Devil's Revenge

We walked into a large, dimly lit bedroom, our laughter filling the air, still high from the euphoria of our graduation ceremony. The moment we entered, we tossed our graduation gowns and caps onto the floor as if they were nothing more than yesterday's discarded memories.

I pushed Mira onto the bed, and she landed softly against the silky linen sheets, her body sinking into the plush mattress. Her long, flowing brown hair scattered across the bedcover in beautiful disarray, strands of it catching the dim light.

Her eyes widened slightly, showing a flicker of surprise. Her voice was quiet, laced with confusion. "Hey."

I climbed onto the bed, kneeling over her, my fingers instinctively reaching out to brush away the strands that had fallen over her face. My touch was deliberate-gentle, yet teasing.

She gazed up at me, her expression firm but not angry. "Hey, don't just pounce on me like that next time," she murmured, her striking blue eyes locking onto mine, sending an unspoken signal. A signal I knew well.

A mischievous smile curled at the edges of my lips. "Are you ready?"

Holding her gaze, she spoke with quiet resolve. "Come on, you already know my answer. No need to make this more embarrassing than it already is." She turned her face slightly, as if to shield herself from my teasing expression, her voice dipping into something softer, more vulnerable. "Start already."

Her shyness only fueled my amusement. My smile deepened into a grin. I was proud-proud that I was the only one who got to see this side of her. "You don't need to be so flustered, Mira. It's just the two of us here."

I cupped the side of her face, my fingertips tracing her skin delicately. A subtle shiver coursed through her body at my touch. She closed her eyes, her breath growing uneven with anticipation.

I leaned in, the heat between us intensifying. As my lips met hers, a soft warmth spread through me, intoxicating, pulling me deeper into the moment. I lost myself in her taste, my self-restraint slipping away with every passing second.

She clung onto me just as tightly, pulling me in, refusing to let go.

What started as a soft embrace escalated into an intense dance, our lips molding together, our breaths mingling. Our tongues met in a battle for dominance, and she was winning-graceful yet aggressive, unrelenting.

I couldn't let her have the upper hand. I let my fingers roam, tracing the curves of her body, my movements slow, deliberate, electric.

A soft moan escaped her lips. "Damian... when you touch me like that..." she whispered, her voice laced with need, but then, as if struck by a sudden thought, she paused. "Damian, you know that you were always there for me, right?"

I froze for a moment, my fingers stilling against her skin. "Of course."

She exhaled, her voice dripping with sincerity. "I don't think I ever thanked you enough. For always being there... For all the times I got bullied and you stood up for me. Again and again." Her eyes softened. "I'm really grateful, Damian. And I'm lucky... lucky to have you as my boyfriend."

My heart clenched at her words, warmth swelling within me. A grin formed on my lips. "And that's why I'm just as lucky to have you."

I pulled her in for another deep kiss, a powerful surge of electricity passing between us. And before we knew it, we were lost in each other again.

We remained like that for nearly an hour, wrapped in the warmth of our embrace, until exhaustion overtook us. I held her close, and she nuzzled into my chest, surrendering to the comfort of my arms.

---

A FEW MONTHS LATER...

Today was special-our one-year anniversary. I had dressed up for the occasion, bouquet in hand, hoping to make it memorable. It might have been cliché, but I didn't care-I wanted this day to be perfect.

As I walked towards her house, shielded from the afternoon sun by wispy cirrus clouds, my mind was restless, filled with an endless loop of questions. Would she like this? Was the bouquet too much? What would I even say when I saw her?

Before Mira and I became a couple, she had been a fragile girl, constantly preyed upon by bullies. Day after day, I had seen the bruises that decorated her skin-purplish-red marks left behind by those who tormented her. She always tried to hide them beneath long sleeves, but I wasn't fooled.

I eventually found out who was responsible. What I did to them? Well, that's another story. But from that day forward, I became her protector-her guardian angel in human form.

I finally arrived at her house, anticipation building within me. I knocked on the door, waiting for her to answer.

"It's open!" she called from inside.

I stepped in, my lips curling into a fond smile. "Hey, Mimi." It was my special name for her.

She was sprawled across the red velvet couch, her gaze fixed on the television. At the sound of my voice, she glanced over her shoulder, her expression unreadable. "Oh, Damian? Hey. Why didn't you tell me you were coming?"

I chuckled. "I wanted to surprise you."

"Surprise?" she repeated, finally sitting up. "What's the occasion?"

My smile faltered. A forced chuckle escaped me. "It's our anniversary, Mira. Did you forget?"

"Oh, right." She shrugged nonchalantly. "I already invited someone over to celebrate with us."

A frown crept onto my face. My stomach twisted into knots. "Wait. What do you mean someone? It's our anniversary."

Before she could answer, there was a sharp knock at the door.

Her face lit up with excitement. "That must be him."

I stiffened. Him?

She brushed past me, heading straight for the door. My chest tightened as I watched her open it, a radiant smile stretching across her lips. "Alex!" she beamed.

A tall, broad-shouldered guy with brown hair stood at the entrance. My mind scrambled to make sense of the scene unfolding before me. Who the hell is this? A family friend, maybe?

Then it happened. Without hesitation, she leaned in and kissed him.

My breath hitched. My hands trembled, fingers clenching around the bouquet until the petals crumpled in my grip. "Huh...?"

The guy-Alex-glanced past Mira, his expression souring when he noticed me. "Babe, who's that?"

Mira turned, her eyes scanning me as if she were sizing me up. A smirk curled at the edges of her lips. "Oh, him? No need to worry. He's just the high school friend I told you about."

My blood ran cold. "What the hell are you talking about?" I clutched my chest, emphasizing my point. "I'm your boyfriend!"

She laughed. Laughed. "You? Really? Since when?" She shook her head. "I only needed you to keep me safe in school, that's all." Wrapping her arms around Alex, she added, "Did you really think you were special enough to call yourself my boyfriend?"

The world around me shattered. My breath came in ragged gasps. So... I was just a tool to her? My body trembled, my grip on the flowers tightening until the stems snapped.

Without another word, I turned and stormed out. I could feel the sting of unshed tears, but I refused to let them fall.

"She just made the biggest mistake of her life," I muttered under my breath, my words dripping with venom.