Ruin Me: My Stepbrother, My Professor

Chapter 9: The Countdown

MIYARA’S POV

‘Don’t make me come find you again.

And don’t try anything, silly little sister.

Or I’ll drag you to my office and punish you over and over again until you forget how to say yes to anyone but me.

My lungs forgot how to breathe.

He knew.

Somehow, that I was thinking of ways to get out of this messy situation. And he was not giving me any chances. He also knew of my saying yes to everything when my heart bled.

How? How did he always know?

I took in a deep breath, grabbed my backpack, shoved some clothes into them and took some of my favourite books. When all was done, I took my car keys and headed downstairs through the back door. I was not ready to have any more conversations with anyone.

I’d let Dad know I was gone when I reached campus.

The car was in the driveway. I slid in, locked the doors, and started the engine. Streetlights shone in the distance as I drove through the streets.

The drive was about 20 minutes tops but it felt like forever. I checked the rear view window, half expecting his face in the mirror. If he had followed me home, he could do it again.

His text kept replaying in my head. Punish you over and over again. Some sick part of me wanted him to punish me. Just to see how it would be.

I kept looking behind me as I entered the apartment. Every shadow made the hair in my skin stand and my heart race.

When I opened the door, I was almost hit with a baseball bat. Isa raised it with a panicked look on her face.

She dropped it when she saw it was me.

“Shibal. You almost gave me a heart attack.” She moved aside, making space to let me in.

“Sorry. I didn’t tell you I was coming back earlier.” I said, trying to keep my voice calm and collected while adjusting the turtle neck shirt I was wearing. Caden hadn’t even choked me that much but my skin was really sensitive so it left faint marks. I couldn’t let Isa see them.

“How are you feeling now?”, she asked, pouring herself water from a mug, while looking at me briefly.

“I’m feeling better. But I need to rest. I’m so tired.” I said, in an attempt to bolt to my room before she could ask anymore questions. Isa liked playing detective.

“Go, rest baby. You need it.” She flashed me a sweet smile, and with that, I went to my room and clicked the door shut behind me.

~~~~

The beeping of my annoying alarm ripped me out of a dream where Caden’s voice echoed ‘punish you over and over again’

I silenced it fast, heart already pounding. My phone screen still showed his text from last night. And one other text. Jace’s. I had completely forgotten to reply to him.

I pressed my hand to my temple, feeling more stressed than ever. Maybe I should just get back to sleep and maybe, just maybe, my life could go back to normal.

A cold wave rolled down my spine when I stood in front of my closet moments later after a shower. His words rang in my head. Short dress. How could I wear a short dress when all I’ve ever worn were baggy clothes?

I desperately prayed to God to make me find at least one short dress I could wear to get it over with. I could probably pair it with leggings. See? Perfect.

After minutes of scattering all my clothes on the floor, I finally pulled out a blue dress I had worn for my birthday last year. Thanks to Isa nagging me until I wore it that once.

I almost jumped out of my skin when Isa’s voice sounded behind me in the living area.

“I might be f*****g dreaming.” She moved forward, in her Hello Kitty pajamas with a pink bonnet.

I let out a nervous chuckle as I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. My pulse throbbed loud in my ear, as I looked everywhere else but in her eyes. Scared she might see right through me.

“No f*****g way. Who are you and what did you do with my best friend?”

“Stop being dramatic Isa,” I said, stuffing some biscuits and chocolates from the fridge into my bag, my hands shaking slightly.

“I just wanted to try something different,” I said, voice cracking slightly while hoping she didn’t notice.

“Can you dress like this always,” she clasped her hands in front of her face. “Pretty pleaseee. You look stunning.”

My jaw tightened. Will Caden think I looked stunning too? Probably not. He hated my guts and wanted nothing to do with me. Except humiliating me of course.

“Thank you, Isa. I’ve got to go. Morning class. See you later.” I felt terrible lying to her, but I couldn't bring myself to telling her either.

She gave me a warm hug and I stepped out, my stomach twisting.

I drove to campus silently, discomfort clawing at my skin from the leggings. By the time I made it to my first class, I had regretted wearing what I was wearing.

A group of mean girls I had never spoken to eyed me suspiciously, whispering. “She’s definitely looking for attention.” A girl with dark hair and a beanie whispered to her friend and they both eyed me suspiciously.

I hated this. I hated how every state stripped another layer of the girl I used to be—the one who hid in baggy clothes and silence.

I couldn’t focus on my afternoon class. I kept looking at the time throughout the lecture, my fingers getting numb as the minutes went by.

Being seated in the middle of two boys didn’t help matters. They kept winking and making passes at me. I tugged at the dress harder, in an attempt to make it a bit longer.

When the lecture ended, my palms had become sweaty and cold.

“Hey gorgeous,” one of them, a blond, said, his gaze dragging slowly down my body. Disgust registered on my face when I saw him licking his lips.

I looked at my phone screen for the tenth time. 4pm. Staring at me like it was mocking me.

I rushed out of the lecture room, the perverts’ voices fading into the distance behind me as I made my way towards Caden’s office. He had sent me the location earlier.

As I rounded the corner, I slammed into a hard body, the person’s perfume instantly filling my nostrils. I lifted my head to say sorry before I got out of there quickly.

A familiar pair of grey eyes stared back at me with a grin. Silver strands of hair fell over his eyebrows and his hands were covered in streaks of paint.

Jace.

Shit. I didn’t reply to his text about meeting up for the bookmark. My throat went dry as I turned my face away. Too late. He had recognized me already.

“Hi, Princessa. You always seem to be in a hurry whenever we meet.”