Chapter 22 The Elite's Judgment.
Chapter 22.
The Elite's Judgment.
Alicia steps out of the car at the university. The air is cold, but the hostility that greets her is far icier. From the moment her feet touch the pavement, she feels the stares—dense, loaded with judgment and fear. They are no longer looks of curiosity; they are of aversion.
As she walks through the main halls, people move out of her way as if she were a source of danger. An uncomfortable path of silence opens up in front of her. Colleagues, classmates, even students from other faculties she doesn't even know, avoid speaking to her. Study groups disperse and then regroup, and the whispers are audible: “...it’s her,” “...be careful not to look at her,” “...the Jank’s daughter.” The fear of her power is more palpable than the rejection.
Alicia frowns, feeling the bile rise in her throat. Intrigue turns into cold disdain.
Upon entering her first class, the room is almost full. Her usual seat, in the second row, is unoccupied. There is an ostentatious gap of two seats around her. The professor, Dr. Reyes, nervously clears his throat.
“Miss Jank,” the professor says, avoiding her gaze. “Before we begin, the board has instructed me to communicate something important to you. Due to the report and what happened with ex-classmate Rogelio, and in light of the general concern of the student body, a vote has been taken to maintain a ‘prudent distance’ in the classroom, to preserve, as they put it, a focused and safe study environment. I beg you, for the sake of everyone, that we respect this.”
“Report? What report, Professor? The one about my suspension or the one about my return?” Alicia asks, trying to remain calm, but her voice trembles.
The professor adjusts his glasses; his discomfort is palpable. “Young Rogelio has issued a public statement, Miss Jank. It is quite extensive and has had unusual repercussions. Added to that, his family has exerted... legal pressures. Students fear being dragged into trouble. They fear reprisals or serious inconveniences given the fate that young man suffered. They have seen the precedent of the full expulsion.”
Alicia opens her phone. Rogelio’s “report” is the video titled “Rogelio’s Truth: My Career Destroyed by the Jank Family.”
In the video, Rogelio is seen in a dark room, well-lit, with a broken tone of voice.
“I need you to know the truth... The whole truth! All of this has been a cruel misunderstanding manipulated by power. What happened that night at the party was not harassment; it was a flirtation that Miss Jank pushed to the limit. She was completely drunk; she couldn't even stand up. I, with the goodwill of a classmate, only offered to make sure she was okay. But she is a person with control issues, and when she was rejected, she manipulated the situation. She was the one who came on to me! She danced for me in an incredibly provocative way, in front of many witnesses! She verbally harassed me! And when I tried to help her, her powerful family destroyed my life. They took away my future; they expelled me mercilessly months before my graduation. I have received threats! My career was lost because of the cruelty of a spoiled brat who doesn't know how to take 'no' for an answer... or who can't accept the consequences of her own intoxication. I was the victim. I was used! Be careful with Alicia Jank; her money is destructive.”
The video is devastating. The comment section is boiling. Hundreds of messages call her an “abuser,” “spoiled child,” “dream destroyer.”
Alicia finds the board’s official statement, a dry and legalistic text confirming Rogelio’s expulsion. But there is an addition: Mr. Lucas Jank, as a principal university collaborator, has notified that any student who spreads rumors, harasses, or makes Alicia Jank uncomfortable from now on will face immediate expulsion and legal action for defamation.
This is the reason for the fear. Lucas, in protecting her from one problem, has made her an untouchable but hated figure.
Alicia takes several screenshots, her heart pounding frantically. She sits in the solitary chair. Her closest friend, Brenda, approaches with her head down.
“I’m sorry, Alicia, but we won’t be able to do the assignment together,” Brenda whispers. “My parents forbade me. I can’t risk my career over a class project.”
That blow is devastating; however, things don't end there, the following messages and notifications leave her in shock.
5 billion followers.
3.5 billion followers.
2.3 billion followers.
Her social media accounts are plummeting, and the messages, “Blocked” “Reported” “You were removed from the group” keep flooding in.
The rejection is total. Alicia excuses herself and locks herself in the bathroom. She is trembling from nerves, trying to wash her face when she overhears two female voices.
“I don’t feel sorry for her at all. She acts like a martyr, but she provoked it. Did you see the video? She was drunk, coming on to him, and when the guy didn't want anything, she made a scene. Typical of the rich. And her uncle, a dictator. Now I’m even afraid to say hello to her.”
“Yeah, what a bitch. The nerve... And now we have to treat her like she’s made of glass. She better go study in another country where she won’t hurt anyone!”
Alicia feels the air leave her. The anxiety attack hits her hard. She curls up in the stall, pulling her feet up to conceal her presence. Her heart is pounding like a runaway hammer. Hyperventilation dries her mouth. The ringing in her ears intensifies; the voices, the video, Rogelio's betrayal, the solitude... everything becomes a cacophony that immobilizes her. She grips her head, feeling like she is losing control. She pulls out her cell phone, trying in vain to breathe.
She calls Lucas. Once, twice. On the third attempt, Carolina’s voice answers.
“Alicia, dear, he can’t answer you right now. We’re in the middle of something important; we just entered a meeting.”
“Carolina, please, put Lucas on; it’s urgent.” Alicia says.
“I can’t, Alicia. It’s a delicate board matter. Try calling him in an hour. Goodbye.”
Carolina hangs up. The busy signal is a final blow.
“Call me, Lucas, please,” Alicia sobs.
After several minutes, the cell phone vibrates. It’s Lucas. A torrent of relief floods her.
“Lucas?” she asks, her voice trembling uncontrollably.
“Yes, honey, it’s me. What’s wrong?” Lucas’s voice is stern, worried.
“My love, please, help me. Get me out of here. I’m at the university... I can’t explain. Please, send someone for me; I can’t drive, I feel terrible.”
“No! I’m coming for you right now. Stay exactly where you are, honey. Don’t move. I’m on my way.”
Lucas keeps the call open, forcing her to focus on his voice. “Breathe, Alicia. Focus on the sound of my voice. I’m on my way.”
Carolina’s voice is heard, becoming a distant, exasperated shout. “Lucas, where are you going? You can’t leave the meeting! It’s crucial!”