......

"Un..d.er..st..ood..." I let out, and he released his hold on me, giving me a small peck on my lips. He climbed down from the ladder...

...and he left, leaving me standing there in tears. My body was still feeling those touches...

"Rhys..." I let out in a little voice. My knees gave up, and sitting on the floor, I let out my tears more and more. Why can't he leave me alone?

My hands touched my wrist, digging my own nails into it. I tried to forget his name, but Rhys, Rhys, Rhys... the name kept echoing like that.

A knock suddenly came on my door, and I quickly wiped off my tears. Pushing myself up, I stood straight.

Walking towards the door, I slowly opened it halfway.

"I want your help," Victor said, and I hummed, not having the strength to answer anything. Lowering my gaze, I walked out and locked my door, following him.

"Maya, go with Victor and Dad to buy books that will be needed," Mom said, looking at us as we walked downstairs together.

I nodded my head again, and Mom understood, but since Victor was in front of me, he didn't notice. Turning his head, he looked at me.

"It's okay if you don't want to go; you can tell me the names," he said, and I looked up, staying silent for a few seconds before replying.

"Let's go, R..." Biting my lips suddenly, I quickly slid away from him. I was about to say Rhys's name, and the moment made me shudder in fear.

I was one foot away from him when suddenly he held my hand from behind, clutching my wrist. I quickly looked back at him in surprise.

"Walk slowly, or you will fall," he said, and I nodded my head. Pulling my wrist from his hold with force, I walked slowly this time.

Reaching near my dad, I gave him a soft smile, which Dad reverted back. We all walked towards the parking lot. Dad took out the car, and I stood beside Victor, waiting for Dad. Once done, Dad sat in the driver's seat. I sat in the back, and Victor sat with me.

"Maya, how is college?" Victor asked as Dad started the car. I closed my eyes, looking at the window before replying.

"It's good," I said shortly, leaving no room for conversation, yet he didn't stop.

"Maya..." he said, and I hummed, but he didn't reply this time. Turning my head, I looked at him.

"You are beautiful," he whispered under his breath, and I heard it clearly. Looking at him with wide eyes and closed lips, I said a small "thanks" and slumped in my seat, closing my eyes.

Once it all silenced, I gulped a huge amount of saliva, my eyes wanting to break the doors of tears, which I was trying to hide. Rhys never, for one second, left my mind. Even when I was talking to someone else, the only thing my eyes were seeing was his dark eyes...

What is happening...

"Maya," Dad called, and I opened my eyes again, but I never removed my back from the seat.

"Victor is asking you something," he said, and I turned my head a little. My eyes widened when I found his face so close to me.

This time, only I was surprised—he wasn't. Moving my face away a little, I stared at him and asked,

"What did you ask?"

He shook his head and said, "I was asking about how many lectures we will have."

"Around five," I replied.

"Did you make any friends?" he suddenly asked, changing the whole topic. I thought for a while before nodding my head.

"Yes," I hummed.

"Uncle, what about the transportation here?" Victor asked Dad.

"Your mom has said that your bike will be transferred here by evening. I will show you the way, and sometimes I drop Maya, but since she now goes with her friend, I'm off from that duty," Dad said with a chuckle.

Before Victor could ask any other questions, we reached the bookstore.

Getting out of the car, Victor and I followed Dad. Seeing the crowd, I clutched my dad's arm tightly in fear. Meanwhile, Victor suddenly came to my other side and moved his hand near my waist but without touching it. I looked at his hand with a frown but chose to ignore it.

Dad asked me the name of books, and I answered him in a slow voice.

Suddenly, I felt a tug from behind. Turning my head, I looked at Victor's fingers, which were grabbing my tee like someone picks salt.

I tried to move my body forward, but his hold was tight. With a frustrated sigh, I let go of my dad's hand and turned towards him fully. Holding his hand with mine, I tried to remove his grip, but he just twisted my hand a little, and now my hand was in his. His fingers quickly entangled themselves in mine.

"Leave me," I said in anger while pulling my hand.

"You already know my answer, Maya," he said and tightened his hold on my hand.

Coming closer to me, he lowered his head near my ears.

"Why are you ignoring me, Maya?" he asked, and I started struggling. My hand kept trying to move to make him break his hold.

"Why?" he again asked.

"Not your concern," I said, and he hummed, leaving my hand finally. Walking towards Dad, he started looking for the book.

The area was not crowded for a normal person, but for me, it was. Taking a few steps back, I walked out from the shop and stayed near the car. Taking out the mask from my pocket, I wore it and let out a sigh...

My eyes roamed around the area. There was a cafe, colored in green, decorated with beautiful plants and flowers. My eyes were staring at the beautiful scenery until my eyes went to a baby, who was in maybe his mother's hold, looking out from the glass with his doe eyes, his lips busy in eating his mom's shoulder. A small smile came on my lips.

"I am sorry," I heard, and turning my gaze, I looked at him...

Victor stared into my eyes with his dark ones, which were covered in transparent glasses.

"It's okay," I replied, and he smiled...

"Are you good?" he asked.

"Hmm, it's just too many people here..." I replied, and he hummed, supporting his back on the car. Just like me, he leaned, I quickly stood up straight when I found there was no distance between our bodies, our shoulders about to touch.

"Maya..." he said my name softly, and I hummed.

"Should we be friends?" he asked, and I gulped, my mind racing toward the thought where Rhys had demanded to be away from boys...

"N.." I was about to deny when suddenly Dad came. The conversation was stopped in the middle, and once getting inside the car, I closed my eyes, letting him know that I was sleeping even when I wasn't.....