MY ABOVE 'the' NORMAL PRINCE

Chapter Eight: A cruel, stupid game

Tori's POV



I didn't want to get up.

The sunlight seeped in through the curtains like an uninvited guest. I stayed under the blanket, curled into myself, trying to will away the ache in my chest. My eyes burned from crying, but it wasn't just the tears—it was the humiliation, the betrayal, the way my heart felt like it had been played with and tossed aside like some kind of joke.

How do you face people after that?

How do you look them in the eye knowing they were laughing behind your back... that he was never serious?

That it was all a game.

A cruel, stupid game.

My phone buzzed on the bedside table, but I didn't reach for it. I couldn't. I was scared it would be another message I wasn't ready for—another reminder of what happened.

Maybe it was from Rose... maybe from Ryan.

I didn't care.

I just wanted the world to leave me alone.

My stomach growled, but even that wasn't enough to move me. I buried myself deeper into the covers, wishing I could disappear into the mattress.

What would they say at school?

Would Samantha brag?

Would people laugh when they saw me?

Would he look at me like nothing happened?

I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing the tears to stay in this time.

I used to like the idea of love—used to dream about it while reading all those books. But now?

Now I just wanted to disappear.

Someone knocked on the door.

I didn't answer. I turned to face the wall, hugging the pillow tighter.

The door creaked open anyway. I didn't need to look—I knew that steady, careful walk anywhere.

Dad.

He stood by the door for a moment, like he was giving me time to speak first. When I didn't, he slowly stepped closer and sat down at the edge of my bed.

"It's been a week, sweetheart," he said gently. "You haven't gone to school. You haven't even stepped out of this room."

I stayed silent, clutching the blanket like it could shield me from the world.

"Rose keeps coming," he continued. "He waits outside your door, hoping you'll change your mind. You used to laugh so much when you were with him." He paused, voice a little softer. "And Caius... he came by too. A few times, actually. Just stood outside the gate, waiting. Quiet kid, but worried."

I bit my lip. My throat burned.

Dad leaned forward, elbows on his knees, looking down at the floor for a moment before turning his eyes toward me. "You don't have to tell me what happened. But you can't let whatever it was take you away from everything else."

Still, I said nothing. I didn't know what to say. How do you explain feeling like your heart was made into a joke?

Dad sighed through his nose. "I know what pain looks like, Tori. And I know when someone's trying to pretend it doesn't hurt. But shutting everyone out... that won't make it better."

I swallowed hard, my voice a whisper. "It's not just pain, Dad... It's embarrassment. Everyone will know. They'll laugh."

He reached over and gently squeezed my hand. "Then we face them with our head held high. Not for them—for you."

My chest tightened. My eyes stung again.

The door closed.

I always believed in love. I watched my parents—their love steady and true after all these years. They were my anchor, my goal—the proof that real love exists.

Until I fell in love with Ryan.

He made me realize that being hurt is never easy. Being fooled, being played—it leaves a sting deeper than I ever imagined.

I stepped out of my room and slowly made my way downstairs. In the warm kitchen light, I saw my parents bustling around, preparing dinner. Caius was there too, quietly helping where he could. I'd gotten used to seeing him here—he ate with us most of the time now. His father had died early, leaving just him and his mother.

I pulled out a chair and sat down, keeping my voice and thoughts to myself. As I ate in silence, the familiar sounds and smells of home wrapped around me, grounding me even as the ache inside lingered.

I put down my utensils, the clink soft against the plate.

"I want to transfer schools."

The room fell silent. My parents paused, forks halfway to their mouths.

"Would that be, okay?" my mom asked gently, concern threading her voice.

Dad gave a small nod. "It's okay. Just tell me where you want to go, and I'll make the arrangements."

I looked up and smiled at him, searching his eyes. "Dad... am I a coward?"

The question hung heavy in the air, raw and vulnerable.

I shook my head quickly, wanting to clear the misunderstanding.

"No, I don't want to transfer. I'm happy at school. I have my friends there... but I'm scared."

Mom reached over, squeezing my hand gently.

"You're not a coward, sweetheart," she said softly, her eyes full of warmth.

"Being scared doesn't mean you're weak. It means you're brave enough to feel, and that's okay."

Caius, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up, his voice calm but steady.

"Fear doesn't make you less strong, Tori. It just means you care. The important thing is to keep moving forward, even when it's hard. You don't have to face everything alone—sometimes, the courage is in asking for help."

He looked at me briefly, then glanced away, like it was difficult for him to say.

"But I believe you can handle this. You're stronger than you think."

I noticed the bruise blooming on Caius's cheek and the cut on his lip. My heart skipped—he never mentioned how he got hurt.

"Caius... what happened to you?" I asked softly, reaching out but stopping myself, not wanting to pry.

He looked away, rubbing his jaw awkwardly. "It's nothing, just a little accident. Don't worry about it."

But I could tell it was more than 'nothing.' For once, I wanted to be the one to protect him.

I was about to say something when my mom gently interrupted.

"Tori, you should know... Caius got into a fight at school. With Ryan."

My eyes widened. "A fight? With Ryan?"

She nodded. "Both of them got suspended for two weeks."

I bit my lip, trying to process it. Somehow, that explained the bruise on his face—and the tension I'd been sensing between them both lately.

That night, after everyone had finished dinner and the table was cleared, I found myself alone with Caius in the living room. The TV was on, playing some muted movie, we weren't even watching. I glanced at the fading bruise on his jaw, the corner of his lip still slightly cut.

I hesitated, then quietly asked, "Was it... because of me?"

Caius didn't look at me right away. He leaned back against the couch, arms crossed, eyes on the ceiling as if searching for the right answer—or avoiding it altogether.

"I don't know," he said eventually. "Maybe it was just long overdue."

He didn't admit it, but he didn't deny it either.

I looked down at my hands, guilt pooling in my chest. "I'm sorry, Caius. You didn't have to get involved."

He finally glanced at me. "You didn't ask me to."

And yet... he did it anyway.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Still, you got hurt. And suspended."

He gave a dry, almost amused exhale. "I've had worse."

I whispered, "Thank you."

Caius shifted on the couch, his voice softer than usual. "Do you still want to transfer schools?"

The question caught me off guard. I glanced at him, but his eyes were calm, waiting—not pressuring.

I looked away, unsure how to answer. The truth was... I didn't know.

"I... I don't know," I said quietly. "Part of me wants to disappear. But the other part—" I paused, pressing my lips together. "I'm scared. But I also don't want to leave everything behind. My friends. The memories that weren't all bad."

Caius nodded, understanding without judgment.

"I get it," he said. "Running seems easier sometimes. But leaving doesn't always make it hurt less."

I looked at him again, and this time, I saw something steady in his gaze—something grounding.

"You don't have to decide now," he added. "But whatever you choose... just make sure it's for you, not because they made you feel small."

That sentence stayed with me longer than I expected.

He handed me a book.

I looked at the cover, tilting my head. I didn't recognize the author. "I haven't heard of this before..."

I hesitated, my fingers hovering just inches away.

But then he gently took my hand and placed the book in it. "Trust me," he said softly.

I looked up, and there was the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "That's a really good book. No surprise deaths. No tragic prince." He let out a small laugh. "I even read it first—just to make sure you wouldn't cry again."

For a moment, I said nothing. The weight of the book in my hand felt oddly comforting. Thoughtful. Safe.

"You didn't have to," I whispered.

"I know," he said. "But I wanted to."

And for the first time in a while... I smiled.

"But the title of this book is so sad," I said, tracing the words on the front with my thumb.

Caius leaned back a little, amused. "Just wait," he said with a quiet chuckle. "Don't judge the book by its cover."

I gave him a side glance. "That's exactly what people say when something in it is secretly heartbreaking."

He raised a brow. "Or maybe... it just means the story inside is deeper than it looks. Give it a chance, Tori."

I sighed dramatically but clutched the book a little closer. "Fine. But if I cry again, I'm blaming you."

He smirked, that calm, teasing version of him I was slowly getting used to. "Deal. But I think this time... you'll be okay."

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Hi-Yu