Sophia stood there with an unreadable expression, her arms crossed. She then laughed lightly, âYouâre saying that I slapped Xyla? How? Whereâs the mark? What proof do you have?â
Still sobbing, Xyla stepped out from behind Richard. Pointing at the slap mark on her face, she cried, âJust admit that you slapped me!â
That was merely a gentle slap. Sophia could easily do the same thing on her thigh and it would also take a while for it to fade.
With her tears running down her cheeks, Xyla rushed and grabbed at Sophia. âI deserve this. I was the one who came between the both of you. Thereâs nothing wrong with you hating me. If hitting me makes you feel better, do it! Just please stop going after the Harpers and Richard!â
The situation seemed familiar. Sophia remembered that when their affair was exposed, Xyla was also playing the victim card. Back then, Sophia was so mad that she couldnât help herself from slapping Xyla. However, times had changed, and she was no longer the same old Sophia. Nothing was stopping her from hitting Xyla when she had asked her to do so willingly.
Raising her palm, Sophia struck her. This time, she wasnât using the same force sheâd used to kill the mosquito. Instead, it was an extremely hard and open-palmed blow. Sophia used everything sheâd learned from Gwen, making sure to smack Xyla until she bled.
Whoosh! A loud, piercing noise came along with that one slap. Everyone stood still, shocked for a whole second. In that second itself, Sophia slapped Xyla again with the other palm. Only now were the slap marks well balanced.
Xyla was feeling dizzy after the two slaps, and she tasted blood in her mouth and nose. Covering both of her cheeks, she looked at Sophia unbelievably. Bewildered, she staggered backward, falling into Richardâs arms. This time, she wasnât pretending. She genuinely felt weak, as if the slap had given her a concussion.
After a brief silence, Richard broke into a shout, âSophia Edwards!â
Xylaâs expression was blank. She didnât react, not until she tasted the blood flowing from her mouth and bleeding through her nose. Then, she wailed, burying her face into Richardâs chest.
Richardâs eyes glowed with twin blazes as he held Xyla, and he looked like he wanted to skin Sophia alive. Gritting his teeth in anger, he pointed at Sophia. âSophia Edwards, I never knew that you were this sort of person!â
Much to his bewilderment, Sophia answered confidently, âWhatâs wrong? Doesnât she deserve the slap?
How about you tell me. When did we break up? And when did you and Xyla get together? If youâre bold enough to cheat on me, shouldnât you let your ex-girlfriend get some revenge from your lover here?â
Feeling guilty, Richard looked at her, not knowing how to reply. Before breaking up with Sophia, heâd been flirting with Xyla. After the pregnancy scare, Xyla had been staying by his side and supporting him.
Naturally, they got together, way before he and Sophia went their separate ways.
Richard clenched his fists, looking enraged. âIt was all my fault. If youâre still blaming me, just let it all out on me! This is on me!â
Sophia shook her head. âI wanted to hit you too, but I knew you would retaliate.â
This hit a chord, and Richard said, âCome on then. Hit me! Punch me! Iâm the one who wronged you!
Even if you beat me to death, I wonât fight back!â
âYou asked for it!â Sophia snapped. With that, she marched forward, pulling Xyla out of his arms.
Everyone thought that Sophia was going to throw herself into Richardâs arms and French kiss him, but they were all caught off guard when she suddenly kicked him in the stomach!
The atmosphere changed in a flashâa school drama had suddenly turned into an action movie!
Everyone stood looking at them in shock. Sophia striked out with her foot, kicking Richard down, and he rolled twice before coming to a stop. Before he could respond, he was met with Sophiaâs simultaneous punches and kicks.
Under her leadership, Company 49 had managed to feast on high-end buffets everyday. Her physical strength was shocking; even though she was only wearing a pair of slippers, her force was no joke.
Richard was screaming the whole while; the most brilliant student in the university was losing his pride in front of everyone.
But of course, he couldnât just stay down and do nothing. He curled up his fist, ready to fight back.
Immediately, Sophia widened her eyes and warned, âWhat happened to saying that this is what you owe me, and wanting me to hit you as I wished? Are you trying to go against your own words in front of everyone?â
Richard grunted, but didnât say anything in the end. If he fought back, he would be going back on his words. While he was still in a state of confusion, Sophia removed her slippers and slammed his bruised face with it.
The sound resonated in the air, and those surrounding them wanted to help, but were frightened away by Sophiaâs threatening expression.
âAre you guys trying to poke your nose into our business?â
The bystanders held back, and could only watch as Sophia punched Richard vigorously. True to his word, he did not fight back. Xyla, on the other hand, was dumbfounded. She crawled over, wanting to help him, but Sophia turned around immediately and slapped her. âStay out of this!â
The students almost cheered at that. They had just realized that Sophia was the one who was being cheated. As it turned out, it was Xyla who was the lover! Sophia is really something; she even dared to punch a man!
The slapping sound from skin on skin and slippers were coming non-stop. Accompanied by Xylaâs high-
pitched scream and Richardâs muffled grunts, the camp was unusually energetic tonight.
The hitting continued until the drill instructors had to come over and stop Sophia. At that point, Richard was bruised all over, and Xylaâs face was covered with slap marks. The coupleâs faces were so swollen that they were beyond recognition. As a result, all of them were brought to the generalâs office, and Joel would be questioning them personally. Even the commanders and company commanders were demanded to be present.
Meanwhile in the generalâs office, the lot of them stood neatly in two rows. The first row consisted of both of the parties involved and their respective commanders and drill instructors, while the second row was made up of the innocent bystanders led by Faye.
Sophia, who was standing in the first row, stood upright in standard military posture and looked straight ahead. She was confident, and did not feel an ounce of guilt even after beating someone up. Standing right beside her were Xyla and Richard. Earlier on, Xyla had been sent to the infirmary for examination.
Other than having one of her teeth loosened from the fight, she was fine. But her cheeks were still swollen like a balloon, even after being treated by medication. Meanwhile, Richard had a bruised face, and it was covered with marks from Sophiaâs slippers, looking even more pitiful.
The atmosphere was so oppressing that one could even hear a pin drop. While everyone was on edge waiting for Joelâs punishment, Nathan was the only one sitting to one side, his legs swinging in excitement.
As usual, Joel was looking flawless in his neatly pressed uniform, reviewing some documents with his head held low, as if no one was in the room. It seemed like this whole group of people were being punished to stand at attention.