ᴇQᴜᴀʟʟʏ ᴅᴇʀᴀɴɢᴇᴅ

𝟳

After I went to Desiree's house, I waited in the bedroom for her. I watched as she went into the bathroom, but she was taking an unusually long time. I started to worry, and when I couldn't stand it anymore, I went inside. What I saw shocked me. She was sitting on the floor, her hands covered in blood, her knees pulled to her chest, asleep. I bit my lip, staring at her naked body.

Not the time, Kaito.

I cleaned her hands gently, then lifted her into my arms. I turned off the shower, dressed her in a pajama top, underwear, and leggings. I tucked her into bed, pulling the blanket over her. As I gazed at her tear-streaked face, I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the intense connection I had with her. This girl had a power over me, a hold on my heart that I couldn't explain. All I wanted was to protect her.

I had been angry at my dad for seven years when he took me to Korea. I hadn't seen Desiree in so long, and now I was here, wanting to shield her from whatever pain she was going through.

"What did you have to endure while I wasn't here?" I whispered, softly caressing her curly fro before placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. I grabbed her bonnet and carefully placed it on her head.

"I love you, Desiree Huley," I whispered in her ear.

I felt her hands tighten around my chest, and she murmured my name softly. Does she remember? She used to call me Kai when we were younger. Is she getting her memories back? A smile tugged at my lips as I lay beside her, pulling her close, feeling her warmth. I fell asleep next to my sleeping beauty.

⸻

"Where were you last night?" I asked Desiree over the phone.

There was a long silence, and I could hear her breathing on the other end.

Last night, I saw her get out of a guy's car. I wanted to see if she'd lie to me.

"Desiree?" I called, my voice firmer this time.

Desiree POV

"Where were you?" he repeated, his voice more insistent.

My heartbeat sped up, my palms began to sweat, and the phone slipped in my hand. I quickly switched it to my other hand, rubbing my palm against my jeans. My throat tightened, and I felt like I couldn't breathe.

Why was I acting like this? This was all because of him and that damn dream. Ever since that dream with Kai, I've developed this sense of bashfulness. Somehow, I felt connected to him in a way I couldn't explain. Now, I knew for sure we had met before—just like he said.

"Desiree," he said softly, breaking me from my thoughts.

"I-I-I was with a friend, I told you," I mumbled, but my stomach twisted in guilt. I felt disappointed in myself for lying to him.

The image of his lifeless body flashed in my mind again. My nerves failed me. My hands began to shake, so I closed my eyes, counting to ten. I opened them again, trying to regain control.

"Desiree, I miss you. Can I see you?" Kai asked.

"Sure, yeah," I mumbled, my voice weak.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly.

Those three words broke me. I couldn't hold it in anymore. I collapsed into tears, sobbing for Tyson, for what he didn't deserve. I cried for my brother Shaun, who had taken his life at 17 because of the bullying and the pain our mom had caused him. I cried for what Tyson and his friends had done to me. And I cried for the new person I had become—someone my mom and uncle had shaped, someone I let grow.

I slid to the ground, curling into myself, pulling my knees to my chest, and burying my face in my legs, letting the tears fall freely.

⸻

I heard the door open, but I didn't bother to look up. Someone lifted me into their arms and sat me on their lap. I buried my face into their neck, inhaling that familiar cologne.

Kai.

I hugged him tightly, my body trembling as I continued to cry.

"너는 괜찮을거야. 너를 항상 보호 해줄 것을 약속한다. 너를 사랑해, 지금 여기 있어요," he whispered in my ear. (Translation: You'll be alright, I promise to always protect you. I love you, I'm here now.)

I lifted my head and met his gaze. His eyes held so much tenderness, and I couldn't stop myself from leaning in and kissing him. He kissed me back, soft and gentle. There was something different about the way he kissed me—about the way he touched me. It felt like he was lighting up the darkest parts of me, like he was creating something beautiful from the empty canvas that I was. He was the artist, and I was the art.

I wrapped my arm around his shoulder, the kiss deepening and growing more intense. His grip on my waist tightened, his tongue dancing with mine. With his other hand, he caressed my face, sending shivers through me.

"I want you," I whispered softly, feeling a heat rise inside of me that only he could extinguish. I started to grind against him, desperate for more.

But he stopped me, gripping my waist and pulling back from the kiss.

"We need to talk, Desiree. This is what a relationship is about—communication, not just sex," he said, holding my face gently in his hands.

I pushed his hands away, standing up and turning my back on him.

"I don't want to talk," I said coldly. "I want to fuck. And if you're not going to give that to me, then leave. Or I'll find it somewhere else."

Dejah's voice took over, and I felt an overwhelming surge of attitude and defiance.

No.

I tried to scream internally, to regain control of my body. I didn't want to lose someone I actually cared about.

But then his grip tightened around my arm, spinning me around to face him.

"THE FUCK DID YOU JUST SAY?" He shouted, his anger apparent in his eyes. He was squeezing my arm so hard it hurt. I knew it would leave a bruise.

"I'm going to fuck someone else if you don't want to fuck me. Period," Dejah repeated, looking him dead in the eye.

He pressed down harder on my arm, and I winced, but I didn't back down. I kept staring into his eyes, trying to show him that I wasn't afraid.

His grip shifted to my neck, pushing me against the wall, choking me as his fist slammed into the wall beside my face. I felt the cold air on my skin as I struggled to breathe.

"Don't fuck with me, Desiree," he said, his voice calm but deadly. "Fuck around, and I might kill you and that bastard."

I couldn't breathe. I didn't make a sound, but inside, my body betrayed me, a rush of warmth flooding between my legs.

Freaky bitch.

"I'M NOT FUCKING PLAYING WITH YOU, DESIREE!" He shouted again, slamming my head into the wall. The impact made my head throb, and I felt dizzy.

I tried to push him off me, but my body was weak.

"Fuck you, Kai," Dejah spat, still in control.

He punched the wall once more, his anger boiling over. "I'm leaving before I do something I'll regret," he muttered, pushing me against the wall one last time before walking out of the room.

"Fucking pussy," Dejah murmured.

"Why'd you have to go and do that?" I shouted at him, my voice breaking. "You just can't let me be happy for once, can you?"

"Whatever, it won't last. You're not going to marry him anyway," Dejah shot back. "You already know, Hoe life or No Life."

"Give me back control, Dejah!" I screamed.

"No," she replied flatly.

"Dejah, I SAID TO FUCKING GIVE ME BACK MY BODY!" I screamed, desperation flooding my voice.

"I say no, bitch. You're stupid, and why the fuck are you taking those pills? One pill won't do, sweetie. Why don't you pop ten?" she taunted.

"Leave me alone and GET THE FUCK OUT!" I screamed.

And then everything went black.