방탄 소년단
"That... gash," I muttered, my nose rumpled in disdain - and sympathy for the man - as I studied the newly developing scar on his right eye.
It was fresh, the skin that surrounded the vermilion wound was puffy and distended, as if it just hap...
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I could never prepare myself for what awaited me in that closed room ahead of me. I've done this a handful of times, and yet, every single time, I could still feel my heart pulsating deep in my throat. It nearly choked me to death, the sound of my beating organ agonizing my ears per rhythmic thump. My breathing was erratic as I chewed on my lower lip, my fingers cautiously toying with one another.
My body cowered in chagrin each time I caught the men in the room looking my way, their eyes traveling low, and their minds traveling far— undressing me and imagining what exactly they would do to me if they had bought me off the auction.
I didn't dare think about it, my own mind wouldn't allow me to go there, fearful of all the endless possibilities.
I felt an odd cool breeze, bringing my arms over my bare stomach to protect myself from the sudden chills that began to form above my skin in a defensive response.
The door opened, revealing a well-dressed Mikhail, clearing his throat as he carefully shut the door behind him. His sleeves were rolled up to his forearms, revealing the tattoos he had all along his arms, the cursive writing inscribed on his left arm following along his skin with precise detail.
I balked, keeping my hands behind my back as he approached me with soft and gentle eyes. The look he invariably gave me before I was left inside a room with a disgusting man who paid money to touch and handle my body. To be in his possession for a very painfully long fifteen minutes. The longest fifteen minutes of my life, the fifteen minutes that took off fifteen years of my very life.
I looked up at him, slightly flinching beneath his hold when he placed both of his hands above my shoulders.
"Fifteen minutes." He clarified in my left ear, giving me even more chills from his cool breath that fanned my cheek. "I already told him you don't kiss on the lips... and I also told him there isn't any sex allowed."
My lips pressed into an awkward, thin line.
Wow, that makes it all so much better.
I remained quiet. I wanted to get this over with. There was no point in standing out here with Mikhail simply stalling, and prolonging this abhorrent experience that I could never seem to get used to, nor could I fathom how auctions like this were even accepted and seen as perfectly normal.
"He wasn't very happy about that, but he accepted." Mikhail continued, his fingers pushing my hair back behind my ear as if to soften his words that cut through me like thousands of blistering knives.
"Okay. I'll just get it over with." I muttered, dropping my chin to avoid his eyes that saw right through me.
He clasped his hand around my chin, bringing my face back up to his. "I'll be waiting right out here." Mikhail whispered to me.
I just nodded, removing myself from his hold.
Each step I took towards the door was like glass breaking beneath me, leaving behind a trail of shards that symbolized my dignity and self-respect, stripping me bare of all the emotions that made me human. I always got the urge to drop to my knees and cry when I found myself a few feet away from the room. This time, however, my body was numb. My chest was empty of any vehement emotion, my heart singing a quiet song, slightly pounding against my chest, knowing its palpitations of anxiety that told me to run the other way would be futile in this situation.
