- 6 hours ago
Barks by Day, Begs by Night : New englishsubtitle fullfilm🧲🎯
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00After being forced to stand at attention under the blazing sun for three hours by a drill instructor from hell,
00:07I gritted my teeth and sent a message to my little toy.
00:11Bad pup, bring your best massage oil you can find and kneel in the hotel room waiting for me tonight.
00:17If you hurt me even once, you're dead.
00:20The reply came instantly.
00:23Mistress is finally willing to reward me.
00:26Half an hour later, I dragged my aching body to the hotel,
00:30only to run straight into the cold-blooded commander who had punished me with 50 push-ups that very morning.
00:37He tugged open the collar of his black tactical shirt.
00:41Still have the energy to wander around, Sterling? Looks like I was too easy on you this morning.
00:46I froze on the spot, because beneath his loosely fastened collar,
00:51I caught a glimpse of a chest chain glinting faintly in the light.
00:56It was the exact style I had personally picked out for my online fling on Amazon two days ago.
01:02I stared at Julian Vance's striking face, all impatience and rigid self-control.
01:08At that moment, my already limited brain capacity completely short-circuited.
01:13How is that even possible?
01:17Julian was the coldest, most ruthless drill instructor in the ROTC program.
01:22Military discipline ran in his blood.
01:25He was always dressed in immaculate camouflage.
01:28And whenever he looked at me, his gaze was so icy, it felt like he wanted to tear me apart.
01:34There was absolutely no way I could reconcile the military tyrant standing before me
01:39with the submissive little puppy online,
01:42who wore a collar and showed up with reddened eyes, begging for my attention every day.
01:47It has to be a coincidence.
01:50Instructor Vance, I said, trying my best to look like an innocent student.
01:55What are you doing here?
01:57His dark green eyes narrowed slightly as they swept over me with an unmistakable air of authority.
02:04I'm here to handle some personal matter.
02:06As he moved, the silver chain hanging against his collarbones swayed gently.
02:12It even bore the initials of my online alias.
02:15My breath caught in my throat.
02:17A personal matter?
02:19I could practically hear my own teeth chattering.
02:22Playing someone's obedient little puppy.
02:25Julian's entire body went rigid.
02:28The storm that erupted in those green eyes.
02:31A flicker of change crossed Julian's face.
02:35His slender fingers moved quickly,
02:37fastening the top button of his shirt in one smooth motion.
02:41What are you staring at?
02:43As if suddenly remembering something,
02:46he pulled out his phone and started typing.
02:48Julian shot me a puzzled glance before lowering his head and continuing to type.
02:54Panicking,
02:55I shoved a hand into my pocket and pressed the mute button as hard as I could.
03:00By the time Julian looked up at me again,
03:02but inside,
03:04I was already dead.
03:05The black shirt we had agreed on,
03:07the private chest chain I had personally chosen,
03:11and the phone vibrating in my pocket.
03:13Every damning coincidence was pointing to one absurd, undeniable truth.
03:19My online fling was none other than Julian Vance,
03:22the same man who spent his days making the entire training field run laps
03:27and reducing more than 10 freshmen to tears with his brutal tongue.
03:31I stared at Julian,
03:33unable to process what I'd just realized.
03:35Why are you still standing here?
03:37Have you even looked at the time?
03:39Get back to your dorm.
03:42And what exactly are you wearing?
03:44Do you think you're heading to a fraternity party?
03:47Coming from the guy wearing a chest chain and a bell
03:50so he could show up and give his mistress a foot massage?
03:53That was rich.
03:56I came here to meet.
03:59Who you're here to see has nothing to do with me.
04:02Whatever trouble you get self into,
04:04it'll be the school authorities that have to deal with the consequences.
04:07If you don't get back to your dorm right now,
04:09I'll report your name to the advisor tomorrow
04:11and cancel your freshman scholarship.
04:13Please don't involve the advisor.
04:17The moment I was out of Julian's sight,
04:20I let out a long breath of relief.
04:23Only then did I realize why he hadn't recognized me.
04:27We'd had several very in-depth video calls,
04:30but neither of us had ever shown our face.
04:33Before leaving tonight,
04:35I thought,
04:36if he turns out to be ugly,
04:38I'll just pretend I'm a random passerby and disappear.
04:41So I'd lied and told him I'd be wearing a long black dress.
04:45Pulling out my phone,
04:47the screen was filled with messages from Julian.
04:51Mistress,
04:51I need to confess a mistake.
04:53A freshman from the training camp
04:55accidentally saw my chest chain just now,
04:58but I covered it immediately.
05:02Apology tax.
05:03Buy yourself that pair of red bottom heels you love.
05:06I hadn't planned on replying,
05:08but the moment I saw that shiny $5,000,
05:11my finger betrayed me and tapped accept.
05:15Julian's next message arrived almost instantly.
05:19Mistress,
05:20have you arrived?
05:21Did you see me?
05:23I peeked around the corner at Julian,
05:25who was standing in the distance,
05:28looking down at his phone.
05:29After being lectured by him
05:31in his commanding officer persona,
05:34all I wanted right now was to make him squirm.
05:37So I deliberately replied,
05:39I don't want to see you anymore.
05:41Messages flooded in immediately.
05:44Why?
05:45Do you hate me now?
05:47Don't you need me to give you a massage anymore?
05:49I can guarantee I'll make you feel better.
05:52Then a short video arrived.
05:57I even wore your favorite chain tonight.
06:00And the little bell too.
06:02Are you really sure you don't want to hear them ring?
06:08His broad chest rose and fell steadily.
06:11Glimpses of metal and leather crossing beneath the partially open shirt.
06:16How did this man,
06:17who had absolutely no limits online,
06:20have the nerve to lecture me?
06:21On the training field during the day,
06:24he was nothing short of a demon.
06:26That morning,
06:27I'd been a split second slow during formation
06:30because of low blood sugar.
06:32He'd made me do 50 push-ups in front of everyone.
06:36Then,
06:37after deciding my form wasn't good enough,
06:39he'd kept me behind for another 30 minutes of drills under his watchful eye.
06:44A secret,
06:45intensely satisfying desire for revenge
06:48suddenly stirred inside me.
06:50You're such a tease.
06:52I'm only like this for mistress.
06:55Do you like it?
06:56No.
06:58It was obvious that the infamous devil commander
07:01was now in a state of complete panic
07:03because of a single message from me.
07:05A smile tugged at my lips.
07:08Another woman saw you just now.
07:10I'm upset.
07:11I don't want you anymore.
07:13The entire walk back to the dorm,
07:16my phone vibrated non-stop.
07:18I stubbornly refused to look at it.
07:21By the time I got back,
07:23my roommate Chloe and several other girls
07:25were sitting cross-legged on the carpet,
07:27deep in a gossip session.
07:30What does your online boyfriend look like?
07:36Just look at her face.
07:37He must have been average at best.
07:39Otherwise, there's no way she'd be back this quickly.
07:43Yep,
07:44he looked like the kind of guy who eats children.
07:46I took one look from a distance and ran.
07:47The room erupted in laughter.
07:50To be fair,
07:51I don't blame you.
07:52Ever since meeting Julian,
07:54every guy in the fraternities
07:55looks like a potato to me.
07:56I don't even want to reply
07:58to their messages anymore.
08:00Seriously,
08:01have you seen his chest?
08:02It's ridiculously hot.
08:04Several girls brought him water
08:05during break today,
08:06and he didn't even glance at them.
08:09He's like an iceberg.
08:10I can't even imagine
08:11what he would be like in bed.
08:12Total daddy type.
08:14Or maybe he secretly likes
08:16being somebody's lap dog.
08:20Sienna,
08:21would you stop reading so much smut?
08:23Julian comes from
08:25old money East Coast family wealth.
08:27He's a top cadet,
08:28practically guaranteed a place at West Point.
08:32If he ever found out you said that,
08:34he wouldn't just destroy you during training.
08:37He could make your academic life
08:38a complete nightmare.
08:40Right.
08:40What if Julian ever discovered
08:42that the person he'd been playing
08:44those secret power exchange games with
08:46every night
08:46was actually Sterling,
08:48the freshman cadet
08:49he spent his days
08:50tearing apart on the training field?
08:52He'd absolutely lose his mind
08:54from embarrassment
08:55and use every bit of authority
08:57he has to kick me out of the program.
09:00I'm kidding.
09:01Seriously,
09:02don't repeat that to anyone.
09:03Under no circumstances
09:04could he learn my real identity.
09:07After washing up
09:08and climbing into bed,
09:10I finally opened our chat.
09:12Because I hated being spammed with calls,
09:15Julian had shown remarkable restraint
09:17and only tried calling once.
09:19But he'd sent dozens of frantic messages.
09:35The final messages were a series of transfer notifications
09:39with shockingly large amounts attached.
09:43Please,
09:43forgive.
09:44Your pup.
09:46My queen.
09:47My heart started racing before I could stop it.
09:51The man online was just playing a role.
09:53In real life,
09:54he was Julian Vance,
09:56the man who could intimidate people into silence
09:59with a single look.
10:00Dating him in the real world would be a disaster.
10:03The smartest thing to do is end this
10:06before he figures out who I am.
10:08I've gotten bored.
10:09Our game ends here.
10:11Before I could even lock my screen,
10:14my phone began vibrating wildly.
10:17Please.
10:17A good pup only belongs to one mistress for life.
10:21Don't leave me.
10:22I'll lose my mind.
10:24If you're bored,
10:25we can try something different.
10:27Push things further.
10:29Change the rules.
10:30Whatever you want.
10:31Just don't leave me.
10:32I was about to block him
10:34when the screen suddenly switched
10:36to an incoming FaceTime call.
10:40My first encounter with Julian
10:41was a ridiculous accident.
10:43Last summer,
10:45I was holed up at home
10:46grinding FPS games.
10:48After losing 10 matches in a row,
10:50I was completely tilted
10:52when I got matched with him.
10:54Eight minutes into the game,
10:56after watching his terrible gameplay,
10:58I turned on my mic
11:00and started roasting him.
11:02Are those hands of yours
11:03for using a keyboard
11:04or digging ditches?
11:06If I sprinkled dog teats
11:08on my keyboard,
11:09my dog would have better movement
11:11than you.
11:12After the match ended,
11:13he actually sent me a friend request.
11:16I thought he wanted to argue back.
11:18Instead,
11:19the first message he sent was,
11:21do you really have a dog
11:22that can play video games?
11:23I turned on my mic.
11:25Are you actually stupid
11:27or are you pretending?
11:29There was a brief pause
11:30before he replied.
11:31Oh,
11:32then if you don't,
11:33can,
11:34can I be that dog?
11:39Your voice sounded really nice
11:41when you were yelling at me.
11:44I liked it.
11:46You're such a freak.
11:48I was just about to close the game
11:50when he spoke up again.
11:52Consult me one more time
11:54and I'll send you $1,000.
11:57From that day on,
11:59he became my personal puppy.
12:01Every day,
12:02he'd send me pictures of his muscles,
12:04trying to earn my approval
12:06and keep me entertained.
12:08By unspoken agreement,
12:10neither of us ever showed our faces.
12:13Instead,
12:13we played a dangerous,
12:15thrilling power exchange game
12:17from behind our screens.
12:19Then the semester started
12:21when we discovered
12:22we were both living in the same city.
12:24He kept asking to meet me in person.
12:27Who could have guessed?
12:28The man begging me online
12:29to toy with him
12:30and the man tormenting me
12:32on the training field
12:33during the day
12:34were actually the same person.
12:37After washing up and climbing into bed,
12:40I finally opened our chat.
12:42Because I hated being spammed with calls,
12:45Julian had shown remarkable restraint
12:47and only tried calling once.
12:49But he'd sent dozens of frantic messages.
12:52Mistress,
12:54I'm sorry.
12:55I won't let anyone else see something
12:58that belongs only to you ever again.
13:01I love you.
13:02Please don't ignore me.
13:04I'm begging you.
13:06The final messages were a series of transfer notifications
13:09with shockingly large amounts attached.
13:12Please,
13:13forgive.
13:14Your pup.
13:15My queen.
13:17My heart started racing
13:19before I could stop it.
13:21The man online
13:21was just playing a role.
13:23In real life,
13:25he was Julian Vance,
13:26the man who could intimidate people
13:28into silence
13:29with a single look.
13:30Dating him in the real world
13:32would be a disaster.
13:34The smartest thing to do
13:35is end this
13:36before he figures out who I am.
13:38I've gotten bored.
13:39Our game ends here.
13:41Before I could even lock my screen,
13:43my phone began vibrating wildly.
13:47Please.
13:48A good pup only belongs
13:49to one mistress for life.
13:51Don't leave me.
13:52I'll lose my mind.
13:54If you're bored,
13:55we can try something different.
13:57Push things further.
13:59Change the rules.
14:00Whatever you want.
14:01Just don't leave me.
14:03I was about to block him
14:04when the screen suddenly switched
14:06to an incoming FaceTime call.
14:09At the same moment,
14:11Julian's voice came through the speaker.
14:13Noticeably hoarse and breathless.
14:16Cece,
14:17I'm not dirty.
14:19Please don't leave me.
14:21My heart slammed against my ribs.
14:24Panicking,
14:25I mashed the volume button
14:26all the way down
14:27and practically dove beneath my comforter.
14:30Julian didn't stop.
14:32Mistress,
14:33I just learned a new way
14:34to punish myself.
14:36Do you want to see it?
14:37Even through the screen,
14:39I could feel my face burning.
14:41I forced the tremor out of my voice.
14:44No.
14:45A low,
14:46wounded sound
14:46immediately came
14:47from the other end of the call.
14:49Why?
14:50I'm really tired.
14:52We'll talk tomorrow.
14:53Silence.
14:54For two whole seconds.
14:56Then he relented
14:57with infuriating obedience.
14:59Then I'll record it
15:00and send it to you.
15:01When you wake up tomorrow
15:03and watch it,
15:04you'll forgive me, right?
15:05I didn't dare
15:07let him say another word,
15:08mumbling some vague response.
15:11I ended the call
15:12as fast as I could.
15:14The next morning,
15:16I finally experienced
15:17what real hell looked like.
15:19After 10 straight minutes
15:20of holding a plank
15:22under the blazing sun,
15:23I was ready to scream.
15:25Beside me,
15:26Chloe looked equally miserable.
15:28My arms are completely numb.
15:31Which asshole
15:31Pete and Julian's
15:32protein powder this morning?
15:33What the hell
15:34is wrong with him today?
15:35Maybe some woman
15:36dumped him last night?
15:37Oh, please.
15:38Even if the world ended,
15:40that guy wouldn't let
15:41a single emotion
15:42show on his face.
15:44Thank God.
15:45Another instructor
15:46suddenly called Julian away
15:48to verify the freshman roster.
15:50The second he turned around,
15:52the entire formation
15:53collapsed onto the grass.
15:55I furtively slipped my phone
15:57out of the pocket
15:58of my training pants.
15:59At two in the morning,
16:01he'd sent me
16:02an encrypted video.
16:03This morning,
16:04I'd only watch
16:05the first three seconds
16:06before shutting it off.
16:08Yet those three seconds
16:10had replayed
16:11in my head all day.
16:12I lowered the volume
16:14to the absolute minimum,
16:16cupped one hand
16:17around the edge
16:17of the screen,
16:18and pressed play.
16:20Who would have guessed
16:21that the same control freak
16:23who spent his days
16:24barking orders
16:25at us from above
16:26could be so reckless
16:27in private?
16:28My pulse quickened
16:30as I watched.
16:31I was so distracted
16:33that I didn't notice
16:34the training field
16:34gradually falling silent
16:36around me.
16:37Not until a tall shadow
16:39fell across my body.
16:41I looked up.
16:43Julian was staring down
16:44at me.
16:45Instinctively,
16:45I tried to shove
16:46my phone up my training pants.
16:48Sterling,
16:48did I give the order
16:49for a break?
16:50I swallowed hard.
16:51No, sir.
16:54I can't hear
16:55how you address
16:55a superior officer.
16:56Louder!
16:58Sir!
16:59No, sir!
17:00Ten laps around the field.
17:01Move.
17:02Now.
17:04Sympathetic looks
17:04immediately came
17:05from every direction.
17:06My nose stung.
17:08I felt wronged
17:09beyond words.
17:10Everyone else
17:10was resting.
17:11Why was he always
17:12singling me out?
17:14Right before sprinting off,
17:15my knees buckled,
17:16sending me stumbling.
17:18My phone slipped free
17:19from my training pants.
17:20Oh, no.
17:21The video is still open.
17:23A low,
17:24muffled sound
17:24from the video
17:25suddenly came
17:26through the phone's speaker.
17:27I lunged forward
17:28to grab my phone,
17:29but my fingers
17:30closed on empty air.
17:31Julian had already
17:32picked it up,
17:33and now his eyes
17:34were fixed on the screen.
17:37Fuck!
17:37What's he going to do?
17:39Confiscate my phone
17:40in front of everyone?
17:41Kick me out
17:41of the training program
17:42on the spot?
17:43But the disaster
17:44I expected
17:45never came.
17:46Julian stared
17:47at the screen
17:47for a long moment.
17:48Then he tossed
17:49the phone back
17:50into my arms.
17:51Thank God.
17:52The impact
17:52from hitting the ground
17:53had triggered
17:54the screen lock.
17:54I was just about
17:55to slip back
17:56into formation
17:57when Julian
17:58suddenly stepped closer.
17:59Where did you get
18:00that lock screen wallpaper?
18:02Wait.
18:03What?
18:04My lock screen wallpaper.
18:06It was one of the
18:07ab photos
18:07Julian had sent me.
18:09In the picture,
18:10he was wearing
18:10nothing but a pair
18:11of gray sweatpants.
18:13Sure,
18:14I'd added a cute pink filter
18:15and rotated the image.
18:17But what man
18:18wouldn't recognize
18:19his own abs?
18:22It's just some
18:23random male model
18:25photo I found online.
18:27His eyes narrowed
18:28dangerously.
18:29Clearly,
18:30he didn't believe
18:30a single word.
18:31Every alarm bell
18:32in my head
18:33started screaming.
18:34So I switched tactics.
18:36Putting on an expression
18:37of shock disbelief
18:39mixed with faint disgust,
18:40I looked him
18:41up and down.
18:42Why would you
18:43even ask that, sir?
18:44I paused deliberately.
18:47Unless
18:49you've taken
18:50photos like that
18:51yourself?
18:54Fuck!
18:54What's he going to do?
18:56Confiscate my phone
18:57in front of everyone?
18:58Kick me out of
18:59the training program
18:59on the spot?
19:00But the disaster
19:01I expected
19:02never came.
19:03Julian stared
19:04at the screen
19:04for a long moment.
19:05Then he tossed
19:06the phone back
19:07into my arms.
19:08Thank God.
19:09The impact
19:09from hitting the ground
19:10had triggered
19:11the screen lock.
19:12I was just about
19:12to slip back
19:13into formation
19:14when Julian
19:15suddenly stepped closer.
19:16Where did you get
19:17that lock screen wallpaper?
19:19Wait.
19:20What?
19:21My lock screen wallpaper.
19:23It was one of the
19:24ab photos Julian
19:25had sent me.
19:26In the picture,
19:27he was wearing
19:28nothing but a pair
19:28of gray sweatpants.
19:30Sure,
19:31I'd added a cute
19:32pink filter
19:32and rotated the image.
19:34But what man
19:35wouldn't recognize
19:36his own abs?
19:38Uh,
19:39it's just some
19:40random male model
19:42photo I found online.
19:44His eyes narrowed
19:45dangerously.
19:46Clearly,
19:47he didn't believe
19:47a single word.
19:48Every alarm bell
19:49in my head
19:50started screaming.
19:51So I switched
19:52tactics.
19:53Putting on an expression
19:54of shock disbelief
19:56mixed with faint
19:56disgust,
19:57I looked him
19:58up and down.
19:59Why would you
20:00even ask that,
20:01sir?
20:01I paused
20:02deliberately.
20:04Unless
20:06you've taken
20:07photos like that
20:08yourself?
20:10Julian flushed
20:12deeply to his
20:12eartips.
20:13Watch your mouth,
20:14Sterling.
20:15Formation!
20:16Fall in!
20:17Sterling,
20:18ten laps.
20:19Now.
20:21You don't eat
20:22lunch until you
20:22finish every single
20:23one.
20:24I clenched my jaw
20:26and turned toward
20:27the track.
20:27Fine,
20:28I'll run.
20:29By the time
20:29I finished,
20:30the cafeteria
20:31had already
20:32been picked clean.
20:33I ended up
20:34curled on a bench
20:35with nothing
20:36but a stale
20:36bread roll
20:37for lunch.
20:38Mistress,
20:39why haven't you
20:39spoken to me
20:40all morning?
20:41I snapped a photo
20:42of the empty
20:42wrapper beside me
20:43and sent it over.
20:44Eating lunch.
20:45Busy.
20:45How can that
20:46count as lunch?
20:47That's barely food.
20:48A second later,
20:50a Venmo
20:50notification appeared.
20:52One thousand
20:53dollars received.
20:54Some psychotic
20:55asshole has been
20:56making my life
20:57miserable all day.
20:58Because of him,
20:59I missed lunch.
21:01Then he's a
21:01complete bastard.
21:02I hope he goes
21:03straight to hell.
21:05Seeing how obedient
21:06he was,
21:06now made his
21:07earlier arrogance
21:08on the training
21:08field even more
21:09satisfying to remember.
21:11My desire for
21:12revenge hit an
21:13all-time high.
21:14That punishment
21:15video you sent
21:16last night was
21:16pathetic.
21:17Honestly,
21:18it was embarrassing
21:19to watch.
21:20What makes a man
21:21who'd throw away
21:22his pride just to
21:23please a woman
21:23think he deserves
21:24to be my only pup?
21:25Only a few seconds
21:27passed before a
21:27voice message appeared.
21:30If you don't like
21:31me being this
21:32needy,
21:33I can change.
21:34I can be a
21:35well-behaved good
21:36boy.
21:36Whatever you tell
21:37me to do,
21:37I'll do it.
21:38Please don't
21:39leave me.
21:40Listening to this
21:41man,
21:42the same man who
21:43acted untouchable
21:44all day,
21:44begging me in such
21:45a broken voice,
21:46felt absurdly
21:47satisfying.
21:48I locked my
21:49screen without
21:50replying.
21:51Between the lack
21:52of sleep and those
21:53miserable punishment
21:53laughs,
21:54I spent the entire
21:55afternoon feeling
21:56like a zombie.
21:57The first activity
21:58after formation
21:59was, of course,
22:01the dreaded uniform
22:02and appearance
22:02inspection.
22:04Julian strode
22:05down the line
22:05in long,
22:06deliberate steps.
22:07When he stopped
22:08in front of me,
22:09I automatically
22:10lowered my eyes
22:11to the ground,
22:12already prepared
22:12for the daily
22:13humiliation that
22:14inevitably accompanied
22:15his inspections.
22:16What's that on
22:17the corner of
22:17your mouth?
22:19Breadcrumbs.
22:20What's wrong,
22:21sir?
22:22Julian froze.
22:23The icy look
22:24in his eyes fell
22:25apart, overtaken
22:26by a tangled mess
22:27of emotions.
22:28Is he about to
22:29make me run
22:30another five laps
22:31over a few crumbs?
22:32Just as I braced
22:34myself for another
22:34round of targeted
22:35harassment,
22:36something completely
22:37unexpected happened.
22:39Julian smiled.
22:40Sienna.
22:41Every hair on my
22:42body stood on end.
22:44My heart nearly
22:45stopped.
22:46How can I help
22:47you, sir?
22:49Then I witnessed
22:50the most ridiculous
22:51thing I had ever
22:52seen in my life.
22:53The devil commander,
22:55who could probably
22:56throw a grown man
22:57across a room
22:57with one hand,
22:58had red-rimmed
22:59eyes.
23:00He looked at me
23:00with a damp,
23:01wounded gaze,
23:02like a puppy
23:03that had just
23:03been scolded.
23:04I swallowed hard.
23:06My heartbeat
23:07thundered in my ears.
23:08After several seconds
23:10of deeply
23:10uncomfortable silence,
23:12his Adam's apple
23:13bobbed.
23:13With obvious effort,
23:15he looked away.
23:16It's nothing.
23:18Maintain your posture.
23:19He threw out
23:19the order and
23:20immediately turned
23:21toward the next
23:21unfortunate cadet.
23:23But there was
23:24something strangely
23:24hurried about his
23:25retreating steps.
23:26The rest of training
23:27was every bit as
23:28brutal as before.
23:30Sienna, I'm begging
23:31you, just pretend
23:32to faint.
23:32The second you go
23:33down, I'll rush you
23:34to the infirmary and
23:35we'll both escape
23:36this hell.
23:37Use your brain.
23:38We're standing on
23:39boiling hot asphalt.
23:40If I fall face first,
23:42I'll leave here with
23:42a traumatic brain
23:43injury.
23:45Trust me.
23:46I swear I'll catch you.
23:47My blood sugar
23:49crashed at the worst
23:50time.
23:50Black spots blurred
23:51my vision, and I
23:53collapsed backward as
23:54Chloe screamed in
23:55terror.
23:55Chloe, if you're
23:57going to say, you're
23:57doing it too soon.
23:59I wasn't ready.
24:01I squeezed my eyes
24:02shut in despair.
24:03Then a powerful arm
24:05wrapped around my
24:06waist.
24:06In one swift motion,
24:08I was pulled against
24:09a solid, burning hot
24:10chest.
24:12I opened my eyes,
24:14still shaken.
24:15Julian's flawless face
24:17was suddenly inches
24:18away from mine.
24:19The usual cold
24:20superiority was gone.
24:22In its place was
24:23naked panic and
24:24concern.
24:25I jerked away from
24:26him as if I'd been
24:27burned.
24:27Grabbing the hand
24:28Chloe thrust toward
24:29me, I scrambled
24:30back to my feet.
24:32Only one thought was
24:33running through my
24:34head.
24:34He couldn't think I'm
24:35faking this to get
24:36out of training.
24:37Sir, I have low
24:39blood sugar.
24:40That's right, sir.
24:41Sienna missed lunchtime
24:42today.
24:43That's why she fainted.
24:44Please, let her take
24:45a break.
24:45I closed my mouth and
24:47waited for the punishment.
24:48Maybe push-ups or
24:50extra laps or both.
24:52Instead, something
24:53completely unexpected
24:55flashed across Julian's
24:56face.
24:57Guilt.
24:58He suddenly spun
24:59toward the formation
25:00and barked at the top
25:01of his lungs.
25:02Everyone, take a
25:04one-hour break.
25:05Then he turned back
25:06to me and somehow,
25:08impossibly, his voice
25:10became gentle.
25:10Sienna, I can take
25:14you to the infirmary.
25:15A brief pause.
25:17Or would you rather
25:19I get you some coffee?
25:20My brain completely
25:21stopped functioning.
25:23What the hell is
25:24happening?
25:25I opened my eyes,
25:27still shaken.
25:28Julian's flawless face
25:30was suddenly inches
25:31away from mine.
25:32The usual cold
25:33superiority was gone.
25:35In its place was
25:36naked panic and
25:37concern.
25:37I jerked away from him
25:39as if I'd been burned.
25:41Grabbing the hand
25:41Chloe thrust toward me,
25:43I scrambled back to my
25:44feet.
25:45Only one thought was
25:46running through my head.
25:47He couldn't think I'm
25:48faking this to get out
25:50of training.
25:51Sir, I have low blood
25:52sugar.
25:53That's right, sir.
25:54Sienna missed lunchtime
25:55today.
25:56That's why she fainted.
25:57Please, let her take a
25:58break.
25:58I closed my mouth and
26:00waited for the punishment.
26:01Maybe push-ups or extra
26:03laps or both.
26:05Instead, something
26:06completely unexpected
26:08flashed across Julian's
26:09face.
26:10Guilt.
26:11He suddenly spun toward
26:12the formation and barked
26:14at the top of his lungs.
26:15Everyone, take a one
26:17hour break.
26:18Then he turned back to me
26:20and somehow, impossibly,
26:22his voice became gentle.
26:24Sienna, I can take you
26:27to the infirmary.
26:28A brief pause.
26:30Or would you rather I
26:32get you some coffee?
26:33My brain completely
26:34stopped functioning.
26:36What the hell is
26:37happening?
26:39I'll be fine if I just
26:40sit with everyone else
26:41for a while.
26:41Are you kidding me?
26:42There is absolutely no
26:44way I'm being alone with
26:45this man while he's
26:46acting this strange.
26:49All right, whatever you
26:51want.
26:51Oh, God, this is
26:53horrifying.
26:54After the formation
26:55was dismissed, Julian
26:57disappeared.
26:58Ten minutes later,
26:59several employees from
27:00a local drink shop
27:01showed up, carrying
27:02massive cardboard
27:03drink trays.
27:05Holy shit!
27:06Vance is a freaking
27:08legend!
27:09Julian had apparently
27:10put the entire order
27:11on his credit card.
27:12Someone shoved an
27:13ice-cold fruit juice
27:14into my hands.
27:15But I just stared at it.
27:17For some reason, I
27:18couldn't bring myself
27:19to take a sip.
27:21Sitting beside me,
27:22took a huge sip of her
27:24drink, and let out a
27:25blissful sigh.
27:29Cece, that collapse of
27:31yours was a legendary
27:32sacrifice.
27:34He was totally freaked out.
27:36Pizza lens.
27:37What's it like being held
27:38by a guy like Julian?
27:39Are his pecs really as hard
27:41as marble?
27:42Did he smell ridiculously
27:43good?
27:44I immediately shot her a
27:45glare, my tone guarded and
27:46disapproving.
27:47Would you shut up?
27:48There was absolutely nothing
27:50inappropriate about it.
27:52He's an emotionless control
27:53freak.
27:54I'd rather date one of the
27:55concrete pillars on the
27:56field than have a single
27:58romantic thought about him.
28:00Her eyes widened in horror
28:02as she stared at something
28:03behind me.
28:05I turned my head stiffly.
28:07A few steps away, Julian was
28:09standing there in silence.
28:10He was holding a pink pastry
28:12bag, his face pale, staring
28:14straight at me.
28:15The man who had been so
28:17domineering just seconds ago
28:18now looked like a dog that
28:20had just been kicked away by
28:21its owner.
28:22Fuck.
28:23He must have heard
28:24everything.
28:25A strong wave of guilt
28:26cleared my throat.
28:27I forced out a stiff,
28:29fake smile.
28:30Sir, thank you for the
28:32drink.
28:33Julian's eyes flickered, as
28:35if he had just been
28:35slapped awake.
28:38Take this.
28:39I opened the bag.
28:40Inside was an exquisitely
28:42prepared slice of strawberry
28:43cheesecake.
28:44Oh my god, sir, you even
28:46prepared dessert specifically
28:47for Sienna?
28:48That's way too considerate.
28:50At that, my stomach sank.
28:52Strawberry cheesecake was
28:53the dessert I had told my
28:55little puppy online that I
28:56liked the most.
28:57Was this just a hell of a
28:59coincidence?
28:59Or did he already know who I
29:01was and was deliberately
29:02testing me?
29:04A strong sense of
29:06defensiveness made me take a
29:07half step back.
29:08Julian's jaw muscle twitched
29:10violently.
29:11His expression shifted into
29:12something cold and unreadable.
29:14The bar just threw that in as
29:15a complimentary item.
29:17It's to keep your blood sugar
29:17up so you don't cause me
29:18trouble again this afternoon.
29:20With that, he strode away and
29:22sat down under a tree as far
29:24from the crowd as possible.
29:25His posture looked firm and
29:27decisive, but I could still see
29:29a thick layer of grievance
29:30underneath it.
29:31I scooped up a small bite of
29:33cake with my fork and put it in
29:35my mouth when my phone suddenly
29:36buzzed in my pocket.
29:37Even if you really find me
29:39disgusting, as long as I can
29:40stay by your side, you can
29:42order me around however you
29:43like.
29:43I looked up.
29:44The tall Julian was sitting
29:46alone beneath the shade of the
29:47tree, hunched over slightly,
29:49his hands resting on his knees,
29:51head lowered in silence.
29:53An indescribable wave of
29:54bitterness broke through my
29:56rationality.
29:57Forget it.
29:58Why bother with a little dog?
30:01Good boy.
30:02Good boy.
Comments