Kayla's POV
The bright sunlight slipped through the curtains, which had been opened by one of the maids. I could hear gentle whispers as they bantered about who was going to wake me up.
Well, there was no need for that; my back felt tense, so I stretched out, hearing a small crack. A sigh of relief left my lips.
Slowly opening my eyes, the sudden light burned, so I quickly shut them and then squinted slightly to see four maids right in front of my bed with their heads bowed.
I hated this, and I wished my father listened every time I told him I was fine. It was just one...one very breaking incident...I am stronger than that. I don't need maids or security guards.
Then, the voice of one of the maids snapped me out of my thoughts. "Ma'am, are you alright?" I was confused by her question until something wet fell onto my blue sheets. Rain? Was the roof leaking? Why is there...my hand slowly went to my face, and then I realized I was crying.
Fuck, I hated this. I just wanted to forget; I wanted to...be happy. "Get out." I knew my voice sounded croaky, but they understood me since this wasn't my first time waking up to tears.
As they began walking to the door, I heard their low whispers, words they didn't want me to hear. "I feel pity for her." "She didn't deserve what happened to her." I ignored them and waited until they shut the door behind them before wiping my eyes furiously.
I wore my flip-flops and began walking to the bathroom. I shredded my clothes off me, and then a sparkle passed by the side of my eyes. The mirror...they fixed the mirror...I had broken it a day before.
I walked slowly to it and stared at my bare body, trying to flex my sexiness like all girls did when they stood in front of the mirror, but I couldn't. I felt disgusted...irritated by the sight of my body, and then I heard them...those voices.
"Look at you..."
"Tainted body, weak being."
"Hands touched that body of yours...
I feel disgust by staring." Please make them stop; my hands went over my ears as I sunk to the ground, shaking my head frantically.
Please make them stop; their voices became louder, a piercing scream left my lips as I tugged roughly on my hair, wishing they would stop.
My fears had begun to choke me; my vision blurred. I just wanted them to stop; I wanted to forget.
Another scream left my lips, and then the bathroom door was opened...more like slammed open. My gaze slowly went up, and I saw him...the one person who could make me calm in any of this situation.
"M...Michael," his name slipped from my lips smoothly. He rushed to me and bundled me in his arms, whispering words I needed.
"You're beautiful."
"You're wanted."
"I want you." Slowly, the voices became whispers, and then they were gone. I stayed limp in his arms until he raised me and placed me into the warm bath water.
"Are you okay, Princess?" His soothing voice sent a calm sensation down my spine and into my bloodstream.
"I'm sorry I acted out again," I said without looking at him, not wanting to see the disappointed look on his face.
A hand gripped my chin and turned my head; my gaze locked with one of the most captivating brown orbs I'd ever seen...one I was in love with. "You didn't act out...it was just one of your moments, okay?" He asked, waiting for me to reassure him.
It wasn't one of my moments; it was a daily attack, one I hated, one I wished I was free from. But to reassure him and put him at ease...I nodded.
"I'll wait outside for you," he says and stands up, sending a breathtaking smile my way before walking out.
I sighed and closed my eyes.
This wasn't the first time he saw me have a panic attack; he knew of my secrets, except for that...that night...the night that ruined my whole life. I clumsily tried to bring myself to tell him...I didn't want him to feel disgusted or irritated and walk away from me. I knew I was too dependent on Michael, but at this point...I needed someone to tell me that I'm enough.
••
As Michael's car parked in front of the huge campus, I let out a sigh. If I had a choice, I would never step out of my home or even think of attending classes.
"Kayyyy," the shrieked voice of my best friend was heard, and then I felt a heavy load on my back as I stumbled forward, trying to get a good grasp of the floor so I wouldn't end up tumbling to the ground
"I miss you," she says and jumped from my back, Gawd, she is heavy.
"Same, Anita." Unlike other girls who shorten their names, I call her by her full name to reserve the beauty of it.
"Hi, Michael," she says and rolled her eyes; he scoffs and looks away. For some unknown reason, they never got along; their hate for each other was impenetrable. I tried making them get along, but that ended up with a broken nose....don't ask how.
"We have class soon...let's go," she says and roughly tugged on my hand, beginning to pull me into the campus. Eyes turned to us; I quickly curtained my face using my long, thick hair. I hated stares, gossips, whispers.
"I don't like him," Anita's voice broke me out of my thoughts. I turned to her, confused; I hadn't heard her well. "Michael," she says his name, and I mentally roll my eyes, knowing what she meant. "He's a nice guy," I support Michael, but she ignored my words and turned on her phone. A loud squeal left her lips.
Her eyes sparkled with admiration; the sides crinkled as she let out a smile and began jumping happily. "It's Romeo, ahhhh," she screamed and practically shoved the phone in my face. I stumbled back from the impact of her phone hitting my nose. Gawd, will I end up with a broken nose again?
"Fuck, he's so hot," she says and bit her bottom lip. I moved to her side and stretched my head to see the screen of her phone clearly. Anita had a huge crush on this man named Romeo. According to her, he was a billionaire, even richer than my dad, and according to her, he was breathtaking.
"His eyes are so fucking seductive, and his hands...imagine them roaming..." I cut her off, knowing what she was about to say. "TMI, Anita," I snapped, and she giggled before we continued our journey to class.
Due to my love and passion for writing, I ventured into literature. My first day of freshman year was when I bumped into Anita; it turned out she was also studying literature, and since then...we've been best friends.
As we took our seats, the lecturer walked in. I listened with rapt attention as he delved into the meaning behind our typical love story...Romeo and Juliet.
••
I had just two lectures today, and that was over with. I walked out of the campus with my head bowed, my gaze on the floor, when I heard a very familiar horn. My gaze snapped up, and I met Michael's warm eyes; a smile was on his lips. Girls watched from the sides as I walked to him slowly.
His hand went around my waist, and he pulled me into a deep hug. My hand slowly reached behind his waist, and I reciprocated the hug. "How was class?" he asks as he opened the car door for me. "It was normal," and as he drove, I began telling him all that I had learned today.
I wasn't much of a talker, but with Michael, I could go on and on and on without stopping. As I viewed the structure of my house getting closer, I sighed sadly. Michael chuckled, hearing this.
He parked, and slowly turned my head to his; his lips softly met mine in a warm embrace...I needed that. "Leave your window open tonight," he says after breaking the kiss. I nodded with a smile on my face and got out of the car, and waved at him.
He stayed until I entered through the gate, and then the roar of his car was later heard as he zoomed off. I spotted a car that didn't look familiar at all. Did Dad have visitors? The aura around me was tense and dark; I ignored it and entered through the main door.
My gaze slowly went to the figure of a man seated in front of my father in the living room. My eyebrows crinkled in curiosity, and then I locked eyes with my father. His eyes widened, and then fear filled them...before it vanished.
Slowly, the man stood up with my father, and they shook hands, and then he spoke...the voice every girl would want to hear day and night, a voice you would find in one of your wildest dreams. "I look forward to this collaboration," and then he turned and stopped.
His gaze met mine, and I was struck. His eyes held behind them a lot of mystery...grey orbs that sunk deep into your soul. The corner of his lips slowly turned up into a smirk that held deeper meaning...one directed at me.