Wills’s Embrace
~03~
“What do you think Dylan will say when he finds out I’ve already slept with Wanjan…”
“WILLS!!”
Both Angie and I shouted at the same time at his words.
I glared at him.
Angie looked between us.
“What does that mean?”
her eyes was fierce as she looked at me, like she was prepared to tear me apart if what he had said turned out to be true.
And though it was true how could he just say that so casually?
“We slept…
That first night she was here, we moved all her stuff in, got exhausted, and passed out together.” He smirked with interlocked hands under his chin, clearly enjoying how flustered I was.
But Angie still did not look convinced.
Eventually, Wills gave a casual laugh and brushed it off as nothing.
Meanwhile, I felt the color drain from my face.
And the reality was, it was my own fault for acting so recklessly.
“Food’s ready…”
As soon as I had finished cooking, I placed the dishes on the table and quickly took off my apron, hurrying away.
“Not going to eat with us?
I know you’re hungry,” Wills called after me, but I ignored him and made a beeline for the cardboard box where I had stashed my belongings.
“Wanjan, where exactly are you taking that?”
Wills asked, refusing to let me go so easily.
I forced myself to look composed and turned back to him.
“This?
It’s just trash.
I was going to throw it out,” I lied.
But Wills moved quickly, walking straight toward me.
Caught off guard, I froze as he took hold of my arm.
Without a word, he led me to a nearby empty bedroom and pushed me inside.
“Stay here.
I know what you’re trying to do, but take the night to calm down and figure out exactly what it is you want.
We’ll talk tomorrow.”
His tone was unyielding as he shut the door, as if he already knew I had been planning to leave.
Take the night to calm down and figure out exactly what I want…
But how could I, when he already had a girlfriend?
.
Early Morning
Hunger woke me before dawn.
I had not eaten anything since yesterday, and I had spent most of the night tossing and turning, lost in endless thoughts.
By now, I felt so drained that I could barely drag myself out of Wills’s place.
I did not want to think about what might have happened last night between Wills and Angie…
But… it did not matter.
He clearly did not care much about me anyway.
I should just head back home, gather a few essentials, and move to the apartment my mother had left for me, where I could finally be on my own without being bothered by anyone else.
I could only hope neither Dylan nor Wills would try to track me down and make a scene.
Catching a cab, I returned to my empty family home.
Since my parents had moved to America, it was just me here, trying to finish my studies before joining them later.
After quickly gathering some clothes and essentials from my room.
The reason I did not stay at the house, was because the house was big.
It was quite far from the university, so travelling would be a hassle.
My parents would worry if I lived alone so, they made me find a rental near the university.
Maybe the thought I would be able to find a roommate, uh, I meant a female roommate.
I did not understand how things had turned out in the way that it did.
Gathered up all I needed, I picked up the key to the apartment my mom had bought back before she married Dad.
I would just have to start over by myself, while surviving Dylan.
Thinking of Dylan now…
What could he be doing, how pissed off he would be, just the thought sent chills all over.
.
Sigh… Why was everyone around me so far from normal?
Dragging my bags with a heavy sigh, I moved clumsily down the road to hail a taxi, swiping at the sweat, feeling defeated.
What if my parents found out about all this…?
I thought while putting the suitcase into the cab.
“To …
Apartment in …
district,”
I gave the driver the address to the apartment complex, turning my gaze to the window as rain began to fall in light droplets.
Even the sky was laughing at me, huh…
Might as well join in.
When we arrived, I looked at the old but well-kept apartment building, somehow solid and lovely.
I could not help but smile.
The place was quiet, with green trees, a lawn, and a few pets roaming around, belonging to the residents nearby.
It was cozier than Wills’s flat.
Seriously, why was I even thinking about him?
The apartment building was far enough from the main city to offer a little more peace—a welcome difference from all the chaos.
Maybe I could finally relax here, finally let things settle down and find some peace.
Inside, the apartment was still furnished and had all the essentials.
My mom said it was because this was where she and dad had first started out.
So, she did not want to let it go.
For me, it meant I did not need to run out to buy anything.
Plus, Dylan did not even know about this place.
Maybe he would think I was with Wills now and finally leave me alone.
There it was—one of the few perks of having a boyfriend and a side guy…
But honestly, the guilt from it all made me sick.
I hated myself for this, and I could only imagine how Wills and Dylan must see me now.
Whatever… I would not be here much longer anyway.
The rain was steady as I quietly made a coffee, feeling alone and a little adrift.
.
But peace never lasted long for me.
The next day, I found myself face-to-face with Dylan again waiting outside my department building like he would leave me nowhere to run.
“You’re driving me insane, do you know that, Wanjan?” His voice boomed from a distance, catching people’s attention all around us.
Did he seriously forget how noticeable he is?
More than a few girls looked my way, whispering to each other and clearly getting a kick out of the scene.
“So, you live with that guy, aren’t you?” Dylan’s grip on my arm was tight, his eyes blazing.
“Yeah, just like you thought.
Hey…
that hurts,” I replied, wincing as I tried to pull my arm from his grasp.
But it was futile.
He held on, his face darkening with frustration.
“Come with me; we have things to discuss.” Dylan pulled me toward the fire escape, locking me in place between his arms.
“Do you understand that there’s a difference between how women see player men and how men see player women?” He leaned in, our faces almost touching.
I planted my hands on his chest, trying to keep a little distance, but Dylan’s fiery gaze seemed to burn right through me.
I hated myself for standing there, for being unable to do anything and letting him do whatever he pleased.
I hated feeling the eyes of others on me, pitying me.
And yet he still was not satisfied.
“Is that how you see me, then?
And how does it feel?” I asked Dylan, bitterly.
Everything he had put me through, all his messed-up games, that had turned me into this version of myself…
“You trying to pick a fight with me, Wanjan?
Like I can’t tell exactly what’s going on here?”
His grip was rough as he yanked at the collar of my shirt, pulling it down just enough to expose my neck, collarbone, and the faint red marks left there by Wills the night before.
“Dylan!” I hissed, glaring at him, seething.
“You…”
“It’s you!
Do you know how much respect I gave you?
You were always first—above everyone else—and now look at this.”
His hand closed around my neck, his eyes clouded with fury.
I could not even remember the last time I had seen him so angry.
But here it was, that rage, burning just beneath his gaze.
I had waited a long time to see him like this—to relish this moment.
So why did I just feel… empty, worthless, and pathetic?
“I could just snap your neck right here and now.
Can’t you see how I feel?
What you mean to me?”
“It wasn’t respect, Dylan!
What you did was like stomping me into the dirt, over and over.
Do you even know how your other women look at me and laugh at me behind my back?” My voice broke, and I felt my eyes sting with fresh tears.
Being around him made it all too easy to cry.
“Who?
Just give me a name.”
“Enough, Dylan.
Don’t you realize how much pain you’re causing people!”
“I don’t care about anyone else.
It’s only you I care about!”
I turned my head away, even though his grip on my neck tightened, pressing in as if he really wanted to make good on his threat.
Then, the fire exit door burst open, startling us both.
I gasped, my eyes widening in shock, as I caught sight of the person standing there.
“Wills…”
“Darling!~”
Wills’s voice cut through the tension with unexpected cheer as he stepped in, radiating an easygoing brightness that stood in stark contrast to the anger filling the narrow space between Dylan and me.
“I need to talk to you,” Wills said, pulling Dylan’s hand from my neck and tugging me away from him.
“…”
I felt torn, suddenly unsure who I should be walking away with.
Honestly, seeing Wills now—after nearly two years—I had never expected we would meet again, let alone leading to the event of that night.
I knew I did not want to hand myself over to Dylan.
And with Wills showing up, like fate was conspiring against me, I decided to not let it happen.
But, really, Wills and I were never meant to connect.
He had a girlfriend, and probably no desire to see me ever again.
That night had been out of anger, as a way to spite Dylan and make it clear he was not my first anymore, a choice I made to get away from him.
I thought it would push him to finally let me go.
Yet somehow, instead of freedom, both of these men seemed hellbent on holding onto me.
For reasons I could not even unfathomed.
I just wanted to hurt myself enough to be free, so what was all this?
What foolishness had I done…
“Hey!
Let go of my girlfriend and stop acting like you own the place, Wills…”
Dylan’s voice was taut with anger as he squared up to Wills, his gaze sharp and hostile.
I could only stand there, biting my lip, feeling utterly clueless as to how to handle any of it.
“Oh yeah?
She might be your girlfriend, but she’s my woman.
I’m sure you get what I’m saying.” Wills said, breaking into a wide, taunting grin.
His words struck me like a punch, as if my heart had swelled like a balloon only to be deflated by the force of his dismissive jab.
“What the hell did you just say?” Dylan’s brow twitched in anger as he lunged toward Wills.
I quickly stepped between them.
“Stop it!
Don’t fight here—don’t you realize there are people outside listening to every word we’re saying?” I said, feeling exhausted.
I was not lying.
I was so tired of it all.
All I had ever wanted was to keep to myself, free from attachments, but every step I had taken had led me deeper into this mess, chaining me to a life I no longer recognized.
“So what?” Dylan said, unconcerned as ever.
I could only sigh; he had never cared, not really.
“Tell me, who are you going to leave with.
It’s your choice.” Wills’s voice cut through the tension, his question directed at me but his eyes locked on Dylan’s.
His question from yesterday had returned, and I knew this was it—the moment I had to finally answer.
“I’ll go with… Wills.”
“Tell me what I should do with you,”
Wills muttered as we drove together in his car.
He had told me we needed to talk, practically dragging me into his car, leaving me with no idea what would happen next.
I really did not know what to expect.
Wills was tense, his fingers tapping on the steering wheel as he stared ahead.
I swallowed nervously, stealing a glance his way, though there was little I could do other than stay silent.
“This is driving me insane!”
Honestly, I felt the same way.
.
Wills’s talking…
“She doesn’t talk; don’t bother asking her anything.”
“What’d you say, Wills?” Clay asked, his gaze fixed on Wanjan, whom I had just dragged into the club.
“I said she doesn’t talk.
Just leave her be.?”
I had brought her here to Clay’s club, he was a friend of mine.
If we went back to my place, I was bound to end up ra… assaulting her.
Just seeing her made me feel so wound up.
And then there was her scent—sweet and lingering—that had imprinted in my mind.
No wonder Dylan was so attached to her; and here I am, too damn attached to walk away.
Hell…
The strange part was Dylan.
He practically hooked up with half the girls on campus, had somehow never laid a hand on her until now.
I could not wrap my head around it.
Though I guessed I should feel lucky to be her first.
Heck!
But it was a mixed blessing—I could not sit still thinking about her.
Last night was a mess.
I had gone to great lengths to convince Angie to leave my place, fully expecting Wanjan to lock herself away crying after I had brought another woman over to make her jealous.
But damn…
she locked the door so tightly I could not even check on her that night.
Then she vanished without a trace this morning before I could even talk to her.
I had never felt this kind of frustration before, this worry.
I was so worried I had to follow her to MU.
This was all new for me, and I could not get a handle on it.
I shoved Wanjan down onto the outdoor seating area, giving her a look that said to stay put, then dragged Clay over to the bar.
“You’re really possessive, aren’t you?” Clay smirked.
“Hearing you and Ziff go through this is enough to make me swear off having a girlfriend,” he teased, clearly enjoying himself.
But I did not want to hear it.
No!
I was not possessive.
I just was not bored with her yet.
I kept repeating that to myself internally, not knowing why Clay was grinning so much.