DISTRESS

CHAPTER 29

Principal Williams POV

Sitting on the sofa with her knees pulled up to her chest. I noticed the cup of hot chocolate I gave her remained unmoving in her hands as her eyes were fixated in a far away look. The sight of her distant eyes made my chest tightened in pain.

With a heavy and deep sigh she placed the cup on the table beside her then she turned and looked at me with those lifeless eyes of hers. She still doesn't look good. She just woke up after sleeping for a couple of hours. Her fever went down a bit though she still has a fever.

When she knocked on my front door drenched in rain, shivering and obviously weak with busted lips, a bleeding nose and swollen cheek, I felt like my world just crumbled. I was feeling different kinds of emotions that time that I don't know exactly what to make of it. I know she's enduring something else seeing how she holds her stomach and I can't exactly tell if the exhausted expression she's wearing is due to the downpour she went through or from the long journey all the way here. Though my gut tells me that those two are just part of the main reason why she's like this and I know that her father did this to her. My heart clenched tightly in my chest, almost suffocating me and anger boiled in my stomach seeing her in this state. At this point I want to murder her father, to make him pay for what he did but right now I have far more important things to take care of and that is to tend to her.

I offered to take her to the hospital but she refused stubbornly despite the bruises and cuts she has. This is not something you can just neglect yet I can't force her to do something she doesn't want to so it's better to let her stay here where I can look after her. Especially now that she's at her weakest.

"Please just let me rest for good," she begged. I should've known that what we talked a while ago won't be enough to convince her to spare her life, let alone believe my words. 

I'm so torn right now. How can I convince her? I'm scared and worried at the same time. Not mention she almost committed suicide in the kitchen a while ago. It was a good thing I got there just before she can do anything far more dangerous. I don't know what I'd do if she died there for good. I can't do anything reckless that might trigger her to do or say something terrible. No matter how much it breaks my heart, I need to be patient and handle this situation as careful as possible.

I moved closer to her then cupped both her cheeks in my hands as gently as possible as if I'm holding a fragile glass. "Please promise me you'll never do that again," she closed her eyes then looked away. Her silent response to my plea didn't feel comforting at all. I don't know what I would do if she tries to kill herself again. "You know that's not what you truly want," I added and this made her look back.

"How can you be so sure? What if you leave me again the moment I choose to keep living. I don't think I'll be able to handle that again. I've already lost grandma and if I lose you again...I'll go crazy. It's exhausting and I'll probably end up dead anyway if I keep this up....I already had enough at this point," pain, sadness, sorrow and suffering is all that her face is showing. Followed by hot tears falling down her cheeks. Looking at her state right now broke my heart into pieces. Her words felt like I'm being stabbed in the chest multiple times.

I will never let her give up like this, I can't bear the fact of seeing her this broken and lifeless, it's just too painful for me. "There's no way I'm leaving you..ever. Please believe me. You have nothing to worry about especially not about my marriage because I've already ended things with my husband."

"What do you m-" her words were cut off when I planted a gentle kiss on her lips which she didn't expect. This is the first time I initiated a kiss though I've been trying many times before to take the initiative first but I always fail since I can't seem to find the right timing to kiss her. I already expected the shock in her face but I didn't do it just because I got lost in the moment but because I've known what I truly want all along....and that is her.

I wiped the tears on her cheeks as I stare at her with hopeful eyes the moment I pulled away and she just looked at me in confusion.

"Stop making things up," her bloodshot eyes staring back at me, full of doubt.

I closed my eyes then pressed my forehead on hers. "I'm not. I'm done contemplating and debating. There's no way I'll let you get away from me again," I said, looking straight in her eyes.

"Don't expect that things will be okay between us just because you told me that," she said, trying to break free from me.

"I know and I'm willing to wait as long as you won't run away from me again," I pulled her closer but I immediately pulled away when she hissed in pain. "Why don't we rest and this time I want you to rest all the way. We can talk more tomorrow." I took her hand that still feels feverish.

"Yeah, sure. Don't get ahead of yourself," she replied sarcastically as she stood up but end up wincing in pain. I'm gonna skin that bastard alive.

I tried helping her but she won't let me which obviously meant that she's still angry at me. She's really stubborn but so am I. Don't think I plan to give up on her. Instead of letting her do what she wants and suffer in pain, I did what I had to and carried her in my arms. She was taken aback that she wasn't able to react right away.

"Put me down!" she hissed, struggling to break free. For a girl who has a fever and is injured, she can be pretty strong and persistent.

"Not gonna happen," I replied sternly, halting  then I looked into her eyes. "You can be upset to me all you want tomorrow or the next but right now I don't want to hear any complaints from you. You need to rest and I won't let you hurt your body any further."

She purse her lips. Her eyes still harsh but no words of protest left her mouth. The staring contest we had was only brief when my eyes unconsciously glanced down to her lips. The cut isn't as bad as her cheek but it still bothered me so much to see her injured. My face moved closer and just right before I could kiss her she placed her hand in between us. I can't help but release a breath before planting a kiss on her uninjured cheek. "You really don't plan to go easy on me, do you?" I whispered in her ear. "Nevertheless you don't know how much I missed you," I sigh, nestling my face on her shoulder. The warmth from her fever oozing out of her body.

We stayed like that for a while until she started to squirm. "Stop squeezing me," she complained, a hint of annoyance in her voice. I pulled back and met her cold eyes. "Put me down if you don't plan to move."

"I won't move until you give me a kiss," I smiled. Her cold expression immediately turned to disbelief. What an adorable face.

"You're crazy," she murmured, avoiding my gaze. I suddenly feel the urge to tease her a little. So I leaned down a bit but unexpectedly she turned her head to face me so my lips that weren't suppose to touch her face landed on her lips instead. She wince from the sudden contact causing her push me back. "Ouch that hurts." she glared, holding her injured lips.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to do that," ugh, I can't believe this. My timing really sucks.

She sigh and just when I thought she'd scold me. I felt her hand on my cheek followed by a gentle kiss on my lips. "This doesn't mean you're forgiven nor we're in good terms now," I was too dumbfounded that I don't even have any idea what to say. "Will you keep walking now. I want to rest already," she added.

"Right. Sorry," I quickly replied then took her to the guest room.

Once inside I gently placed her on the bed and tucked her in with a blanket. "If you need anything. I'm just next room." I gently stroked her hair then kissed her forehead. "I'll see you tomorrow. Good night," I added before leaving the room.

I took my phone out and called the moment I was outside the room. It was answered right away. "I want eyes on that bastard's every move 24/7 and report it to me. Don't leave even a strand of information behind. I want every bit you can find. Every fault, every activity, every movement, every breath. Everything." I gripped my phone after I ended the call.

I swear I'll make him pay, big time.