~THE NIGHT OF BROKEN BONDS~
Raffy finally pulled back, his chest rising and falling like he'd just run miles. His hands lingered at my waist, reluctant to let go, but he forced himself to step away.
"I'll go out first," he said, his voice low and firm. "After fifteen minutes, you follow."
I blinked, confused, still dizzy from his closeness. "And Haniya?"
His jaw tightened. "Don't ask. Just… pack your stuff and come out when you're done."
The way he said it—commanding, protective, almost broken—left no room for argument. He didn't even give me a chance to reply before he straightened his jacket, ran a hand through his hair to hide the mess I'd made of it, and walked to the door.
When it clicked shut behind him, silence pressed in on me. My legs shook as I slid down to the floor, my lips still swollen, my heartbeat still refusing to slow.
Why fifteen minutes? Why not together? He didn't liked it? Why i did that? My love is one sided? But the K-kiss? What does it mean to him? Nothing!
I hugged my knees, questions clawing at me. Did he want to protect me? Hide me? Or was he ashamed of what had just happened?
I stared at my reflection in the mirror across the room. My light blue frock was wrinkled now, my hair messy from his hands. I looked like someone else—someone reckless, someone dangerous.
And maybe… someone who had just crossed a line she could never return from.
With trembling fingers, I reached for my bag. His words echoed in my head. *Pack your stuff… and come out when you're done.*
I swallowed hard. Outside, I could hear faint laughter from our friends, the clink of game pieces, the shuffle of cards. Normal life.
But inside this room, everything had changed.
The laughter outside felt distant, like it belonged to another world. My hands shook as I zipped my bag, but before I could stand, the door burst open.
Haniya.
Her eyes gleamed with venom, her voice loud enough to carry across the house.
"Do you all even know who she is? Do you even know *me*?"
The others turned toward her, confused. Zara frowned, Zain narrowed his eyes, and Maheen stepped closer with caution.
"My name," she spat, "is Haniya aya. And this—" she jabbed a finger at me, "—is Wateen Aya. Let me show you who she really is."
She yanked out her phone and held up the screen. A photo. My throat tightened. It was me, no older than thirteen, in a faded shalwar kameez, scrubbing the floor of my uncle's house. Hair tied, face exhausted, I looked more like a servant than a daughter.
Gasps filled the room. My chest burned.
But she wasn't done. With a cruel swipe, she revealed another picture. This time my uncle's hand was on my waist from behind while I stood frozen, stiff, looking anywhere but at the camera.
"And you know what?" Haniya sneered. "This wasn't once. She spent *hours* with him. Her screams? They weren't from pain. She enjoyed it. Until she got tired of him and moved on—looking for someone new to play with."
Her words sliced through the room like a blade.
"enough!" Maheen roared. In two strides she was in front of Haniya, her hand flying across her face. The slap cracked like thunder. "How *dare* you!"
Maheen grabbed her hair, yanking her back, but before she could do more, Zara shoved her hard. Maheen stumbled, stunned, staring at her friend in disbelief.
"Zara…?" her voice cracked.
"I believe Haniya," Zara said coldly. "I've always thought Wateen was too good at pretending. She's nothing but a time-girl."
The room went still.
Raffy moved like lightning. His fist clenched, his jaw locked, his arm raised—he was ready to strike—but Ayan grabbed his wrist mid-air, holding him back with all his strength.
"Raffy, no!" Ayan shouted.
I couldn't breathe. The walls were closing in. Their voices blurred until all I could hear was my own heartbeat pounding in my ears. I stumbled forward, forcing myself between them.
"STOP!" I screamed, my throat raw. "Enough! This fight… it's because of me. So listen—just *listen*."
The room froze.
My voice shook, but I refused to fall. "Yes, my uncle… he tried to take advantage of me. Not once. Not twice. Many times. And every single time I fought, every single time I escaped. I swear on my life—I was never used. I was terrified. And those touches you saw… I pretended they were protection, so I could survive without breaking. That's the only reason I endured."
Haniya opened her mouth, but Maheen shoved her back against the wall. "Shut up and let her finish!"
Tears streamed down my face. "Do you know why my life turned like this? Because of *her*." I pointed at Haniya, my voice shattering. "She was pampered, loved, spoiled. She hated sharing it. She forced her parents to throw me out of the house, and I was left… to suffer alone. Miserable. Broken. And now she dares to call me names?"
My knees gave way. I collapsed to the floor, my sobs tearing out of me, ugly and raw.
Raffy was at my side instantly. He crouched down, his hand steady on my shoulder, pulling me gently but firmly to my feet. He led me to the couch like I was fragile glass, sat me down, and pressed a glass of water to my lips.
"Drink," he whispered. His voice was rough, almost breaking. "Please, Wateen. Drink."
I swallowed shakily, hiccups breaking through my cries. My body trembled, feverish heat rising under my skin.
Ayan turned, fury in his eyes. "Get them out. Now."
Maheen faced Zara and Zain, her hands shaking with anger. "We never expected this from you two. We were a family."
Zain's reply was ice. "And we never expected *you* to side with someone like her. Wateen is just a—"
He didn't finish.
Because Raffy was already there. He shoved Zain so hard he staggered into the hallway. Then Raffy slammed the door shut in his face, locking it with finality.
Silence.
When he returned, his steps were slow but heavy with rage. He came straight to me, kneeling again, his arm wrapping protectively around my shoulders. Maheen sat on my other side, her hand squeezing mine, while Ayan stood in front of us like a shield.
I was still crying, my eyes swollen and red, my chest shaking with hiccups, heat radiating like fever. But for the first time… I wasn't alone.
AUTHORSNOTE :
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