Vicious people doing despicable things

14 It will all go down in flames

Mark

We stop to get breakfast at a restaurant near a gas station. The girl who has brought our dishes is openly staring at Nam's bruises, but Nam pretends he doesn't notice it. His face is not swollen anymore, but his black eye got darker, and the bruise on his chin has a brownish tone now. It's weird how accustomed I got to seeing him like this. I know his face is bruised and puffy and tired after the sleepless night, and his hair is a mess, but still, he looks gorgeous.

"I talked to Mom," I say, scooping rice with my spoon. "She doesn't mind if we bring a cat home."

"What?" Nam peers up from his plate, mouth full of food, eyes wide in surprise.

"We can take Princess home if you want."

"Of course I want! Really?"

I nod.

"I want to kiss you so much right now." His happy smile makes my heart feel so big. I'm finally doing something right, and it feels amazing.

"We can go to the shelter on Monday," I offer, reaching across the table to swipe an imaginary grain of rice off his lip. He catches my hand and kisses it. My blood goes south. We are in public, and there is sand in my pants, and it feels extremely uncomfortable. Argh! "Come on," I say, yanking my hand back. "If we hurry up we'll be home in an hour. I desperately need a shower."

He smirks at me, reading my dirty mind.

It's afternoon when Nam finally parks at my house.

A young woman stands by the door, looking a bit lost and confused.

"P'Milk!" Nam shouts, opening Lexie's door. He runs to her, scoops her in his arms, lifts her off the ground, and spins her around. The woman laughs and hugs him back.

"I missed you so much," she says when Nam puts her down. "You never call!" She slaps his shoulder. "Jesus! Look at your face! You look like a criminal! If not for Mom and N'Fort, I would've known next to nothing about you! You never tell me anything!" She slaps him again.

"Ow! Stop it," Nam catches her hand before she can hit him again. He's smiling at her, so earnest, soft, and cute. From the expression on his face, I know exactly who this woman is.

I slowly approach them and wai P'Milk when she turns to me. She narrows her eyes and looks back at Nam. "Is he a reason behind the emergency sandwich-making master class in the middle of the night?" Nam nods with a shy, happy smile on his lips.

"Mark," he says to me and points at P'Milk, "This is my fiancée." I raise an eyebrow while P'Milk flicks his ear. "Why are you so violent?" Nam whines. "Okay. Fine. My sister, P'Milk. My boyfriend, Mark."

Hearing him say it makes me suddenly shy. I look at my feet and fold my arms.

"Boyfriend? Oh my God! Nam!" She throws her arms around him and then pulls me into the hug too. "I'm so happy for you!"

"Let's go inside and talk there," I offer, wriggling out of her embrace.

I leave them to catch up in the privacy of my room while I take a quick shower and look for snacks in the kitchen. I pause at my door, a tray with sour mango and crab chips in my hand. They are still talking. Should I give them more time?

"What did he tell her?" I hear Nam's voice, tone serious and cold.

P'Milk breathes in sharply. "That you were indecent – his words – and that he tried to teach you a lesson, but you only showed disrespect and ran away with a thug." Nam chuckles. "She said there were blood stains on the carpet." A pause. "She was so scared. She cried when she called me. Nam, she's on your side. She wants a divorce." Silence, fabric rustling, my bed creaking. "He's a bloodthirsty monster. Nam, you can't stay here. I'm not leaving without you."