Shelf #019

Kuu exited the lobby amidst a few glances glued on him, as he was that very floppy person who suddenly turned into a hot, suave gentleman overnight. If this was a fairytale, the magic must have worn off past midnight. Everything the godfairies had changed on him they all turned meaningless right now. . He was stunned, crushed and utterly speechless.

He sat alone on the far end side of the bus. He completely ignored the public display of affection from couple in rocker clothes, kissing passionately in close embrace, minding their own business and seem to not noticed Kuu sitting across from them. Little did Kuu knew that as the bus drove away towards Portobello Road, the backside of the bus was taken up by the huge picture of Julie, from her recent film 'Tsukigomori'.

He finally arrived home. Everything seem quiet and totally dark. He never cared at all to turn the lights on as he was to go upstairs anyway. Spike must have gone to bed, what with this time of the night.

Surprisingly, there on the living room, what awaited for him on the couch were all of the stuff the greatest fashion designers – his fairy gods – had given to him. They must have sent these through Sebastian while he dealt that painful incident at Julie's suite, or it could be when he and Julie had gone out for the date.

This was just like Cinderella. . Even if the magic was all gone right when the clock struck twelve, she still had the glass slipper left. For Kuu, these were all the gifts from his gods. He took them, roughly struggling as he went upstairs to his bedroom. He went inside and placed the bags and covers inside his closet. Without changing he just flopped to the bed, still stunned and crushed.

For the first time, he felt his heart twisted into painful, thousand knots. He never felt anything like this before. He may be left by his ex-fiancé, and ex-wife but it didn't bore any pain as heavy as this feeling right now. It ached so much. .

The more he thought about that scene, the more pain seeped through his veins. . . Jeff holding Julie like that as if he wasn't around. . . Too much display in front of him. . . He couldn't bear to watch it. . . That was cold, and he knew nothing about their relationship. . How could he not realize it? Yet. . He still couldn't forget about her. . She begged not to be hated. . . How could he? Her face still kept flooding his mind, even if he was betrayed. She still appeared on his mind right now. . . Kuu just closed his eyes, and tried to forget everything that happened in that suite. . At least. . Events that happened prior to that were just in a fairytale came true. He truly enjoyed being with her on their date. It was just the best thing that happened in his life.

In a whisper, he called out the loveliest name of all.

"Julie. . ."

With that, he closed his eyes. Her face still on his mind, until he finally drifted off to sleep.

But tonight was the worst for Julie. She dropped hard on the bed, her hair a golden curtain over her head on the sheets. She was barefoot, but still on her red dress. She struggled in getting up, trembling. Her hand reached the left side of her face. The cheek burned against her palm. She turned and looked up. Her eyes were red and stream of tears kept falling.

"Please. . . Jeff, please let me explain–!"

–yet she whimpered as a hand slapped hard again across the right side of her face, throwing her back to the bed again. This time she couldn't move to get up. Jeff was just too strong.

His voice was low and thundered across the bedroom. "I can't believe you betrayed me behind my back, babe."

He grabbed her up easily. "What's this, huh–?!"

His hands were big on her shoulders and he shook her.

"– I knew something was going on with you and that guy when I saw you at that door. I worked away for three months not seeing you! I thought I came here thinking I'd surprise you! "

He threw her hard on the floor. The side of her forehead hit on the floor. Julie whimpered again in pain. She felt her head would crack open. Behind her tearful, closed eyes, the world shattered in to an immense number of glass.

Jeff threw a spit on her.

"You've got nerve picking up someone from the street, bitch! You're better off drug-induced –– and just like the papers say: a 'prostitute'. Hahaha!"

Somehow Julie wished Lina or any of her close friends would ring the bell, but to no avail. She stumbled on her feet as she struggled to stand up. She did, and held to her dress. She just stood there crying silently. Tears fell on her cold cheeks. Her heart was torn to pieces. Never had she experienced such torture from anyone. Her family never laid a hand on her. She was loved to pieces. But this man, how much he just hated her, and how much he enjoyed torturing her. He broke her heart, yet he never trashed her to the press. She don't understand his way of thinking. She never owed him anything. She wanted to break up with him for a very, very long time, but she was just afraid he might scatter dirt about her all over the world to see and hear. On the outside, she was a smiling siren, a glowing goddess loved by everyone. But behind that, was the true Julie. She never felt so broken in her entire life.

She felt a hand caressed her cheek, and her head held up by Jeff's strong hand. Her lips were kissed, yet they were demanding and very forceful.

"Please Jeff! Don't–!"

Then she was quickly stripped off naked. She was thrown back into the bed. Her hands were pinned above her. Jeff straddled on her and his lips flashed a wicked, evil smile.

"Let's see how this 'prostitute' of mine for a bitch works, now that I'm back."

"JEFF–!"

"–SHUT UUUPP!"

Her lips were locked with his. She struggled in his grip. Suddenly her legs were parted and he

torn her inside. She felt limp against the huge bed and so weak from being hit all over her body a couple of times. Her screams were muffled by these lips glued to her mouth. His strength was just too strong for her body to bear this constant torture. At any moment she would break, yet Jeff kept going further and further to satisfy his own desire and hunger. More and more tears fell as Julie closed her eyes.

She wanted this to end. Nobody will come here and save her life. No one. . . How much she wanted to ran away and go to Kuu. . . Oh –– yeah. . Kuu. She betrayed him with this person, hadn't she?

Just that thought, and real tears covered her eyes. His face appeared before her closed eyes, and her world were clouds of him and their date. . His kiss. . His tender, warm, loving embrace. . His lips. . . Her heart ached so much. Here on this bed, Jeff kept torturing her over and over again in every satisfying cry of his pleasure. She wanted to go to Kuu right now. Yet, it was unknown when she'll ever see him again. Maybe now she won't. . For sure, the following months will be nights full of so much pain with Jeff. She felt her body will be torn apart.

The voice on her head screamed for help. For him. . .

'KUU–! KUU! KUUUUUUU!'

All of a sudden, Kuu's eyes fluttered open. He got up and sat on the bed, his eyes at the window. Somehow during his sleep, his heart suddenly beat nervously, as if by instinct. Then he thought of Julie. He wished everything went well with her. Or maybe something went wrong. . . He just didn't know. . But he was sure his heart had told him nothing was doing fine tonight.

His voice called out softly.

"Julie. . ."

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