(Stathis's point of view)
"What on earth is going on here?!"
Just as I am about to strike Vangelis Zikos, a woman's voice interrupts my momentum.
When I turn to look at her, I'm stunned by her beauty. She has a tall, voluptuous figure, long straight red hair, and green eyes.
She is wearing a white shirt with the first three buttons open, revealing her generous cleavage. A pencil skirt emphasizes her voluptuous figure, while brown tights hug her sexy thighs, and a pair of black heels completes the outfit.
As I take a better look at her, I begin to feel like I've seen this woman somewhere before, but I can't remember where we met.
As I think that, she walks towards me and she stays beside me.
As she does that, George Kavourtzis speaks to her in an indifferent tone.
"We're just saying hi to our 'friend' here. Is there any issue, miss?"
As George finishes speaking, the woman responds in a cold voice.
"From the way you're behaving, yes, I would say there are many issues here. Issues that could affect your staying here as students."
As she finishes speaking, Jimmy Pavloudis responds in an intimidating tone.
"What do you mean by that?"
As he asks, the woman replies in a cold voice, this time accompanied by a cold smile.
"What I mean is this: bullying in any form is strictly prohibited at this university. Offenders can easily be expelled, with no possibility of returning, not to this university, nor to any other university in this country… or anywhere else in the world."
As she speaks, I begin to feel perplexed.
Back in school, bullying was a daily reality for me. Every time it happened, no one lifted a finger to stop it. Vangelis, the mayor's son, was untouchable. Anyone who dared to intervene either lost their jobs or quickly learned to back down.
So, seeing someone stand up for me feels completely new.
As I think this, Vangelis Zikos steps forward and says to the woman in a casual voice.
"What bullying, miss? We just wanted to greet our old friend Stathis. Isn't that right, guys?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"Yeah, that's correct."
"We didn't do anything wrong."
As the rest of the gang speaks, the woman asks in the same cold voice, this time with an intimidating smile.
"Oh? Really? You just came here to greet your friend, huh? Then can someone explain why your friend's face and probably the rest of his body is covered in bruises?"
When the woman asks that, Vangelis Zikos replies with a smirking smile.
"Those bruises are from a fight he had with his girlfriend earlier. You should have been there to see it was pretty hilarious."
"Hahahahahahahahaha."
As I hear Vangelis' words, my anger flares again, and I'm about to punch him. But a gentle hand lands on my shoulder, stopping me, it's the woman.
I'm too angry to notice at first, but then she leans close and whispers something in my ear, something I've only ever heard one person say in my life.
"Never give in to violence. Even if you have the power to move mountains, always solve your problems with words, never with fists, unless it's the last resort or to protect someone." Her voice softens, but her gaze sharpens. "Those were your mother's last words before she disappeared with your father. Are you really going to ignore them just like that?"
As she finishes speaking, I am stunned. These are the very last words my mother said to me before she and my father disappeared.
One of the reasons I didn't fight back against Vangelis Zikos and his gang is because of a promise I made to my mother back then. But I'm more stunned by how she knows about it. Aside from Aunt Effie and my grandparents, no one else should know about this promise. I can't help but ask her.
"H-How do you know about this promise? Except for my family, no one else should know about it!"
As I whisper the question, she smiles at me and leans closer, whispering back.
"It's clear you don't remember me, but we met when you were very young. You're the one who told me about this promise… and another one you made with me back then."
As she speaks, the gears of my memory begin to turn. I remember there was another person I told about the promise I made to my mother. And I also remember the promise I made to that person.
As I remember her, I whisper her name, my voice tinged with surprise.
"Aunt Alexis!?"
As I whisper this, she smiles even wider and leans closer, whispering back to me.
"You remember me after all, don't you? Look, I know you have a lot of questions, but this is not the time or the place to discuss them. We'll talk later, okay?"
As she finishes, she doesn't wait for a response. She is turning to Vangelis Zikos, again and she speaks to him in the same cold voice as before.
"Are you sure about this? I was here from the start, and I saw the girl only land a single kick to his face. I don't think that alone could cause all these bruises… or could it?"
"Guuh."
Unable to answer, Vangelis Zikos only grows more frustrated, his jaw tightening.
Seeing him struggle like that gives me a small sense of comfort, though I know it won't last long.
As I think this, Aunt Alexis speaks to him.
"Because of this incident, the university Senate will convene to decide your sentence."
"And who do you think you are, deciding something like this?"
As Aunt Alexis finishes speaking, a man's voice rises from the crowd, the same crowd that laughed when Jimmy kicked and punched me. And the one speaking now is the very person who mocked me back then.
And I recognize him, his appearance isn't much different from his brothers, who were my teachers in elementary, middle, and high school.