Hearing this, Nick squinted his narrow eyes and began to study my face. Of course he wasn't able to remember me back at DC 101 but I was hoping that 'prick' could ring a bell. "So you're the other dude with him or whatever you are – that prick with him." He took his final draw of fag before tossing the cigarette onto the pavement and rubbed it out with the toe of his leather shoe.

"You have issues with him, you gotta go through me, Nick!" I said in a crisp manner. In my head I heard my voice just fine but I didn't realize the anger in me had amplified my voice to an extent it could be heard by a group of students loitering at the right side of the building. They slowed down their voices, eyes were on us.

"Am I supposed to be intimidated by a cunt like you?" he cocked his head to the side and pulled up the left sleeve of his trench coat revealing the tattoos that I peeked at that evening. They were gruesome and disturbing. It was tattoo of ripping skin lacerated by a dragon's claw, revealing human flesh with a coil of thorny twigs encircling, penetrating into the flesh. "Do you know who I am?"

For a moment, I was aware that I am facing one of the county's notorious outlaws and going against him could mean sticking my neck out for Abs which I slowly regret. But my other conscience was telling me that if I don't act courageous now, I inadvertently allowed Nick to bully others for his supper.

"Someone who's about to tell you to never to show your face again –"

"Let me get this straight. You barged in, causing commotion in public spaces and you had the audacity to talk about harassment, preaching about violence when your dearly beloved friend made the first blow. Ain't it?" he paced a few steps forward, causing me to move a few steps back. He got closer to me, lowered his head while I tilted my head backwards, his curious hazel eyes penetrating into mine. "So what's in for you?"

The only brilliant respond I could give was to stutter, "I-I, yo-you know–"

"Do you have any idea what kind of enemy you might create?" he continued, sensing my defeat.

"For all it's worth, without your bodyguard, you're nothing more than just a python. The one without a venom," I braved an answer, lifting my index finger, jabbing his left breast pocket.

"Bite me, then!" he recoiled and struck me by the shoulder with his fist.

"Oh, fuck off!" I shove him harder than before and pounded at his chest. Part of my conscience regretted my actions but another part of it was being malicious that I just want to hurt him more. However, it was too late to decide which conscience I should listen to more, because Nick became furious and was about to engage an attack – towards me.

He had his right fist swung and charged with a single blow against my left cheek bone. I fell to the ground on my back helplessly as he was about to strike me on my stomach with his foot. I swiftly rolled away (thanking my dodgeball skills) and got up to an upright stance position.

My clenched fist aimed hard at the bridge of his nose which I thought heard a small crack but instead of yielding, he fought harder. He took two blows, on my right temple and left jawline, stalling me from attacking. The strength of a man against my face was excruciating, it was indescribable beyond all reasoning. And when he took his third and fourth strikes on both of my ribs, I was about to lose consciousness.

Nick pinned me down to the ground, almost had me in a headlock but I was quickly enough to squirm and pried off his arms that were around my neck, pivoted to the side to free my both legs. I stomped my both legs against his left rib with all the strength I had until he was thrown to the side.

Our fight was halted by the campus guards and a couple of Business School staff separating us apart. My head lolled forward, too heavy for me to lift it up. I began to feel the pain seeping in slowly though my sore muscles as I tasted blood in my mouth. I let some dripping out from my lips as I gathered my final strength to push myself up and staggered towards the entrance of Business School where staff directed us in.

We were taken to an interrogation room at the Head of Campus office to conduct a short counseling before deciding our next fate. Before coming in, we surrendered our student ID at the reception for them to put us into their record. Then, they directed us to a room which to me was nothing more than just a room with tables and chairs arranged in classroom order and LCD screen projector installed to the wall.

I took a glimpse at Nick's devastated resting-bitch face which I felt a sudden urge to triumph. His right sleeves pulled upwards and I could see another set of disturbing tattoos on his right arm; an image of a somewhat 4-inch fish hook with a jagged edge, piercing into the skin. Just like the other arm, the effects were so detailed to its shading and gradient, it looked real and revolting.

Dorris Walter from the legal unit walked in with Yanni Malkov, the guard that caught us. They both introduced themselves before they began.

"I believe you are aware of Regulation 16, the student code of conduct in this university?" Dorris spoke in her brisk tone. "Are you aware of its consequences? Zahida, you were briefed on this during the Fresher's Week, weren't you?"

I nodded. "I was."

"We are against promoting violence in this campus and we take this matter seriously. We will take actions against you if you are convicted."

Nick scoffed. "Well, one does not act upon it if non provoked."

"Pholadi!" Yanni chastised.

"Can you all agree with me on this?" Nick demanded. "I acted upon self-defense. If it doesn't evade my privacy, jab its finger on me, rile me up, I wouldn't throw a fit, wouldn't I?"

"You could've just address me as 'that person' if you're all confuse about my sex," I said heatedly, sensing that he still wanted to go toe to toe with me.

"I thought you had none." Nick fired back.

"Knock it off!" Dorris ordered. "Or I'll have both of your degrees revoked without a trial."

"Watch it or you know where this would lead you, Ms. Walter." Nick warned. "I am not daunted by who you are."

"Don't mess with me, sir." Dorris snapped. "I don't care how much endowment you pumped in, this institution handles allegations with proper procedures. Your records aren't clean either. You just don't know what I am capable of. I could take you places you can't even pronounce."

"Well, try me," Nick countered. Suddenly, tension rises and silence fills the air as Dorris and Nick exchange penetrating stares from each end of the table. "I'm sorry. We're not here to talk about my numbers, we're here because that person just attacked me."