These words made me grimly chuckle: yes, she was offended! But I was doubly offended by her actions, and wished to teach her a lesson. I wanted to teach her a lesson that it was a very bad idea to confront me.
I headed toward my girlfriends. Julia was the first to notice my approach; she shoved her friend in the shoulder and glanced at me meaningfully. Viper hastily took her hand away from her eyes and looked at me, first with surprise and then with hatred.
As if to give her friend a chance to deal with me, Julia hurried away, and Viper watched my approach with her arms crossed over her chest and her eyes fixed on me. When I approached her, she stared boldly into my face, not hiding her glittering eyes.
– What was that? – I asked, looking down at Viper like a teacher looking at a student. At that moment, I could barely keep myself from yelling at her or hurting her physically. Or kill her.
– It was my attempt to get rid of your company! – The girl blurted out angrily. – But if that didn't work, I'll use the other way out!
– You think that's the best way out of this situation? – I said mockingly. – Because of one small unpleasant quarrel, you cowardly run away into the bushes!
– I have many reasons for that!
– How interesting. Well, tell me!
– You think you are allowed to insult and abuse other people! You're arrogant and selfish, and you've made it clear that you despise me both as a person and as a woman! – Viper snarled.
I raised my eyebrows in surprise. Was she the one I'd thought so highly of when we first met in the library? The narrowness of her thoughts and judgement struck me unpleasantly.
– Go on, tell me I'm wrong! I'm always wrong and I don't understand anything about people. How could I? I am only a naive fool! – she added mockingly. – What's the use of such a performance now? I don't want to practise with you, you're squeamish about practising with me, so come on…
– What makes you think I'm shy of studying with you? – I interrupted her, trying to ask the question as calmly as possible.
– Oh, no, you've done nothing to push me away from you! Blame it on my vivid imagination! – Viper snapped back.
– No, explain to me where you got those ideas from. – I was furious at her mocking tone and how stubbornly she clung to her delusions.
– Do you want to know?
– I'm dying to know.
– You made it clear to me from the first time we met that I was a nobody, and you were just forced to study with me. Humiliated your excessive pride. And your lateness was on purpose! God, I only realised it now, because you're such an amazing liar that you made me believe you and feel guilty for my harsh words! And now I realise how fair they were! – she said quietly but firmly.
– Is that all? – I asked.
– You are arrogant and selfish. I can't stand it. You look at me contemptuously like a cockroach, you make me feel insignificant and stupid. You don't have a shred of humanity in you! All you're filled with is contempt for people!
– I had a better opinion of you," I said with a scornful grin. – And you turned out to be a common coward.
– I'd rather be a coward than a monster like you!
Her words took my breath away.
Viper looked me straight in the eye, and I suddenly thought she knew who I was, knew my secret.
– Monstro in frontum, monstro in anima. But you hide your true face behind a pretty shell and deceive people," Viper said quietly. Without knowing it, she'd revealed my true nature.
