Chapter 10

"Kayish enough!!" I cried loudly but he didn't stop punching the guy hard on his stomach. I tried to stop him but he shoved me away and continued his attack on the guy over and over again.

"Leave it Kayish, Please!! He’s not worth it." I begged him to let that poor guy go and sunk to the floor feeling defeated when I figured that he is not going to listen to me. Finally, he met my eyes and his features soften a bit. He let the poor guy go and walked over me. He kneeled beside me and the angry gaze he had on his face replaced with pure worry.

"You okay?" He asked while cupping my cheeks in his hands. I managed a nod but flinched slightly when his finger barely brushed my lips. In an instant, his features changed and he tried really hard to control it. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them with hurt and worry look direct at me.

"Come with me.” He took my hands within his and helped me to stand.

“Wh..Where?” I asked him with my trembling voice.

“Let’s go to the hospital. I need to make sure you’re okay." He grabbed my wrist and guided me to follow him and I hesitantly followed his long step towards the parking lot.

"No Kayish, I am fine. Really... I don't need to go...”

"No argument, Riya!" He harshly cut my attempt of declining his offer; His voice was hard and his angry face covering his feature said to me that there’s no room for any argument. With a defeated sigh, I climbed into his car.

I know at this moment he’s mad at me. He warned me about this several times, asking me nicely to stay away from Jason Khahir but I didn't take his words seriously as I always thought Kayish only didn’t want me to have another guy friend beside him, and I find it amusing when he warned me about my friendship with another boy.

How wrong I was. He said those words just to protect me but it took me this century to understand his scrutiny.

Today Jason asked me to hang out and I gladly accepted the invitation. We were at a bar near the campus as he suggested, and just having some drinks and snacks. But after moments passed, he started to get his dirty way towards me. His hands get all over me in a pervert way, and I was getting uncomfortable with his touch. I tried to shove his hands several times, and he always gets another excuse and attempted to touch me in any way.

In the end, I felt really uncomfortable with his way of treating me and told him I need to go. Instead of letting me go, he tried to grab my ass and I slapped him hard before heading to the exit door and started to walk on the street.

Before I understand what’s happening around me, a hand grabbed my shoulder and shoved me against the wall harshly, this made me caught off guard and when I directed my gaze towards the source, I flinched. It was Jason who now, trying his hardest to kiss me.

I bit his lip as hard as I could but it seems my defence to bite him only drove him to be angrier than he already was. He raised his hand and slapped me hard like a rumble of heavy thunder. I let out a scream and cried out when I fell on the floor and my face contacted with the hard metal.

I have no energy left in me to defend myself, so like any other weak girl, I let myself sobbing. I was afraid of his bloodshot eyes which looked fierce, and he was way too strong for my strength, and every attempt to run away from him at this moment will be useless.

As if he understood I was unable to defend myself, he took this as his cue and grabbed my shoulder roughly. When he was about to drag me for God's know where someone threw a punch on his face and he fell on the floor with a heavy thud.

I looked towards the Angel who gave Jason a punch and when I was ready to say my gratitude for saving me, I froze when I met an angry Kayish. In a blink of an eye, he charged towards Jason and threw another punch over his body again and again, almost as if he tried to send Jason’s life to hell.

Despite my relief that Kayish showed up, I feel guilt in my guts for not taking his words seriously before and now I got my punishment.

After Dylan's encounter, we became good friends, but I never really think that he would care for me this deep until today. I thought I was just another friend to him, but today his anger showed me he has a special place for me in his life and he cares for me a lot which I failed to notice earlier.

"Kayish." I called his name in a whisper but he only focused on his drive didn't bother to glance at my side. As I understood this situation is 100% my fault, somehow, I knew it's my responsibility to make him feel better.

"Say something please." I pleaded when I only met another silent treatment from him. It hurts, more hurts than he shouts at me or gets a slap from Jason. And at this moment tears were pooled down through my cheeks when I realize he will not answer me or try to talk to me.

He stopped his car after a while and climbed out without saying any words and opened the door for me. I silently hopped out of his car and realized he had parked his car in front of his apartment; well it's not the hospital then. But at this moment, I don’t dare to give him another comment or questioning his action.

We arrived in his apartment and he told me to wait in the living room before he suddenly disappeared into one of the rooms that I assume was his room. His apartment is big enough, but it's too quiet here.

He is living alone in his apartment as he told me he never interested to share his room with anyone. He said he would like to have some privacy. But I thought he never shares whatever is rightfully his.

I snapped out of my surroundings when I saw Kayish coming to the living room; his hand held a first aid kit. Without other words, he just sat on my right side and tried to clean my brushed lips. I struggled to hold back my groan but flinched lightly when he applied some iodine.

We stayed silent for a moment and the air getting heavy for me.

“I’m sorry...” I mumbled in an attempt to make him talk to me. But he remained his silent treatment, and it hurt me more to witnessing him this way.

"Please say something." I cried and I felt tears are rolling down my cheeks like a waterfall.

"What do you expect me to say Riya when you are not ready to take my words seriously; you do not care enough for yourself." He endured an answer and I can tell that he is maintaining his calm tone, but it doesn't fail to show the authority in it.

"Let's get you home, it's getting late. Your bruise is not really serious, just cleaning it with alcohol will be fine. No need to go to the hospital, or are you hurt in another place?” He asked without taking a glance in my direction and started to search for the key.

“I will drop you, your parents may not worried about you but still, people outside care for you...." he added without waiting for another reaction from me, and from the way he told me, he almost referring that it's him who will care for me even my parents not.

"I won't....." I whispered the words that came into my mind first to make him face me.

"What?" He looked in my direction and I forced myself to glance at him.

"I won't repeat the same mistake again, please.... stop your treatment." For the first time after getting me from the bar, he bestowed me full of his relaxed gaze and saw me in the eye just like he always did. He even managed a small smile as he satisfied with my words

"Okay then, let's get you home. You’ll be fine.” He said with a more calm voice this time and took my wrist to follow him.

We stopped at a restaurant to have dinner before he dropped me at my home. Points to mention, My parents didn't bother to ask about my bruised face or why I was late and I am more than glad about it, I didn’t need to explain myself.

After changing into my pyjamas, I jumped on the bed but my mind is wondering what just happened with Kayish. He changed a lot and he changed me too. He brings happiness to my life and teaches me real life. Yeah! a real life.

At first, I was not sure about us hanging together. I kinda feel uneasy about him but he never forces me to do things and somehow, this small act from him, makes my heart bloom with happiness for his care.

I continued to think about him, and when my eyes getting heavy I realized my heart and mind is still full of him. “What did you do to me Kayish?” I asked myself before drifting into a peaceful slumber.