The Unbroken But Impure

CHAPTER 06 THE SAVIOR

"Miss, you're really good at holding that microphone!" a tall and burly guy said mischievously. He was the one drinking a bottle of beer during Mae's intermission number.

Mae was startled by the man's bold remark, so she slapped him. But the man was quick—he grabbed Mae's hand and tried to force a kiss on her lips. Mae could smell the alcohol on his breath as he leaned in, drunk and aggressive.

Bruce immediately rushed forward and punched the man, hitting him square on the jaw. The drunk stumbled back but quickly recovered, throwing a punch straight at Bruce's face that knocked him to the ground. Without hesitation, the man pounced on Bruce, raining down a mixture of punches and kicks. Even drunk, his strength was overwhelming, and Bruce couldn't fight back.

"Your boyfriend is brave! But there's nothing he can do now," the man sneered, smiling as he grabbed Mae's arm and tried again to kiss her.

Mae was terrified by what the man was trying to do. Her fear doubled when she saw Bruce, bloodied and weak, crawling toward them in an attempt to stop the man. Just as the drunkard's lips were about to touch Mae's, Bruce lunged and bit down hard on the man's thigh, stopping him.

"Mae, run! Leave me here! I'll take care of him!" Bruce shouted as he clung to the man's legs.

Then Bruce bit his thigh again, making the man cry out in pain. Enraged, the drunk delivered blow after blow to Bruce's body until Bruce lost consciousness. Blood streamed from Bruce's nose, and one of his eyes had already turned black and swollen. Bruises covered him by the time the man stopped.

Mae's heart broke as she watched. She was both worried and frightened for Bruce. He was her crush, and he had tried to protect her with everything he had. Any girl would be lucky to have Bruce, she thought—but she knew in her heart that although she liked him, she didn't truly love him.

Luckily, security guards noticed the commotion and rushed over. They restrained the man and dragged him away to the police station, where he was detained. Bruce was taken to the hospital by the guards, along with his siblings and parents, who had arrived to support him.

The doctors confirmed that Bruce's injuries weren't serious, aside from the black eye and multiple bruises. Even though Brianna was a friend of the man, they still pressed charges and put him in jail. After treatment, Bruce was discharged and allowed to go home.

By the time Mae returned home, it was already midnight. Mr. Karding, her father, was shocked when he saw Bruce's battered face. Mae explained everything that had happened, and Mr. Karding was deeply grateful to Bruce when he learned how he had defended his daughter.

"I thought you two had eloped, since it's already midnight and you weren't home yet. Turns out someone tried to do something bad to Mae!" Mr. Karding joked, trying to lighten the mood.

The three of them laughed at his remark, easing some of the tension. A few minutes later, Bruce said goodbye to Mae and her father before heading home.

The next day....

Bruce arrived for Mae's tutorial as usual. Despite his bruises, he smiled as he sat beside her in the garden.

"Bruce, thank you for saving me from that drunk," Mae said sincerely. "If it weren't for you, he might have abused me."

Mae's parents weren't home, but they trusted Bruce enough to leave him alone with her inside the house.

"Aren't you my friend? Of course I would save you from that asshole! Do you know why? Because I like you," Bruce said, smiling.

Mae was surprised. She had a crush on Bruce too, but for some reason, she couldn't accept him as her boyfriend. Maybe it was because they already knew each other too well.