Beneath the safe embrace

Episode 3

༺𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒓𝒖𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒍 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒔༻

it's been two weeks already since that day, since I met him and I don't know why but I can't stop thinking about him, maybe it's just my stupid head playing tricks with me but out of everything that I want to forget about him I mostly can't stop thinking about his eyes, the feel of his rough hands, his messy hair.

I groan and sit up from my bed, the morning birds singing and the sun shining through my window, I look next to me at the clock and see it's 8:30 am. today is Sunday so no work for me, I got up from my bed and walk toward the bathroom yawning ready to wash up and see what I'll do for today, which is in most of the time nothing.

after I've brushed my teeth and washed my face I go back to my bedroom to do my skincare, as I'm picking up my serum I see that it's almost empty meaning I have to buy new one soon. I did my skincare and just brushed my hair in a bun and go downstairs. when I'm downstairs I see dad sitting in the living room watching TV with a blanket wrapped around him "dad, you're up early" I say walking to the kitchen to make breakfast and I hear him coughing while talking back "yes, the birds woke me up" he says putting on a small smile and chuckle "alright dad".

after making breakfast I head to him and hand him a plate of eggs and baked toast with avocado "eat up dad and later you have to take you're medicine" I say taking a bite out of my peanut butter sandwich and dad also takes a bite of his bread "right I forgot to remind you, I'm out of medicine..and was gonna ask you to refill them yesterday" I nod and put my sandwich down "oke, I'll go to the pharmacy later and get a refill" I respond "thanks Liyah, I don't know what I'd do without you.." I smile after he said that "I don't know what I'd do without you either dad" I go and give him a side hug and he pats my back, his hand weak and shivering "you'll get better soon dad, I promise.." he nods and I let go to go get ready.

"excuse me I need a refill for this medicine" I ask the person at the front desk in the pharmacy store "sure what medicine?" the pharmacist asks and I answer as I hand her the bottle "atorvastatin"

"oke can I get the description" I go in my bag and take out the paper "here" I hand it out to her and she takes it "oke, if you can wait a few minutes and I'll call out you're name" I nod and thank her as she walks to the back.

I then walk around in the pharmacy 'oke now I need to find some serum' I say to myself as I look around to find it. after few minutes of searching I finally find it, it's all the way up and I try to reach it until a tattooed hand takes the serum, I know those tattoos to well, I look to my left and see that it's- Johan, he's looking down at me smirking still holding the serum and my face immediately scrunches "Johan. what are you doing here" I ask "nothing mams, I'm just here looking for some gauze and ointments" he responds and I don't really believe him.

"well then I hope you find them." I turn around after saying that not wanting to see his face again until I feel a grab around my arm "wait, cmon I wanna talk" he says as he pulls me toward him and turns me around and I mentally gag, God why did I fall for him? "Johan.let me go" he just chuckles "what you gonna do if I don't then?" f*****g hell he acts like a little kid "Johan I'm not playing games let me go, I don't ever wanna see you again didn't I make that clear at the store?" I say roughly

"cmon mams don't do me like that" he pulls me even closer and he puts his other hand gently on my cheek "don't you miss the times we were together? come on Liyah I know you still want me. deep down in that innocent heart of yours you still want me in every possible way" he says his voice smooth and his amber eyes looking down at me and just for a moment I feel myself slipping through his voice and his hands holding me, his face coming closer and our lips almost touching "I missed you mams..and I know you do to, miss the way my hands touch you, the way my lips touch every skin on you're body" I can feel his breath against my lips, he smells like pinecone and smoke and it's intoxicating, our mouths now an inch apart and his hand rubbing my cheek. just for a moment I was about to fall in his arms 'wait what the f**k, no this is not happening' I quickly take a step back and push him off of me "no! I'm never getting back with you ever again, I would rather fall dead then ever have you're arms on me again" I say roughly and walk away quickly not even looking back as I feel myself breathing heavily.

"dad I'm back!" I call out as I open the door and take off my shoes, I walk to the living room and see him sleeping on the couch the tv still on. I go to him and put down my bag and gently shake him "dad..dad wake up, you have to take you're medicine" I say still shaking him. his eyes flutter open and he coughs as I help him sit up better.

I go to the kitchen and fill a glass with water and come back to the living room and I take out the refilled bottle and take two pills and hand it to him "here" dad puts the pills in his mouth and I hand him the glass to drink after.

"come on dad, let's get you to bed" he yawns and nods as I help him stand up and we walk to his bedroom. I sigh after I put dad in bed and walk to my room immediately jumping on my bed already tired and the midday sun shining through my window. I just take my phone and scroll through i********:, t****k, read some stories, write some things in my diary just anything that kept me bust through the day until it's finally nighttime. I put my hair in a bonnet and get ready for bed, tomorrow is another day for work.

my eyes flutter open as my alarm goes off, I quickly bring my hand to my phone on my desk drawer and turn the alarm off. I groan and slowly sit up my feet on the cold wooden floor immediately and walk toward the bathroom to do my things, do my skincare and put on clothes. my outfit consists of a dark brown lace camisole and a pair of dark wash, boot cut jeans, I then also do my hair in a half up half down style.

after doing all of that I walk downstairs and see dad already awake sitting in the living room flickering through the channels on TV, I know he doesn't say it or show it but I know ever since mom died dad hasn't been the same, he's been sad and depressed but he stayed strong for me but ever since he got sick it's like the world turned darker and I know that doesn't mind dying- because hell be with mom but I don't want him to leave me either...

"morning dad" I greet as I get in the kitchen and make breakfast for dad "morning Liyah..did you sleep well?" he asked "yea" I make him a normal toast with eggs and cut pieces of apple on the side and for me just bread with peanut butter. "here dad, and don't forget to take you're medicine" I hand him his breakfast and take my bag walking toward the front door, I put on my black converse getting ready to leave "be careful Liyah!" I hear dad say as I close the door behind me and begin walking to the store.

the whole day was just normal, a good amount of customers coming and going the wind howling and the clouds darkening a little, I think it's gonna rain. it's now 7:00 pm and I'm just busy drawing some ideas in my notebook until the bell rings and I look up then my heart stops beating and my breath hitches, it's him. but this time he looks more- formal I think, he's dressed in a black ribbed knit short-sleeved polo shirt, black trousers and a black leather belt, his hair a little messy but bit tamer now.

I watch as he goes to the drink aisle and picks up a 12 pack beer and he then walks over to the counter. he puts the tray on it and I type in the price "30 dollars" I say and he puts his hand in his pocket and brings out a small bundle of money tied together with an elastic 'damn that's a lot of money, is this guys rich?' I say to myself as he takes out a 50 dollar bill and puts the bundle back in his pocket "here, and you can keep the change" he says and I take the money "so...youre back here" I say and slap myself mentally for starting a conversation "yea, figured I'd come back and pay you for the bubblegum" he smirks as he said that and takes the tray "you didn't have to pay me back you know" I say to him "I know but I wanted to. and I also wanted to um..thankyou" what's he thanking me for? "thank me for what?" "for idk, being so nice that day. guess I just needed to see a pretty girl smile to light up my mood" I the last thing he said before walking away and I think I can feel my face getting a little hotter cause wtf, pretty girl smile?

I shake my head go back to drawing in my notebook.