One night stand

Luis's POV 

My head was banging even though I didn't taste a drop of alcohol last night.

 Who knew there was such a thing as a sex hangover?

 "Ugh," I groaned as I dragged myself into the bathroom, the memories of yesterday flooding into my head, making me want to bang my head against the mirror as I closed the door behind me.

 I pulled down my pajamas to pee, but a sharp pain shot through my ass, bringing me down to my knees.

 It stung and it hurt. Taking my bath wasn't any better as I was skittish under the cold shower.

 In the end, I couldn't use the shower gel because I was scared of how much it would hurt, and even trying to apply a soothing balm in front of the mirror was no child's play.

 All of what happened would have been a dream if not for the evidence he left all over my neck. My lips would need a couple of days to recover from the bloody bites he gave them.

 But despite everything, I was smiling as I made my way down the stairs for breakfast.

 At the table with my father and his new wife of two months.

 "Good morning," I called as I took my seat and downed a glass of water.

 "You look like a fish that tried to walk on land before realizing how dumb it was. It's hot, why are you wearing a turtle neck?" my stepsister mocked as she threw the remaining water in her glass at me.

 "None of your business!" I snapped back.

 "You're a fish, a fish!" she started to shout.

 "Clarissa, stop it," her mother called out while my father scolded me for glaring at her.

 "She's just being childish, leave her be," he said coldly while I was in pain, busy trying to find the perfect way to sit down with only half my butt.

 "Right, Luis, you came home in pretty bad shape yesterday. Are you sure you're okay?" Clarissa's mom, my stepmother, asked.

 Even though she had moved in with us for two months now, we'd barely had a proper conversation. Although I noticed that she kept putting in the effort.

 I just couldn't be bothered, but right now, her question took me back to that dark and dirty alley where he had abandoned me.

 Not until he was done fucking me senseless did I remember that I was claustrophobic, and the moment he left, I just forgot how to breathe. The desperate need to get out of there, despite the fact that I reeked of Garber's cum, filled me. I staggered until I was out in the open and felt lost until I saw a cab that brought me home.

 I'd definitely looked tattered as I staggered into the living room, where my dad and she were making out before walking into my room and crashing on my bed.

 "Yes, thank you, I was out with my friends and we had too much fun," I said, something my dad would be glad to hear.

 "Friends? That's good. You need to make progress on your social life, or else you'll die alone," he said, and despite the seriousness of his tone, Clarissa burst out laughing and didn't get a word of admonishment.

 I immediately lost my appetite.

 "Young man!" I froze at my dad's form of address. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked.

 I couldn't tell him that his harsh words had made me lose my appetite.

 "I am feeling sick, so I'll run to the pharmacy to get some drugs," I said, still frozen until he grunted, "Hmm."

 "Can you go to the department store too? I need a new pair of flats," Clarissa said, and I almost foamed at the mouth from anger.

 "That's basically 30 minutes away from the pharmacy. I can't go."

 "That's right, breakfast would get cold before your brother gets back. How about we go grocery shopping together in the afternoon?" her mom suggested, but she started to whine.

 "Daddy," she called out with a pout as she pointed at me.

 "Just get it for her, you can eat breakfast later," my dad said without taking his eyes off her.

 I was his child, and she was his stepchild, but it felt like our positions were switched in his heart. He'd been like that since that accident.

 "But, dad, I—"

 "She is your little sister!" He slammed his hand on the dining table, rattling the cutlery. "If you don't take care of her, do you want her to get bullied outside?" He asked, and his gaze locked on mine.

 He pulled this card every single time to remind me of how my younger sister had lost her life.

 "I'm sorry," I lowered my head and apologized before turning to Clarissa. "Do you need anything else?"

 "Yes," she chirped and started making a list of things she definitely didn't need.

 I left the house and headed straight to the department store with my dad's car. He definitely won't mind since it's an errand for his daughter, but what I saw when I got there made my mood plummet down to the center of the earth.

 It was Ethan.

 What was that fake-ass jerk looking for here?

 I remembered how mean his words had been when he thought Garber wasn't listening, and I felt the urge to go fight for him, but what I didn't expect was that the person he was laughing with was Garber.

 Why were they together? Didn't he confront him? How could they still be shopping for alcohol together?

 And as if the arrows of pain and confusion weren't enough, I saw another lady raise Garber's hand above her shoulder as she looked up at him coquettishly and asked, "Babe, can I have this? I want to wear a new scent for you for the party?"

 He smiled at her and kissed her before giving her his card. "Sure."

 I remained frozen, losing control of my limbs such that the basket in my hand fell to the ground alongside its contents, gathering the attention of everyone around, including Garber.

 He looked in my direction, and we locked gazes. My heart skipped a beat and then two, until he looked past me like he hadn't recognized me.

 And I would have thought that to be the case if he hadn't immediately dragged Ethan out of the store and disappeared after.

 What was I thinking? Of course, he would be with someone else. Of course, he would pretend not to know me after what happened last night.

 He was the most toxic and hypocritical homophobe I knew, but he fucked so good I didn't mind losing my virginity in such a dirty place.

 I turned my back, paid for the things in my basket, and went home.

 Fuck him and his toxic homophobic self.

 "You look like a monkey that just lost its banana," Clarissa mocked as soon as I returned, laughing her head off and looking exactly like the monkey that she had just described.

 I looked sideways, and after noticing that my father was nowhere in sight, I glared at her and took a step closer.

 "You know what you look like?" I asked in an unfeeling voice, and she swallowed while looking around for someone to save her. Good, my dad wasn't anywhere in sight.

 "You look like a monkey whose dad is missing!" I jabbed her with words I knew would hurt, and even though it was reverse mockery, I couldn't find it in me to laugh because I was pissed.

 "Daddy, mommy, Luis is bullying me," she started to shout like the pampered brat that she was, but I couldn't give a damn. I just made my way to my room as negative emotions swirled around in my mind.

 I hated myself for being gullible and still wanting him despite the type of person he was.

 I hated him for treating me like a one-night stand that wasn't worth mentioning when I still leaped around from the way he battered me.

 He said I was his first guy, but could I really believe that? He could have anyone he wanted because they all practically threw themselves at him, so why had he come after me yesterday?

 Was it a game to him?

 "Argh!" I screamed into my pillow as I fought the very urge to cry.

 Those damned tears.

 Did he see me as weak? Was it just a moment of pity for him? Or did he and his friends place a bet on me after I'd left?

 Was I even worth it?

 How about Chen? He definitely knows something about what happened after I left.

 I took out my phone to dial him, but it went straight to voicemail, and I've never felt so alone in my life.

 While Chen was openly bisexual, all I knew was that I dreamt of Garber Yarros every night. And now.

 And now…

 The tears finally started falling just in time for me to hear a loud knock on my door.

 "Go away!" I shouted at whoever it was as I sat up to wipe my tears with my sleeves.

 "No, I won't. Daddy said to call you to the living room. You're going to get punished for calling me a monkey," Clarissa's very annoying voice gloated outside my door, and I'd never felt more violent in my life.

 However, it was also my principle to never hit girls.