Chapter 3: Knight in Shining Abs

Adriana's POV

My heart hammered in my chest when I realized how close Nate was to me right now. It's almost like I can feel his body at my back. It's like he's back-hugging me already, and it makes me nervous for some reason.

"Hey, I—" I chuckled nervously as I tried to move away from him, but his hands were chained in my arms, and I couldn't break free.

"Do you want to dance?" he asked in my ears.

He's so close to me right now that I can feel his hot breath on my skin, and it is somehow scaring me already.

"Sorry, uh- I don't d-dance."

"Come on," Nate whispered.

I flinched when I felt him lick my neck.

"What are you doing?!" I exclaimed and tried to move away from him, but he wouldn't let me go, and he was just powerful compared to me.

"C'mon Adriana, stop pretending you're a saint." I heard him laugh, which made me crease my forehead in confusion.

"What are you talking about?"

"You act so innocent, but you literally accepted my invite to the party," he replied.

"Isn't this party for everyone?"

"This party is for people who don't act like they're innocent, and they play with each other."

Suddenly, it's like the Nate I know from yesterday and earlier changed. Or maybe this is really who he is, and I'm so dumb to be fooled by his pretentious act.

"Let me go," I cried out and roamed my eyes, hoping to see someone who could help me, but I noticed that everyone had their own lives and doing their business. We are also in the corner, and it's kinda dark here. Sh*t. Why didn't I notice this earlier?

"Please let me go," I cried out once more and tried to move away from him, but he only tightened his arms around me so that I was not able to make any movement anymore.

"No," he firmly responds.

My phone is in my bag, and I couldn't get it to call John. I know they will come rushing to save me if they know what's happening right now.

I repeatedly cursed inside my mind when I realized that even if I screamed here at the top of my lungs, no one would hear me because the electronic dance music was so loud, and everyone seemed drunk. No one would notice me and come to help me.

Tears started streaming down my face when I felt Nate kissing my neck. Why am I so dumb? If only I had been more cautious, I wouldn't be in this situation. I am so stupid to let him fool me. When will I learn? I should know his kind. Guys in college are not genuine and are like this, and I should know better.

"P-please l-let me go." I have never felt this helpless before.

I know I sometimes complain about my boring life, but now, I'll choose that life over everything. It's like Nate can't hear me-- or he chose not to listen to my whimpers. It's like he turned into a wholly brainless and hungry animal that will bring harm to anyone, and he won't give a single care no matter what.

"P-please," I begged.

I feel so disgusted by his kisses. It's disgusting.

I flinched when all of a sudden, another guy grabbed my arm.

"No, No! P-please!" I cried out when I saw another guy grab my arm.

"Let me go!" I begged.

"Let her go."

My heart leaped when I heard his baritone voice.

Is he helping me? Is he not. . .?

"C'mon, man. Go find your own girl to play with." I heard Nate say as he tried to shove away the man's hand from my arm but to no avail.

The man's hand is wrapped tightly around my arm that I can already feel pain, but I don't care if he's here to help me. I couldn't care less about the pain it inflicted by the way he held me. I wish he'd never let me go and save me from Nate.

"Let her go before I kill you." His words came out so cold and full of rage that even I got scared.

"What?! Who do you think you are--" Nate wasn't able to finish his sentence when a strong punch landed on his face out of nowhere. Nate fell to the floor with his nose bleeding.

But the man isn't contented yet. He threw another punch at Nate. And another and another. Punch after punch after punch that Nate's face became unrecognizable because of all the blood on his face.

Seeing his bloody face gave me horror and it also snapped me back to my senses.

I roamed my eyes, and still, nothing changed. All of the people are still busy dancing and doing their stuff. They haven't noticed what's happening here yet.

My eyes landed back on Nate and the man who is still beating the life out of him.

"Stop!" I screamed at the man because if he would not stop, he was going to kill Nate.

I learned that Nate is horrible, and he deserves all the pain he's receiving for what he did to me, but the man's hands shouldn't get dirty just because of him.

I screamed multiple times, but the man seemed to not hear me, so I quickly ran close to them and grabbed him by the hand. And with that, he stopped punching Nate over and over again.

"Please stop," I begged the man.

Our eyes met.

I saw how his expression softened upon seeing my face.

I creased my forehead in confusion as to why but that's the least of my concern. I quickly grabbed his arm in panic and pulled him away from Nate, who had already lost consciousness.

"Are you okay?" His soft voice soothed my ears.

It's too far different from his tone earlier when he was threatening Nate.

I didn't answer and just remained silent because I had no idea how to respond to his question. I feel like I'm out of my body and just floating, unable to believe what I have just been through at the hands of someone whom I thought could be my friend.

"Let's go." The man tried to hold my arm, but I quickly avoided his hand.

"I'm not going to hurt you," he reassured me as he laid his palm in front of me.

I didn't move and just remained rooted to where I was standing.

"You are safe with me," he said once again. He must've noticed the hesitation in my face.

"We need to leave," he added.

Yes, we do. I need to get away from here.

I don't know if it's because of the desperation to be far from here or because of how reassuringly his voice sounds, but I accepted his hand. And besides, he saved me, so I think I will be okay with him. I hope.

He held my hand tightly, and we made our way through the crowd and went out of the house. We went to his car, and he opened the door for me.

"I want to go home," I told him as I stood up outside his car.

"I will get you home," he replied.

I shook my head and opened my bag to get my phone. I need to call John and tell him to fetch me. There are so many cars here right now, and I can't remember where he parked earlier when he dropped me off. I don't have the energy to find him.

"We need to treat your bruises," Mister said, which made me stop browsing my phone. My eyes landed on my arm, and I saw a couple of bruises and even scratches. And as if on cue, I just felt how much it burns and stings upon seeing my arms with several bruises and even a little drip of blood.

I was so scared earlier that I didn't even feel pain when Nate was gripping my arm so tight, but now I can feel how much it hurts.

"You know you can't go home with that," I heard him say.

I looked at him, and I had to slightly look up because he was much way taller than me. I just noticed how tall he is and how well-built his body is.

He looks so handsome. His features are perfect, but I don't remember seeing him before. I've only met him tonight, and it is in a horrible way.

"Who are you?" I asked.

He cleared his throat. "Your parents will surely ask what happened to you if they see you. Are you okay with telling them?" he asked back, obviously dodging my question.

I like how he literally understood that speaking up about things like what happened to me isn't easy, especially to your parents.

I appreciate him so much for asking.

"Would you like to press charges?" he asked again.

I quickly shook my head.

As much as how horrible Nate did to me, pressing charges and my parents knowing about what happened will only make it worse. I can already imagine them trying to make the whole university close, and I don't have a heart for that. And it's not only that, if my parents know about this, they will force me to go home, and I will lose my freedom. I can't let that happen. I shouldn't be able to transfer because I'm graduating and already in the last year of college, but I managed to because of money and my family name. I really love to graduate from this university, which is precisely what will happen. I'll make sure of it.

Nate caused enough trouble to me, and I don't want any more.

I will just let karma get him.

I drew a breath and entered the man's car without thinking. I saw him turn around the car and get inside the driver's seat.

"Where are we going?" I asked when he started his car.

"To treat you," he answered.

I nodded and threw my head back to the headrest. I deeply closed my eyes as I felt pain cursing through my head. My head is throbbing with pain again. And it's becoming unbearable.