HIS CAPTIVE

HATE YOU..

Even with the students outside, I felt alone. My steps made soft noises as I got closer to him. His eyes scanned me while mine darted to the floor. My fingers kept fiddling with each other, uncertain of what would happen next until he took a step forward.

Invading my personal space, I squirmed in place. I clenched my bag strap tightly, waiting for him to say something. He didn't make me wait long before he let out a single word.

"Pathetic..."

He stepped back and began to leave, while I stood there, my lips trembling with the painful sound that was choking me from inside.

"WHY DO YOU HATE ME THIS MUCH?" I shouted, and he stopped but didn't turn around.

"WHY... ANSWER ME... IS IT BECAUSE I'M UGLY?" I shouted again, and this time he turned and smirked. He started walking towards me again, but this time I didn't step back. I just stood there, waiting for him to come. When he did, he grabbed my chin tightly, bringing my face so close to his that our lips were almost touching. He smirked and said...

"Ugly..."

His eyes were dark, looking at me with something so dangerous that it made me gulp in fear. He chuckled suddenly, making me frown, and then tightened his grip on my face.

"Ugly, yes you are, so pathetically ugly. And yes, I hate ugly things like you who have these plump red lips," he said as his eyes traveled to my lips, then met mine again before saying, "these brown doe eyes, this small pointed nose." He moved his face even closer until his nose touched mine. His fingers caressed my cheeks as he continued, "these puffy red cheeks, this body," his gaze traveled down, scanning me, which made me shiver.

"So perfect, so hot," he said again, and I couldn't say anything after that. I just wanted him to let me go, yet I had a question I was scared to ask, but I did.

"D...do y...you l...ove m...me?" I asked, trembling in his hold. He chuckled, and I grew even more confused.

"I hate beautiful and pathetic things, butterfly..."

"And you are both," he said and pushed me away harshly. I fell to the ground, and a painful whimper escaped my lips as I felt a sudden pain in my toe. It was bruised, revealing a small amount of blood. I stood up and sighed, at least that wasn't as bad as it could have been.

I started walking towards the stairs and saw him again, a cigarette between his lips, his eyes locked on me.

"Let's go," he said, and I nodded. He walked ahead while I followed him from behind. Once we reached his car, I heard a horn from the opposite side and saw my dad through the front windshield. I quickly ran towards him, opened the door, and sat inside. Dad reversed the car, and I saw Rhys again. This time, his eyes showed nothing but redness, and I quickly slid down in my seat to escape his gaze. Yet I saw him throw the cigarette harshly onto the road.

"Are you okay, sweetie?" Dad asked, and I took a deep breath before replying, "Yeah, everything's okay, Dad."

"Who is that boy?" he asked again.

"Senior..." I said softly, and he hummed.

I sat comfortably in the seat and sighed. I think I made another mistake...

We both reached home, and I quickly ran to my room to change into pajamas.

I lay down on my bed for a few minutes, then stepped out towards the kitchen when suddenly the doorbell rang.

I looked at the door curiously as Mom opened it slowly, and my eyes widened in shock...

"Rhys..." I whispered as his gaze met mine and then shifted to Mom. He smiled at her.

"Who?" Mom asked.

"Maya's friend," he said, and Mom frowned before reverting to a polite smile and inviting him inside. Mom made him sit on the sofa, where he sat as if it were his own home. Dad came in and arched an eyebrow at him, but Mom explained that he was my friend, which I wanted to deny but couldn't.

Mom and Dad sat opposite him, and I quietly took a seat in an empty chair far from Rhys.

"Maya..." Rhys said in his deep voice.

"Y...yeah," I replied, stuttering.

"You forgot this," he said, showing me a book in his hand that I had never seen before. Still, I slowly nodded my head and said, "Thank you, and I'm sorry for troubling you..." I said in a soft voice, clenching my fists.

He smiled creepily while looking at me and said, "Oh, forget it. It's my duty to take care of my junior's things."

"What's your name, son?" my dad asked, and Rhys replied, "Rhys Bernard." My dad's eyes widened, and he turned to me. I gulped; it was awkward and scary at the same time.

"Then I'll go..." Rhys said.

"No, no... you've come here for the first time. Wait, I'll make something for you..." Mom said, getting up, but Rhys quickly interjected.

"It's okay, Aunty, I'll come some other time," and then there was silence. He got up from his seat, looked at me with the same dark gaze, and left.

Mom and Dad both turned towards me, and I just looked down, not knowing what to say.

"What was that, Maya?" Mom asked, and I stayed silent.

"He won't like it..." Dad said in a stern tone, and I gulped in fear.

"You can't have a boy as a friend, sweetie," Mom said, and I nodded slowly, getting up from the seat and running to my room with the book in my hand.

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