BXBX NOVEL Chapter 143 - Taking Out This Torment (6)
Chapter 143 – Taking Out This Torment (6)
"Of course, there is always a give and take situation between us. But you don't need to think about that one. Just remember that I have enough power to make sure that we can get that 2000 bucks, or even more if I want," I said confidently. Of course, I thought about that red rose man while I talked about this. Because that red rose man was my key to success, at least for now.
"Oh-ho-ho, so confident, aren't we?" Elise chuckled as she leaned at me with interest. "Then, if the money problem has been solved, I think we should start with the real plan. What would be a good trap to fight them."
My lips twitched as I felt that Elise intentionally baited me to be more active in this. Maybe she was also assessing my capability right now. We were trying to evaluate each other because we both didn't trust so easily.
"I've been thinking about that as well. I do have something in mind, but I want your idea too," I said.
"Do tell yours first," Elise asked, "I am all ears."
I took a deep breath and then started, "So my first plan is to request them to vandal the whole school in the middle of the night. It might be a simple offense, but if they got caught in the middle of the act by that involuntary witness, then they would get reported or, worse, expelled. So they had to beat up that involuntary witness first. What do you think?"
"Hm… plausible, but highly unlikely," Elise said. "I don't think they would beat up Miss Brittany Alba just because of vandalism. We need something more… scandalous, or something that should be able to make them unable to think clearly and beat up Miss Alba just for the sake of it, probably to calm themselves down first."
…
Now that I thought about it, what Elise said was correct. Vandalism might be really bad, but it won't be got you expelled, so if they got caught, their first instinct would probably be to just run away.
So we need something that could make them go absolutely berserk and beat up that poor defenseless woman.
…
…
After a long pause, I still hadn't thought of anything useful, so I asked her first, "I can't find anything yet, for now. How about you, Elise?"
"Well, what I have is also a rough idea," Elise said.
"I'm thinking about using something scandalous, just like what they did to me, sexual assault, abuse, and many more. But I don't think we can have any girl to do it," Elise said. "In fact, I don't think anyone would volunteer to be the abused and sexually assaulted. That's why I don't think my idea is any better than yours."
"Yeah, that's kind of… extreme and immoral. But I won't lie that it'd make a great execution if done correctly," I said. I wouldn't lie that it was very immoral but very effective at the same time.
But of course, we wouldn't use anyone, whether it was boy or girl, to be abused and assaulted, nor do I think any who would volunteer.
Unless…
An idea popped up in my mind, but I didn't want to tell it so soon because I still had to make sure about it first. I didn't want to make a false promise.
"I have an idea, actually, but I'll have to think about it first so that idea could be realized. Don't you want this to be quick to end your torment? Because when I experienced it firsthand before, I just want my assaulter to die in the fiery pit as soon as possible."
Elise was stunned by my words, and she nodded, "Yes, Em. You really know how I feel right now. I still doubted you when you said that you also had the experience. But I guess you also have the experience because that's how I feel."
"May I know when did that happen?" Elise asked.
I smiled bitterly. Honestly, I didn't want to open this one. I even tried to blur the whole scene intentionally because it was just way too traumatizing, just like what happened with Elise.
"I can't disclose much, but… back then, I was bullied every day, and one of them sexually assaulted me—maybe you could call it rape, although there is no insertion there, thankfully…."
Elise also got depressed at my words. She sighed and looked down, "It's so ironic that you said thankfully just because that bastard didn't fuck you. We shouldn't have felt this way…."
"I know," my bitter smile worsened as we were in our pity party right now.
After talking with Elise, she ordered some food, and I refused because I had no money.
"Oh, come on, if you don't have money, you can just tell me. This is my treat for now, and you don't need to pay it back because you've pulled me out of the gutter called depression. This is the first time I actually went out after that incident, and my parents were so happy."
"… okay, no need to be thankful about it. I did what I thought was right. I just want to help someone with the same experience as I had."
**
We had our snacks in the cafe together before separating. I told Elise that I would contact her again once I could confirm this plan first, and she said she would wait for it excitedly.
I understood that she was excited about it, though. From my assessment, it was true that Elise was definitely a critical-thinking but blunt kind of person. She wasn't meant to be everybody's buddy, mostly because she could be very harsh with her words towards others, despite it being the truth.
Definitely my type of person.
I went home and saw that Grandma's rocking chair was empty, the door was closed, but I also saw Mom's car. So I guessed Mom helped Grandma to come inside.
"I'm home," I said while opening the door.
"Ah, Emmy…"
I saw Mom was sitting alone on the sofa. She looked distressed for some reason, so I approached her, "What's wrong, Mom?"
"Ah, it's your Grandma. I got worried about her because she fainted when I came home."
"Fainted?!"
"Yes, she is in her room right now. But when I checked on her, she seemed to get weaker. Even her breath was weak. She's already so old, so it's understandable but—"
"It's still sad…." I completed her words. I knew that Grandma's health was already deteriorating since I moved out from my old home after Mom and Dad's divorce. She lived alone, and Grandpa had already died long ago.
Usually, she would be put in a nursing home. But she refused to eat anything when she was put in the nursing home for two days. The nurse was panicked, and Mom brought her back.
She said she liked to stay in the home and spend time with family.
It wasn't wrong, but… Mom was the sole breadwinner of the family, and it was difficult to spare her time to take care of Grandma while I was busy in school.
We usually hired a neighbor to take care of Grandma before. But that neighbor was busy now with her own family, and we couldn't hire someone else because they'd demand a lot of money, and we didn't have that yet…
I sighed since there was no way out in this. Before entering, I went to Grandma's room and knocked on the door first.
"Grandma…"
"Ah, Emmy, how's your school today?" Grandma asked cheerily with her hoarse voice. She was always cheerful, even at this age. It reminded me of how active she was when I was still very young.
I sat beside her and asked, "Is everything okay, Grandma?"
"I'm fine. I just feel a bit lightheaded this evening, so I sleep early in the rocking chair. Your mom was freaking out when she saw me sleeping in the rocking chair. Ahahah! She thinks I'm actually dead!"
"Don't worry about me, Emmy. I will not die so soon. I'm already so old. Of course, I won't have the same vigor. But I will wait until you got married to that man so I can die in peace, knowing my only grandchild is married to a good man," Grandma said.
I gulped as I wanted to refute her immediately. But then I remembered her health, so I just reluctantly nodded for Grandma to feel relieved.
"Don't burden yourself, Em. I know you might not like him right now. But he is truly the best man you—or any woman can get," Grandma sighed. "I'm sorry for being too nosy for you as well. Because… you know, the thing with your father."
"I know, Grandma. I know you meant well to me," I said, forcing a smile on my lips. I didn't want to stress her out, so I left the room after hugging her.
I didn't want to marry someone I didn't know, let alone a crazy man like that red rose man.
But… what if Grandma truly knew what was best for me?