𝐁𝐀𝐁𝐘𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐋 [18+]

- 14 -

"So, nothing else happened with him?" Cherry asked, her auburn hair catching the light as she sipped her virgin mojito. Her lips, painted in bold red, stood out against the pale green of the drink.

I shook my head, trying to find the right words. "No, nothing else. Just that awful game and... him bringing me back home that day."

Cherry had been my confidante for the past few days, someone I could talk to without fear of judgment. Sometimes, I can't tell Pen everything. She was too close to our parents and too quick to try and fix everything herself.

She leaned back, her eyes scanning my face for any hint of hidden pain or fear. "He didn't touch you anywhere else, did he?"

I hesitated, my cheeks crimsoning at the thought. "No, just that. But it was more than enough."

What the fuck was wrong with me?

"You don't have to carry this alone," Cherry reassured me. "And you don't have to tell your sister everything if you're not ready. But you must have someone to talk to."

I felt a rush of emotions for Cherry's understanding. "I know. I'm just scared. He texted me the day after he dropped me home and I don't know what to do."

That was a week ago - when he texted while I was having brunch with Pen, which I didn't tell her. To which I left on read. Again. God knows what he's going to do this time. However, Pen has been silent since that day. No frequent visits to my apartment. Not many calls or texts. Only emergencies - maybe she was just busy with her cases.

The text was: Good morning, did you sleep well, baby girl? Last night was just the beginning. You bear my marks on you now, Zara - you're mine. Don't forget that.

Take care and eat well x

He hasn't reached out to me since. Honestly, this silence only unease me further - it felt like a calm before a storm.

Cherry's almost grinned, knowingly "Zara, this silence might be his way of trying to mess with your head. Don't let him get to you. You have every right to feel safe."

Her confidence was almost contagious. I wanted to believe her, to trust that Val's hold over me was breaking. But deep down, I knew something that she didn't.

What if I didn't want to feel safe?

"It's just... unsettling. Not hearing from him is almost worse than the texts."

"I know him - he's the master of mind games. That asshole thrives on it." Cherry said, her voice edged with disdain. "But honestly speaking, I don't think I've ever seen him give so much attention to any girl."

I swallowed hard, a mixture of fear and confusion churning in my gut. "That just makes it worse. Why me? Why now?"

Cherry leaned back, her eyes narrowing as she considered my words. "Maybe because you're different. Maybe because he sees something in you that he can't control, and that drives him crazy."