All Chapters of Pucking Hate You, My Bully Captain : Chapter 41 - Chapter 44

Zach’s POVThe decision to avoid Ryder started getting more difficult, my internal torment peaked like a storm that wouldn’t break. Every waking moment was a war between telling Ryder everything and handling this nightmare alone.Ryder had been circling closer, texts I ignored, near-misses on campus where his eyes would lock on mine with that raw, unresolved want. He knew something was wrong. And part of me, the exhausted, terrified part, wanted to run to him. To unload the laptop folder, Damien’s obsession, the threats. Ryder would protect me. He always tried to, in his messy, secretive way.But I held back, his secrets about Damien were the reason I was in this mess to begin with.Damien escalated two days later with a veiled threat on campus. I was cutting across the quad when my phone buzzed.I froze mid-step, scanning the area. No sign of him, but he made it clear that he was watching. I deleted the message with shaking fingers and changed directions, paranoia wrapping tighter ar

Zach’s POVSunlight filtered weakly through the thin dorm curtains, casting pale stripes across my bed. I woke slowly, the kind of heavy, disoriented awakening that followed too little sleep and too much chaos.My body felt like lead, with my muscles still aching from the breakdown.It took several long seconds for reality to settle in. The cumulative trauma pressed down like a physical weight on my chest.I lay there staring at the ceiling cracks I’d memorized over the semester, mind numb.Damien’s calm voice replaying: Peasants don’t win here. Everything crashed together in a numb fog. Like a dull, heavy acceptance.There was nothing I could do. That was my final verdict. Damien’s family held too much power. I had no real proof that would stand up against his influence. The fight felt impossible. So I had to choose survival instead.School. It was the only thing left within my control.I forced myself out of bed through mechanical movements and ended up in the shower.The hot water