PYKE
This has to be a nightmare. This can’t be real.
I shake my busted and bloody knuckles that reminded me of what happened earlier. I can endure the physical pain, but seeing Camila bearing the pain in her eyes so fucking hurt, and it’s all because of me—the feeling is worse than crashing my own heart.
Xandry deserves more than my punches. My knuckles will heal, but the scars are a reminder to what I’ve done to Camila.
What we’ve shared last night was more than just sex, I knew it. Camila may have used me, but I know she felt something for me. At least, during our intimate moments.
For the short time I’ve known her, sex means something to her, and she won’t just do it with some random guy, and it’s a proof why she chose to offer her virginity to me—she trusted me, but I ruined it.
It’s been twelve hours since I had the best night of my life, but that’s it. She hates me. I did twelve hundred missed calls with twelve hundred messages, but not a single reply from her telling me to stop I received.
What do you expect, Pyke? A little voice whispers.
I blow a breath and step into my parents’ home. Every Sunday night is family night.
My mom greets me with a delightful smile, though, it doesn’t reach her eyes, she’s still this beautiful—she’s always a happy woman. Her wavy black below shoulder hair makes her look younger and radiant.
“Hey, Mom!” I gave her a tight hug. Her warm embrace always makes me relax—it assures me that everything will be fine, but now it gives me a different feeling—anxiousness.
My stomach flips.
“Everyone’s already here, Pyke. What took you so long?” Mom's soft voice makes my nerves get the best of me.
“Sorry, Mom, something came up,” I say in a calm tone, but it’s the opposite of what I feel inside.
“Is that so?” My brother’s voice booms from the living room.
Indeed, everyone is here. What I’m not aware of is Xandry’s family will be here, too. What I don’t expect, the asshole is also here. I almost don’t recognize him if I haven’t known him since birth.
His blotchy eyes are fixed to me, surrounded with bruises and as well as his left cheekbone. He probably has a broken nose as it has slightly crooked at the bridge. His lips are swollen with a slit on his bottom lip.
I slowly raise my hand and wave at everyone, giving them a tight smile. I can’t even look at them in their eyes, I feel so guilty to what I did to Xandry, but I never regret even a little bit, in fact, I will punch him again if he has plans to bet with another woman again. I admit I’ve done a lot of mistakes, too, but I never thought he allowed Camila to join into his stupid game.
“What’s that so?” I ask Parker innocently. He doesn’t respond but keeps his eyes narrow at me.
“Let’s have dinner, shall we, guys?” Aunt Sam stands up to cut the tension.
My body turns rigid as she walks toward my direction. “Aunt Sam.”
She cups my face and looks me in the eyes—her sad gaze is enough to tell me that she already knew what happened between me and Xandry.
“I’m not angry at you, honey. You did the right thing by teaching him lessons.” She squeezes me into a hug.
Saph comes next kissing me on the cheek. She doesn’t say a word though, and it freaks me out because that’s not Saph—the Saphoera I knew is always jolly and noisy around us.
I can’t blame her if she’s mad, she’s Xandry’s twin in the first place.
Dad is shooting me glares throughout the entire dinner. I stay silent if I’m not being asked—I’ve already caused enough tensions, and I can’t add another thing to butt into their conversations. I feel suffocated and I barely touch my food. I can’t just ignore the fact and eat as if nothing happened earlier.
I am not worried about Xandry, but I am so damn worried about Camila. What if Kyland finds out? You should have thought the consequences in the first place, dick!
Berating myself for what has been done has no point anymore. Right now, I can still do something—I need to do the right thing even if it involves groveling to earn her forgiveness.
My dad and Uncle Phoenix come back to the living room—Dad has a glass of scotch on his hand.
I almost startle when I hear him calling my name. His jaw clenches, deep breathing is visible on his chest. I’ve seen Dad angry when we were just kids, but he never hurt any of us. Sometimes he came home with bandaged wrists and hands. I asked mom once, but she said Dad has an anger problem and he’d seen a specialist.
“Your dad is calling you, son.” Uncle Phoenix jars me from my deep reverie. He didn’t say much throughout the dinner, but he seems calmer than Dad. He grips my shoulder and walks to his wife’s side.
“In my office, Pyke,” Dad growls.
I almost jump to the tone of his voice. My throat goes dry. Dad walks toward his office without waiting for me to follow him.
I stand up, shove my sweaty hands into my jeans pockets, and follow him silently. I take a deep shaky breath. I know something bad is gonna happen to me inside that room, but I’m ready for whatever he is going to give me. Truthfully, I’ve never been scared of Dad, not until tonight.
“Pyke,” Xandry’s voice makes me stop to a halt.
What the fuck he wants?
“Pyke,” he calls again.
My teeth clench stronger that hurts my jaw.
I squeeze my eyes shut then face him. “What else do you want from me, Xandry? You’ve done enough damage that could possibly ruin my relationship with the people I care about. Do you want another punch? Because I won’t let you ask me again.”
“Enough!” Everyone gasps at Dad’s angry voice, filling the entire living room like a rumble of loud thunder.
Before I can turn to face Dad, he’s already in front of me, grabbing my shirt, dragging me, and pushing me until a hard wall hits my back. The strong impact seeps the air out of my lungs making me difficult to draw a breath.
“What the hell happened to you, Pyke Kennan? I couldn’t see you as a perilous person, but you almost caused your cousin a severe head injury! What the hell was that all about?” My dad’s fist still on my chest and all I can see are the anger and hatred flashing through his blue eyes. He never had let this such all-consuming rage fuels him, but tonight I see a different side of Dad. And I’m fucking petrified.
“Paul, why don’t we let him explain.” Mom comes in, taking Dad’s hand off from me.
“Stay out of this, Sandy,” Dad barks. His hand grips my shirt tighter until it drags up to my neck. His fist pushes up against my windpipe that makes me difficult to catch a breath.
“Paul, let’s talk when you calm down a little bit. You don’t have to hurt Pyke. There must be reasons why he punched Xandry.” Uncle Phoenix urges, but Dad doesn’t budge. “Take a deep breath and you’re choking your son!” Panic rises in Uncle Phoenix’s voice.
I find my hands grabbing Dad’s hand off of my neck but he’s strong enough that makes my lids flutter close. Heat rushes through my brain and I think I might pass out.
“Dad, you’re killing him!” Parker yells.
I fall to the floor with a loud thud. My hands instantly on my tight windpipe, coughing, wheezing, and trying to catch my breath. I deserve it.
“Talk before I’m going crazy!” Dad demands.
I find myself in my own shaky feet. Aunt Sam comes closer, rubbing my back.
“Let me talk,” Xandry starts.
“No. Let this stupid son of mine do the talking,” Dad roars, his hands still balled into fists.
“Okay,” I agree with a hoarse voice, “Xandry and I betted over a woman,” I confess without meeting their gaze.
They gasp in unison before a strong fist hits my left eye. My head spins. My visions blur.
“Is that true, Xandry?” Uncle Phoenix asks his son.
“Yes,” Xandry manages to answer, guilt laces in his voice.
With one eye, I see Saph pushes her twin causing Xandry to fall down on my knees. “Why did you two do that?” Saph screams at us.
“It was just a small bet,” Xandry answers guiltily.
“A small bet? So, there is a huge bet, too?”
“It’s not like that, Saph,” I answer.
“Then what was that?” Dad bellows.
“She found out then she called me, so I let her in.”
My head snaps to Xandry. “What? Fuck you, Xandry!”
“Language!” Mom chides.
“I couldn’t believe you let her into your stupid game, asshole!”
“Explain!” Dad yells.
Xandry and I explain how it started and how it ended minus the night I had with Camila.
“You will not go and see her again, Pyke. You hurt her feelings, honey. How could you that to her?” Mom says, and it hurts like fucking hell knowing Mom is angry at me.
“And you, twinnie, you’re an overprotective ass when it comes to me. How do you feel if someone will bet for me, huh? I hate you right now! I hate you both,” Saph snarls, then stomps away.
“Who’s this woman, Pyke?” Dad asks.
“She’s um.” Pairs of eyes focus on me, waiting patiently for my answer.
“Who. Is. She?” Dad demands, and he is losing his patience.
“She’s Kyland’s cousin, Camila,” I answer quietly.
Dad hovers me, giving me another punch on my jaw. My teeth gnash. I can taste my own blood in my mouth—it’s excruciating, but I need to endure the pain. I deserve it anyway.
“Did you sleep with her?” Dad roars.
“Paul, enough! Let’s talk about this without you yelling them. Calm the hell down.” Uncle Phoenix grabs Dad’s arm.
“Calm down?” Dad faces Uncle Phoenix. “How the hell I’m gonna calm with what this ass of a son did to Liv’s daughter? Tell me, Phoenix!