Chapter 6 HER PUNISHMENT
Anya’s mind snapped.
She shoved him with every bit of strength in her body.
"Get away from me!"
Nikolai staggered a single step back, more out of surprise than actual force.
And before the campus could blink, she slapped him.
A sharp, loud crack rang across the courtyard.
The entire campus gasped in unison.
Nikolai’s head turned slightly from the impact, his jaw flexing. When he looked back at her, he smiled slowly, darkly. He touched the cheek she struck, more fascinated than offended.
That expression alone infuriated Anya.
"You are insane!" she cried.
And she slapped him again.
And again.
And again.
Slap after slap, almost ten in total, the sound echoing across the courtyard like sharp whips. Students stood frozen, horrified.
"Is she crazy?"
"She slapped Volkov!"
"She is finished"
Nikolai did nothing to stop her. He did not raise a hand. He did not blink either. He simply watched her with an unsettling calm, as if each strike entertained him.
Anya lifted her hand for another hit.
But someone suddenly rushed between them.
A girl.
Tall, sharp-featured. Strikingly beautiful, blond hair. Eyes blazing with fury.
Before Anya could react, the girl slapped her.
The impact sent Anya stumbling to the ground.
"How dare you hit him!?" the girl shouted, her voice shaking with anger. "Do you have a death wish, freshman?"
Another wave of shocked whispers rippled through the crowd.
Anya’s cheek burned viciously. Her vision blurred. She tasted blood on her lip as she tried to catch her breath.
The blond girl stepped forward again, ready to strike her once more.
But she stopped.
Because behind her, Nikolai finally moved still smiling.
And all Anya could think was, "What have I gotten myself into?"
The blond girl’s fury melted instantly the moment she realized Nikolai had moved.
"Nikolai!" she breathed, rushing to him.
She reached for his face, her fingers trembling as she cupped his cheek gently, inspecting the red imprint Anya had left behind.
"My God…" she whispered, her voice full of sisterly panic. "Does it hurt? I’ll—"
Nikolai shoved her hands away without hesitation.
He pushed her as if her touch was an irritation.
"Don’t" he said coldly.
The blond girl froze, her eyes widening in hurt, but she quickly masked it with a tight, protective glare. She opened her mouth to say something, but Nikolai had already turned away, his cat still tucked in one arm.
He walked off without looking back at either of them.
The crowd parted instantly as if terrified to even breathe near him.
He simply vanished into the campus building, leaving tension hanging like smoke.
The blond girl turned back to Anya slowly, very slowly.
Her expression shifted from hurt… to rage.
"You," she hissed, stepping toward her. "Do you realize what you’ve done? You touched my brother. You hit him. You think you can do that and just walk around this school like nothing happened?"
Anya tried to stand but winced as her ankle throbbed. The blond girl took a step closer, ready to unleash every ounce of her fury.
But a loud crackle came from the campus speakers.
The entire courtyard went silent.
"Attention" the distorted male voice announced.
A pause.
Every freshman and senior lifted their heads.
"Anya Petrova," the voice boomed across the entire campus. "Report immediately to the Student Affairs Office. Anya Petrova, right now"
The crowd erupted into whispers again.
"Oh no… she’s in trouble"
"They called her full name"
"This is the end of her"
The blond girl folded her arms, smirking slightly as if justice had arrived.
Anya’s heart slammed against her ribs.
Her lip stung, her cheek throbbed, her ankle burned and now the entire school wanted her.
The blond girl tilted her head mockingly.
"Better run, freshman"
Anya swallowed hard and pushed herself up despite the pain.
Because she had no choice.
It was only her second day…
And already, everything was falling apart.
Anya forced herself to walk, limping through the crowded courtyard as whispers trailed behind her like smoke.
She pushed open the door to the Student Affairs Office. The room was cold, too silent, the fluorescent lights buzzing faintly overhead.
Behind a large wooden desk sat a woman in a crisp black suit. Her expression was stern, rigid, like someone who took no nonsense from anyone.
The woman looked up slowly.
"You must be Anya Petrova"
Anya swallowed hard. "Yes, ma’am"
"Sit"
Anya obeyed, though her legs shook beneath her.
The woman’s gaze swept over her face... the swelling cheek, the trembling lip but she didn’t comment. Instead, she interlocked her fingers on the desk and leaned forward.
"You committed a very big crime today"
Anya’s stomach twisted. "Ma’am… I didn’t mean—"
"You slapped Nikolai Volkov," the woman said sharply. "The son of the school’s owner"
Anya’s breath caught.
Oh.
That explained everything.
The woman continued, her voice cold. "We do not play with him here at all. Do you understand?"
Anya nodded, tears burning at the edge of her eyes.
"Good. Here is your punishment"
She opened a drawer, pulled out an old rusty key, and dropped it on the desk with a metallic clink.
"You will clean the old building behind the school. Alone. That building has been untouched for years, so expect a lot of work"
Anya stared at the key in shock.
"But… I didn't—"
The woman cut her off with a look.
"This is not up for debate. Take the key"
With shaky fingers, Anya reached forward and picked it up.
"You will start today"
Anya blinked. "Today?"
"Immediately," the woman repeated. "You may leave"
Anya stood, legs trembling beneath her, and slowly walked out of the office clutching the key.