Jock Next Bed (BL)
Chapter 139: Throwback (1)

Chapter 139: Throwback (1)

5 YEARS AGO

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Mei’s father was livid. His rage turned him into something terrifying, his voice booming through the room as he hurled golf balls at her with alarming precision. He wielded a golf club in one hand, the sharp metallic ping of it striking the floor, making her flinch.

Mei screamed, scrambling around the room, her heart pounding in terror. The door rattled violently as her mother pounded on it from the other side, her voice frantic and high-pitched. "Don’t kill her! Please don’t kill her!" she begged, but her cries only fueled his anger.

Mei’s face was a mess. A cut on her temple trickled blood, and her lip stung from where he’d already struck her. She was sobbing uncontrollably, pleading for mercy.

"A girl!" her father bellowed, his face red and twisted with disgust. "I always knew you’d bring me shame! How dare you?!"

It had been a mistake—a stupid mistake. She hadn’t expected to bump into him outside, but he had seen her. He had seen her kissing another girl. She had fortunately texted a quick SOS to Sky to let him know she may be dying soon. The moment she’d gotten home, he’d dragged her by the hair, his grip like a vise, and locked them both in his study.

"I’m sorry!" she cried, trembling. "It was just a joke! I swear!"

"A joke?!" he thundered, his voice shaking the walls. "You think this is funny? You’re a disgusting homosexual! If your mother were like you, you wouldn’t even exist!"

His words were harsh. They were always harsh and usually cut deeper than she believed knives would.

Knives. He had never used those before so she wouldn’t know.n

"You’re trying to ruin me!" he screamed. "You’ll make this family a laughingstock!"

Mei shook her head, choking on her sobs. "I don’t like girls," she lied, desperate. "I don’t, I swear!" she wanted to kneel down to apologize properly. But she knew doing so would give him the chance to get to her easily. At least now, she could still run around the room.

"Liar!" he roared, grabbing a vase and hurling it across the room. It shattered against the wall, shards raining down like glittering daggers.

When he finally caught her, his hand tangled in her hair, yanking her head back. She shrieked, her voice raw, and the pounding on the door grew louder.

"I have a boyfriend!" she blurted out, the words tumbling out in fear. "I swear, I have a boyfriend!"

He froze for a moment, his grip on her hair loosening just slightly. "What did you say?" he snarled.

She finally knelt on the floor, her hands clasped together as if in prayer. "I have a boyfriend," she repeated, her voice breaking. "Please, I swear!"

For the first time, his fury seemed to dim, replaced by something calculating. His lip curled as he stared down at her, then reached for the hunting gun mounted on the wall.

"If you’re lying..." he hissed, leveling the weapon at her. "You won’t live to see another day."

She was lying. She was going to die.

"Now, who is he? Call him this instant!" His voice boomed.

Before Mei could concoct a name, a voice came from outside the door, clear and steady.

"It’s me!" Sky called, his voice laced with urgency as he banged on the door repeatedly. "I’m her boyfriend! I’m here!"

Mei’s father turned toward the door, his eyes narrowing suspiciously.

The banging intensified. "Please don’t hurt her," Sky begged. "I’m sorry we didn’t tell you. We were scared! Please!"

Mei’s father’s grip on the gun tightened, his gaze flickering between the door and his trembling daughter.

Her mother’s voice rose to a near scream. "Let her out! Listen to him!"

Mei stared at the door, her heart caught between terror, fear, disbelief, and relief even as she sobbed. Sky had come. Sky had really come for her.

Mei’s father cast her a look of pure disappointment, his expression seeming to say, ’This is the best you could do?’

Though their families had some old ties—connections that traced back to their grandparents—it was nothing more than faded acquaintanceship. Sky’s family wasn’t even in the same league as theirs, and yet her parents had always liked him. Even Ash, who hardly liked anyone, behaved oddly around Sky, but not in a bad way. And Rain, too, they adored her.

As for Mei, she was closest to Sky. So when her eyes darted toward the door and heard his voice, it was as though salvation had arrived. She burst into tears.

Her father sighed, his lips tightening. With a grimace, he lowered the gun and dropped it on his messy desk before he walked toward the door. When he opened it, Mei’s mother and Sky barged in immediately.

Her mother froze at the sight of her daughter, gasping loudly. Her hands trembled as she shoved her husband back with surprising force, hurling curses at him.

Sky, however, went straight to Mei. Dropping to his knees in front of her, he gathered her into his arms, hugging her tightly. Mei clung to him, sobbing into his shoulder.

Sky looked at her father’s back, anger boiling inside of him. His eyes darted to the golf club on the floor beside him, and his hand reached to grip it. But despite Mei’s state, she noticed and immediately gripped Sky’s arm, shaking her head against his shoulder.

Sky stiffened, sensing her silent warning or plea, but his gaze remained locked on the man’s back. His jaw clenched, but he held his anger in check.

Her father glared at them, ignoring his wife’s shoves and the punches she rained on his chest in fury. After a long moment, his voice cut through the tension.

"We’ll discuss this situation later," he said sternly before shoving his wife aside and striding out of the room.

Mei’s mother turned to her daughter, her hands trembling as she reached for her face. When she saw the cuts and bruises up close, her face crumpled, and she pulled Mei into a protective hug, tears streaming down her face.