✧﹒ 𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙, 𝙎𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨.

Chapter I: A Heart's Delimma

I woke up.

Lightheaded and wounded near my mouth along with a bloody nose, I tried wiping the blood off, only to realize I was tied up to a chair, my hands tied up with a piece of white cloth …
I saw someone walk in the room, to my suprise, it was Kayden. Ecstatic, I yell out his name. Surprised and relieved that he’s alright. 
“Do you think my job is all fun and games, Keith?” said Kayden after  shutting the door. 
I then realize that maybe he isn't excited to see me as much as I was excited to see him. The men, were they still after me? I don’t remember much at all from last night. Why were they even after me to begin with? But Kayden had this— pained yet irritated expression painted on his face. “Kayden.. are you alright?” 

I was cut off by the stinging pain of a slap across my face. As Kayden's hand met my face with a painful slap, my eyes shot open in pure shock. I gazed back at him, dumbfounded by his heavy breaths, almost as if he were in agony. 
“Answer the damn question Keith.” he demands sternly. 
I tremble, speechless by his actions. I shake my head gently, until he grabs my face by the neck as his grip tightens around my throat. The pure pain I was in, how could he possibly expect a response when I could barely breathe? 
“No, I don't.” I managed to utter between gasps of air. 
He gently shoves my face away as he slowly leans close to my ear. 
“It's best if we never see eachother again. Don't come back, and don’t call me.” he spoke softly, his words were laced with a hint of quiet sadness, as if he were attempting to conceal the disappointment that tugged at his heart. “It's probably for the best. I can't keep letting you get hurt because of my work …” Kayden’s voice was a quiet murmur, barely audible, yet there was a hint of intention behind it, like a silent plea for Keith to hear his words.

“What? …” I was taken aback by his words. Kayden would never say this. I saw him step away as I shifted restlessly in my chair, struggling in a desperate attempt to break free. He turned his back and started to walk away. Meanwhile, I managed to fall on my knees, creating a loud noise, redirecting Kayden's attention back to me.
I was on my knees in front of him. My cheek pressing against his thigh, 
“I'll give you anything, I'll do anything. You like my body, right? I'll let you have it. Just let me stay by your side.”
My voice trembling with desperation as I pleaded, pleaded for Kayden to stay with me. I pulled Kayden's zipper down using my teeth, panting heavily, I gazed up at him. He wore his usual flushed, angry expression on his face, the one I have longed to see, the one I'm obsessed with. 
“Keith! What the fuck are you doing?”
I didn’t answer. 
“Stop it, damn you!”
He seemed to enjoy it, he was erected. Why was he pushing me away all of the sudden? 
He managed to push my head away.
“You enjoyed that, you’re wet.” I say, although a hint of pride welled within, I managed to restrain it while maintaining a composed expression. 
I managed to untie my hands as I gently rose to my feet, softly grasping his face. The words leaked past my lips. “Please, let me stay with you.” I urgently pressed my lips against his, pouring all of my desperation into the kiss, silently pleading for him to stay. I felt his hands press against my chest. In our embrace, he struggled to push me away because I was bigger than him. I felt a sudden punch to my gut, like a fist bruising my entire stomach. In shock, I held my stomach. Clutching onto it as I stepped back and saw Kayden's face— heavy breaths, tears rolling down his cheek, with fear written all over it.
 His eyes bulged in terror as he trembled a bit, trying to keep his balance. 
"That's enough, Keith!" He yells, backing away while pulling his pants back up. He glanced at the window, I looked out the window along with him, it was a black car. He lets out a noise of disapproval, and walks away for the last time. 
"Goodbye, keith. Don't ever come looking for me." 
I stayed silent. I didn't know what to say. 
He leaves the room. 
I fell to the ground, on my knees, as I looked down and sighed in disappointment. 
"Damn." 

I entered the car and slammed the door shut. With a sigh of disappointment, I glanced at Kassandra, my acquaintance, who stared at me, wearing a concerned expression. 
"What?" I ask. 
she hesitates slightly before gaining enough courage to ask, 
"How'd it go? …" her voice slightly tinged with concern. 
"Was I too aggressive with him?" 
"Your punch did seem like it hurt." Another voice spoke up, Kristian muttered awkwardly, which is followed by a nervous chuckle and a sigh while driving the car. 
"It seemed like the right thing to do." Kass says.
"Hm?" I look at her.
"Pushing him away?" 

I look away, not out of shame, but rather embarrassment. I rested my head on my palm, taking glances at her. I don't exactly know how I felt about what I did. It was the right thing to do. But something about it feels wrong. I can’t help but feel bad. I just need a drink to forget about this whole thing. 
“We know how much you care about him, Kayden. And we know you did this for a good reason. Our Kayden would never do this to someone innocent just out of pleasure.” He says with a teasing tone, nudging my cheek. I stayed silent. I felt my face blush a bright red in embarrassment. I thought about his face, the face painted in desperation. For a while, I thought he was just using me for sex— but I'm starting to assume I thought wrong. I can’t help but feel sorry. I know what he’s like, ever since we were little kids, he was always desperate to keep something, anything, for himself. But I pushed him away like a coward. 
“Keep an eye on him.” 
“What?” Kass and Kristian questions at the same time. 
“That was an order, not a question. Is that clear?” 
They nodded as a response.