INSUFFERABLE

Chapter 4

Daryl was enraged when he returned for lunch, taking in the now broken room of his and the raw rage in his eyes stuttered my breath, instinct telling me to hide away, putting myself far from him but I fight it with all I might.

Even the women who always sending foods to us seems shocked, no more like horrified and I think I know why. Every woman in DOTE had been taught by the idea that they are to obey, to be good and to speak only when spoken too.

Never to raise their voice, speak out their opinions and definitely never to acting out. It seems like I managed to break all of the norms in my short period in this damn forsaken place.

I look at him defiantly that evening when he returned again for the day. Foods were robbed from me, perhaps it was my punishment but I don’t think I would get away that easy. He sighed, looking at the same wrecked as he had seen this afternoon.

He walked around the room and his eyes caught the sight of his broken laptops. I gulped when he turned around, glaring at me. My eyes widened slightly as he started to walk towards the bed, towards me and when he was close enough, his hand retracted backward and before I could process it a hard slap came down to my cheek, shoving my lithe body to the side.

My lips quiver, eyes teary when the hot pain pulsating my left side of face. I came from a place where physical violence is shun upon. My community believed violence is an unnecessary option to a situation that can be handle better with words and other humane but strict punishment.

So the blow was new to me, something that I never thought I would ever experience. Shame washed over me for a reason I can’t explain.

“You really wanna fight me?”

“I wanna go home.”

He gritted his jaws. “This is home.”

I shake my head feebly. “You kidnapped me, locked me against my will, mentally torturing me and physically hurting me.” I turned gaze to him, looking directly into his icy eyes. “This is not home, this is hell.”

There’s something changed in his gaze, they still glint dangerously but it feel less cold now.

“You’ll come to learn and accept my people’s customs because this is the only home you have now. The life you had before, they don’t exist anymore.”

My chest heaved at his twisted words. I f*****g loathe this sick creature of a man and a strong urge to hurt him physically lick my core but I know that would backfire.

Daryl is easily twice my size and he definitely stronger. I already got the taste of his slap and I don’t think I want any more of that.

The thought makes my heart constricted with pain. If I thought this was bad enough, I wonder how the other women must have felt. I wanted to throw another tantrum to get back for his stupid slap so that I can call it even but deep down I know the harder I resist the worst it would be for me.

Daryl would only lock me inside longer and he won’t trust me easily. I have to get him on my good side, fooling him into lowering his guard around me.

I truly think fate is on my side when my body suddenly struck with a high fever that night after I took a cold shower. I actually kind of expecting it.

My body had been slightly warm and sluggish since this morning and on evening my limbs had started to shake a bit.

Daryl suddenly turned into this caring man, taking care of me, making sure I was carefully tucked in the bed, no longer telling me to clean the mess I created.

Instead, three women came in and worked the place silently until all traces of mess I had made disappeared. Now the room look strangely barren.

“Why those women are so quiet?” I asked hoarsely.

He hummed, sitting on the bed next to me, reading a book while I was comfortably laid on my back covered with a thick blanket.

“They were owned women, flirting with other men is ban for them.”

I frown at the absurd rule but ask another question anyway.

“If the women aren’t owned, then they are allowed to flirt?”

He look up from the stack of paper, staring ahead looking a bit unsure. “Yes. But women doesn’t need to flirt. If they proved to be worthy of being own, they will definitely be claim by someone.”

There were a lot of problems with what he just said but at this stage, I was aware that his head had been fixed by this disgusting rules that to him the supposed norm is wrong. I decided to steer it in different direction.

“Is that why you chose me? Because I was worthy of being owned?” I felt nauseated by my own words.

Daryl looked down at me for a second I thought he could see right through me, thinking maybe it’s too fast. But his answered soothe my raging mind.

“No. you are more of a trouble than what you are worth.” I frowned, confused.

“But I had chosen you, so you’ll be mine until I said otherwise.”

I gulped, “If you decided not to own me anymore, then what happened?” I’m scared of the answer I might get.

He sighed, putting the book aside. “Then you’ll be send to the ditch, to work. Until other man decided to own you.”

I doesn’t want to know what the ditch is and I figured it might be better for me to start my plan when I’m still in his good grace.

Even though my fever makes him more lenient towards me, it also makes him banned me from going outside. Daryl even refused to let me go to his office.

I tried my luck with those silent women but god knows how obedient they are. They does not even acknowledge me each time they step inside.

I wonder what had happened to them to make them that pliable. A person does not naturally born to be submissive. Some might, but not all.

After three days of staying inside I finally had enough and decided to throw a little tantrum when Daryl returned for the day.

“Why aren’t you eating?” He asked as soon as he step in, taking off his uniform.

After all the time we spend together he barely cover himself that much anymore and I had a little voice in my head telling he’s prepping me into getting used seeing his body.

“It tasted yucky and I’m bored of spicy stuff.” I pouted, looking away from him but when he got silent for a long time I turned. He was watching me with narrowed eyes and I suddenly nervous. “I’m just bored, staying here by myself.” I defended.

“And you decided to starve yourself because you’re bored?”

I bite my lip. Maybe I should have done something else. “Eating by myself is lonely.”

I know I said the right thing when his cold mask disappeared for a moment, replaced by a look of curiousity and wonderment, before it slipped back into his normal expression, cold and bland.

“Please let me out tomorrow, I would go crazy if I spend another day in this room.” I widened my eyes and pouted. It always worked whenever I put on this face.

Daryl lean back, eyes observing my every move before he finally look away. “You can’t go with me tomorrow, but I’ll send you to another place.”

My lips stretch slowly and a giggle slipped out. Daryl smirked but not say anything at that and went to take a shower.

This is good news! I’ll be able to look at this place better and understands how things worked here. If I’m lucky enough, I might get a new friend tomorrow!