The Price of My Innocence: Demon's Playground

Chapter Six: Feminine Power, Unleashed

***phone vibrates***

Dad: Here, munch

FINALLY. And there we go, my week was over. I couldn't help but feel a bit sad. I wanted to see him again, I needed... to see him again. My eyes flitted across the student parking lot, searching for that unmistakable flash of yellow. He had mentioned it, how it stood out, so unique, and there it was... his car, parked under the sprawling branches of a nearby tree. He was still here. I'm sure he's fixing more students' problems again. He's so dedicated and good at what he does. You know there's some things that you know someone was made to do. His was apparently anything he chose to do. He'd dismantle the very tenets of modern day feminism because there is no woman that can do all that he does so exceptionally well at it all while still maintaining close relationships with the people he cared about and being at the top of all his classes. Almost extra-terrestrial. He stayed in my thoughts. Then it clicked me. I have an excuse to message him. Pooja.

Lauranda: Hey Kristof, I know you said I could come to you about anything, there's this situation.

Lauranda: *Voice Message* (sent at 4:38pm)

*4:39pm phone ringing.*

Oh, he's calling already. That's so sweet. I'm sure he has a million things to do, but he made me feel like a priority. I guess I wasn't accustomed to that at all. Ever. I mean, my last ex cheated five hundred and eighty-three times, on my birthday too. This was new... and I was really digging it.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Hi Kimberly, you said there's something that's been bothering you. I want to hear more about this tonight so I can deal with it," he said in a calm, reassuring tone. "Don't worry about it, I'll handle it for you. You just completely let go of it. I'm driving right now, so we'll converse about it later."

"Aw, thank you so much Kristof... I can't thank you enough. No problem." I responded with my heart weighing a feather.

His presence was like a balm that soaked into the deepest parts of me, easing tensions I hadn’t even known I carried. He exuded this quiet, powerful masculinity... never flaunted but always there, a promise that I wasn’t alone in any battle. Somehow, he managed to sweep away the nagging worries that plagued my days, absorbing my stress like it was his personal duty. He didn’t need to be asked, didn’t wait for my permission; it was as though he just knew.

But that only left me with more questions, didn’t it? I wondered if I truly meant that much to him, if he knew what he was doing to me, or if he just took pride in a job well done, like some twisted pro bono crusade. Did he sense my dependency?

I wasn’t sure where I ended, and he began... or if he even saw the distinction at all.

All my thoughts came crashing down as I overheard mom arguing with dad over the phone. I can't say they've ever been as in love anymore. They were inseparable, now they needed to be in separate rooms for the house to stay right side up. It's since dad lost his job when the pandemic broke out two years ago. So much, but still, so much to be grateful for. When they were happy you can hear their laughs across the globe. And those were the moments I held on to.

I got home happy to see my sister, Laura. Honestly, she has been my sanity all my life in the midst of my parents' chaos. She always guarded me, hid my ears from things she had to hear, turned me away from things she had to face. Things I'll never forget. Older sisters don't get enough credit.

"Hiii, egg" I smiled as I walked inside.

"Hi egg, how was your day today?" she asked.

"Hi egg," her boyfriend joked.

His name was Michael. We had a very annoy-okay relationship. He'd annoy the life out of me, and I'd be okay with it. LOL, Just Kidding, we just played with each other sarcastically all the time.

I really liked him for her. He was quiet, calm and respectful.

I dropped my bag in the study room, feeling the thrill of another productive night ahead. Without a second thought, I flipped open my laptop, settling in to a familiar rhythm. First up, Chemistry. Of course. It was my ritual, my grounding start to any study session. Despite the workload, I was obsessed with Chemistry, nothing could make me feel this purposeful and intelligent. There’s a unique power that comes with diving deep into self-improvement. It’s that rare spark of confidence that lights up your soul when you’re investing in you. I had my skin-care routine, my dental check-ups on lock, and every rep in the gym was showing on my ass. I wasn’t just studying for a medical degree, I was building a life that felt effortlessly rich, and it made me feel unstoppable. And then, there was him, that calm, steady masculine presence by my side.

He wasn’t loud or flashy; he didn’t need to be. Just knowing he was there, strong and dependable, gave my life a quiet thrill, a sense of safety that let me breathe deeper, smile a little easier. Everything just felt... healthy. I was eating right, nurturing friendships, making choices that made me proud. In moments like these, I could almost taste the freedom and excitement of my own growth, the promise of everything I was creating for myself.

***phone vibrates***

My phone buzzed once, then twice, then a third time, each message a little gut punch in its own way.

Shaleeni: Hi, I just spoke with a student from your class, and we need to talk. You seem to be getting some things wrong.

Deputy Rep: Hey Kimberly, just giving you a heads-up. I saw Pooja talking to the President today; I don't think it was good.

Reyna: Hi Kimberly, Pooja is really being a bother to me. I'm muslim, and she tried pulling off my hijab earlier today. She makes me feel really uncomfortable and bullied. Please help.

SIGH. Reyna's message was heartbreaking. Pooja was taking all measures to make me look and feel like the worst student body ever. She was pushing boundaries in ways that could get really serious, really fast and no one should have to go through those things. One thing I definitely wasn't going to let slide past me was any form of bullying. I know what that feels like. This was escalating far beyond my expectations. Pooja was hell-bent on making my life a misery.

***phone ringing***

Sigh of relief.

Finally.

It's Kristof.