Chapter 29: Men Are Burdens

As finals approached, things were getting busier by the day.

Everyone was on edge, with teachers pushing for their classes to top the school rankings and students gunning for high grades to secure a carefree summer break.

Livia, as a homeroom teacher, felt the pressure acutely.

"Did you and Angelo break up?" Luke asked as he dropped off his late assignment during a quiet moment in the office.

Livia had already unfriended Angelo on Facebook and deleted his number.

'I don't know if Angelo deleted my contact details, but I haven't received a call from him in a while. It doesn't matter anymore.'

"The finals are right around the corner. You'd better spend this time hitting the books instead of landing at the bottom of the class," Livia said as she took his assignment. "Get back to class."

Luke rubbed his nose. "That won't happen."

Livia asked with a hint of curiosity, "So, what rank are you aiming for in class?"

"Top five."

Livia couldn't help but chuckle at his bravado.

A student who had consistently ranked at the very bottom suddenly declaring he'd make the top five was a joke.

But Livia didn't want to crush his confidence. Who knows? Maybe he’d pull off an upset.

"Go get 'em!" She found her student's ambition uplifting.

Luke rolled his eyes suddenly. "Don't think I don't know you have no faith in me. Let's make a bet, if I land in the top five, you grant me one request."

Feeling good, Livia asked, "What's the request?"

"I'll tell you when the time comes," Luke said, keeping it secret.

Livia raised an eyebrow. "Fine, as long as it's nothing illegal or against school rules. What if you don't make it?"

Luke thought for a moment. "Whatever you ask for, even if it's arson or murder, I'll get it done."

Livia reached for an assignment on the desk and playfully swatted his forehead. "What's with all the crazy talk?"

Luke didn’t flinch and just straightened his hair, frowning. "Hit the face if you must, but leave the hair out of it."

"Alright, enough with the chit-chat. Get back to studying or forget the top five—you might not even escape the bottom five."

"Miss Ashcroft, can’t you have a little faith in me?" Luke glanced at her. "Seriously, if I don't make the top five, I'll do whatever you say."

Glancing at the clock, Livia conceded. "Alright. Best of luck!"

"Do you believe I can do it?" Luke pressed.

"Yes, I believe in you," Livia nodded earnestly. "Work hard, go for it! Fight for your own benefit."

Luke knew she didn't believe him and, with a defiant tone, said, "Just wait and see!"

After Luke left, Livia shook her head with a wry smile, feeling helpless.

The class was over, and as Livia gathered her things and exited the school, she noticed the bus stop billboards were plastered with new ads for M Jewelry, endorsed by Valentia. The massive, eye-catching displays were hard to miss, but Livia had become immune to them.

She hadn't been in touch with Angelo for over half a month, and over time, it seemed less hard to let go.

With summer vacation on the horizon, she decided she would go back to her hometown for a few days, then find a tourist spot within the States to truly relax and clear her mind.

In recent years, she hadn't taken a vacation alone. She had always wanting to travel with Angelo but he was always too busy.

If he didn't go, she lost her interest as well.

Men could sometimes be such a burden.

Walking down the street, Livia noticed an increased presence of loitering troublemakers, prompting regular patrols by security and police, who vigilantly watched to ensure they were not luring or deceiving students.

Just as she turned the corner to her apartment building, three thugs stepped out, blocking Livia's path and wolf-whistling at her. "Been watching you for days, how about we go to your place and hang out?"

She hadn't expected them to be so audacious to confront her so blatantly.

"This area is crawling with cops, you're being ridiculously bold," Livia said coolly. "Better scram before they get here!"

"You've got some nerve. You must be a teacher, right? We’re failing our classes. How about you give us a private lesson at your place?" One of the ruffians sneered at her with a menacing grin, edging closer.

Livia gripped her bag tighter and stepped back when suddenly something whooshed past her ear, followed by a shout.

Turning around, she saw Luke charging in, fury written across his face as he glanced at her. "You okay?"

"I'm fine," Livia responded, wondering why he hadn't left yet, but before she could ask, she saw the troublemakers surround him and urgently yelled, "Luke!"

Luke and the thugs were already scrapping.

Livia didn't hesitate and immediately called the cops. Then, she found a broken tree branch in the planter, about as thick as two fingers.

She swung the branch at the back of one of the thugs.

"Get the hell away from here!" Luke had enough breath to yell at her.

But Livia couldn't just run and leave him.

When she joined the fray, one of the thugs targeted her, grabbing for the branch and yanking it so hard it broke.

Livia's pupils dilated in shock, holding the broken branch towards him. "I've called the police. You’d better leave now or risk getting arrested."

No sooner had she finished speaking that the flashing lights of a patrol car appeared in the distance.

"The cops are here, let's go!"

They bolted, but not before pushing Luke one more time.

Livia hurried over to check on Luke, whose handsome face was now marred by injury.

"How are you doing? Are you alright?" Livia, gripped by concern, ran her hands over his body.

Luke frowned, "I was fine until you started pinching me."

"Sorry."

When the police arrived, Livia explained what had happened, and they immediately called to access local surveillance footage.

Luke insisted that he had only sustained some superficial wounds and didn't need the cops to accompany him to the hospital.

After the police left, Livia helped Luke to his feet. "Let's go upstairs, and I'll apply some ointment to disinfect those cuts."

"I don't need it. It's just a scratch," Luke stubbornly refused.

Livia smacked his forehead lightly. "You're still a minor. Hurry up, you don't want scars scaring off the girls. Choose, either we go to my place or the hospital."

Luke was adamant about not going. "Call Angelo to come pick me up."

Livia went silent.

"Even though I'm not legal yet, I'm still a guy. There's just you, a woman, at your place – it wouldn't be appropriate for me to go there." Luke spoke emphatically. "I took a hit to the head. I need to get it checked at the hospital, especially with exams coming up. I can't afford any issues. Call Angelo, please."

Livia really didn't want to get in touch with Angelo again, but seeing Luke in his wilted state, she felt it was indeed necessary to inform him.

She typed the well-memorized number nervously and placed the call to her ear.

The phone rang for a while, and just as she thought he wouldn't pick up, he answered.