THE OBSESSION PARADOX || BOYXBOY DARK ROMANCE

9. Alex

I trudged through the front door, my mind a complete blank. The events of the past hour swirled in my head like a tornado, refusing to settle into any semblance of order. One minute Ryan was teetering on the edge, threatening to end it all, and the next...the next was a blur of sensation. His lips on my skin, his teeth grazing my flesh, sending shivers down my spine. And then, just as suddenly, he was pushing me away, telling me to leave. I couldn't wrap my head around it.

I think I know what triggered it, though. He didn't like that I didn't let him kiss me on the lips. Ryan's always been a control freak, and that small denial must have been too much for him to handle. He couldn't stand that I'd set a boundary, that I'd withheld something from him. It was a small rebellion, but it was enough to send him spiraling. I'm still trying to process it all, but one thing's for sure - I won't be going back there anytime soon.

I avoided my dad's house like the plague for a whole week. The thought of seeing Ryan again made my stomach turn. So, I stayed at my mom's house, trying to lay low and process everything that had happened. But, of course, my mom noticed something was off. She kept asking me what was wrong, why I looked so scared and lost. I tried to brush it off, told her I was not stressed, but she knew me too well. She could see right through me.

One day, she cornered me in the kitchen, her eyes filled with concern. "Alex, what's going on? You've been avoiding your dad's house and you look like you've seen a ghost. Did something happen with Ryan?" I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But something about her kind expression made me want to open up. Maybe it was time I told someone the truth...

But the words got stuck in my throat. I couldn't bring myself to tell my mom about Ryan's hands on my skin, his mouth leaving marks on my body. It felt too shameful, too dirty. So I stayed silent, and eventually, she stopped asking. But the memories lingered, haunting me every time I looked in the mirror or stepped into the shower. Those faint hickeys on my skin seemed to mock me, a constant reminder of what happened. No matter how many times I scrubbed myself clean, I could still feel his tongue and lips on my chest and stomach, like a ghostly imprint that refused to fade. It made my skin crawl, and I couldn't shake the feeling of being tainted, of being forever changed.

I steeled myself and walked into my dad's house, determination coursing through my veins. I was done avoiding the truth, done hiding from the memories. I needed to face Ryan, to make him acknowledge what he'd done. But as I entered the familiar rooms, I realized he was nowhere to be found. I asked my dad, trying to sound casual, but he just shrugged and said Ryan was out on some errand. I knew that was a lie. Ryan was always hovering around my dad, always lurking in the shadows. His absence was too convenient, too suspicious. I wondered if he was hiding from me, if he knew I was coming for him. A spark of anger ignited within me. I was not going to let him hide. I was going to confront him, no matter what it took.

Two days went by, and Ryan was still nowhere to be found. When I asked my dad about his whereabouts, he finally admitted that Ryan had been missing for over a week. Despite numerous calls and texts, Ryan hadn't responded. It was as if he had vanished into thin air. My dad suspected foul play, thinking that a rival company might be involved. He was uncertain whether Ryan was even alive.

My dad's words sent a shiver down my spine. Could it be true? Was Ryan really gone? I thought about all the times he'd made me feel trapped, all the times he'd pushed me to my limits. A part of me wanted to celebrate, to dance on the possibility of his demise. But another part, a smaller part, whispered "what if?" What if he was still out there, watching me, waiting for me? I pushed the thought away, focusing on my dad's worried face. He was genuinely concerned, and I realized that Ryan's disappearance affected more than just me. My dad's business, his reputation, everything was at stake. I needed to know what happened to Ryan, not just for my own closure but for my dad's sake as well.

I knew Ryan was lurking in the shadows of my social media, so I decided to bait him. I slipped into the shortest shorts I owned, the ones that made my curves scream for attention. Then, I posed on my bed, angling my body to showcase my back and derrière in a tantalizing snapshot. With a deep breath, I posted it on my Instagram story, deliberately leaving a digital trail for Ryan to follow. I was taking back control, using my own online presence to lure him out of hiding and potentially expose his true nature. The wait began, my eyes fixed on the screen, anticipating his next move.

My heart skipped a beat as I saw the direct message pop up on my screen. "Delete." Just one word, but it spoke volumes. The user's profile was a blank slate - no picture, no posts, no information whatsoever. But I didn't need any of that to know who was behind the message. The urgency, the anonymity, the sheer audacity... it all screamed Ryan. He thought he could hide behind a ghost account, but I knew his tactics all too well. I felt a surge of adrenaline as I realized I had him right where I wanted him. Now it was my turn to play the game. I typed out a response, my fingers hovering over the keyboard as I contemplated my next move...

"Stop hiding and come home," I typed, trying to sound firm but concerned.

"You want me to sign my own death warrant? " Ryan shot back, his response dripping with desperation.

"You're terrified of facing my dad, but you had no problem violating my boundaries," I typed, my anger seething.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. "You're a monster, Ryan. And I'm not afraid of you anymore."

"I'm a monster, and my true nature is beyond your worst nightmares. You don't want me near you again. Trust me, I'm capable of things that would haunt your dreams. It's better for both of us if I stay away."

"If you don't come back, I'll make sure my dad finds out what really happened in that car. You have until then to decide."

"Okay, I'll return. Delete the picture. Now."

The way he tried to control me was chilling and scared me to my core.