Chapter 62 Nancy's Choice

Elena Garcia POV:

Laura strutted off with her posse, throwing me a nasty look before she left.

Sophia and I both let out a big sigh of relief as we made our way to the cafeteria. We didn't even bother bringing up Laura's so-called advice for her.

I was so sure Laura's schemes would never work.

That night, like always, I called William and vented about Laura's rude behavior when she saw me today.

To keep William from worrying, I also told him how I had fiercely stood up to her.

"Honey, you're amazing!" William said.

He mentioned he had planned to visit me, but he got caught up with some stuff and had been super busy.

"I really want to see you soon, Elena, but you know, my time is limited," William explained.

"It's okay, William. Maybe I can visit you tomorrow?" I suggested.

Tomorrow was the weekend, and I had plenty of time.

"No, that wouldn't be right. A true gentleman shouldn't let a lady take the initiative," William refused.

"No, I'm not, I know exactly what I'm doing," I heard another voice came through.

While chatting with me, William seemed to be talking to someone else.

"Sorry, Elena, I gotta go. Remember what I said, don't come to see me tomorrow. I don't want you to waste your happy weekend because of me, especially when I can't spend it with you," William reminded.

After hanging up the phone, Nancy came back. She had gone to the library in the afternoon.

I greeted her and told her I was going to the supermarket, asking if she needed anything.

Nancy unusually ignored me. This shy girl, although she was not good at socializing, would always try to respond.

"Nancy? Did you hear me?" I asked again.

Nancy still didn't respond, and I felt puzzled. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

As I got closer to Nancy, I saw the panic and guilt on her face. "I don't think I need anything. I'm sorry, but Elena, can you forgive me and my sister?"

I realized something bad had happened that I hadn't noticed.

Nancy's eyes were red, and she looked like she might cry at any moment.

"You have to tell me what happened. What do you want me to forgive?" I asked.

I clenched my fists. Because of the day's events, I had to suspect that Nancy's unusual behavior was related to Sophia.

"I want to ask you to move out of this dorm, Elena. You should move to a single dorm. I'm sorry, I really am, but it's all for my sister. Sophia told me about your encounter today. Laura told her that as long as she didn't stand with you, she wouldn't have to face those terrible things, right? Please forgive us, Elena. Just for my poor sister, help us. Can you please stay away from us?" Nancy was begging.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. What was Nancy saying?

"Is this also Sophia's decision?" I trilled.

I felt a chill all over, far more upsetting than hearing Laura's malicious advice.

"No, it's my decision, but I think I can speak for her. I'll tell her that if she doesn't agree with Laura's suggestion, those bullies will come after me. Even for my sake, Sophia would agree," Nancy explained.

Nancy's voice trembled, and she lowered her head, not daring to meet my eyes.

I thought she understood what she was doing.

To protect Sophia, Nancy made the choice faster than Sophia!

I took a few deep breaths to calm myself.

My rational mind told me this wasn't a betrayal. We were all targeted by Laura and Sofia. Though I had felt a bit of joy in becoming friends with Nancy and Sophia, our alliance was just a group of pitiful people licking each other's wounds.

But my emotions made it hard to accept that they chose to sacrifice me to escape being bullied.

"You know this is also a form of bullying, right? By choosing Laura's suggestion and distancing yourselves from me, you're isolating me," I said.

"I just want to protect Sophia. Please, Elena," Nancy insisted.

"Your way of protecting her is to join the bullies?" I shot back.

I felt like I lost my cool a bit. I shouldn't have said that.

I knew Laura was trying to drive a wedge between me, Nancy, and Sophia. My resistance made her angry.

Laura was showing me that she didn't need physical conflict to teach me a lesson.

"Shut up, Elena! If you don't have a better idea, what right do you have to criticize my choice as wrong!" Nancy snapped.

Nancy started to get angry. She seemed like a completely different person. Sophia's situation made her anxious, and now she finally found an outlet.

She broke down, shouting and screaming, turning from pleading to warning.

She warned me that I had to leave.

I didn't want to argue with Nancy, so I chose to leave temporarily.

That night, I didn't return to the dorm. I stayed at a hotel near the school.

I texted Sophia, telling her that Nancy might need her comfort, but I didn't get a reply through the whole night.

When I got back to the dorm, I found the door locked, and my stuff had been moved outside.

The dorm manager, Ms. Joy, saw me and took out a new key and an application form. "You're finally back, dear. Nancy said you want to change your dorm, and it looks like you've already packed your things. The traditional single dorms are currently full, but Nancy told me you mentioned that an apartment suite would be fine. There's just one single room available in an apartment suite. But this apartment is co-ed. I don't know if you'll mind? Here's your key and the application form for the dorm change. If you don't have any objections, please fill it out and return it to me."

"No, I'm not planning to move out of my original dorm!" I said awkwardly.

Ms. Joy looked at me, asking if I needed help, her expression becoming serious. "Are you being bullied by your roommate? Did she force you out of the dorm? Did she lie to me against your will?"

I realized that if I told Ms. Joy the truth, Nancy might get a warning or some punishment.

But in the end, looking at the closed dorm door, I told Ms. Joy, "No, there's no bullying here. Please don't worry about me."

My new dorm room was in another building, which meant I had to carry my things a bit of a distance.

I lugged my stuff to the new apartment. Along the way, I tried to keep myself calm.

But I couldn't avoid feeling a stabbing pain in my heart, especially after moving my belongings into the new room.

I sat on the couch in the common area and sent messages to Nancy and Sophia.

My messages were rejected; they had blocked me.

I couldn't describe my feelings. I threw my phone aside and curled up on the couch, hugging myself.

Just as I was feeling down, I heard the door open.

I quickly composed myself, trying to put on a facade of being okay, and went to greet my new roommates.

But when I looked up and saw the second figure walking in, I couldn't help but exclaim, "Marco? What are you doing here?"

Two guys walked into the room. I didn't recognize the guy in front, but he was holding medical textbooks, so he must be one of my roommates.

The guy behind him, however, was Marco, whom I knew.

He looked at me with equal surprise.

This must be some kind of coincidence, I realized instantly.

"Are you the new roommate? Do you two know each other?" the guy in front asked.

My roommate barely managed to ask before falling silent.

Marco's expression changed from surprise to seriousness. He strode towards me, his brows furrowed. A dangerous aura emanated from him.

"Elena, who made you cry?" Marco asked.