Thrust Into His Arms

Oh. I had forgotten about it before. I was not expecting him to apologize as his mother had already taught him a lesson for it.

"I brought some beer and apples, want some?" He offers.

That makes me cringe out, "Beer and apples?" My brows furrowing at the bad sounding combination.

"Why do you sound like that? You haven’t tried it before?" I am imagining he

currently has that stupid boyish grin on even though I can’t see his face.

I sigh, "Like I said, I want to be alone."

"Bear with my company for just today then.

I won’t bother you next time. I will escort you to the motel when you want to go. Sound good?"

No.

But it does not sound bad either. I don’t want to go back to the stale-smelling air of that motel room so soon.

I seat besides him, putting quite a lot of friendly space between us.

Whatever this guy might do to me, there is no way it can reach half the amount of what Calix and his friends did.

He is a douche. But not the evil and dangerous kind.

He is way too cheesy and funny to be dangerous.

CALIX

I had known exactly when she left the restaurant.

I followed her here after. I had hung around nearby until the restaurant closed. Bracing myself for facing her. But up til now I have not been able to.

I am currently sitting many distance away, pretending to be keeping to myself when I’m actually watching her closely.

The evening is progressing into night, and now I can only see her silhouette figure because of the moon. She is calmly lying on the shore like it’s her home. Isn’t she scared to be out here alone by this time?

Doesn’t she have anywhere to go? How is she feeling and what’s going on in her mind right now?

Those questions have been plaguing my mind.

I have been counting since I saw her. I started with ten, thinking that I would fully gather up the courage and go to her after.

I couldn’t, so I went twenty. Then fifty to eighty, but still. . . . .

I would make the steps from where I am, but when I see myself getting closer, my nerves would win and I chicken out for the fear of a wrenching reaction from her and how it would break me even more than I already am.

’Maybe not today.’ I conclude.

She seems calm and relaxed. I shouldn’t appear and ruin that for her.

She takes a picture of the sky on her phone. Seeing a figure approaching her soon after instantly kicks me out of my fears and indecisiveness.

I march forward, reaching close with the intention of attacking as the guy seemed like a perverted creep. I was prepared for whatever reaction she would make to me rashly and impulsively appearing in front of her.

Reaching closer, I see them sitting side by side. And she is speaking with him comfortably.

I wondered who he is until I realized that his voice sounded like the guy she works with.

Now I am left wondering how close they are. My footsteps slows, and then completely stops. I’m straining my hearing to hear what they are saying as I am far behind them.

I hear him apologizing, with her responding that it is fine and that she had forgotten about it. They both went silent for a while, and then he asked, "Is he in jail now?"

"No. I didn’t report it or tell anyone because I have seen the stigma it gives to other victims.

And I didn’t want that for myself.

So I just barely hanged on until I was able to leave." She answers him.

I know what she is referring to. And it is boring more holes into my heart.

"You made a good decision. It’s not the best since he wasn’t punished, but at least you got yourself away.

You know, smetimes I hate and regret to have been born a male because a lot of them are so disgraceful. I mean. . . . .why would they rape and assault?

Real men do not do that. You were his daughter regardless of biology or not." My ears perked on that statement of his. What is he saying?

"I don’t understand how most old men look at girls younger than them with desire.

I only go out with girls who are around my age. It is always slightly older or younger.

That is one thing that would never change for me."

"Are you sure?" She asked in a teasing manner.

"Yes. I know myself better than anyone."

"How good and nice of you. Goodnight." I turn around and start walking off briskly when she stands up. She might not know that it’s me since it’s a little dark, but I don’t want to take any chances.

She is walking ahead to leave and he is going after her. I wait for a minute before following after them—her specifically.

I need to know where is staying at.

GWENETH

"You’re leaving so soon? You didn’t have the apples."

"I’m not craving apples snow white’s stepmother." I wittingly remark. Grinning to myself at how fitting it sounded.

He laughs, his voice and presence close. "Very funny. Keep being like this. It does suit you a lot."

I kept moving until I was sure that he is following me. Last time I checked, he and his mother live quite far away and the direction is not the same as I where I’m living.

I stop to look at him, "Are you following me?"

"Hmmm mmm. It’s pretty late, have you forgotten what I said about escorting you back?"

Right. He did say that.

"No. I just did not hold you up to it. People don’t keep good promises.

They only make sure to keep bad ones." That came out subconsciously. I didn’t intend to say that.

It instantly takes my mind to a promise someone made and fulfilled.

He made my life more than hell.