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71: My Benny
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2021-11-22 07:38:00I love New York. It’s all I spoke about when I realised I wanted to be in the movie industry. They think they are doing the right thing for me but it’s too soon. Ben and I have not dated for up to three months.
The car behind me honks. Frowning, I spare a glance at the driver through the side mirror. He’s pointing at the light. It has turned green. I mutter a silent apology and drive off. The excitement that’s usually present when picking Ben is absent. I stop in front of his house and honk twice without getting out of the car.
Ben comes out first and keeps the door open for Asher. Asher tells him something, they turn to me and wave. I wave back with less enthusiasm. I don’t know what Ben tells Asher but his head bobs rapidly.
“Tessa,” Asher cries out as soon as he gets into the car. He throws his arms around me in a quick hug I return. The second thing he does is to put on his seatbelt because he know
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Bullied By The Badboy 72: Change of plans
The boys are arguing about their football team. Again. It started as we were about to enter the cafeteria. Ben’s team must have lost because he’s the most aggravated. We have our trays in front of us but they are still arguing. The girls look bored as hell, myself included. Liam’s girlfriend yawns for the third time.“You okay, babe?” Liam asks her.“Yeah.”Lies. We are bored. We keep sharing glances each time the boys start on about a player from their team. I’m starting to think joining Ben at his table is a horrible idea. We always eat at my table. Since Maria is gone, it’s just us. I like it. But I don’t want to be the girlfriend who keeps her boyfriend from his friends.Ben pecks me. “You are not eating.” A hand cups my face, my cheeks grow warm as his friends stare. I shift on his lap, his free hand slips to my waist. He smirks, fully aware of his effect on me.
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2021-11-23Bullied By The Badboy 73: A cool city
“Did you know about this?” I ask Hayden while dragging my pyjamas bottoms over my legs. Tucking the phone between my shoulder and ear, I arrange the mess on my dresser. “Daddy is travelling tomorrow.”“Yeah,” he replies, “Mum told me.”Dinner was a horrid affair. They didn’t stop talking about it. How can they be excited at uprooting me from here and moving to another city? I expect Hayden to say more but he doesn’t. He likes the idea.“Are you going to try and stop them?” I ask.The poster on my door doesn’t offer me any comfort. Her smile doesn’t fuel me with the drive to be a better fighter. It’s not about the fight as much as it is about leaving Benny. I collapse to the bed with a sigh, my head hangs between my shoulders. I stand, then sit back. Hayden drags in a breath, I clench my fist on my knee in anticipation of what he will say.&ld
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2021-11-24Bullied By The Badboy 74: He’s gone
We win the first round.The screams from the crowd almost destroy my eardrums as they cheer us on. My heart pounds against my rib cage, Coach waves his hands in front of my face and I slowly snap out of my trance.Sweat stings my eyes, my chest rises and falls in tempo with my breathing. I accept the towel Coach offers me to wipe my face as best as I can under the mask. Ben flashes me a grin. We both fought but he doesn’t look half as disoriented as I do. Not fair. He gives my shoulder a firm squeeze when the referee returns to the middle of the ring.“If you win this round, then it’s over,” Coach screams over the noise. “Can you do that?”I drag in a shaky breath. Everything fades to the background, it’s only Coach and Ben that matters. I nod. If we win this round, we will qualify for the next match. If we don’t, I can’t say for sure that my body can last another fight with the
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2021-11-25Bullied By The Badboy 75: I am okay
BENOn Monday, I caught Gracie staring at me with a sad smile. I asked if she was okay, she said everything was fine. On Tuesday, she suggested leaving school to spend time together. I turned it down because I didn’t want to make that a habit for us. She is a great student with good grades and perfect attendance.Now, she’s telling me they are leaving merely hours before they have to move to another city. The more I think about it and the obvious signs I chose to ignore, the angrier I become. She made me promise not to get mad knowing fully well I will be upset. My hands clench in my pockets, I release my breath slowly.I am okay.I survived before she came into my life. I will be fine again when she leaves. Everyone always leaves. Dad left, Mum moved in with Josef. I became the second choice. It was only a matter of time before Gracie left.A painful smile tugs my lips when I stop in front of my bike parked beside Gracie&rsqu
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2021-11-27Bullied By The Badboy 76: A month or two
Mum is calling again. I ignore her call and the new text that pops in and redial Ben’s number for the umpteenth time. Only now, it doesn’t go to voicemail, instead, it’s switched off. My heart is heavy as I pull out of his street. His bike is out front so I know he’s at home. I was hoping we could talk. Are we breaking up? If he’s mad at me for this, he will hate me when he finds out I picked NYU and other schools outside San Francisco. In a few months, I will know my fate and I didn’t tell him to avoid hurting his feelings. But it doesn’t matter now. Tears trail down my cheeks as I resume the drive home. He’s not a good boyfriend. A good boyfriend would have tried to hear me out. Does he think I want to move away? He just left me. He won’t pick my calls. He won’t even let me see him. It’s unfair. I want to be with him too and he is acting like this. The lights in our parlour are on. Mum is most likely making finishing touche
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2021-11-29Bullied By The Badboy 77: You broke my heart first
Ben is still not picking my calls. My mood is not any better as I flip the pancakes. I want to march to his house, pull him by his ear and kiss him after shouting at him for putting me through this stress.I dish the pancakes into two plates and squirt some syrup onto only my plate. Mum likes hers free of any toppings.The bell rings as I set the kettle to boil, Mum’s head pokes into the kitchen. She mouths, “Get the door.”She disappears before my reply. We have been busy sorting out our boxes, some of which we are yet to unpack because no one wants to go through the stress of repacking when it’s time to leave. I grab a carton of fruit juice from the fridge, set it on the tray with the plates I carry to the dining room. I am famished.I need strength for the conversation I will be having with Ben. After breakfast, my next destination is his house. I wrench the door open before the bell rings again and my breath slams i
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2021-11-30Bullied By The Badboy 78: I’m Juliet
Ben’s mum is nice. Really nice and sweet. I want to be on Ben’s side but my little interaction with her makes it hard to believe she and Josef are the bad guys in Ben’s story. I steal another peek at Ben, he pushes his meal around and finally takes a bite. His mum stares at him for a full second, then smiles. “How’s football?” Maddie, his mum, asks Ben. Josef beams at her question, maybe he also likes football. Football was Ben’s first love. I think she’s trying to lighten the mood but it is the wrong question. Ben stopped playing last session after his knee injury. He found fighting and has not turned back to football. Ben’s fork stops moving on his plate and a wave of anger rolls off him. “It’s fine,” I reply on his behalf. He clenches his fist on the table and I wrap my hand around his to calm him. “He’s taking a break from it.” “Ah.” Her mouth closes. I stare at my plate and count the seconds until the awkwardness passes. Sadly, it doesn’t b
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2021-12-01Bullied By The Badboy 79: Eleven over ten
BENI think Gracie is mad at me. Shit. I fucked up again. I shouldn’t have snapped. But it was so hard to keep calm with the false niceties. Gracie won’t be here again in two months time and I want to spend every second with her, not answer some lame questions about my life. I haven’t touched a ball in over a year.Asher throws one leg over me without looking away from his iPad. They spoil him too much. I prop a pillow behind his back to make him more comfortable, he flashes me a smile and continues watching one of those kids show from Disney or Nickelodeon. I sneak out of the bed and he rolls to his stomach.“Where are you going?” he screams.He wouldn’t have to scream if he removed those ear buds but he won’t. They were the first things Josef gave him after they exchanged greetings and he won’t take the damn thing off. I gesture to the door and he nods. I’m going to get my girlfriend before the
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2021-12-02
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Bullied By The Badboy Thank You
I feel like sexual assault against the male genders is not talked about as much as in the case of the female genders. As a friend to a few males who have been molested by people who were supposed to care for them, I knew I had to write about it someday. And I hope I was able to bring awareness to this, however little, through Ben. It’s never okay to molest a child. It’s never okay to molest anyone. That being said, here are some fun facts about this book; 1. It’s my first attempt at teenfiction. I was almost certain readers would notice and call me out on that. 2. BBTB was supposed to be a short story project. I was so worried it would be a flop so I planned to make it between 40-80 chapters. But the story grew wings and took off on its own. 3. This is the longest story I have ever written. I am just as surprised as you are and I was pleasantly shocked to see comments wanting their lovestory to go on for much longer. Those comments kept me going even on the bad days. So, thank y
Bullied By The Badboy Bonus (VIII*): Benjamin Junior
It hurts too much. My body is on fire and it’s not yet right to push. Why isn’t it time? I need them to get the baby out of me. Not later, now. Sweat drips down my forehead and my eyes sting with tears. The doctor has stopped the bleeding. I have been cleaned up, changed into a hospital gown. They say everything is fine but it’s not. The contractions are ripping me from inside out and all Ben does is mutter unintelligible gibberish. He put the baby inside me, he should experience the pain too. “Are you okay?” Ben asks. I glare at him. How can I be okay? Whatever the doctor gave me is keeping me awake so I have no respite from the pain. Ben pushes my hair away from my sweaty forehead and I lean into him for comfort. I’m tired but I’m glad our son is okay. “I’m sorry, Gracie,” my husband says. Pushing past my pain, I offer him a questioning glance. Maddie is fine, right? My parents are okay too, right? Ben wipes the tears spill
Bullied By The Badboy Bonus (VIII): Breathe through it
I am packing up for Maddie’s weekend getaway when Ben strolls into her room. He picks a toy from the floor, tosses it into the air and catches it. I stall when he crosses over to me. All his attempts to take over the packing from me are futile. He protests by shaking his head. I am pregnant, not handicapped.When the bag is zipped up, I lower myself to the bed to catch my breath. Maybe I should have let him do it. But he never lets me do anything.Worried eyes stare into mine as Ben kneels between my legs. I’m fine, just tired. I pick the stuffed bear he dropped on the bed and sniff it. It smells like Maddie. And if I listen closely, I’ll hear her voice as she sings along with her favourite characters on TV.Maddie’s grandparents—my parents are in town because I’m due next week. They don’t want to miss it. She’s spending the weekend with them.Ben pries the bear from me and traces the
Bullied By The Badboy Bonus (VII): Candy
Laughter erupts from the living room, a kid’s voice follows and my lips curve in a smile. I pause the YuuTube tutorial I’m watching and set my tab down on the counter. I’m trying a new recipe I found online. Ben has been working extra hours so he can’t cook as much anymore and I’m tired of takeouts for dinner.With a hand under my belly, I meander to the living room. Maddie is on her feet, clapping and giggling at the television. There’s an old show playing. A family series I starred in one year after graduation. I clear my throat and my baby girl spins to face me. She grins and everything feels right. The nine hours of labour, the screams, the pain. They don’t matter.Running towards me, she stops a few inches from me and grabs my hand. “See Mummy,” she says, pointing at the television. I’m helping the second male lead set up his outfit for work. Her blue eyes flash with childlike innocence when she run
Bullied By The Badboy Bonus (VI): Theresa Carter
I feel the stare before I turn to Maria. “Will you stop?” I mutter. She says nothing but her eyes lower to my swollen belly, making it so obvious she had been staring. “Maria Vega.”“Theresa Carter.”Pink colours my cheeks. I hide my face in my palms and she bursts out laughing. It still feels so surreal being Mrs Carter, Ben’s wife. Our wedding was small and private like we both wanted. Aside from our family, we had our friends. Maria. Leah. Mira. Calum. Olivia also showed up. She and Ben are still in contact. We are kind of cool.Thinking about the wedding makes me smile and I twist the ring on my forth finger. My promise ring remains on my middle finger.I sit up and cross my legs. There are some pictures from the wedding scattered all over the living room floor. Maria didn’t get a chance to see them before her flight. She had a concert that day. I rub a hand over my stomach. Ben didn’t
Bullied By The Badboy Bonus (V): Show them
Where is Ben? We will be late.I step out of the bathroom in only a towel and sashay to the wardrobe to get the gown for our date. There are a few options but I select a navy blue off-shoulder gown. Flipping through my playlist, I settle on Maria’s new single and settle down in front of the vanity to make myself up.A smile curves my lips as I brush my hair. I don’t look so bad at all. The makeup tutorial classes on YuuTube and Maria’s extra sessions come in handy as I apply foundation to my face. My gaze flies to the door. I’m in my room. Ben wasn’t in his room when I checked but he should be getting ready.The door creaks. I look up but Ben doesn’t walk in. My eye makeup is done. I apply a bright red lipstick and the door finally opens. Ben stalks into the room wearing a tux. My man is hot but in a suit and Oxford leather shoes, he is hotter. He closes the door with his foot and leans on it so I can assess
Bullied By The Badboy Bonus (IV*): Birthday boy
The drive to Ben’s office is a blur. I’m out of the car and in front of his office in a flash. I miss him. And I haven’t seen him in eight hours.I knock once on the door and open before he ushers me inside. Locking the door behind me, I bridge the gap between us and crush him in a hug. We live in the same house but God, I want to be in his presence all the time.“You’re back so early,” Ben says against my lips. I kiss him hard to make up for the hours without any kisses. Ben chuckles and hoists me on the edge of his desk. Then, he stands between my legs. “I missed you too, babe.”I grin. “I missed you more.”Ben touches his forehead to mine. “You’re here,” he says. His smile is sad. I nod against his body and his hands slip into my gown. I help him with the zip and pout. “I didn’t think you would make it today.”I had a pho
Bullied By The Badboy Bonus (IV): My soulmate
The mixer whirrs to life. I throw in more flour, add three eggs and whisk the batter into a smooth mix. Calum, my unwilling apprentice, watches from behind the counter. He came in last night. On my command, Calum oils the pans for the cake and turns on the oven. Done, he edges close to me. I swat his hand before he dips his finger into the mix. “Come on, Tessa. I came all this way, let me have some.” I roll my eyes. He came all this way, uninvited but I’m happy to see him. I empty the batter into the small pan. We will eat from that. “Just a taste.” “Fine.” I shove the spatula in his face and he snatches it from me. My face scrunches in disgust when he licks the spatula clean like a hungry dog. “Calum, what’s wrong with you?” He shrugs. “Nothing?” It feels like there’s something but I continue emptying the batter into the pans. When I’m done, I bring out the ingredients for the icing. Today is Ben’s
Bullied By The Badboy Bonus (III*): Only you
A look of fear flashes across her face. She levels me with a stare that shows she’s trying to control her temper. It’s unfair that I have to watch her kiss other guys under the guise of it being part of the job. “You are just making up scenarios that don’t exist,” she says. “Your job doesn’t even require it, Benny.” “But your job does...” I twist my hands so hard they ache. She doesn’t get it. “...and I don’t like it, Gracie.” Various emotions flicker on her face. She opens and closes her mouth twice without saying a word. The third time, she murmurs, “You asked me to trust you when Elena was involved, right?” I did. And I’ve established boundaries at the office, at school too. For fuck’s sake, she’s my screensaver, I wear my ring. They know I belong to Gracie. “So, can you please trust me on this one? It’s just a job, babe.” “Babe, it’s not the same.” Gracie stomps her feet in annoyance. I grit my teeth. She’s not the only one getti
