Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 92

Chapter 92

(Bundah's POV)

Charlotte's laugh was soft, like the flutter of bird wings. It wasn't often I heard it, but when I did, it made everything in this hellhole feel a little less grim. She was sitting across from me in the built-in library. Her lips were tugged into a small smile as she tried to read aloud from one of the French-English books we'd borrowed. Her accent still tripped over certain words, and each time she stumbled, she'd giggle nervously and glance at me for reassurance. "You're getting better," I said as I leaned back in the rickety chair. "By next week, you'll be speaking English better than I do."

She gave me a disbelieving look and shook her head. "You're lying, Bundah," her broken English was charming. "But thank you for... how you say... the hope?"

"The compliment," I corrected with a grin. "And it's not a lie."

Her cheeks flushed, and she returned her focus to the book, but the moment of peace was short-lived. I noticed a group of guys lingering by the entrance, whispering and glancing our way. Their eyes were judgmental. I didn't like it. I'd overheard the rumors they'd been spreading about Charlotte-how she'd ended up at the center by mistake, how she didn't belong here, and worse, how she was an easy target because of her vulnerability.

"Stay here," I said abruptly and stood. Charlotte looked up, startled.

"Bundah? What are you doing?"

"Just keep reading," I said and forced a smile before striding toward the group.

They straightened as I approached and their smirks faded. "Got something to say?" I asked in a deceptively calm tone.

One of them, a tall guy with a sneer permanently lined on his face, shrugged. "Just talking, man. Relax."

"Yeah? Talking about what?" I took a step closer. "Because if it's about Charlotte, you better stop now."

The sneer faltered, but he recovered quickly. "Why do you care? She's not your girl."

"No, she's not," I said as my fists clenched at my sides. "But she's under my protection, and if I hear you or anyone else spreading crap about her again, we're gonna have a problem. Got it?"

They exchanged uneasy glances before muttering something and walking away. I didn't move until they were out of sight. My chest was heaving with barely contained anger. When I turned back to Charlotte, she was watching me with wide eyes.

"You... you didn't have to do that," she said softly as I returned to the table.

"Yes, I did," I replied, sitting down. "No one's gonna mess with you while I'm around."

Her smile was faint, but it was there. "Thank you, Bundah."

I said, meaning

•

(Dilara's POV)

turned the corner and saw him leaning against the wall, waiting. My stomach dropped, and my legs froze mid-step. "Dilara," his

swept over me as if enjoying the view of freshly roasted steak. "What do you want?"

stepped closer, and I instinctively backed up, only to hit the cold wall behind me. "What do you think I want?" he said mockingly. "You think you can just walk around

wave of nausea rolled through me. "You're disgusting," I spat and tried to summon some courage. "Stay away from

skin crawl. "Oh, Dilara. You've always been good at playing the

panic instantly paralyzed me. Before I could think, I shoved him

I thought he was going to retaliate. But then, footsteps echoed down the hallway, and he stepped back as his lips curled into a sneer. "This isn't over," he said before

my breath.

that night, I found myself sitting cross-legged on Angel's bed. Thank goodness the rest were asleep. My hands were clutching the edge of the blanket like it was the only thing grounding me. Angel sat across from me, her knees drawn up

poisonous fruit lodged in my throat for so long I didn't know how

wherever you need to,"

this party with a group of friends. It wasn't anything wild-just some people from my art class, hanging out, drinking a little. I remember feeling safe because everyone there was supposed

tilted her

when someone like him walks into a room. People look the other way. He started talking to me, making these.... comments about my art, about my body, about how I 'stood out.' At first,

I thought if I got outside, I could shake him off. But when I went out into the backyard, he

hardened, and her lips pressed into a

but I forced the words out. "He pinned me against the wall. Said I'd been 'teasing him all night' just by existing. I tried to push him

on mine. "You don't have to say it all if

no one came. No one heard me. By the time I got away, it was too late." I closed my eyes as I felt the shame and anger burning me from the inside. "I didn't tell anyone for weeks. I thought it was my fault. That maybe I'd done something to lead him on. But then... I found out I'd contracted HIV because of him. That's

gasp was sharp. Her eyes widened with

thinking this place would 'fix' me. Like I was the problem." I laughed humorlessly and shook my head. "But the worst part? He's here too. Walking these same halls, living

that. None of it. And

but I managed to nod. "I just want him to feel what I felt, Angel. I want him to hurt

"He definitely will. We'll make sure

the first time in a long time, I felt like

throat as I stared at my lap. Angel was patiently sitting there with an expression that

more," I said quietly, "You've probably been wondering why I kept sneaking off to see Dr. Nixon back when I

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