It was long ago that Rafael realized that, that he wanted to be caged by Ethan Duke Masters. He wanted to be the one who was stringed along. He wanted to be the Knight that protects the King. He wanted Ethan Duke Masters to disappear just like he did seven years ago. The reason was not because he wanted what's best for Samantha. NO! He wanted to do something that was best for Mark, why? He loved him, loved him. He called Ethan's parents and told Grandma Ada because he needed him to go for Rafael to have a chance with Mark. Even after seven years, no one knew that he was the reason for all of this. No one would ever know, because he loved Mark. His love somewhere in between turned into obsession, or possession, the lines were blurred that he just had to get rid of Ethan. What better way than his parents, he could control them but he couldn't control his parents. Why couldn't he get what he wanted? Mark was always with Ethan, forever & for always, he was Ethan's shadow, he was a shield, he was like this big wall that protected Ethan from everything and everyone. Mark had his own life, didn't he? He had the right to live and love, didn't he? He had the right to notice him for once, didn't he? Rafael wipes away his tears roughly and gulps down his wine, throwing the glass away and heading for the bottle. Just what more does he have to do for Mark to notice him? To what lengths must he go so that he can be loved!? Ethan didn't love Mark the way he did so why was Mark not letting go? Rafael loved Mark the way a man loves a woman, Ethan loved Mark the way a master loves its pet. He was a pet, so why was he so comfortable with a love that was as big as a dot!? Their special brotherhood was a hindrance in Mark's and Rafael's lives; Samantha had the right to choose whom to love, Deib too, Miranda too but what of Mark? Didn't he have the right to choose whom to love? Would he even have the chance to choose? Can't he just acknowledge Rafael for once! How he was precious but Ethan's shadow was an overbearing presence, why can't that bastard just die? Seven years, for seven years he loved Mark but where did it lead him, to the dumpsters and all alone. If Ethan Duke Masters could have all he wanted, why can't he have Mark's love? He wanted Mark and if he couldn't have him, so couldn't Ethan!
*. *. *. *.
The club music was booming loudly across the street, the neon lights shimmering in every direction of the room. Bodies and sweat mixed into each other while smoke and beer pong the air. Men and women dancing seductively as they intertwine their bodies; grinding and crushing into each other. Grace Alec Merlin and Sophia Malcom De' veer, they enjoyed excessive extravagant life and clubbing. Sophia fills Grace's cup with more ice and Captain Kills whiskey; this was a beer from B & D; Sophie thought as she poured herself a glass of whiskey. They are seated in a booth but the music isn't too loud, they watch as the people downstairs enjoy the party. Talking about Sophia, she met Grace in England, just as the same time she met Ethan. They attended Falcon's Prestigious Academy together, only to find themselves in Vikings' University. Perhaps it was always destiny for them to be together. Thinking about it,
"Gracie, today your husband isn't with you?" Sophia asks and she giggles. Grace just smiles and sips her drink. "Honestly, you guys are always together, why don't you just get married already, you've been together for seven years, no, you told me you knew each other since you were children, what's stopping you from getting married?" Sophia shrieks and laughs.
"If it were that easy, Ethan would be my husband by now, however, he's different, maybe too complex." Grace says sadly.
"Come on girl, I'm shipping you two, one's beautiful, the other one's dead jaw dropping. Tell him how you feel, ya bitch, you love him its written all over your face." Sophie says concerned. If it were that easy, Grace would already have told Ethan. Seven years ago, she approached Ethan in his class, she told him she loved him. Ethan didn't say anything yet, from that day, he'd changed her. She recalls this one time they were having group study, he'd come up to her,
"Why are you always staring at me?" He'd asked in a sweet gentle voice taking a seat next to her.
"I'm trying to figure you out, you're like a cloud, so far yet so close; other moments you're like a puzzle, too complex yet too simple, then in precious moments you're like a maze, extraordinary yet ordinary. I don't get it; I can't tell what you're thinking thus I can't even hold a proper conversation with you." Grace had once said honestly, she was too honest with him and that was probably her biggest downfall.
"I like you." Ethan had said and a blush had creeped up her cheek. What she didn't know was that his like was very different from her like. Yet from that moment they were always together.
"What's your favorite color?" Grace had asked once upon a time.
"Black." He'd responded vaguely.
"Fav food."
"None." Simple yet unbothered. It was when she realized, she was always the one asking questions, not once had he bothered to know something about her.
"Keep talking, I like your voice." Ethan always said in a cute way, but what was his definition of like? Grace didn't understand his like, were they already dating, the whole campus thought so, she filled her head with the same illusion. Over the years, Ethan made the first move, Grace lost her virginity to Ethan. Not once did they go to a house, it was always a motel or a hotel. Not once did he sleep over after sex, in fact he would have her shower before sleeping with her, reasons she never understood. He would want her to dress in a certain way whenever they went out, dressing her up in his preferences. It shocked her more when he made her put on grey contact lenses. No questions should be asked simply because he liked her. Other moments he would bring her lots of candies or chocolates, going further to force feed her. She didn't even like sweet or sugary stuff, but he always said he liked her. On other occasions, he accompanied her to this certain pent house and have her play the piano till midnight while he listened. They always played the same melody over and over; he went to the lengths of teaching her. Then he would always say, he liked her. He'd taken her to a hair dresser, have her hair dyed to blonde, adding a mixture or auburn and black strands to highlight her hair. He forbade her from drinking, partying or hanging out with people who were not him. By the time she realized he always wanted her presented in specific ways, in certain cloths and in certain events. He was controlling her every movement, her appearance, her dressing, her friends and most of all her life. She even lost contact with Miranda, Mark, Rafael and Deib because he said it was for the best and he liked her. Then that habit she disliked came back, binding her hands and covering her eyes when they had sex. Always whispering that he liked her. He was always rough, insensible, careless, as though he was a completely different person during sex, she hated it but he always said he liked her. This like was a glimmer of hope in her heart, giving her joy and reassurance but she still craved for more. She felt as if he genuinely cared and loved her, she had to ask, she just had to know the place she held in his heart,
"Ethan, what am I to you, honestly?" She had a slip of the tongue and she regretted it. Ethan stared at her, yet again he smiled at her, sweetly and softly before patting her head and heading in for a shower. He stopped in front of the bathroom door and turned his head, "I like youGrace, so take a shower, we're going out." He said and disappeared out of view. What did he mean, what was his like and what was her like? They went to a mall, he bought her a halter-neck top, skinny jeans and a pair of stilettos, the outfit was all black and white. He had hair dressers put her hair in a very nice yet messy ponytail, he gave her a silver watch as a gift, two silver earrings and a pendant. Finally, the make up artist gave her shallow freckles on her cheeks to finish up the look. When Grace looked at the mirror, she saw someone very different from her, who was this? They had dinner as usual, regular sex routine ang the only difference was that he took his time, he was very sweet and gentle. He showered then left without a word, that night he ended up forgetting his phone on the sofa set. It vibrated and when Grace picked it up, a tear fell from her face, she rushed to the bathroom and vomited over and over again. His wallpaper was the woman she'd been transformed into today. So, she was the exact replica of Samantha, for how long had he been doing that, since the first day they saw each other in school? Or far, far behind? Realization hit home that Ethan didn't have a weird fetish; she was simply a replacement that would be discarded after use. He'd changed her completely that she forgot who was the real her. To be clearer, he bathed her before sex because he thought she was disgusting and unclean. He was the one who broke her virginity so why would he do that?! He tied her up because he did not want any part of their bodies to be touching apart from those that received pleasure. He closed her eyes because Ethan didn't like staring at her face, he thought her face would obscure Samantha's image in his head! He didn't like the fake grey irises she had, so why did he make her wear them? He gagged her because he didn't like the voices she made during sex! Just what madness was she in? His 'like' was very different from her 'like'; what kind of demon was this? She continued vomiting while tears streamed down her face, she was just being stringed by Ethan. He liked her, because Grace liked him. Ethan liked Grace because she was naïve and foolish, he liked her because she was submissive and he knew so well she loved him. She continued vomiting at how he'd used her love to manipulate her in the worst ways. How can someone be so evil? What had God created? How could he use her in such a way as even going further to keep her as a secretary! For seven damn years she had been a puppet, she had been a slave, a servant yet, yet she was cuckolded that she was loved. He was a crazy sick bastard, honestly, he needed help but she couldn't leave him. No matter what, she couldn't leave him. Grace could not bring herself to detach herself from him. Then came the meeting with S & D, Ethan never cared about anything yet, at that moment, he cared. There was this life and enthusiasm in his eyes that she'd never seen before. She knew it was because of her, Samantha, even after trying her best to cancel and deferred all their meetings, someone pulled up strings and they got Ethan to fly back. She was okay with being a replacement, as long as Ethan never saw Samantha. Grace was okay with Ethan liking her, as long as Samantha was cropped out of the picture. She was fucking fine as long as Ethan could give her just as much attention he gave to Samantha. Yes, he could never love her but at least, he would be with her! Even after all his games, Grace couldn't hate him, not once, not ever. She finishes her drink and pulls Sophia to the dance floor, today she was finally free! She thought sadly.