Chapter 16

His eyes darkened when he saw my fingers hovering over the frame. "Go back to bed"

I scoffed. "You don't tell me what to do". It looked like he didn't want me to see the picture. Well I didn't care and reached out to pick it up but his hand slapped mine away before I could touch it.

He was livid. Not a hint of playfulness on his face.

"Go. Back. To. Bed" he instructed, like I was a kid. It only skyrocketed my curiosity.

"I refuse. What are you hiding huh?" I asked. "Isn't it just a picture? Let me see"

"No. Are you always this nosy?"

"Are you always this secretive?" I fired back

He raised a brow. "That doesn't even make sense. This is my house. The picture is also mine. I have every right to not show you. Now get back to bed"

"Or what?" I challenged.

He walked closer to me, suddenly wearing a devious smile, stopping only when our faces were a few inches apart. "I'll carry you to bed and we'll have a repeat of Saturday night".

His hand touched my thigh and slowly moved upwards as he leaned close, whispering in my ear "This time, I won't stop. There's no time limit and no one is here to save you"

I shivered as his hot breath fanned my ear. My curiosity vanished in an instant. Gathering all my strength, I pushed him away and dived back under the blankets. "For your information, I'm only in bed because I feel cold" I huffed.

Fuck, Ryu touched me.

Again.

My heart sped up at the thought of his fingers going even higher. Would he have really touched me there again?

"Whatever you say Aito-kun". He returned to his seat, wearing a small smile and gave me the drugs which I took and swallowed it down with the entire glass of water.

"So..." he began. "What happened today? Judging by your puffy eyes, you must have cried. What's wrong?"

Damn. His tone was so gentle I felt like spilling out my heart but I quickly composed myself. I can't let him know about Aera. She's already gone. I won't subject her soul to more humiliation. We went through a lot to take off those videos and pictures from the internet. We tried even harder to get people to stop talking about them. Telling Ryu would be like peeling open healing wounds.

"Huh. I won't let you fool me Ryu. I know very well that you don't care about me. You don't like me so why are you concerned?" I asked, trying to lead the conversation to another route.

He leaned back and sighed. "Yes it's true that I don't like you. In fact, what you did to Miss Park increased my resentment towards you. I mean, you humiliated her in front of the entire class. Toshiro posted the voice record on every social media and the school management wants to arrange a meeting with both of you. It'll be a miracle if she retains her teaching license. If your parents hear, they might even press charges. You're about to ruin her life. Damn Aito, I'm sure you're aware but it's like you don't care at all. Do you get off on hurting people or something?"

"You won't understand" I snapped. "You don't know anything about that woman. She's not as innocent as you think. You just transferred to our school a few days ago so you don’t know what we know and it’ll be better if you keep your nose out of it. Whatever happens to her, she deserves it"

Anger began to bubble in my heart. I could feel my temples throbbing. He has no idea. No fucking idea. The pain. Miss Park wasn't even experiencing half the pain.

He shook his head, sending his dark locks flying. "No matter what she did, I don't think it's worth screwing her over like that. She might even be jailed. The maximum is twenty years"

"That's exactly where she should be. And I don't give a fuck. Like I said, she deserves it"

"What is wrong with you?" he asked like he couldn't believe what I was saying. "Why are you doing thi-

"Goddamn it Ryu!" I shouted, frustrated with the incessant questioning. "Quit butting into my life! What I do is not your concern!"

"I'm just trying to help Aito" he said calmly.

"Well don't. I don't need it. God, you're so damn frustrating. I like you better when you just stay in corners and don't talk" I said, rubbing his temples to ease my headache. "You say all sorts of shit that make me think of shit. Why can't you just leave me the fuck alone? Stay out of this"

He frowned. "We've only talked like twice or thrice. You say it like I'm everywhere"

"You are everywhere!" I groaned, fisting the sheets. "God you're fucking everywhere! You and your stupid words. Your stupid body! Your stupid scent! Your stupid hands! Fuck I can't get you out of my head and it's driving me fucking insane. These days I can't even sleep well. I keep thinking and thinking and thinking goddamnit I'm nothing like Dai! I'm not a fucking fag!"

Ryu looked shocked and that was when I realized what I had said. I felt like a bucket of ice water was poured over my body. I paled, wishing the ground would just open up and swallow me already.

Fuck fuck fuck!!!!

I wanted to steer the conversation away from why I cried but I went into something deeper. "Y-You... What?" He whispered, eyes wide.

I groaned, burying my face in my hands. Damnit! Me and my pent up feelings. Me and my stupid mouth! I’m the kind of person that just bursts when things become too much for me to handle. My emotions fluctuate easily and I have a hard time reigning them in.

I wanted to leave right away but it was late. I was wearing Ryu’s clothes and I didn't know what he did with my uniform. My phone and car keys must all be with him.

Shit.

"Leave me alone" I murmured, not raising my head. "P-Please. Don't say anything. Just leave"