her father. His voice choked and instantly a bad feeling hit her. “I’m sorry, but... looks like you can’t go home for now.”
• Looked like it was not that easy to wake up from a nightmare.