Grace zoomed in on the picture, which contained three male models and two female models. Those five models posed on a luxurious black granite staircase illuminated by golden spotlights. Just as Bella mentioned, one of them was Adro.
A radiant smile spread across Grace's lips. She had imagined it before, but the reality was more dazzling. He looked like he wasn't from this world in the picture; he appeared angelic. Indeed, Adro was not from this world. However, who would have thought that Adro, who usually cooked for her, now looked radiant, even among the twinkling stars?
"He's amazing," Grace murmured, still staring at Adro's picture.
"What a disgusting girl!"
Flinching, Grace shifted her gaze to the source of the voice. Out of her realization, three girls had entered the restroom. She wasn't alone anymore.
"Someone who is always alone like you seems even weirder when she smiles because she seems to have an imaginary friend," Bree said, chuckling.
Bree, Lily, and Rossa. How did they end up here? Grace intentionally went to a secluded restroom on campus to avoid them. She was willing to walk far just to use the restroom and fix her makeup in peace!
With trembling knees, Grace couldn't help but hang her head down. Then she headed for the door to exit the restroom. However, as she attempted to pass them, Bree shifted her body, causing their shoulders to collide.
CRASH!
"IDIOT!"
"Huh?" Grace turned to look back at her cell phone, which lay on the floor after slipping from her grip during the collision.
"Use your eyes when walking, witch!" Bree dusted off her shoulder while giving a disgusted expression as if a fly had landed on it.
Ignoring the insult, Grace moved to pick up her cell phone. Unfortunately, she was too slow, and Lily, who was standing closer to where the cell phone fell, reached it first.
"Oh no, your phone's screen is a little cracked," Lily said, curling her brows. Then she handed the cell phone to Grace. "Hold onto your phone tightly next time."
"Th-thank yo—" Grace's words stopped as she tried to take the cell phone, but Lily pulled it back.
"Wait a minute..." Lily stared at Grace's still-opened phone screen. "What's this? So you're checking out pictures of male models?"
"She did?" Rossa snatched the phone from Lily's hand and then laughed at what she saw. "Oh my God, Grace! Is this your fetish—enjoying pictures of men in empty places?"
"Haha... She's truly pathetic!" Bree joined in, peering at Grace's phone. "You're in need of the warmth of a man, huh? It's a shame that no man is interested in you, especially when you're no longer useful. Well, you can freely use all your fantasies, though."
Gritting her teeth, Grace reached her hand forward. "Give it back."
The three girls exchanged glances for a moment, then smiled as they looked back at Grace.
"Oh. Of course," Rossa said before tossing the cell phone into a bucket of mop water nearby.
Grace's eyes widened. Meanwhile, the three girls dispersed within the restroom to attend to their needs, as if Grace were just a bug they had just stepped on.
"Turns out this restroom is cleaner than the ones we usually go to," Bree said, turning on the sink.
"Yeah, because hardly anyone comes here," Rossa replied.
"This toilet is too far from crowded places; that's why," Lily added, locking the door of her toilet.
"Haha... Looks like the only person using this restroom is Grace," Rossa said, taking a cigarette box from her bag. "Should we come here often to smoke? It's more peaceful, right?"
"Pftt… Rossa, you'll make Grace have to find another toilet to avoid us. She might have to pee under a tree because she's run out of places to hide." Lily answered from inside her toilet, earning laughter from her friends.
The heat from her face made Grace's eyes water even more. In addition to the insults echoing around her, she had to dip her hands into the bucket of dirty water to pick out her phone.
Why were they doing this to her? She didn't feel like she had ever wronged them. Was it because she was so weak that they had the instinct to keep stepping on her? Was it because she was so small and powerless?
'You're bigger than you think.'
As if hearing the voice right in front of her ear, Grace blinked. She pulled her phone out of the water, staring vacant. Somehow, Adro's words surfaced in her mind, bringing a glimmer of courage to her shoulders.
'That's right. I'm not small. I'm bigger than I think.'
Rising with the phone still dripping water in her hand, Grace declared, "Don't think you can keep doing this to me."
"What?" Rossa and Bree turned their bodies to look at her.
Giving a sharp stare at the girls, Grace continued, "You've gone too far, and I won't just keep silent. You're not children, and you're not dealing with children, but you three act so childish. I've been letting it slide because you've just been talking nonsense. But if you act like this, I won't hold back from fighting back."
One of the toilet doors opened, and Lily walked out from behind it. She had a small laugh on her lips, making her two friends do the same. "She must have gone crazy,"
"Idiot, do you dare to fight us? What can someone like you do?" Rossa stared at Grace, still with a wide smile on her face.
"I don't know what I can do. I also don't know if I have the courage." Grace answered, looking at the three girls one by one. "But even the weakest animal has an instinct to attack its predator, not because it feels strong and brave, but because it wants to survive."
Grace's response made the three girls look at each other again with wide eyes. Then, Grace walked away from the restroom, leaving them behind.
"Maybe she just had a dream," Rossa chuckled.
"Is she a psychopath? Why did she suddenly turn into that ominous character?" Lily shuddered.
***
"Why did you call me using a different number, Grace? I almost didn't pick up your call," Adro asked.
"Sorry, Adro. I borrowed Bella's phone to be able to contact you. My phone went off because it fell into the water, so I have to take it to the service shop." Grace explained a bit hastily.
"Fell into the water? How did that happen?" Adro furrowed his brow.
"My hand was slippery when I was in the restroom. It was just a common accident. They said the repair process might take three days. Therefore, we won't be able to communicate until I get my phone back," Grace answered.
Adro fell silent for a moment. Then he took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Grace, are you okay? Your voice sounds strange."
"Of course, I'm fine. Maybe I sound strange because I'm talking in a hurry. This is Bella's phone, so I have to return it soon." Grace replied, though she had to lie a bit. Every time Adro asked her if she was okay, her ears seemed to accept it as permission to cry.
"By the way, I've seen ST Agency's social media post—your photo is there, and you look amazing! I'm so proud of you, Andro! Stay fired up, okay?" Grace continued.
Adro smiled a little. "Oh, you've seen it, haven't you? Well, I was—"
"Oh, I'm sorry, Adro. Let's talk about this when you're back. I have to return Bella's phone now because her boyfriend is calling. Bye..."
"Bye," Adro replied right before Grace ended the call.
Putting down his phone, Adro pondered with a still-furrowed brow. Even though Grace had given a reasonable explanation about her phone, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.
In his deep concern, Adro had to wait for three more days without being able to contact Grace at all. He wished he could go home to see her now. However, he had to endure staying here to achieve his goal of becoming a model and earning a substantial amount of money.
"Don't worry, Grace. I am Adro, a powerful prince in any world I step into. I will protect you and bring a better life for you," Adro muttered.