Chapter 192: Takeoff
Yeah, Thank goodness for the power outage and that Brad came back. Everything was still the same, thank goodness.
That blackout was a total nightmare for me but kinda like a second chance for Brad.
And Daniel? All that guilt and debt I felt towards him? Gone. After what he did to me last night, all I felt was disgust and hatred.
He almost destroyed me. How could I not hate him?
How could he be so shameless, so filthy, so completely without a moral compass?
After that, I never went back there, and Brad moved back to the school dorm. He hired a caregiver for Daniel and only checked on him occasionally.
I had no idea how Brad dealt with Daniel. I never asked, and I didn't want to know. Just thinking about him brought back that night, making me feel ice-cold.
Daniel, the guy who left such a big mark on my eighteen years, turned into a nightmare that haunted me night after night.
That incident really freaked me out. I was even more scared of the dark and couldn't sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I'd hear Daniel's creepy breathing and words, feel his cold, sticky touch on my skin. I'd wake up and couldn't sleep until dawn.
Brad noticed something was off with me and got some calming meds from a doctor, but they didn't help. Then he took me to a psychologist, who said it was due to excessive fright. To help me out, I needed someone I trusted to be with me and boost my confidence.
To take care of me, Brad rented a two-bedroom apartment near the school and stayed with me.
Brad stopped working overtime. No matter how important his work was, he'd be back before eight, hang out with me while I painted, and then help me fall asleep. And yeah, it was just sleeping, nothing else.
Slowly, I stopped thinking about Daniel and that awful night. I wasn't stressed all the time anymore, started smiling more, and got more cheerful.
Life seemed to be getting back on track, and I found my enthusiasm for life again.
A few times, I'd wake up at night and find Brad's body hot and tense. When I moved, he'd quickly pull away, his Adam's apple bobbing, and his eyes shining brightly.
Brad wanted me, but he knew I was terrified because of Daniel. He'd rather endure it himself, taking cold showers when he couldn't handle it, but never touching me.
To avoid scaring me, even his kisses were just light touches, either on my forehead or my eyes.
One time, I couldn't take it anymore and softly leaned over, placing his hand on my waist.
He got so excited, his big hand roaming from my back to my chest, letting out a satisfied sigh. Just as he was about to press down on me, the memory of that night suddenly surged back. My body started trembling uncontrollably, and tears flowed.
Brad noticed my fear and stopped, gently pecking me until I calmed down. He then held me and said, "Sleep, I won't touch you, don't be afraid."
I cried and apologized, saying I didn't mean it. Brad said it was okay, that it would get better in the future, and that he had waited for so many years.
I really gave it my all, but it just wasn't happening.
That day, his desire was off the charts, and my guilt was eating me alive. I had to do something for him.
Afterwards, Brad awkwardly lay on my shoulder, massaging my sore arm, saying it felt amazing and that he wanted it again tomorrow. He said it was his first time, and I couldn't believe it. A guy almost thirty still having his first time? He got all embarrassed and angry, saying he'd been saving himself for me all these years.
I forgot my fear and resistance, and my triumphant laughter echoed in the dark night. He angrily bit my ear, making me feel all tingly and numb.
Brad moved all my stuff from Daniel's place to our new apartment.
Mindy called me, saying Louis had been super down since he found out I moved in with Brad. He didn't even want to talk and was probably gonna fail his classes because Larry had called on him twice during lectures.
I told her she was imagining things. I believed Louis had feelings for me, but not enough to make him lose the will to live. It was just a temporary thing. After all, it had been almost eight years since he confessed his feelings to me. There was Daniel before, and then Brad, but Louis stayed the same.
In this world, no one is truly indispensable. The whole "can't live without" thing is just because of too much care and reluctance.
I told her this was a rare chance and she should use her feminine charm. Over time, feelings could definitely develop.
She laughed and called me shameless, saying I had corrupted her. Then she quietly admitted she was planning to do just that, but it might take some time.
With Brad around, I bounced back quickly and got better at drawing. The few pieces I sent to Larry got high praise from him.
Time flew by, and June rolled around. I experienced the beauty of National Capital University in early summer for the first time.
One day, I woke up from a nap and went to the apartment to grab something. Without thinking, I found myself in front of the jasmine field by the apartment. The season was perfect, and the white flowers were blooming like crazy, filling the air with their scent.
Maybe it was because Ronan liked jasmine flowers, but I'd always loved the slightly bitter cold fragrance of blooming jasmine since I was a kid.
The jasmine field was a neat rectangle, with a small square nearby where younger students often played roller skating.
I walked along the path to the square, and the view opened up. But instead of lively college students, I saw someone I never wanted to see again in my life.
Daniel was sitting in a wheelchair, with a medium-built guy behind him, holding the wheelchair's handles. He must be the caregiver Brad hired for Daniel.
I thought I had forgotten, but seeing Daniel, the terrifying memories buried deep in my mind suddenly surged up. My heart started pounding irregularly, a chill running up my spine. My hands and feet turned cold, and my body began to tremble.
Everything around me turned freezing cold, and I felt like I was falling into hell.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
