Fifty

Adonis

Rushing to Mrs. Cook, I asked, "Did Bryan do this to you?"

"Uh..." She pointed at the entrance to my apartment and I obliged. I followed her pain-filled paces until we got to the door which I managed to open.

After introducing illumination into the dark room, I directed her to the bathroom to get rid of the redness and get her cleaned up.

"Argh," she cried hard as I placed her gently on the covered toilet seat.

"Wait here, let me get the water running." I rushed to the bath. "Do you think you can walk over here?"

"Hmm," she grunted, her head dancing to answer me in the affirmative.

The sound of rushing water overcoming the room, I reached out to guide her towards the bath, my eyes watching out for her earnestly.

Placing her upon the edge of the bath, I helped her get off the blood-stained gown, my being not mindful of the fact that I was going to see her naked.

Holding her in place, I told her to take off her undergarments herself and after she did that, I helped her into the bath whose growing hotness was gradually affecting my skin.

As she breathed a sigh of relief, I did too. And my concerned eyes stayed on her while blood stained the water.

"Mr. Klaus..." She groaned as she tried to reach for the soap bottle on her side. I grabbed that for her, opened it, and helped her put a handful on her shaking hands which she stretched in my direction.

"Do you want me to excuse you?" I asked when she started rubbing the lathering substance on the length of her shoulder.

"I might need a little help, so..." she let out a deep breath and her body slid some more into the contained fluid. "... please don't leave."

I nodded understandably and reached for the bath plug. Soon, all the blood went down the drain as if they were in a hurry to leave the confinement. With seriousness all over my face, I replaced the water and everything looked fine for a second.

"I should excuse you. Besides I need to get you new clothes."

"Thank you," she faintly said.

"The towels are above you, so help yourself when you are done," I said before I finally left the heated room.

Once in my room and in search of clothes that could size her, I exhaled hard. It was enough that Maximus was getting keener on taking Ruby from me and even though being with Ruby takes some burden off my chest, the fact that I have to protect her gets overwhelming sometimes since I can't always be around her.

And now... there is another menace. Bryan Lockwood.

It had to be him that did that to Mrs. Cook. If not he is not directly involved, he has a hand in it regardless. He was the one that impregnated her anyway.

As I rummaged for an old shirt, I felt my phone vibrate and I hurriedly reached for it with the thought that Ruby was the one texting me.

She was the one alright but her text had an odd vibe around it.

Ruby: Hey Adonis... There's something you should know. You know what... Never mind. Thank you for today. Sleep tight. :)

A small frown etched on my face, I bade her goodnight as well while a million thoughts ran through my head.

I can tell how easy it is for her to be confused when it comes to me. Such confusion can cause severe head and heart aches and that's not something I would wish Ruby to have.

Honestly, sometimes I think of disappearing from Ruby's life and allowing her to live a peaceful life. But, between what Maximus could do to her while I'm gone and how crazy she makes me feel, I can't bring myself to pack my things and move to another city where no one might know me.

Sighing hard again, I grabbed a random shirt from my wardrobe, dumped it on the bed, and went into my bathroom to wash my face or maybe take a shower in the long run.

"Mr. Klaus?" I heard Mrs. Cook call me from the other side as I turned on the tap of the bathroom sink.

"Yeah, I'll be right outside." My hands cupped some of the fluid and once the chillness hit my face, I found myself thinking about Ruby again.

Staring at my image, I made up my mind to not yield to my seldom urge to disappear from her life. I can do that to myself but I can't do that to her.

"Is this mine?" Mrs. Cook asked me when I came out of the restroom.

I eyed the way she caressed the shirt in her hand. But I refused to let my growing irritation show. Besides, she was the one I got the shirt for, it would be rather funny if I get angry at her for picking it up without letting me know.

So, I said, "Yes. Let me just get you a pair of shorts."

"No, it is fine," she said, her hands eagerly adjusting the towel around her body to prevent it from slipping. "I can wear only this. It is big enough." She smiled softly. "Thank you for taking care of me."

"I didn't do anything," I said blankly as I walked to the door. "Put it on and-"

I caught my phone in her grasp and she nervously clenched the device. One of my brows lifted in question, I queried her in silence and she rapidly replied with,  "Sorry, I was checking the time."

"Give me the phone." A few heavy steps and my phone was back in my hands. "Get dressed and come out in five minutes."

"O-Okay."

I sent her a glare when I saw that the phone screen was still displaying my text with Ruby.

"Five minutes," I repeated. It was taking every strength within me to keep my calmness intact.

I closed the door after me and went ahead to settle in the living room. Since my mind was still on the Ruby topic, I thanked goodness that nothing went wrong when Maximus suddenly barged into my place.

It would be rich of me to wonder how he traced us there but I have always made sure that he never found out that the mansion was still in use.

So, it will be wise to stay away from that place for a while.

"Mr. Klaus, thank you so much for helping me," Mrs. Cook announced her presence by interrupting my thoughts.

"How did you get my address?"

"Uh..." She sat opposite me, her eyes darting here and there, showing signs of guilt. "I checked the database when I had no one to call."

"So, you went to school looking like that?"

"Uh?" I raised a brow. "No. I caught a glimpse of your address when I was doing some work for the principal."

" Why are you lying?" I asked calmly and her head darted to the side. After a few seconds of silence, I asked, " What happened to you? It was Bryan right?"

" Yes... and no."

" How so?"

" As you know Bryan was not supportive of me getting rid of the baby but he is some crazy dude."

" What did he do?" I asked. It then occurred to me that it would be nice to have a glass of whiskey in my hand.

She chuckled, a reaction that was weird in that situation.

" Bryan contacted my husband and told him I am pregnant for him and my husband didn't take it well."

" What did he do?"

"Over the night, he sedated me and by the time I woke up, I was strapped to a bed and the only thing I could do was watch as the so-called doctor aborted my baby. " She scoffed. "You know what's crazier? I wasn't the only one cheating. My husband has two women who keep him satisfied yet... "

I watched as her hands fisted around the ends of the shirt that clothed her. At that point, it was evident that something was needed to soothe the distress that enveloped the room at that moment.

".... yet he found it so easy to get rid of my baby. What kind of selfishness is that? Is he the only one that gets to live a good life? Am I meant to rot away because of him? What do I do with my life now?"

" Would you like some juice?" I asked.

She sniffled, making me aware that tears were now rolling down her cheeks.

"Yes, please."

" I'll be right back."

A bottle of whiskey for me, an orange juice for her, I also grabbed two cups from the plate rack, and the next minute, I was back in the living room.

"Is the whiskey for me?"

"Are you seriously joking now?" I asked once I settled the items on the small stool beside one of the couches. I poured the juice for her and asked,  "What are you going to do?"

"About my husband?"

"About your life," I replied.

"Oh well..." She collected the filled glass cup. "... I don't have my husband or Bryan around anymore." She wore a huge smile. "So, how about you take care of me? I can be a really good partner?"

"I don't like having people around."

"But you like having Ruby to play with, don't you?" she questioned me, her lips forming into a pout.

" What are you trying to say?" I acted unswayed by her words but at that point, I was beginning to regret letting her in.

"What do you guys see in that Ruby girl? Not only is she young and inexperienced, but she also acts too full of herself. I don't get why Bryan goes on and on about her all the time. It is sickening."

"Shouldn't you watch the words that come out of your mouth?" My jaws clenched and I tried to keep my approaching anger at a distance.

"You must really like her. It's weird. Anyone would think you keep her around for the sex, she does look like she can take a good pounding. Most of them do."

"Mrs. Cook..." I got up abruptly, it made her slightly flinch. "It seems your present situation is no concern to you. If that's the case..."

I pocketed my hands. "Make sure to leave my house before six am tomorrow. If you don't, I'll make sure the cops have you as a visitor. Goodnight."

"Wait." I stopped walking but I decided not to face her.

"What do you want?"

"Can I at least eat something before leaving?"

Scoffing at the height of her ingratitude, I decided at that moment that I will do all I can to ensure she doesn't do anything to Ruby. She seems like someone who would want to hurt the girl for no reason and I can't let that happen.

"No. Make sure you touch nothing."

"Okay, Mr. Klaus. Sleep tight."

There was something off about her. How it escaped me till I let her into my house... I have no idea.

~

Waking up at seven am was something I started doing recently. Before, I woke up at very early hours, so when I started waking up a bit late, I realised that things had fully changed, that I was no longer a part of the gang. I no longer had reasons to wake up in the middle of the night for weird, stupid reasons.

Waking up at seven o'clock also ensured I successfully reach the school gate a few minutes after the first bell rings.

I hate getting to work early. It is the best way to avoid the nonsense talks in the staff room.

As usual, it was already the first period and the corridor was void of students.

Without much fuss, I walked into the staff room and it relieved me to see that Mrs. Cook was not in the room.

As I places my bag on my desk and sat down to mentally prepare myself for the classes I have that day, one of the female teachers walked up to me.

"Mr. Klaus, is it true?" The blonde-haired woman asked and I raised my brows accordingly.

"What is true and what is not?"

She rolled her eyes as if she was tired of me or something.

"Are you dating a married woman?"

"What kind of question is that?"

"Mrs. Cook... You are her lover, right?"

I chuckled. "Are you kidding me right now?"

"She is not," a certain Mr. Mark contributed to the discussion. "It is all over the school's online community. Even the students have seen it."

"Seen what?" My mind immediately went to Ruby and whether she had seen this thing they were talking about.

"The post about you and Mrs. Cook being lovers. There's even a picture of the both of you and-"

The rest of his words, I didn't hear because I rushed out of the room.

If I don't reach Ruby right away and assure her that whatever she has read is a lie, her confusion might expand. And that can't happen.

And that can't happen. It mustn't happen.

At this point, I can't imagine not having her by my side.

It hurts whenever I try to imagine not having her in my life.

So, even though the heavens are experts at making me lose important people or things, they won't have their way.

I will make sure of it.