His Only love

"Ray? Oh my God-Ray!" Riya burst in, dropping to her knees beside me. "What did they do to you?"

She touched my cheek, and I winced.

"We need to clean this and call Vincent-now." She fumbled for her phone.

I grabbed her wrist desperately. "No! Please, Riya. Vincent will kill him. I don't want blood on his hands."

She glared at me like I'd lost my mind. "Are you crazy? Vincent's going to rip him apart anyway once he sees you like this!"

I looked up at the mirror on the wall. My cheek was already swelling, an ugly bluish-purple bruise forming fast.Panic surged.Vincent couldn't see this. He would destroy the boy... and maybe the entire school with him.

An idea hit me.

I quickly rummaged through my bag, grabbed my face wash, and splashed water on my skin. Riya handed me tissues while muttering threats under her breath. Then I applied concealer, layer after layer, blending until the bruise faded just enough to hide under makeup.

"Please, Riya," I whispered, my voice shaking. "Don't tell Vincent. I'll avoid him today. I'll make an excuse. Just... don't tell him."

She stared at me like she was talking to the biggest idiot alive. "So you're planning to magically disappear on Vincent now?" she deadpanned.

I didn't answer.

"You are so, so stupid, Ray. Do you really think this will ever go unnoticed by him?"

And she wasn't wrong.

Vincent always knew.
Always.