Lahat ng Kabanata ng Beneath the Whip: Kabanata 11 - Kabanata 20

JUDY’S POVThe sting of Chris indifference cut deeper than the humiliation inflicted by my classmates. Each time he turned a blind eye to my suffering, I felt a piece of the connection we once shared crumble away. The disappointment hollowed me out, leaving me devoid of the strength to fight back. I stopped resisting, letting their cruelty wash over me like an unrelenting tide. Perhaps I deserved it?In the classroom, they would deliberately trip me as I made my way to my desk, sending my books tumbling to the floor as their laughter echoed through the room. During PE, they turned games into an opportunity to mock me, snatching the ball away at the last second or cheering at my supposed clumsiness. At breaks, they circled around me like vultures, throwing out biting remarks about my appearance, my background, and anything else they could weaponise.“You’re only here because Chris felt sorry for you,” one would sneer. “Do you think this is a charity school?” Another chimed in, their

JUDY’S POVJason and I were walking together under the warm glow of the setting sun when my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out absent-mindedly, expecting a casual reminder from my mother or a message from a friend. But as my eyes scanned the screen, my breath caught in my throat."Don’t forget our agreement."The words were stark, as if etched in steel. My chest tightened, and the weight of the message pressed down on me like a physical burden. My hands grew clammy, and my steps faltered."What's wrong?" Jason asked, his voice cutting through my spiralling thoughts. I looked up to see him watching me with a mix of curiosity and concern, his brows knitting together.I swallowed hard, my mind scrambling for an explanation. How could I tell him the truth? How could I explain that Chris, the boy who used to feel like family, had turned into someone I barely recognised? Someone who held leverage over me, a leverage I was desperate to keep hidden.I forced a tight smile. “It’s my

JUDY’S POV“I have to go home, Chris. My parents are waiting for me,” I said, my voice trembling, each word a fragile plea.Chris stepped nearer, his gaze as sharp as a predator’s. A slow, mocking smile curled across his lips. “Should I remind you,” he said, his voice dripping with cold amusement, “that you’ve just signed a contract that gives me full rights over you?”His words cut through me like a blade, and the air seemed to grow colder. My breath hitched, and my chest tightened as dread spread through me like poison. I felt trapped, as though invisible chains were tightening around me, and my legs weakened beneath the weight of his warning.The reality of what I had just done sank in, and I fretted, my mind spinning with regret and fear.“Follow me,” he commanded, his voice low and husky, carrying an edge that sent a shiver down my spine. It wasn’t a request—it was an order, and the weight of it hung heavy in the air, leaving no room for argument.Chris led me to a private room

CHRIS’ POVThe news of Judy being sick had reached me in the late afternoon. Though I had maintained a calm, detached demeanour, I couldn’t shake the gnawing guilt in the pit of my stomach. Deep down, I knew this might be my fault. The stress she had been enduring lately—her constant worry about her father’s job, the unspoken tension between us—it had all been weighing on her.I had retreated to my room, closing the door behind me, and sat on the edge of my bed. A pang of guilt had tightened my chest. As much as I had tried to rationalise my actions in the past, convincing myself they were justified, I couldn’t deny the consequences they had on her. Judy—fragile yet fierce, and so much stronger than I had ever given her credit for—was now sick, and I felt responsible.Without over-thinking it, I had grabbed a blanket from my closet. It was one I rarely used, made from soft, quilted fabric, the kind that brought warmth and comfort on the coldest nights. I had set it on my desk and r

JUDY’S POVAfter Chris made his public statement, I stood there, frozen in disbelief. His words struck me like a thunderbolt, leaving me unable to process what had just happened. My heart churned with a storm of emotions—shock, anger, confusion, and an overwhelming sense of betrayal. I couldn’t understand why he would so casually announce something so personal, so intimate, in front of everyone without my consent.Yet, as much as I wanted to lash out, to call him out for twisting the truth, I found myself rooted in place. The weight of hundreds of eyes on me felt unbearable. A part of me screamed that Chris had his own motives for doing this, that he was using the moment to his advantage, but another part of me hesitated. If I refuted him now, it could spiral out of control and turn into a public spectacle, something I wanted to avoid at all costs. The thought of becoming fodder for gossip or a target for judgement paralysed me further.So, I bit my tongue and forced myself to stay