Chapter 2Drugging Me 33 Times

When I woke again, I was fully dressed, lying on a bed in the lab. The room was empty. Sebastian had sent me a message.

“Evelyn, you fell asleep from exhaustion again. Cathy was tired, so we sent her back first. We’ll come pick you up later.”

I suddenly remembered a phrase I’d vaguely heard before I passed out: “Should we include some audio recordings this time?”

My hands trembling, I fumbled with my phone and opened the university forum. Sure enough, a new audio recording had been posted. It was my voice. The comments below were buzzing.

Oh my god! Who is this? So shameless.

More than one guy, right? How promiscuous.

Wait, doesn’t that voice sound a little familiar?

“Ah—” I shrieked, dropping my phone in horror, clutching my head in despair. Last time it was photos, this time it was an audio recording. What about next time? Would it be a video? What was I going to do? What could I possibly do?

I swallowed desperately, as if trying to force down my shattered heart along with my breath. Tears streamed down my face. I wished I could just lose consciousness.

When I dragged my broken, defiled body back to the dorm, I was met with my belongings strewn in the hallway and my roommate’s disgusted glare.

“It was you, wasn’t it?”

“Wh-what?”

“The person on the forum.” My roommate scrutinized me, as if I were a piece of trash. “The photos last time, the audio recording this time, that was all you, wasn’t it? How disgusting. You always act so pure, but secretly you’re dirtier than anyone. Get out of this dorm with your stuff. Who knows what filth is on it.”

I stood in the hallway, engulfed by the scornful gazes of those around me. Message notifications on my phone rang incessantly.

Senior, I didn’t know you played around so much! How about me next?

Senior, do you charge a fee?

Tsk, tsk, tsk, ‘ice queen,’ more like a worn-out plaything.

I bent down, picking up my discarded belongings one by one, only to realize that my shattered dignity was scattered across the floor with them. No matter how I tried, I couldn’t pick it up. Finally, enduring everyone’s contempt, I walked out aimlessly.

At the university gates, I saw Cathy linking arms with Sebastian in the distance. Cathy saw me first. She blocked Sebastian’s view, then kissed him brazenly in front of me. I saw her whisper something to Sebastian, and he turned and walked away.

She walked up to me, her eyes curving into a triumphant smile. “So, Senior, you saw it all?”

“Oh, right, Senior.” She pulled down the collar of her shirt. “Is Sebastian always so passionate in bed? Look at all the marks he left on me.”

Seeing the glaring red marks on her neck, I almost vomited. It was sickening. How could it be so sickening?

My nails dug deep into my palms. The pain made me bend over, sinking wretchedly to the ground. Cathy looked down at me.

“What’s wrong with Senior now? So pathetic. You always acted so high and mighty, but you scolded me so harshly for just a few mistakes.” She grabbed my hair, forcing my head up. Then she clucked in mock admiration. “Tsk tsk, Senior, your face is truly enchanting. No wonder all those guys in our lab were seduced by you. You must be so proud, Senior. Do you know how utterly shameless you looked underneath them?”

I forced myself to straighten up. “And how shameless are you? Seducing someone else’s boyfriend.”

“You’re lying!” she shrieked, clawing at me. “That’s still better than you, a common whore! You’ve been completely used up! You don’t know this, do you? Sebastian always said how disgusting you were whenever he was with me!” With that, she shoved me into the oncoming traffic. A car screeched past my feet, and I fell to the ground.

Cathy slapped herself across the face, then ran to help me up. Her eyes were red, feigning tears.

“Senior, what are you doing? I told you there’s nothing between Sebastian and me. You can slap me if you want, but running into the street? If you really got hit by a car, would you blame me for it?!”