Chapter Four:
Two years ago, when he left all that debris... Who would have known he'd leave everything I need?
Pudding ran down the streets, her vision foggy because of her tears, hearing Tart call her name as he chased after her. She quickly ducked into an alley, hoping Tart wouldn't find her.
She sat against the wall and quietly sobbed.
She loved Tart with all her heart. She always had. But she was supposed to love Yuebin. It was her duty to love Yuebin.
How did my life get this messed up? She wondered as she rubbed her eyes.
"Pudding?"
Pudding looked up to see Tart standing over her, his eyes full of worry.
"Go away," Pudding said, burying her face in her arms again.
"Not until we talk," Tart said, kneeling beside her. He took one of her wrists. "Must have been one heck of a fall, that you sprained both wrists."
"Yeah, down stairs," Pudding said, unable to meet Tart's eyes.
Tart nodded sharply. Then, to her horror, he began unraveling the bandage.
"What are you doing?" She yelled at him. "Stop it!"
But Tart ignored her. In the low light, his cat-like eyes could see the finger-shaped bruises around her small wrists.
"And the stairs grabbed you, apparently?" Tart asked with an eyebrow raised.
Pudding yanked her arm away.
"He's strong," Pudding murmured, hiding the bruises under her other arm. "He's just really strong."
Tart scowled and stood up. He took a few steps down the alley and picked up a straight metal pipe. Pudding watched in fascination as the pipe became pretzel shaped in Tart's hands. He tossed it so that it laid beside her. She could see where his fingers were imprinted into the metal.
"I'm strong, too," Tart said, coming to stand at Pudding's feet. "And I know that it's not an excuse. He has hurt you. And from the looks the other Mew Mews had when he walked into the Café today, this isn't the first time, is it?"
Pudding ducked her head, the tears returning.
"No, it isn't," She said. "But it doesn't matter. I will marry him anyways."
"Why?" Tart demanded. "Do you love him?"
"It is my duty to love him," Pudding murmured. "My duty to my father."
"And your father is okay with the fact that he's hitting you?" Tart demanded, now furious with Pudding's father.
"Papa doesn't know," Pudding whispered. "It is my duty to not tell him."
"I don't know your father, but I'm willing to bet that he wouldn't like to know that his daughter's fiancé is abusing her," Tart said, sitting down beside Pudding. "Duty aside, do you love Yuebin?"
"No," Pudding said with a choked sob. "He hits me and yells at me. He made me stop talking kawaii and told me to dress like a grown-up. He doesn't let my friends come over and my siblings are afraid to come out of their playroom when he's over. And everything I do is wrong in his eyes and he says I will never be good enough for his expectations from a wife, though I try so hard. I don't love him. I never could, either. Because I love you, Taru-Taru."
She began to weep. She felt like a traitor to her entire family. She promised her mother that she would be a dutiful daughter to her father, to take care of the family. But she knew if she continued to live with her feelings buried, she would be a traitor only to herself.
Tart wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly.
"Yuebin's wrong to try and change you. You are absolutely perfect, just the way you are, and nothing can ever change that. You are my best friend and more. I love you, Pudding," Tart whispered into Pudding's silky hair. "And I'll find a way to get you out of this. I promise."
Little did they know, they were being watched.
Ron Yuebin scowled as he heard Tart's words. The runt was going to pay.
Pudding was his prize. He wasn't going to let go of her.