Chapter 53: John’s Aid

While Isabella was praying for someone to come to her aid, John was racing towards the lecturer's quarters, running with all his might. He soon ran out of breath and stood for a while, trying to recover. He had already lost his breath just because he wanted to help Isabella. Just as he was about to turn the corner, he bumped into Tricia, someone he did not really know much about. He had never really met any of Isabella's friends, and Tricia just seemed like a stranger. At first, he wanted to walk past her, but Tricia immediately recognized him because Isabella had already shown her an image of John. She pulled him back and muttered,

“What are you looking for here? Are you here to see any of the lecturers? It's too late; you can't find any of them.” She tried to push him back, but he seemed angry as he flung her hand away.

“I am not here to look for any lecturer. I am here for Isabella, okay? I need to save her. She's in grave danger from James, and I don’t know how to do it,” John said. Tricia immediately realized who he was.

“You are actually John right? You are Alex's brother! Please, run as fast as you can to get Isabella out of there. I couldn’t do it because if I do, then he would of course reveal all her secrets in the gathering that is about to happen,” Tricia said as she let go of John.

“Don't worry, I will try my best,” he muttered before running off. But as he raced towards Professor James's office and got even closer, he soon realized something: he was the cause of everything. He was the reason why everything was going this way. If only he had not been so angry and jealous of Isabella, thinking she was not worthy of his brother, then all this would not be happening. Now he understood that she was the one in a tight spot, being manipulated by Professor James.

“How could I have been so daft and stupid to not realize the huge mistake happening?” he said to himself as he continued to race. He soon reached in front of Professor James's door and tried his best to calm his nerves. Because if Professor James got to know that he had been racing towards him, then every act he was about to put up would not work.

As he quickly calmed himself down, he knocked on the door multiple times but got no response. “Who is that?” he heard angrily from Professor James as he waited patiently for him to open the door. A few minutes later, Professor James opened the door and was surprised to see John.

“Ah, the new student. Why are you here at this time? Did they not tell you that you cannot be here by this hour?” Professor James asked John, who chuckled.

“No. I came here to show you some documents. It's very important, and I need your help with it. I don't think I'll be able to get through the exam if I don't understand anything about this document. I am a new student, and that puts me in a tight spot. I've been studying all day and never really got the chance to come and check on you. I am so sorry,” John said. 

But meanwhile, his gaze was not on Professor James but instead was fixated on the door and behind Professor James, hoping Isabella would use this opportunity to recognize his voice and come out of the room. Yet, she remained silent.

“Can I come in?” John immediately initiated, as Professor James laughed.

“Am I not the one who is supposed to initiate that and tell you to come in? I don’t need you coming in. Whatever you want to show me, you will show it to me in the classroom later. Go there and wait for me,” Professor James tried to assert his authority.

But John was not ready to let it go as he held onto the door harshly. “You can't just walk out on me like that! I am a student who needs your aid. You are supposed to help me now. If I fail, it's your fault!” John immediately tried to turn it into an argument. 

At that moment, he heard a loud bang, as if Isabella fell to the ground. He looked immediately towards the door.

“Is there someone inside? Is that the reason you don't want to let me in?” John questioned as Professor James laughed.

“What do you mean by 'is there someone inside'? If I’m with someone, it is none of your business. You and I are not even supposed to be intervening,” he tried to explain while looking around.

John was still fixed at the door. “Then let me in. Do not tell me you are one of those professors that sleep around with students and try to keep it a secret from people. If so, then I have caught you. Let her out!” John yelled.

At that moment, Isabella felt like this was a perfect opportunity. But she was yet to know that it was actually John's voice. Not until he yelled “Who is there?” did she realize it was John. She muttered to herself and immediately stood up from the position that James had placed her.

She tried her best to walk towards the door, but James was holding it stiffly as she tried to drag it. John also realized that the door was being held awkwardly by Professor James. “I think the person you hold hostage inside is trying to come out. At least let her be free!” John yelled, hoping this would not put him in big trouble. He just had to risk it for her sake, not that he was enjoying it or having fun at all.

“Why are you getting involved in this? If you do not walk out silently right now, I will make you regret ever trying to get into my business!” Professor James warned, but John laughed.

“I am not getting into your business. I came here to ask you something only to find out that you are sleeping around with the students, and it seems like something forced. Of course, I have to save her,” John muttered.

At that moment, Isabella was able to open the door. As she staggered out, James looked at her with a frown. “What are you doing? Go back inside!” he commanded, but Isabella did not want to comply.

“It would be another time. I have to go; curfew!” She lied and quickly reached out as John stood there, making sure she had already gone far before he would turn around to leave in case Professor James tried to do anything else.

“Who are you, this boy?” he questioned John, who folded his arms across his chest.

“I am someone you don't want to know. Do not worry; you will likely get to know me very well tomorrow,” John said as he turned around to leave, clearly leaving hints for Professor James, who did not understand anything.

“Idiot!” James slammed the door angrily as he banged his hand on his desk furiously, feeling like he had lost the perfect opportunity to seal Isabella back as his. He knew that Isabella was a very difficult person, and all he had to do was get her to bend her knees, and then she would come back crawling to him every day. That was just one upper hand he had over her, and now this stupid new student had ruined everything. He thought to himself as he sat down.

Meanwhile, John raced out to find Isabella, who was already crying in the corner, trying her best to keep silent, but John could still hear her as he slowly walked towards her, feeling pity for her, not knowing that Isabella was not as innocent as he thought she should be.