UNWANTED DEVOTION

THE ANGER CAUSED BY LOVE

Aron waited near Helen's house, standing at the corner, leaning against his bike. The clear sky gradually darkened, and the night arrived with cold, heavy winds and rain, soaking him completely.

Finally deciding to search for Helen again, he started his bike and drove off, scanning every street.

"Helen..." he shouted desperately down the silent road, searching for his only love.

Morning arrived, and Ryan's phone buzzed, the screen displaying "Dad."
Ryan slowly rose from the bed, answering the call. He walked toward the window and slid the curtains aside. The sunlight made his body glow, his eyes fully open.

"Yes, I'll handle it," he said before ending the call.

He stepped onto the balcony barefoot, gazing at the towering buildings. Ruffling his hair, he decided to take a shower, turning back to his room.

 But as he passed the window, his gaze fell to the glass on the left, where he could see Helen. Wrapped in a white blanket, her shoulder marked with purple hickeys, her long, black hair spread across the pillow like art. Her cherry lips were even redder, and her figure shone under the sunlight like an angel.

Ryan approached the glass, pressing his hand against its slightly warm surface, wiping away dust to see her clearly. His lips curled into a small smile. But when the blanket shifted slightly, revealing her cleavage, his expression darkened.

"Fuck..." he cursed under his breath.

He walked back to the bed, slipping under the blanket and pulling Helen tightly to him. She moaned softly in her sleep, and Ryan lost control, entering her again with a harsh thrust.

"Ryan, no..." Helen gasped, but when he started moving, she finally gave in.

"You're perfect, Helen. So perfect for me, taking me so perfectly," he whispered.

........

Aron stopped the bike again in the same spot by Helen's house, waiting for her. He called her several times, but there was no answer. When it was time for college, he knocked on the door.

"Aunty..." he greeted softly when Helen's mom appeared.

"Good morning, Aron. Didn't Helen tell you? She stayed at a friend's house and might go to college from there," she said with a smile. Aron awkwardly returned the smile.
"Maybe she forgot. It's okay, aunty. I'll check at college," he replied, quickly leaving. Starting the bike again, he rode to the college, but she wasn't there either. An unknown fear began to creep into his heart.

"Let's skip college today," Ryan suggested, and Helen hummed, wrapping her arms around him.

The college day ended, but Aron didn't leave, waiting for Helen to return.

.......

And Finally, he saw her—inside Ryan's car. Aron froze, watching from a distance as Ryan kissed the spot behind Helen's ear. She smiled and then stepped out of the car.

The car drove away, and Helen began walking toward her house. Aron stepped forward until he was standing in front of her.

"Why..." he asked, his voice trembling with emotion, his eyes hollow and lost.

Helen stopped, her heart aching at the sight of Aron's messy, pitiful state. She took a small step toward him, but he backed away.

"Helen..." he whispered, loud enough for her to hear.

"You let him touch you, but you hated my touch. Why?" His voice cracked with the pain he'd endured all day.

"WHY?" he shouted suddenly.

"BECAUSE I LOVE HIM!" Helen screamed, frustrated by the chaos in her heart—torn between Ryan and the guilt she felt for hurting Aron.

"And I love you! What about my love?" Aron shouted, his anger boiling over. He grabbed her neck, pulling her close. His eyes dropped to her neck, and he yanked her top down slightly, staring at her in betrayal.

Helen struggled to push him away, but his grip on her neck didn't loosen. She couldn't breathe.

"Did he... Did he shove himself inside you?" Aron asked blankly.

"A-Aron..." Helen whispered, her eyes widening with shock and hurt.

"DID HE?" Aron roared, pulling her into a harsh kiss, their tears mixing together. His lips moved quickly, taking all of her tears and his own. Slowly, he released his grip on her neck and stepped back, walking toward his bike. He started it and left, wiping his tears repeatedly with the back of his hand.

Helen stood there, watching him leave, tears streaming down her face. She wiped her eyes and walked inside, closing the door softly behind her. Once inside her room, she collapsed on the floor, her sobs filling the room. She didn't know what hurt more—hurting Aron or leaving Ryan.
Meanwhile, Aron slammed his bedroom door shut and broke down, crying loudly.

Ryan parked his car, having watched the entire scene unfold. Twirling his keys in his fingers, he walked inside, humming a tune. As he climbed the stairs, his eyes flicked to Aron's door. He pressed his ear against it, listening to the painful cries of his stepbrother. A cruel smirk spread across his face, remembering how Aron was nothing but a product of his father's affair after his mother's death.

Ryan felt peace wash over him. Taking Aron's happiness felt like justice for all the pain his stepmother had caused him. The woman who had tortured him daily, wishing for him to die so her own son could inherit the family wealth. Now that she was gone, her torment had ended, leaving Ryan feeling triumphant.

Finally, he entered his room, a smile spreading across his face. But as he lay down on his bed, his expression shifted. The image of Aron kissing Helen burned in his mind. Gritting his teeth, he got up, furious at the emotions this twisted love game was making him feel.