Destroy Me Gently:Ex-Enemy Becomes My Lover!
Chapter 26: Cold and Chocolates

Chapter 26: Cold and Chocolates

Chapter TWENTY SIX

**Oliver West**

My alarm bell sounded and I quickly snapped it shut with a swipe of my hand, then I cursed. If it broke like the last one, Mom would bury me alive. It wasn’t as though I got a wink of sleep last night. Each time I closed my eyes, those forbidden scenes from yesterday just kept replaying themselves in my head.

I tried countless times to convince myself that it hadn’t been real. Kieran couldn’t have kissed me. It had all happened in my head, but the fact that I had agreed to be his puppet couldn’t have also been fake.

My nerves thrummed nervously. My heart gave wild kicks each time the memories of those intense metallic gray eyes kicked in.

The way his lips had felt against mine...

Stop it! I screamed at my inward self.

I refused to think more about it or I might just lose whatever sanity I had left.

I also couldn’t forget the way he had further insulted me afterward. The cruel words he’d spat at me, calling me a faggot like it was the most disgusting thing in the world. The way he’d said he just wanted to know what kissing one felt like, as if I was some kind of experiment to him.

The smug look accompanied with the disgust mixed with a flash of anger still burned in my memory.

It hadn’t been my first kiss, but then he had given me my first years ago, but I doubt he remembered that.

With a mom like mine, there was never any talk of me getting a boyfriend. Even though she was supportive of my sexuality and had never made me feel ashamed of who I was, I knew for a fact that she would chase any potential boyfriends away. To her, those puppy love things were distractions that would hinder me from being a successful person later on.

Something told me she was this protective due to the fact that Dad had abandoned us for another woman.

She took the duty of ensuring that she brought us up in the most loving and protective way very seriously.

Not that it bothered me. I wasn’t complaining. Heaven knows no one was interested in my ugly self anyway.

My thoughts betrayed me once again by reverting back to Kieran.

What the hell had gotten into me to have made me agree to his twisted ways? But then he hadn’t left me other choices either. It was either I complied or he would release those nudes.

I couldn’t imagine what would happen to me. I surely wouldn’t be able to show my face anywhere in school.

He was the devil whose purpose was to make me hate the fact that I was alive, but I’d also survived him for years. Surely this time couldn’t be any worse, right?

I closed my eyes, massaging my temples gently with my fingers. A headache was already building and nothing had started yet.

How would I face him today? And what had he meant by me being his puppet? Would he make me do weird things? What if he kisses me again?

A weird sensation curled up in my stomach, making it tighten.

Urgh!

I buried my face between the pillows, very conscious of the fact that the time to get dressed for school was slowly ticking past. Mom would barge in to drag me up at any moment.

Or maybe I wouldn’t have to see him! At least for today?

An idea slowly began to formulate itself in my head. I slowly made my way out of the bed, grabbing the blankets and wrapping them all about me.

I caught sight of my reflection as I passed by the mirror. My hair was a wild, messy flurry spread all over my face. Thick dark circles under my eyes made me look like the walking dead.

Only this time it would work to my advantage.

"Now my well-being and sanity lies in your hands, Mom," I murmured, closing the door behind me.

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"Oh goodness, what happened to you! You really do look sick!" Mom cried, her worried gaze roaming over my features.

I almost felt guilty for making her worried over nothing, but right now I was doing this to prolong my life for as long as I could.

"Do you think you can still make it to school in this condition?" she asked, still looking worried.

Hell no!!! My subconscious screamed.

"I really don’t want to miss school today, but my head... so c-cold," I coughed aloud for effect as the lie spilled out easily.

She held a cool palm to my forehead. A puzzled frown made her brows deepen.

"But your temperature seems okay, or maybe it’s just my hand. Hang on while I go get the thermometer."

Oh no! Would I finally get discovered?

I would be grounded for eternity. Even when I get married and have my own children, I would still remain grounded! Scratch that, I may never have kids well because you know...

She left and returned too quickly for my liking.

"Here, stick this into your mouth."

There was no way I could play any tricks under her watchful gaze.

Just as I introduced the instrument to my mouth, the telephone chose that moment to ring. Her attention left mine as she hurried toward it, grumbling some words under her breath.

Without wasting a second, I dipped the thermometer inside Pumpkin’s mug of hot chocolate.

"Ew! You’re so gross! You totally ruined my drink!" Pumpkin shrieked, loud enough to wake the entire neighborhood. She jumped up from her chair, pointing at her mug with horror. "That thing was in your mouth! Now there’s probably your germs floating around in my chocolate!"

I spared a glance in Mom’s direction and was relieved to see her still busy on the phone.

Pumpkin’s eyes were narrowed in displeasure, then slowly dawned with mischievous understanding. A wicked grin spread across her face.

"Ohhh, I get it now. You aren’t really sick, are you, you big faker?" she said in a sing-song voice, crossing her arms smugly.

"And now you owe me a new hot chocolate because mine is contaminated with your fake sick germs!"

I hated to be such a bad example to my kid sister, but this was a necessary evil I had to commit.

"Shush! Don’t say anything, okay? I’ll buy you two hot chocolates later," I whispered desperately.

"Three," she countered, holding up three fingers with a satisfied smirk.

Before I could decide whether she had agreed to keep quiet or planned to blackmail me further, Mom chose that moment to return.

"Oh my God!" she exclaimed as her gaze examined the thermometer.

"Are you sure you’re going to be fine without a doctor?"

-

-

I tossed and turned, a sound disrupting my beautiful siesta. I tried to block it out, but it sounded yet again.

The doorbell!

My eyes snapped open with a jolt. Someone was at the door?

My gaze fell on the clock and a gasp escaped my mouth. How did I manage to sleep for so long? I guess it was because I hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep last night.

All thanks to HIM.

With a lazy yawn, I pushed my way out of the bed. Who could it be? It surely couldn’t be Pumpkin—she wouldn’t have rung the bell. It couldn’t be Mom either; she had informed me she would be working two shifts.

My bare feet padded on the steps as I headed downstairs.

Or William? Yes, perhaps he was worried about my absence in school, so he came to pay a visit?

Mom had informed our head teacher about my being sick. William wouldn’t know that fact had been a lie.

A smile tugged on my lips. Such a good friend I have.

The bell sounded twice this time. Someone was definitely impatient.

"Will you hang on! I’m not The Flash!" I yelled, yanking the door wide open.

The smile froze in place on my face.

I stared in paralyzed shock. Nothing could have ever prepared me for the sight.

I was aware of the blood draining out of my face. Okay, now I really was sick.

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