The next day was the school's centennial celebration. I didn't expect that the school had invited the outstanding alumni from the neighbouring school, Bibiana and Ludovico to attend as guests.
After their speech, the host laughed and joked, “The two of you look really talented and a perfect match, shouldn't they be a couple?”
Bibiana didn't answer right away but instead coldly swept a glance at me. I expressionlessly averted my eyes.
Ludovico immediately put his hand on Bibiana's shoulder. “Do we look like it? We're actually just brothers…”
Before his words fell, Bibiana suddenly wrapped her arms around his waist. “That's right, we already have a baby.”
A burst of cheers and applause erupted from the stage.
Whispers came from behind me, “Bibiana was a recognized goddess in the university town back then. I heard that a shameless licker had been pestering her for three years, causing her to remain single. And in the end, she actually let the licker get his hands on her.”
“A few days ago, the classmate group also said that they were going to get married, but today the rumour has finally been disproved.”
“That loser also came today. If it wasn't for the fact that his family has a few stinking bucks to donate to the school, how could he deserve to be an outstanding alumnus?”
I clenched my fists and turned to look directly at them. “Have you said enough? Why not say it in front of me?”
The two of them flickered their eyes and muttered in a low voice, “We didn't mention any names, but you insisted on taking it personally.”
By this time, Bibiana and Ludovico had already sat next to me.
Ludovico hypocritically advised, “Matthew, these two girls didn't say it was you. You're too sensitive.”
Bibiana sneered, “You are sick!”
With them backing them up, the two of them immediately became confident. “That's right, you're looking for trouble over nothing, you're nuts!”
Right at this moment, the host on stage announced to enter the alumni sharing session and invited me to speak on stage. I took a deep breath, forced down my anger and prepared to get up.
Just as I took a step, Ludovico suddenly stretched out his leg and tripped. “Bang!”
I fell heavily to the ground. The whole body was in severe pain, especially in the knees, elbows and chin and the body seemed to be torn apart.
My face was burning with pain. And when I touched it, my fingertips were stained with blood. The whole venue was silent in an instant.
“Too excited to see the school leaders, Matthew?”
A piercing mockery came from behind him, “You are giving such a big gift to the school leaders!”
In the midst of all the laughter, I was in so much pain that I couldn't get up for a moment.
Bibiana sat there, lowering her voice in anger, “Get up right now! You’re embarrassing yourself”
Ludovico pretended to reach out to help me. “Matthew, don't do it in this situation, it's just a fall. Everyone is watching you now.”
The long-suppressed anger suddenly erupted and I shook his hand away fiercely. “What's the point of pretending to be nice? Ludovico, why did you deliberately trip me?”
“Ah!”
He suddenly fell back and hit the chair behind him heavily, holding his lower back and screaming in pain, “Matthew! I was kind enough to help you, but even if you don't appreciate it, you still pushed me. What if you hit Bibianan?”
“Men are really troublesome. If it wasn't for Bibiana's face, I would have fought with you today!”
After saying that, he turned to Bibiana. “Bibiana, control your man. Small actions are pleasant to the heart, but big actions are harmful to the body! I am really fed up with these men, fighting for women all day long and they are bored!”
I couldn’t help but laugh at his audacity. I saw clearly what Ludovico did when he stretched out his leg and tripped me just now and I also saw the sneer of triumph at the corner of his mouth.
Now he actually dared to hit me with a rake? I couldn't bear it anymore. I stood up with all my strength, raising my hand to punch him. Bibiana took an arrow step in front of him and slapped me with her backhand.
The force of this slap was so great that it hit me so hard that my eyes went black and my ears buzzed. The venue exploded immediately.
Bibiana looked at the blood on her hand and disgustedly wiped it with a tissue. Her eyes were as cold as ice.
“Matthew, get out of here!”
I stared at her dumbfounded and my throat tightened. “Bibiana, can't you stand on my side just once?”
She was stunned for a moment and then became even more furious. “I'm going to count to three. If you don't get out, we'll break up for good! Three, two...”
Looking into her glaring round eyes, I suddenly felt empty. Covering my burning cheeks, I walked out quickly.
Behind me, Bibiana's tone suddenly softened, “Slow down and don't fall again.”
