WARNING: MENTIONS OF ABUSE!
ROME'S POV"My name is Jade, and I'll be your trainer starting today."We'd been standing outside in the sun for hours, but I couldn't feel the heat anymore. My every sense was channeled to my eyes.And all I could see was her hair.So red and silky.So long.It was the prettiest thing I'd ever seen.It was even prettier because, for the past two weeks, I'd been around bare-chested men, and now, a green-eyed girl had appeared out of nowhere."Rome." I straightened my shoulders. "My name's Rome."She accepted the handshake, nodding. "I know.""And I'm Kingsley."I reluctantly let go of her warm hand, annoyed as Kingsley stepped between us.He pulled her aside, and I took the time to assess her as they spoke.Her long, dark lashes fluttered when she blinked.She was pretty slim, her calves and thighs slightly thick with muscles, but she didn't look bulky.Somehow, she looked even hotter.My eyes roved her light shirt and jean shorts as she pressed her fingers to her forehead for shade.Then I dragged my eyes away. For all I knew, she was someone sent by my grandfather to make my life even more miserable.I checked my wristwatch and bent to tie my shoelaces. Guard 1 was waiting at the station.I barely spared him a glance, stepping closer to begin the morning routine.We checked my height. "168 centimeters." He barked and moved me to stand on the scale. "Weight: 57kg."Then I climbed down and started my morning jog of thirty laps around the white line that circled the field.Jade was still talking to Kingsley, but they were watching me. She smiled when our eyes met.I quickly turned my head, annoyed they'd caught me looking.I wanted to do everything possible to make everyone believe I was as nonchalant as they came, that I didn't care enough to be bothered.I just needed to endure the next few weeks and go back. Whenever that was.Maybe I'd get a chance to force some answers out of Gramps when he was too drunk to differentiate between Stan and me.Why was Jade here?She was female and Gramps hated them after Mother died.Even though it felt like a fantasy now, Gramps used to be the warmest person to Mother.He'd wash her clothes, feed her some of his food portions, and tell her stories when she was in too much pain to sleep.Then, soon after she'd died, he spoke of her like she was the bane of his existence. Soon, it wasn't just her but almost every woman we'd come across.He'd curse or yell at them even if they came as close as 5 meters to him.A few months later, the money came, but then father went off spending whatever he could get on women and alcohol, which made Grandfather livid.They didn't talk or even try to see each other, and now my father didn't exist except in Gramps' monthly bank statements.So he treated me like I was his son instead.But fathers didn't hit their sons. They didn't leave them in the dark for days to cure their claustrophobia. They didn't call them names and laugh at their flaws. I sighed and glanced at Jade again, shaking my head.Once, I'd picked a book from his shelf, and a picture of a woman fell out.I'd never seen her before. She had fair skin, dark eyes, and long hair. When I'd shown him the picture, he threw everything he could touch at me, shouting profanities till he'd gone purple in the face.I never mentioned or looked at a woman in his presence again.But now, one was here.What was I supposed to do?Did I have to talk to her every day?Was it a trap?"Rome!"I stopped, unconsciously stepping back as Jade ran up to me."Let's start with your training."She took us to the center of the field, and we worked out for hours until I couldn't move a muscle. She, on the other hand, was still standing."Today's the first day," she smiled, "so I'll give you a 15-minute break."A moan poured out of me, and I hung my head. I wanted to sleep.My eyes flitted up to her.She barely looked tired with her pony still high on her head and a smile on her face. If anything, she seemed brighter than ever."This is a large place you guys got," she said.I hummed in reply and focused on retying my perfectly tied shoelaces."You'll get a real workout just by running a few laps."I shrugged."My little brother likes running, you know. He's joined the track team in his school and plans on winning nationals. Do you have any dreams?"Did wanting to live till 18 count as a dream or stupidity?I ignored her and looked over my shoulder. The guards were still in their positions."Well," I heard her say, "time is up. We've got a couple more reps to do. Come on."Suddenly, her hand was sitting in front of me when I turned back to her. I dismissed her help and stood on my own.Her bright smile was still in place.Guilt crept over me, but I shook it off.Nothing good came out of hope. My family didn't believe in positivity.That day, we stayed in the circle of the field until sunset.By the time I'd managed to crawl into bed, unshowered, my muscles were close to snapping.Day after day, we'd train and work out till the afternoon passed. It wasn't long before I noticed that I could easily lift heavier equipment, double my routine and time.My hair grew longer, curling around my nape and almost covering my eyes. Jade gave me one of her thin headbands to keep my hair back, but I never touched it. I used my shoelace instead.I got taller and bigger over time, but nothing else changed. I still hated Kingsley and his men. They probably hated me, too, but I didn't have enough cares to give.Another thing that didn't change was, of course, Jade's damned optimism.She was always beaming and bright, like seeing my face cured her fatigue.The questions never stopped, even though I never replied."You're not Caucasian, are you? You've got to have half-Mediterranean or something in you. Your skin so olive. I'm totally jealous.""Have you seen the structure of the brain in detail? It's so pretty.""The weather gets pretty cold at night here, doesn't it? The trees must give a lot of wind.""How old are you? Fourteen? Fifteen? I'm seventeen.""I want to study neurology after graduating high school this year. My mom has brain cancer, and my brother is too young to be heartbroken, so we haven't told him yet. I'm just hoping I can get a chance to help my mom before her time runs out."Each day came with a new topic, and her one-sided monologue slowly became a conversation.It began with a simple 'yes' or 'no,' then I gave in and started replying with full sentences. She was happy with my progress -physically and socially- but I wasn't.Because I'd started falling for her.I noticed my feelings one morning when I'd overslept.We'd worked out so hard the day before that I couldn't eat or drag myself into the bath. The second I'd collapsed on my bed, I'd passed out.Then, it was 9:00 am, an hour past the time I was supposed to be on the field. I panicked, wobbled down the stairs in a hurry, through the empty kitchen and hall, and pushed the door open.Sunlight blinded me for a second before my vision cleared.Kingsley and Jade were arguing about something in the middle of the field, and the guards stood on the side.I'd quickly taken my daily measurements and hobbled towards them, begrudgingly preparing an apology when Kingsley spotted me over Jade's shoulder.Before I could utter a word, he swung the back of his hand into my face.I fell over, my hand clutching the ear he hit. It rang."You," he gritted, "were supposed to be up an hour ago. What were you doing?"My heart beat loudly and fast in my ear. "Look, Kingsle —agh!"He grabbed my hair and pressed his military-clad boot into my aching thigh. "I'm not here to babysit you, sir. I'm here to guide you, so when I give you a schedule, stick to it. Because the penalties will be implemented."Then, pulling his hand back, he grinned, "Next time, follow the rules." And then smashed his fist into my jaw.My head rattled with the strike, pain slicing up my jaw and temple.I reflexively raised my hands.But then the hits stopped. Jade was holding onto his fist with both hands, her jaw ticking and her brows furrowed."What the hell are you doing? Have you lost your mind? You don't have to abuse him just because he was late."Kingsley pulled his arm back and glowered at her, "Stay out of this.""No, I won't."Then, sliding in front of me, she crossed her arms and stared him down. I took refuge in her shadow for a second, then tried to push her aside, but she'd planted her feet firmly."If you're going to hit him, you'll have to hit me first.""Stop talking, Jade," I mumbled, then winced when pain electrified my teeth.Knowing Gramps, he'd probably given Kingsley the right to discipline anyone he wanted, and she wasn't excluded from that list.I couldn't see what he did in reply, but his boots moved away from us shortly after.As soon as he was out of sight, Jade whirled and bent over me."Your jaw, oh my god." She gingerly tilted my head to inspect the wound and I groaned. "That's going to bruise so bad. What was that idiot thinking?"I turned away to spit blood and sighed. My head was on fire, and the world was still spinning.Her hands were roaming my face, but I pushed her off, moving to my feet.I was wrong.She didn't know a thing about Gramps' ways. She was too busy fussing over me to realise none of the guards had moved an inch. This was how things were in my life, but she didn't see any of it.I didn't understand how exactly she conceived my life, but one thing was clear: she genuinely cared about me.It was in her bright eyes, sad smile, and inquisitive hands.That's when I felt it.The tingling of warmth in my chest.It was the first time I understood what it meant to fall in love.And I didn't know what to do about it.