The Monster Inside Me

Chapter 20: Why... Why...?

~Seker's POV~
I had managed to calm down after the bitchy lady left.
But that was over and done.
It was finally time for Jayn and my date.
I had been hiding something from him... Which was odd for me...
But it was a sparkly, golden ring...
I had been saving up for it for months-- ever since his mother made the comment:
"Hey, Seker, when are you finally gonna propose? Jayn has been giggling and fantasizing about it for a month."
"Oh, really...? I guess I could... Should I ask Mr. Holiday for Jayn's hand?"
"No, honey. You don't have to do that." She smiled at me," But it's nice of you to think of that."
I sighed," But what if he says no?"
"He won't. Don't worry." She smiled widely at me.

I was extremely nervous... I'd never felt this nervous in my entire life...
"Seker?" Jayn said, looking at me. I blushed, realizing I had zoned out.
"Yeah, sorry..." I mumbled, looking at him and starting to trace my tattoos nervously.
"It's alright." He smiled and his eyes glittered.
"So, what do you want to eat?" He said softly, reaching across the table for my hand. I took it, the smoothness calming me down.
"I'm not hungry..." I said softly-- it was true, I ate last night.
I think he could tell I was anxious. But he didn't know what it was about.
"Seker, do you want to go home?" He frowned slightly and I smiled weakly.
He must've taken that as a yes, because he grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the restaurant and to the car. I felt bad now... which was making me even more anxious. I felt like I was going to puke.
"Seker, are you alright?" Jayn frowned, stopping and staring at my face. His eyes were scanning mine, for some kind of hint. I shook my head, feeling the hot bile in my throat-- threatening to flow out of me.
He nodded and said," Can I drive us home first?"
I shook my head, right before I lunged for the bushes and puked.
It burned. Why... why... why....? I thought weakly. Why can't I do anything right?!
I started crying, with Jayn gingerly stroking my hair and back.
"Shh..." He cooed softly.
I managed to choke out," I'm a failure! A monster! You pity me, don't you?! That's why you date me!"
Jayn stared at me, then hugged me-- starting to cry himself.
"Seker! No! That's not true!" He sobbed softly, as I cried into his shoulder. I clenched his shirt in my fists, not able to calm him or me down.
"Please... Don't say that... It hurts... It hurts me so badly..." He said weakly.
I hugged him tighter," I'm sorry... So sorry... I'll never amount to much... And I just want to give you the world..." I took a shaky breath, slowly calming down as he rubbed my back.

I don't remember what happened after that-- I think I fell asleep against Jayn's shoulder. But, I woke up in bed with Jayn cuddled to my chest. I was in my usual sleep attire-- which confused me more-- because I was shirtless and just in my boxers.
I yawned, then buried my face in Jayn's hair. I was too tired to really question anything.

I was exhausted, honestly. I didn't want to get up, but Jayn was already starting to shift in my arms and tried to wiggle away from me. Then a sudden panic came over me. Oh God... What if he saw the ring? I knew it would take a long time before I would be ready to ask him, but that really freaked me out. I sighed and let go of Jayn, who murmured," Did I wake you up?"

"No, Jayn. You didn't. I was already awake."

"Do you feel better?" He said softly, sitting up and staring at me with his sparkling pink eyes. So beautiful. I nodded slightly, then started stroking his hair. He smiled at me and gingerly caressed my face in his hands. I sighed in a soft relief. He truly cared, but I still couldn't shake that feeling of dread...

~Jayn's POV~

I felt bad for Seker, yes. But I still couldn't wrap my mind around why Seker had so suddenly started acting up last night. It was strange, and I could tell he was anxious about something-- but I couldn't seem to figure it out.

Everything had been going by so quickly, but I remembered what my teacher said... Could this be the start of his slow decline into death...?

No. I wouldn't allow that.
But...
But...

I stared at Seker. I scanned his dark purple iris for some kind of clue of what was happening. "Seker, what's wrong?"
His eye flashed away from me, giving away that there was something seriously bothering him.
"Last night... I... Erm..." I watched him struggle for the right words. Then he went completely silent. I raised a brow expectantly.
"I... I was trying to..." He mumbled, then said something I couldn't hear.
"What?"
"I was trying t-to p-p-propose... T-To y-you..." He muttered out, blushing a deep red that made him look so cute.
"Really?" I said, giggling softly," Is that why you were so nervous?" He nodded.

So. That's what it was. My mom must've told him... My poor little Seker...

Later, I decided to call my mom and talk to her about it.
"Did you tell Seker?"
"Tell him what?" She said innocently.
"To propose to me."
"I may have encouraged it, yes."
"Well, he got so nervous that he threw up."
"Sorry, I can't help that the kid is extremely anxious about everything."
"Now he refuses to come out of bed and he won't really talk to me."
"That's not my fault. He's anxious because when he would make a mistake, his parents would beat him. "
"I swear to God, it's gotten worse since his father took him away from me."
"I know, you're gonna have to figure out how to fix that. Oh, your dad is calling me. Bye, sweetie." And she hung up. She was right. I had to do something to take care of Seker... But what?

Then I felt a hand cover my mouth and there was a loud growl that came from our bedroom.

"So this is the boy who ruined our son." A feminine voice came from behind my head. Then Seker was thrown to the ground in front of me, and his father was standing behind him. Seker was growling loudly, and all I could do was watch. Seker's eye was bloodshot as he watched his father, obviously terrified.
"Oh, shut up." His father said as he kicked Seker in the ribs. Seker hissed in pain, then stopped growling, and curled up into a tight ball on the floor.

Then he threw Seker's claws at him, which he promptly snatched from the air and slipped on.
"Kill him, or we'll make you watch him die."
I watched as horror spread across Seker's face.
"NO!" He screamed," NO!" He lunged at his father and started clawing at his face.
Then I felt a sharp pain of agony as I watched Seker get thrown across the room...