Ruins of Our Love #wattys2015

Chapter 24

"Cat got your tongue?" Stephan smirks when I look down,terrified and helpless.

One of his hands pin my arms above me,the other tilts my chin up so that I am looking up at him. This is not happening. No.. not like this.

Stephan starts to nuzzle my neck,he kisses it gently and starts nipping the skin there with soft small bites. I whimper,and struggle out of his hold.

Stephan's grip loosens and he stares down at me with hooded eyes. "Here is what I want you to do. You are going to shower. Right now. Then we'll sleep." he orders.

"And if I refuse?" I lash defiantly.

He smirks,"I will take you across my knee, and Alexa, I won't hold back this time."

"What do you mean?" I ask nervously.

"I will claim my rights to your body." He says simply. I gulp. This is blackmail.

I nod in understanding and Stephan lets me go. He exits the bathroom and leaves me to shower. Silent tears are running down my face. How can he be so cold as to blackmail me?

When I tucked in to bed that night,I laid awake for three quarters of the night, crying silently. Stephan is a heavy sleeper and he didn't notice my pain.

I cried because of how he treated me. Does he not realize that I need more than basketball and books to fill my day? How I worked my ass off to get a job and now all my efforts are going down a drain.

He gave no room for discussion and every word is final. Reminds me of how my father treats me. Controlling yet giving choices. He could manipulate anyone into picking the choice he wants. Including me. I lived under my father's control for years and now,my husband is just like him. Hold on,Alexa. Just a little while longer..

Those words were my only encouragements to keep living all these years. I fell asleep around 4am with that thought in mind.

-------------------------------------------------------

"Alexa!! Alexa wake up!!" A voice shakes me wide awake.

"Whaa..? Hah?" My breathing is erratic and my mind is scattered. Another dream.. this time.. its too painful..

"You were dreaming. Are you okay?" Stephan asks. I nod,sitting up on the bed.

The sun is filling up the room. It seems like a nice day outside,but inside me,I am an emotional mess. My dream,was about.. Nathan,my beloved older brother. You killed him.. again.. in your dream.

Knowing perfectly well what are the aftershocks of that dream,I rush into the bathroom. Turning on the shower so that my sounds of choking on my tears won't be heard.

You killed your brother when he did every single thing he could to love and protect you. How could you,you ungrateful little b*tch? My subconscious sneers. Shivers rack through me as the pain of the bitter memory reappears in my mind.

"Alexa? Open the door." Stephan knocks from outside.

I panic, trying to calm my breathing I reply,"No! I am in the shower!"

I didn't get any reply,so I assumed he left. Perhaps to order breakfast.

After I got out,I had regained controlled of my mask. Stephan came rushing to the room wanting to see if I was okay. And I was,at least on the outside. Stay strong,Alexa. He can never know about what you did to Nathan.

We both ate our breakfast then headed out into the streets if Yogyakarta. "Where would you like to go first?" Stephan asked me.

"I dunno. Take me where you want. I would love it anyway." I say with a small smile. We hire a three-wheeled vehicle or a tricycle called becak to tour Yogya.

Upon reaching first destination,Stephan takes my hand as we walk into a batik shop called,'Batik Beteng Taman Sari'.

Batik is a traditional Indonesian design or motif on clothing. The clothing is usually designed with batik motives made from wax then dyed. Its a beautiful creation. There are so many designs depending on which province you are in such as flowers,animals and figurines. There are even abstract and geometrical designs.

Yogya is famous for its flowers and nature-like motives. Finer cloths and complex designs can take up to months to create it and would costs millions of rupiahs.

"Wanna try to create some batik?" Stephan asks me.

Definitely not wanting to miss an opportunity like this,I agreed enthusiastically. "Yes!"

An old lady who was pouring wax on cloth became our batik teacher for the morning. She taught us how to hold the the instrument used for drawing wax on cloth. Its a process that requires lots of patience and tenacity.

"Aren't you doing any,Stephan?" I ask.

He shakes his head,"I'll simply watch you deep in concentration. I could watch you all day," he grins.

I blush and look down at my cloth. I have already waxed flowers and leaves. I simply need to add little details to make the design look real.

After two hours in the store, we exited with my finished self-designed and poorly made batik on a square piece of cloth, a couple of batik dresses and shirts and also wayang kulit or a tradisional Indonesian puppet.

"Don't fret over your self-made batik. That lady has decades of experience when you have none. This is good already." Stephan cheers me up when I frown at my batik.

"Thanks for taking me here,Stephan." I say politely when we sit in the becak.

"My pleasure. By the way,are you okay,Alexa? You are very quiet today." Stephan asks.

"I am still tired from yesterday,I think." I lie. Well,not really. I still am tired.

Stephan looks at me apologetically, we can rest in the hotel if you want."

I shake my head,"No,thanks. I would love to see more of Yogya."

Stephan nods and grins at me. We head into souvenir shop which sells local delights. I think he already notices my love for food and brings me here.

"Omg there are so many! I have no idea what is what." I exclaim excitedly once I see all these local junk food in front of me.

Stephan laughs wholeheartedly and snakes his arm around my waist. He says happily,"Don't worry,I'll help you,love"

I grin at him. And we start looking around the shop.

Suddenly,a female voice calls out,"Stephan Grant is that you??" A tall,blond with a sexy figure sashays her way towards us.

"Um.. who is that,Stephan?" I ask. I scrutinuzed her very revealing outfit that shows too much cleavage and her arse might as well go without coverage since her dress is so tight.

"Err.. she is my.. friend?" Stephan answers nervously looking anywhere but me and that sassy chick. Who the hell is she??

Hello!!! Thank you all for waiting patiently for an update and I am sorry you had to wait so long. I have had no breaks this two weeks and I am dead tired. I have a Mathematics Olympiade tomorrow so wish me luck guys!!

Watch the vid btw! Its about how they make Batik.

Btw thank you so so so so so much for the views. Never in my life I'd expect what I write would be read by over 1000 people!! I love you all!!

xoxo EllaJ