Destroy Me Gently:Ex-Enemy Becomes My Lover! Chapter 2: Past warmth

**OLIVER**

I haven’t seen him since that morning. Not even during lunch break. I couldn’t have been more relieved.

I sat beside William during our final class. Chemistry wasn’t really my thing. No matter how hard I paid attention during lessons, I could never manage to co up with anything more than a "C."

I zoned out completely as Mr. Norris kept going on and on. My mind kept drifting back to him.

So days I just find myself wishing we could go back to how we used to be. But I knew it was a far-fetched dream. Each day his behavior made think that perhaps I had never really known him, even though I thought I did.

I know he never forgave . He still blas for everything that happened.

What he didn’t know was that I never forgave myself either. Most nights I still get nightmares of that terrible day.

He was easily the most influential person in the whole school. It could be said that he was the king of Riverside. As the head of the basketball team, practically everyone wanted to be associated with him. Not to ntion that his parents were filthy wealthy.

But he’s always so cold. Always wore a blank expression and always ignored everyone’s presence totally. Like the whole world was centered on him and he couldn’t care less if anyone’s feelings got hurt.

I guess I’m the only exception, because he never ignores ...

His usually blank gaze would be filled with hatred. His words always sharp like a knife.

Sotis I feel like I’m the center of his world. But all for the wrong reasons.

Everything he has ever done to sotis makes think that those few years of friendship with him was all a re illusion.

-----

**EIGHT YEARS AGO**

"Let go of !" I struggled against the much bigger boys in my class who were trying to snatch away my drawing book.

Mom gave it to only yesterday to mark my eighth birthday. I couldn’t let them take it, not when I had a present inside for him. My best friend Keiran. We shared the sa birth date.

A harsh shove and I fell on the hard ground. I told myself not to cry. They would only laugh and call all sorts of an nas.

I straightened to my feet only to be shoved back to the floor. More laughter from the kids this ti.

Then all of their laughter suddenly stopped. I looked up to see Keiran dragging the biggest and anest of the boys by the collar. A relieved smile appeared on my face.

I had the coolest friend in the whole school. It was sothing to be proud of.

"Apologize to him, all of you!" Keiran’s voice was cold and dangerous. When they hesitated, his fist connected with Kyle’s face so hard that Kyle stumbled backward. Blood gushed from his nose as he cried out.

I felt a wave of sympathy, but I knew he deserved it for shoving around not just once but twice.

The others quickly apologized while staring at Keiran in terror. They were probably thinking they would be the next to suffer his anger.

"Anyone who touches him will answer to !" he warned, his voice low and threatening. He shoved Kyle to the floor with such force that Kyle scrambled away on his hands and knees. The rest scurried away fearfully, leaving alone with Keiran.

I hurried over to him, but tears were still streaming down my face from the fear and humiliation.

"You are so aweso, K!" I said, using the nickna I had given him. I couldn’t keep the excitent out of my voice despite my tears.

"Look, I got a gift for you. Those bad boys tried to take it away."

But instead of his usual smile, Keiran looked down at with a mix of concern and exasperation.

"You’re such a crybaby, Ollie," he said, but his voice was gentle, not an. "And look how short you are. I can barely see you behind those bullies."

My cheeks burned with embarrassnt, but before I could protest, he reached out and carefully adjusted my glasses that had gotten crooked during the scuffle. His touch was so gentle it made my heart skip.

"No one deserves your tears," he said softly, his thumb brushing away a tear from my cheek. "Stop crying, okay? I’m here now."

The way he looked at in that mont, with such fierce protectiveness and tenderness, made feel like I was the most important person in his world.

"I’ll never allow anyone to hurt you. Ever. That’s a promise, Ollie."

He was the only one who called Ollie. Others just called Oliver or Oli. I couldn’t help but feel special each ti he said it.

I returned his smile and waited as he accepted the drawing book from and flipped it open.

A scowl settled on his face and my excitent died a little. I wanted him to like my gift.

"But hey, this doesn’t look like at all! I think I look way more handso than this... did you make this ugly on purpose?" he spoke, and I huffed aloud. I tried to snatch it from him, but he held it above his head, far above my reach. He had always been tall for his age and never failed to use it to his advantage.

"You gave it to . Are you seriously going to take it back? No matter how ugly it is, it’s still mine."

He dipped his hand into his shirt pocket slowly.

"I also have a gift for you, but you’re being such a bad friend..."

I couldn’t hold back my curiosity. I fought him for it until I finally got hold of the small red box. I stared at it in awe, then looked up only to be t with his retreating back.

"I’ll definitely improve on my drawing, then I’ll give you the best picture in the world, K!" I called out.

He waved, indicating he heard, but didn’t turn around to face .

-----

The sound of the bell snapped back to the present. I didn’t even realize that I had been crying. Thankfully no one in class had noticed, not even William. It would have been so embarrassing. I wiped my eyes with the corners of my sleeves.

He had promised not to allow anyone to hurt . But no one has ever hurt deeper than him.

He was no longer that little boy who would beat up everyone that even spoke a an word to .

Now I think the only thing that gave him pleasure was seeing in pain.

Seeing cry and regret the fact that I didn’t die that day in place of her.