Romance

THIS was the same paradise where I saw Ash. The gigantic trees were swaying in the air as if welcoming my presence. The large water fountain in the middle of the place seemed to move in harmony with the dancing trees, accompanied by the cool breeze that felt like an embrace, easing my feelings.
To be honest, I don't feel that bad. Maybe my heart has gotten used to it because this isn't the first time it happened to my family... but sometimes, my heart hurts because it feels so numb.
I can't feel anything and it frustrates me. I want to feel something, but I can't tolerate pain, like a broken flower vase held together by glue and tape.
“Wow…”
My thoughts faded as the lights flickered before giving a steady glow. It was breathtaking. It was like a scene from a movie, but I didn’t expect to experience it here, even in this way.
I didn’t know if this was a new park or just undiscovered by pe

I don't know if it was because of the cold breeze or Ash's presence in front of me, but I couldn't help but stutter when he took his shirt off, causing my mouth to open widely. 
Yet I couldn’t look away.
It looked like he took good care of it at the gym because it was perfectly sculpted. The flex of his muscles was just right—neither too little nor too much. Fuck it. His body was giving me weird thoughts, and I can’t help but bite my lower lip as I stared at him.
I didn’t even notice that his gaze darkened, noticing how I’m checking him out.
"Stop looking at me like that, Sapphire," he commanded as he handed me his shirt. When I didn't take it, he grabbed my hand and placed the shirt in it. "Don't provoke my patience. You won’t like it.”
It was my cue to move. I wore his shirt, and it was too big on me. I even looked like a kid beside him.
“Good girl,” Ash smirked. “I hope it will help y

AFTER talking to Mason, I attended my other classes and did my assignments in school before I went out of the library. It was already late, the wind was starting to blow. 
I muttered a curse under my breath as I walked, annoyed by the occasional gusts lifting my skirt. I'll never get tired of cursing the person who designed this uniform. It was so inconvenient.
Seeing that I’m in the exact place where I saw Ash before reminded me of our first conversation.
"Ah! Yes, please... fuck me like that, Ash!"
My body froze as I heard a strange sound. I turned around, and saw Ash banging some other girl on the same tree where I saw him before. They weren’t naked, yet Ash was moving back and forth while holding her right leg.
The woman, on the other hand, clung onto his shoulders, her head thrown back, seemingly overwhelmed by pleasure. She couldn’t even see that Ash was just emotionless as he continued thrusting—like he just wanted to release.
I immediately looked away. However, I couldn’t move my feet. What is this strange feeling? It’s not the first time I caught Ash doing indecent things like this… But why is my body trembling?
“Stay away from Ash.”
I suddenly recalled what Mason said earlier. He wanted me to protect my heart from someone like Ash because he knew his friend was a walking heartbreak.
I think I should.
With all my remaining strength, I walked away, but as soon as I stepped forward, Ash and I made eye contact. 
His eyes were emotionless until they met mine. He stared at me while continuing his movements. His gaze darkened as his thrusts became more desperate, with no intention of stopping even though I was standing there, albeit at a distance.
“Fucking pervert,” I muttered before walking as if I hadn’t seen anything.
His hardness on the rooftop also crossed my mind as I left the place. He probably needed to release his pent-up desire since it seemed like his body had been raging since noon.
For the second time, I remembered Mason’s advice. 
With the many girls Ash has been with, it’s no surprise one of his friends might think I could fall for him just like the others, that I might get hurt if I fall for Ash and he doesn’t catch me.
But why would I let myself fall for a man who does nothing but play with me?
AS I was walking back home, I couldn’t help but remember what I saw earlier. Ash fucking someone gives me goosebumps… and thrill at the same time.
Mason was right... Ash really was that dangerous. He just started playing with me, but I can't get him out of my mind. I hate him, but he really is attractive. 
It's no surprise why many are infatuated with him, and they even approach him themselves.
He can play with everyone but not with me. I will make sure to raise the barriers around my heart so that he will find it difficult to get in. I can't let any guy ruin the plan I made for myself.
My plan is to graduate, pass the CPA Licensure Examination on the first try, and become filthy rich so no one can belittle us.
‘Why am I thinking about him, anyway? He's not even worth it,’ I said at the back of my mind, and before I knew it, I was already in front of our house.
“Mom, are you here?” I asked as soon as I went to the living room.
I wanted to give her a massage today. She works tirelessly, turning night into day just to get things done, so I wanted to make it up to her.
But if I had known what would greet me, I wish I hadn’t come home.
“Oh, you’re here, Sapphire…”
It was my father. He was sitting on the floor surrounded by empty bottles of alcohol. It looked like he had been drinking and causing chaos for a while, as the house was a complete mess. He had overturned our belongings, and I knew exactly why he did it.
He was looking for money.
“Do you have any money?” He stood up and staggered toward me, but I immediately backed out the door. “You’re rich now, right? You’re a scholar at your school, and you were bragging about it to me last night. Maybe you can lend me a few dollars, hmm?”
I cringed as I smelled the alcohol on his breath. He was badly messed up. I closed my eyes briefly and massaged my temples with my right hand. 
I was already stressed from school, so why couldn’t he at least cooperate a little?
I didn’t speak and just looked at him. I didn’t bother looking for my mom either. She loves him, but sometimes even she can’t understand his behavior, especially when he is drunk.
And to be honest, I pray that one day she’ll get tired and just leave him. She doesn’t deserve this kind of life. We can manage.
“Are you deaf? Why aren’t you answering?” my father asked again, his tone frustrated.
The more he spoke, the more I became intoxicated by the smell of alcohol coming from his mouth. It wasn’t good. I could feel my blood rising to my head.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I immediately pulled my arm away when he tried to grab it. “If you’re going to drink until your liver fails, can you at least not cause trouble? You do nothing in this house but ruin my life, and now you’re ruining my mood, too.”
It may sound harsh, but the remaining patience I had for him faded as I knew another secret of his. God knows how hard I tried to bring back the old Sapphire who loved her dad so much, but how can I do that if I can’t see him repenting even just a bit?
“Don’t talk back to me like that!”
He was about to slap me, but I quickly stepped back, avoiding him. When he tried to approach me again, he fell to the floor, probably due to his drunkenness.
“I’m still your father, Sapphire Jade! Show some respect!”
“How can I respect you when you can’t even respect yourself?!”
I completely lost my patience and yelled at him. This wasn’t good. I knew how I got when I was angry, so I tried to avoid reaching my breaking point.
“You’re so disrespectful—Sapphire! Come back here!”
I didn’t answer him, nor did I look back as I walked away from that house... the house that once brought me joy because my mom and dad were there, always asking about my day and taking care of me.
But now, it was just an ordinary house. It had no life. The love from my parents was gone. I once wished our family could go back to how it was, but as time passed, I gradually accepted that it wouldn’t happen.
“It may be hard to accept, but I should...” I muttered under my breath as I continued walking to nowhere.
But why am I here again?

THIS was the same paradise where I saw Ash. The gigantic trees were swaying in the air as if welcoming my presence. The large water fountain in the middle of the place seemed to move in harmony with the dancing trees, accompanied by the cool breeze that felt like an embrace, easing my feelings.
To be honest, I don't feel that bad. Maybe my heart has gotten used to it because this isn't the first time it happened to my family... but sometimes, my heart hurts because it feels so numb.
I can't feel anything and it frustrates me. I want to feel something, but I can't tolerate pain, like a broken flower vase held together by glue and tape.
“Wow…”
My thoughts faded as the lights flickered before giving a steady glow. It was breathtaking. It was like a scene from a movie, but I didn’t expect to experience it here, even in this way.
I didn’t know if this was a new park or just undiscovered by people because it was in a secluded area, but I was glad to be the first to discover this place.
Oh, r

Something Hotter Than This