Chapter 16

It wasn’t until she was safely away from the scene that she breathed a sigh of relief, but the memory of the man’s penis thrusting into her buttocks lingered, a painful reminder of the terror she had endured.

In the days that followed, Jennifer was consumed by a sense of shame and vulnerability. She washed her body repeatedly, scrubbing the entrance to her vagina with a fierce determination, as if to erase the memory of the man’s touch. She discarded her stockings and thong, unable to bear the thought of wearing them again, the feel of the man’s slender penis still fresh in her mind. The memory of that day was a constant reminder of the dangers that lurked in the world outside her school, where men like the bearded stranger roamed free, preying on the innocent.

As she stood on the platform, her legs aching from the long bus ride, Jennifer couldn’t help but think of the women who had fallen victim to similar crimes. The story of the newly married young wife who had been raped in her own home still lingered in her mind, and the fact that the perpetrator was still at large, striking fear into the hearts of women in the neighborhood. Jennifer felt a shiver run down her spine as she wondered how she could protect herself from such monsters.

Evan watched Jennifer from afar, his heart beating faster as he noticed that she was standing awkwardly, one high heel on the ground, the other foot perched precariously on the upper. He felt a pang of guilt for not approaching her earlier, but now, with the opportunity presenting itself, he knew he had to act. He had never had a chance to talk to Jennifer at school, and this was his only chance to strike up a conversation. With a newfound sense of purpose, Evan took a step forward, his heart pounding in his chest, as he prepared to make his move.

It was a crisp autumn afternoon, and the campus was bathed in a warm, golden light. Lindsay’s warning still lingered in Evan’s mind, but he couldn’t resist the temptation to approach Jennifer. He glanced around, noticing that the roads were empty, and then trotted towards her, his excitement building. As he drew closer, he struggled to contain his enthusiasm and stutteringly introduced himself, “Hello, Mrs. Jennifer, I’m Evan. Do you need help?” Jennifer was taken aback for a moment, and then her expression softened as she recognized the boy who had left a lasting impression on her in Lindsay’s office. After a brief hesitation, she shook her head and said coolly, “I’m fine, you go home.” Evan was taken aback by her rejection, and his face flushed with embarrassment as he struggled to find the right words to respond.

Jennifer’s indifference extinguished Evan’s enthusiasm, leaving him feeling helpless and uncertain. However, he rationalized that her behavior was typical of a female teacher’s attitude towards a male student, and that Lindsay’s ease had given him a false sense of security. In reality, if Lindsay hadn’t been so accommodating, Evan would have had little chance of winning her over.

As Evan turned to leave, a car pulled up beside him, and a man in his twenties got out. He was thin, with a pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on the end of his nose, and a charming smile spread across his face as he approached Jennifer. “Why are you here, Mrs. Jennifer? Where do you want to go? I’ll take you there,” he said, his eyes scanning her face with a mixture of familiarity and desire. Jennifer’s expression turned icy as she recognized the man - Ethan Lee, a Korean teacher at the No. 3 Middle School, and a man with a reputation for being a serial harasser.

Ethan Lee’s past was checkered, to say the least. He had once been the vice principal of a town middle school, but his affair with a married female teacher had ended in scandal, and he had been transferred to the No. 3 Middle School as a result. Despite his best efforts to keep a low profile, Ethan Lee’s bad habits had persisted, and he continued to harass the female teachers at the school, boasting of his conquests to anyone who would listen. Jennifer, in particular, had been a target of his affections, and she had finally had to report him to the principal after months of harassment.

As Ethan Lee approached Jennifer, his eyes roving over her body with a mixture of desire and contempt, she stood her ground, her face pale with anger. “No, I’m waiting for someone here,” she said frostily, her voice dripping with disdain. Ethan Lee’s smile never wavered, however, and he continued to press his unwanted attentions on her. “Who are you waiting for, Mrs. Jennifer?” he asked, his eyes lingering on her breasts as he spoke. Jennifer’s anger flared, and she glared at him, her voice rising in indignation. “Ethan Lee, stop slandering me. Who do I need to report to you? Get out of my way.”