Luckily, someone knocked at our door. We both looked at each other, not knowing what to do.
“Are you expecting a guest?” I whispered while trying to remain calm. “Who’s that person?”
“No I am not..” he replied and hid his sharp claws. “Maybe you are expecting someone? Is it your suitor?” He wrapped his left hand on my neck, making me slap his arm.
“Do you want to be known as a murderer? Why would you kill me when someone is around? Are you dumb?” I asked and gulped. It seemed that a lightbulb appeared on his head at that moment, making him loosen his grip. I touched my neck while coughing and started walking towards the door. I signaled him to move and hide, so the person behind the door wouldn’t see him. When I opened the door, I was taken aback to see my student. The smile on his face slowly disappeared when he saw my face.
“I am sorry if I came into your house unannounced, prof.” he sighed and extended his hand. “Here, I made an apple pie, and visited some of my teachers to get their opinions.”
I tried to smile widely and simply remove the tears in my eyes. I glued my eyes to his gift, and I could see him looking worried in my peripheral vision.
“You don’t look fine, prof. Are you okay?” I tried to smile once again, but tears started falling from my eyes. In a second, I found myself bawling my eyes out. My lips started shaking, and I could feel my knees tremble.
“Is there a problem, prof?” he asked once again and tapped my shoulders. “Do you need me to help you?”
“No, it is okay. It’s just that..it’s just that things are quite difficult these days.” I responded and smiled. “But I can manage. Thank you for the apple pie.” He nodded and looked down.
“Oh, you like wolves?” I narrowed my eyes and looked down. I saw my feet turn into wolves’ feet, making me panic a little. “That’s too realistic for cute slippers! Where did you buy them?”
“Ah, yeah, I am into wolves,” I reasoned out and smiled. “I bought it a bit far from here, apparently.”
“Then, I will get going. I think it is a bit impolite of me to come this late. See you tomorrow..” he waved his hand and started walking away. I stare at him as he disappears from the blinding fog. I can't help but sigh and feel bad for myself, but after all, I chose this path and I have no one to blame but myself.
“Is that your suitor?” Josh asked out of nowhere. “I should have opened the door so I could scare him, so he won’t bother you anymore.”
I gulped and started walking towards our bathroom. I immediately threw all of my clothes and drowned myself in the bathtub. Sometimes, I feel like dying would be a better option than living in this misery. However, I will never let these people live happily while people who love me continue to suffer due to my absence.
I rose up from the water and gasped. To my surprise, Josh is already inside the bathroom and is already undressing.
“I want to be alone, please don’t enter the bathtub,” I whispered while looking at the bubbles in my bathtub. However, it seemed that he didn’t hear anything, since he still entered the bathtub and crawled towards my naked body.
He hugged me tightly, and I couldn’t help but cry once again. Not because of sadness, or even happiness, but perhaps, regret for the life I should have lived. Maybe if it weren’t for my blinding love for this young man, I would still be living alone, away from everyone.
“You have no choice but to be with me..” he whispered and placed his head on my chest. “I can always replace you, but you will never replace me, and you will never ever find anyone like me.”
“Thank God,” I whispered. “Because I don’t know what I would do if there was another you in this world.”
He giggled and started kissing my neck. I was about to push him away, but he focused his claws on my chest as if he were reminding me not to move or else he would dig deep inside my heart.
As he slowly travels in each part of my body, I can’t help but close my eyes and wait for it to end. I went to the bathtub to clear my mind from worries, and here he was, making me even more miserable even in my peaceful time.
“Please, Josh. Stop it…” I sobbed. “I am already tired!”
“Who are you to stop me?” he scratched my arm with his sharp claws, making me scream in pain. “If you don’t like what I am doing, shut your eyes!”
I’ve always thought I could fight him, but I realized that fighting for myself could be tiring too.
