WHAT A TWIST!

Chapter 122

I was frozen in fear, my heart pounding in my chest like a drum. Hyun Min's mother signaled to the stern looking men and they loosened the rope that I was tied down with.

For a moment, I felt a glimmer of hope, a sense that maybe, just maybe, I would be spared from the worst. But it was short-lived. Her eyes locked onto mine, and she smiled, the cold, calculating curve of her lips sending shivers down my spine. "Keep your words, honey," she purred, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

The men grabbed me again, their grip like vice as they pushed me toward a car. I stumbled, my feet tangling beneath me as I tried to keep up. The world around me was a blur, a chaotic mix of sounds and colors that seemed to spin out of control. They threw me into the backseat, and I landed with a thud, the impact jolting through my body. The doors slammed shut, and the car sped off, leaving me disoriented and helpless.

The car hurtled through the streets, the minutes ticking by with agonizing slowness. I sat in stunned silence, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. Where were they taking me? Why was this happening to me? The thought of my exam looming, with no way to communicate with the outside world, was suffocating. The car seemed to swallow all sound, leaving me trapped in a vacuum of uncertainty.

And then, without warning, the car screeched to a halt in the middle of nowhere. The driver and the other man emerged, their faces impassive as they yanked me out of the car and tossed me onto the rough ground. I stumbled, my bare feet scraping against the ground as I struggled to regain my balance. The world around me was a blur, a chaotic mix of sounds and colors that seemed to spin out of control.

"Seriously?" I muttered to myself, my voice barely above a whisper. "Why is this happening to me? For God's sake, why?" The injustice of it all burned within me, fueling my anger and frustration. I looked around, taking in my desolate surroundings. I was stranded in the middle of nowhere, with no phone and no way to get back home. The thought of my exam starting soon, and me being stuck here, was a nightmare come to life.

I trudged forward, my feet carrying me on autopilot as I scanned the horizon for any sign of salvation. The road seemed to stretch on forever, a never-ending expanse of asphalt and concrete that threatened to swallow me whole. I was searching for a taxi stand, a beacon of hope in this desolate landscape. And then, suddenly, I saw it - a bustling street, alive with the hum of traffic and the chatter of pedestrians.

My heart skipped a beat as I flagged down taxi after taxi, but none of them stopped. I was starting to lose hope, my spirits sinking with each passing moment. But then, one driver noticed me, and his taxi screeched to a halt beside me. I breathed a sigh of relief as he rolled down his window and asked where I was headed. "Seoul elite School," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

The driver nodded, his expression sympathetic, and I felt a wave of gratitude wash over me. "Okay, you can get in," he said, and I didn't hesitate. I climbed into the taxi, collapsing onto the worn seat with a sigh of relief.

As I stepped out of the taxi, I informed the driver I'd be right back with the fare. He nodded, and I headed towards my hostel room. However, my attention was diverted by the commotion outside - police cars, teachers, and the principal were gathered near the school entrance. And then I saw Racy standing among them, her eyes locked onto mine as she alerted the others.

"Oh, thank goodness you're safe and sound!" the principal exclaimed, rushing towards me with the others. "What on earth happened? Who abducted you?" the police officer asked, his voice firm but laced with concern.

Racy tried to offer comfort, but I pushed her away, my instincts screaming warning signals. "Don't even think about touching me," I warned, my voice low and menacing.

One of the police officers handed me my phone, and I thanked him, my mind racing with thoughts of payment and escape. "I need to settle the taxi fare," I said, trying to break free from the chaos.

"I will take care of it."he said, his tone reassuring and walked over to the driver, exchanging words and handing over some cash.

The driver zoomed off, leaving me to face the music. The officer returned to me, his expression serious. "The taxi driver claimed he picked you up from the road," he said, his eyes searching for confirmation.

I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "To be honest, I don't recall much," I said, trying to gauge their reactions. "I woke up and found myself there, with no idea what happened."

The principal intervened, her voice calm and authoritative. "Let's not dwell on the details now. The exams are about to commence..be back by evening gentlemen."

The police officers nodded and left,the principal left and asked us to head to the exam hall, but Racy lingered, her eyes fixed on me. "What happened exactly?" she asked, her voice laced with feigned innocence.

I turned to her, my anger boiling over. "Spare me the theatrics!" I snapped, my hand connecting with her cheek in a resounding slap. "You're clearly after Hyun Min - go ahead and have him! I don't need so-called friends like you in my life!"

I stormed off, my heart pounding in my chest. As I turned a corner, I collided with Hyun Min himself. His worried eyes met mine, but I wasn't having it. "Get out of my way," I said curtly, brushing past him without a second glance.

I stormed down the hallway, but Hyun Min's footsteps echoed behind me, his concern evident in his hurried pace. "Sarah, wait!" he called out, his voice laced with worry. "I was consumed by anxiety about you. What happened? Why are you pushing me away like this?"

I spun around, my eyes blazing with a mix of anger and hurt. "Don't ever dare to speak to me again," I hissed, my voice low and menacing. "From now on, keep your distance. I don't want to see your face or hear your voice. You're nothing to me now."

Hyun Min's eyes widened in shock, and for a moment, he just stared at me, his face pale. But I didn't care. I turned to leave, but his words stopped me dead in my tracks. "It's my mother, right?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.

I turned back to him, my anger and hurt simmering just below the surface. "Of course, who else? She threatened me, nearly disfigured me, and now I'm done with you because she demanded it..and warned me!"

Hyun Min took a step forward his face ashen. "Please I..can..do something about it." he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. "I mean, I can talk to her somehow," he begged, his voice cracking with desperation. "Please don't abandon me! I'll do anything, just don't leave me hanging."

For a moment, I felt a pang of sorrow for him. He looked like a lost soul, desperate to cling to something precious."Stay away from me!" I barked, my voice icy and unforgiving.

With that, I turned and walked away, leaving him standing there, I didn't look back, didn't dare to look back, as I vanished into the crowd.