CHAPTER 5

POV: SEBASTIAN

She looks perfect when she's terrified. She looks at the world with that childlike curiosity, like a little kid. It makes my head ache sometimes. She's so naive, so pure... Like a baby. She doesn't realize how much she needs to be cherished, how fragile she is. She's like an angel, beautiful, kind, untouched by the cruelty of this world. And yet, the world has scarred her. Still, she remains so good.

She is offering me some candies like a little baby. How cute but it makes me mad and jealous how she gave so much attention to other people but not me. Well, its actually me but the other me she didnt realize maybe I could raped her right now so fucking dumb. I followed her and I disappeared before she glanced back again at me. She turned back without knowing I already got inside of the bus before she saw it in front of her.

It's maddening.

I want to protect her, to shield her from all the pain.

But there's darkness inside me. A dark, selfish desire to keep her all to myself. No one else can

have her. That quiet panic in her eyes...The way her breath quickens, how she clutches her bag a little tighter. God, she's beautiful when she's scared. Especially when she's scared because of me. Not because of them. Them—the ones I already sent to hell. My little princess. Who's going to save you now? No one. Of course not. No one can. Only me. She thinks she's hiding it well. That shaky act, pretending nothing happened earlier. But I know her better than anyone. Every twitch of her brow. Every nervous step. She's hurting, haunted, and utterly alone. And I love her more for it. She shut her door like she's locking the past out.

Cute. So, so cute. I got to the bus stop before she did, of course. I always do. Fast. Precise. Always one step ahead.

Then there she was. Her scent hit me before she even sat down. Like soft rain and something sweet I can't quite name. It drives me insane. She sat a few rows behind me. I could feel her eyes on my back. Curious. Afraid. Mine. I glanced her way. And there they were: those wide, doe eyes I dream of every night. Those dry, nervous lips I ache to kiss until they're soft and full again. That tiny frame I could lift so easily with one hand...

She doesn't even realize it. But every inch of her...

belongs to me. And one day. She'll see it, too. I wait for her every day after work. I follow her steps from

the shadows, always close, always watching. It's not just about protection anymore. It's about control. She doesn't know it yet, but she belongs to me. I'm addicted to her. Her scent. Her voice. The way she looks—even when she's not looking back.

Staring at her like this makes me feel so damn stupid. Is that what you want, Melisa? You want me to go insane? Because I will.

I'm already halfway there. I hate myself for failing her... for not protecting her when I should've. What if—God, what if I lose her completely? What if I'm not enough to keep her safe? 

If my Melisa disappears... I disappear. She's not just someone I love. She is my life. The only light in this suckable, twisted world. And without her, I'm nothing but a shadow clinging to regret. I failed her once. I let them hurt her. I will never let that happen again. I should've been there. I should've killed them sooner. That mistake haunts me every second. But now? Now she's under my watch. My care. My obsession. Today, she noticed me again. 

Brief eye contact. Just a flicker. She looked away, uneasy. Good. She needs to be scared of the world—of everyone but me. I want her to feel unsafe around men. I want her instincts to scream when anyone else gets close. Because I'm the only one who can make her feel safe. The only one who truly understands her. The only one who loves her the way she deserves.

Her voice drives me mad. Her lips—chapped and nervous—still perfect. Her eyes? God, her eyes are the most dangerous part. They pull me in, even when I try to keep my distance. She makes me insane. She makes me weak. And still, I stand there, calm, cold, pretending like I don't care.

But inside?

Inside I'm on fire.

She'll learn. She'll see. Every uneasy step she takes around strangers is just another step toward me. She'll run from them. And straight into my arms. Where she belongs. Forever.

I watched her again from the shadows, like I always did.  She didn't even notice me, didn't know how I followed her every move, how I could predict what

she'd do next before she even did it.  It was almost too easy, but then again, she wasn't supposed to know. She wasn't supposed to feel anything but my presence when I chose to show it.

"Mr., is there any problem?"

She handed me a handkerchief—a soft pink one, embroidered with a tiny rose in the corner.

My little bunny. Even after the world has chewed her up, betrayed her, she still finds the strength to be kind. And that... that makes me love her even more. No, it drives me to want her. I need her to obsess over her.

I didn't say a word. Not one. I just stared, unable to blink, unwilling to look away. She was so close. Too close. Her eyes, gentle, warm. Her smile, damn near angelic. If I wasn't wearing this mask, the one

for colds and coughs, she'd see what I've become. But maybe it's fitting... because yes, I am sick. 

Sick with longing. Sick of this twisted feeling that burns every time I can't hold her, can't keep her, can't have her. She lingered a moment, then smiled. "Okay, Mr. I have to go now."

And just like that, she turned and walked away.

I stood there, frozen, gripping the delicate handkerchief she left in my hand. I brought it to my face.  Herscent sweet vanilla, a hint of strawberry, lingered in the fabric. God... this is torture. She smells like candy, like some forbidden dessert I could ravish again and again and never tire of.

Mine, I thought. Even if she doesn't know it yet. She was beautiful. More than I could ever put into words.  Her every movement, her every breath she belonged to me, even if she didn't realize it yet. I could feel it.  Every day, every glance, every breath she took was a reminder that she was meant for me. She just had to understand that. When she looked out the window, unaware of my eyes on her, my heart raced. I wanted to be closer.

I wanted to feel her skin under my fingers, hear her voice soft and broken from my touch. It was all coming together. She wouldn't fight me. She wouldn't want to. She was mine. All I had to do was wait. And when the time was right, she'd see it too.

She'd know.

Just wait for me, my love. Just wait...