Chapter 8 Restricted
Uriel's POV
"What is this rumor I hear about you making out with a guy?" My mother flashed Emma's phone in my face.
My eyes darted to Emma who sat quietly on the couch, frowning at me.
Sighing, I turned back to face my mother.
I didn't know if to explain myself because I doubted that was even going to save me from whatever she had pre-planned.
"Are you dumb? Or deaf? Will you explain this to me?" She yelled, making me flinch back.
"Like you said, mother. It's a rumor." I said cautiously. "I was only tutoring him."
"With your body obviously." My mother scoffed, handing Emma her phone. "I don't know if sending you to school was a bad idea, Uriel. You bring me so much troubles."
She placed her hand on her hips, eyeing me in disgust.
My heart clenched, anger boiling inside of me. "Why do you never believe a word I say? Is it because the news is coming from Emma"
She took a step closer. "Because compared to you, she is well reserved."
I wanted to scoff so bad but I knew I'd earn myself a smack, so I just bit my lips, looking elsewhere.
She pushed my head backwards with her finger. "But you? You bring shame to this family. I don't even know why we still let you stay."
"Because I am your child. Parents don't discard their kids. If Emma was -"
"Shut up! Don't bring Emma into this. She would never be seen in such situation with a boy. If you want to be a prostitute, feel free but at least, have shame. Thread cautiously because you're dragging the name of this family to the mud." She screamed in my face, making me shut my eyes.
I could feel the tears welling up, my eyes itching.
"Mother, I felt so embarrassed when I saw my sister on the internet. People began to look at me somehow too." Emma pouted, adding fuel to the fire
"Oh!" My mother clutched her chest, acting too dramatic. Then she gripped my hair, making me cry out in pain.
She threw me roughly on the ground, at Emma's feet. Emma's eyes grew wide, mischief evident in them.
She must've found out about Ryder and I on the rooftop. That was why she was doing this to me.
"Kneel down and apologize to your sister for being a disgrace." My mother pointed at me. My eyes snapped open, my body hot.
"Mother!" I cried out in disbelief, holding back my tears.
"Your father is pretty knocked out from drinking his stupid self to stupor and he wouldn't save you from my wrath." She picked up her slippers, holding it out.
Tears streamed down my cheek as I turned to Emma who had a smug look on her face.
My lips quivered, my words cracked as I said, "I'm sorry."
"For?" My mother asked. "Call her name too, you ingrate!"
Emma pouted to mother, "no mother, it's enough please. She's my sister and everyone makes mistakes. I forgive her."
My mother placed her hand on her chest, smiling softly. "Such sweet child." Then she turned to me, her glare hard. "Get up and come here!"
I tried standing up but fell to the ground due to feebleness. Then I pushed myself up again.
"Phones." She opened her palm after dropping her slippers
"W...what?" My voice broke into a whisper.
"Give me that phone." She pulled my backpack from my shoulder, roughly opening it as she searched for my phone. When she found it, she tossed the bag on the ground like it was some trash.
"Mother, please. I have test tomorrow and the materials are in my phone!" I argued.
"Emma, do you also have test?" She turned to Emma, concern etched in her voice.
"Don't worry mum. It's sorted. I don't need her writing that one for me." Emma smirked.
Sorted didn't mean she was prepared.
It meant, she had found other means that didn't require she using her brain.
Usually, cheating.
One my mother didn't seem to condemn because it was her Emma.
"You can fail your goddamn test for all I care. But also, you know the rules about failing... You'll starve for a week." She smirked.
The cries tore out from me, my head banging hard. "You're so cruel to me. Why are you so cruel to me?!"
She rolled her eyes, turning away from me. "I'll return this back after a week and if you don't misbehave within that period."
My heart broke into million pieces. I bolted out of the house, my legs carrying me to God knows where. My vision was blurry and the tears didn't stop rolling down.
Due to shortage of breath, I paused at a spot. I couldn't breathe. My chest was closing up on me.
Seeing that I was close to the park, I managed to walk forward until I got to the gate. Luckily the lady who gave free bottle waters on Wednesdays was still around.
"You look pale, dear. Are you sure you're good?" She handed me a bottle of water, her eyes assessing me.
I nodded, saying a soft 'thank you' before walking further into the park. I needed to calm my nerves.
Ever since I was a kid, I had always faced such derogatory treatment from my mother, especially and everytime I thought I had outgrown it...
I didn't.
It still cut through my skin, piercing me right in my heart.
"You'll be fine." I whispered to myself, patting the side of my thigh. "You are strong. You are brave and you..." I swallowed hard, trying not to cry as I repeated the mantra Dad taught me. "and you are a fighter."
Oh Dad.
The mantra seemed to calm me down a bit, the tears ceasing. Children, teens and adults popped in and out of the park, laughing and living their best life.
Lucky them.
I sat still, like a robot. Only my eyes moved, scanning the environment. The sky had begun to get dark.
"I should head back home." I muttered to myself but my body was reluctant to move.
Forcing myself, I stood up but then something or rather ,- someone caught my attention from the far end of the park.
I squinted my eyebrow, my legs moving slowly towards the direction of the person.
The guy kept looking back like he was running away from something or something, urgency in his steps. When he turned to my direction, I froze.
Ryder.
Afraid he had seen me, I stayed fixed to the ground, waiting for his eyes to meet mine but instead they diverted quickly.
Where was he going to? I questioned myself.
Why was I following him?
I bit my lips, watching quietly as he made his way into an old playhouse building that caught fire and was under reconstruction.
It was restricted.
And that was enough reason for me to stay away but I just couldn't. I wanted to see what he was up to.
Maybe I could have something against him for future purpose. Just in case he decided to resume his only job as my bully.
Don't
My head screamed at me as I stood in front of the building, trying to figure out which way he entered.
Sighing softly and soundlessly, I entered inside the building, walking carefully.
Before I would take another step forward, I was being slammed against a wall.
It wasn't so hard but it wasn't soft either.
I groaned, frowning at him.
His eyes widened in recognition and shock. "Uriel." He growled lowly. "Are you stalking me now?"
Shaking my head rapidly, I said, "No!"
He smirked, pulling my waist into his body as he whispered sinister, "then I believe you're here for something else, no?"
"N..no, I'm not." I stuttered.
I fucking stuttered.
Real smooth, girl.
He spun me around so fast, my chest was pressed to the wall. My breath hitched when I felt his pelvic region pressed to my ass, my hands being held to my back.
"How could you lie like this when you followed me into an abandoned building..." He trailed his nose up my neck, inhaling softly. My legs felt jello, my heart thumping fast. "Knowing it's just you and I."
He released my hand, spinning me around, only to wrap his hand around my throat. "In the dark."
God, why was I feeling so hot.
Say something, Uriel.
"Because..."
"Hey!" A strange authoritative voice interrupted, making my heart jump. Ryder pushed me behind his back, covering me. "You can't make out in here. In fact, you're coming with me for trespass. Both of you."
I clutched Ryder's cloth tight. I couldn't spend my time in jail. My mother wouldn't even bail me out.
Oh God.
Ryder turned his face to the side, using his side eyes to look at me. "Kinky?"
"Y...yes?"
"RUN!"