- 3 hours ago
Barks by Day, Begs by Night🧡🍏 🔥
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🎥
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.
00:18If 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,
00:31only to run straight into the cold-blooded commander who had punished me with 50 push-ups that very morning.
00:38He tugged open the collar of his black tactical shirt.
00:42Still have the energy to wander around, Sterling? Looks like I was too easy on you this morning.
00:47I froze on the spot, because beneath his loosely fastened collar,
00:52I 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.
01:14How is that even possible?
01:17Julian was the coldest, most ruthless drill instructor in the ROTC program.
01:23Military 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 on line, who wore a collar and showed up with reddened eyes,
01:45begging 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?
01:58His 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.
02:07As he moved, the silver chain hanging against his collarbones swayed gently.
02:12It even bore the initials of my online alias.
02:16My breath caught in my throat.
02:17A personal matter?
02:19I could practically hear my own teeth chattering.
02:22Like someone's obedient little puppy.
02:26Julian's entire body went rigid.
02:28The storm that erupted in those green eyes.
02:32A flicker of change crossed Julian's face.
02:35His slender fingers moved quickly, fastening 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.
02:49Julian shot me a puzzled glance before lowering his head and continuing to type.
02:54Panicking, I 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,
03:03but inside, I was already dead.
03:05The black shirt we had agreed on,
03:08the 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,
03:23the 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, unable to process what I'd just realized.
03:36Why are you still standing here?
03:38Have 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?
03:54That was rich.
03:56I came here to meet.
04:00Who 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.
04:14Please don't involve the advisor.
04:15I'm leaving right now, sir.
04:18Stop.
04:18The 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, I thought,
04:36if he turns out to be ugly,
04:38I'll just pretend I'm a random passerby and disappear.
04:42So I'd lied and told him I'd be wearing a long black dress.
04:46Pulling out my phone,
04:47the screen was filled with messages from Julian.
04:51Mistress, I need to confess a mistake.
04:54A freshman from the training camp accidentally saw my chest changes now,
04:58but I covered it immediately.
05:02Apology tax.
05:03Buy yourself that pair of red-bottom heels you love.
05:07I hadn't planned on replying,
05:09but 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, have you arrived?
05:21Did you see me?
05:23I peeked around the corner at Julian,
05:26who was standing in the distance,
05:28looking down at his phone.
05:30After being lectured by him in his commanding officer persona,
05:33All I wanted right now was to make him squirm.
05:37So I deliberately replied,
05:39I don't want to see you anymore.
05:42Messages flooded in immediately.
05:45Why?
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.
05:53Then 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
06:13crossing beneath the partially open shirt.
06:16How did this man,
06:17who had absolutely no limits online,
06:20have the nerve to lecture me?
06:22On the training field during the day,
06:24he was nothing short of a demon.
06:27That morning,
06:28I'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,
06:40he'd kept me behind for another 30 minutes of drills
06:43under his watchful eye.
06:44A secret, intensely satisfying desire for revenge
06:48suddenly stirred inside me.
06:51You're such a tease.
06:53I'm only like this for mistress.
06:55Do you like it?
06:57No.
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.
07:07Another woman saw you just now.
07:10I'm upset.
07:12I don't want you anymore.
07:14The 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.
07:38He must have been average at best.
07:40Otherwise, there's no way she'd be back this quickly.
07:44Yep, he looked like the kind of guy who eats children.
07:46I took one look from a distance and ran.
07:48The room erupted in laughter.
07:50To be fair, I don't blame you.
07:53Ever since meeting Julian,
07:54every guy in the fraternities looks like a potato to me.
07:57I don't even want to reply to their messages anymore.
08:01Seriously, have you seen his chest?
08:02It's ridiculously hot.
08:04Several girls brought him water during break today,
08:06and he didn't even glance at them.
08:09He's like an iceberg.
08:10I can't even imagine what he would be like in bed.
08:13Total daddy type.
08:14Or maybe he secretly likes being somebody's lap dog.
08:20Sienna, would you stop reading so much smut?
08:24Julian comes from old money East Coast family wealth.
08:27He's a top cadet,
08:29practically guaranteed a place at West Point.
08:32If he ever found out you said that,
08:35he wouldn't just destroy you during training.
08:37He could make your academic life a complete nightmare.
08:40Right.
08:41What if Julian ever discovered
08:42that the person he'd been playing
08:44those secret power exchange games with every night
08:47was actually Sterling,
08:48the freshman cadet he spent his days
08:50tearing apart on the training field?
08:52He'd absolutely lose his mind from embarrassment
08:55and use every bit of authority he has
08:57to kick me out of the program.
09:00I'm kidding.
09:01Seriously, don't repeat that to anyone.
09:04Under no circumstances could he learn my real identity.
09:07After washing up and 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.
09:20But he'd sent dozens of frantic messages.
09:23Mistress, I'm sorry.
09:25I won't let anyone else see something
09:28that belongs only to you ever again.
09:31I love you.
09:32Please don't ignore me.
09:34I'm begging you.
09:36The final messages were a series of transfer notifications
09:40with shockingly large amounts attached.
09:43Please forgive your pup, my queen.
09:48My heart started racing before I could stop it.
09:51The man online was just playing a role.
09:53In real life, he was Julian Vance,
09:56the man who could intimidate people into silence
09:59with a single look.
10:01Dating him in the real world would be a disaster.
10:04The smartest thing to do is end this
10:06before he figures out who I am.
10:08I've gotten bored.
10:10Our game ends here.
10:11Before I could even lock my screen,
10:14my phone began vibrating wildly.
10:17Please.
10:18A good pup only belongs to one mistress for life.
10:21Don't leave me.
10:23I'll lose my mind.
10:24If you're bored, we can try something different.
10:27Push things further.
10:29Change the rules.
10:30Whatever you want, just don't leave me.
10:33I was about to block him
10:35when the screen suddenly switched
10:36to an incoming FaceTime call.
10:40My first encounter with Julian was a ridiculous accident.
10:44Last summer, I was holed up at home grinding FPS games.
10:48After losing 10 matches in a row,
10:51I was completely tilted when I got matched with him.
10:54Eight minutes into the game,
10:56after watching his terrible gameplay,
10:59I turned on my mic and started roasting him.
11:02Are those hands of yours for using a keyboard or digging ditches?
11:06If I sprinkled dog teats on my keyboard,
11:09my dog would have better movement than you.
11:12After the match ended,
11:14he actually sent me a friend request.
11:16I thought he wanted to argue back.
11:18Instead, the first message he sent was,
11:21Do you really have a dog that can play video games?
11:23I turned on my mic.
11:25Are you actually stupid or are you pretending?
11:29There was a brief pause before he replied.
11:32Oh, then if you don't,
11:34can I be that dog?
11:40Your voice sounded really nice when you were yelling at me.
11:44I liked it.
11:46You're such a freak.
11:49I was just about to close the game when he spoke up again.
11:52Insult me one more time and I'll send you $1,000.
11:57From that day on, he became my personal puppy.
12:01Every day, he'd send me pictures of his muscles,
12:04trying to earn my approval and keep me entertained.
12:08By unspoken agreement,
12:10neither of us ever showed our faces.
12:13Instead, we played a dangerous,
12:16thrilling power exchange game from behind our screens.
12:19Then the semester started.
12:21When we discovered we 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 to toy with him
12:31and the man tormenting me on the training field during 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
12:48and only tried calling once.
12:50But he'd sent dozens of frantic messages.
12:53Mistress, I'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
13:10with shockingly large amounts attached.
13:13Please forgive.
13:15Your pup.
13:16My queen.
13:18My heart started racing before I could stop it.
13:21The man online was just playing a role.
13:23In real life,
13:25he was Julian Vance,
13:27the man who could intimidate people into silence
13:29with a single look.
13:31Dating him in the real world would be a disaster.
13:34The smartest thing to do is end this
13:36before he figures out who I am.
13:38I've gotten bored.
13:40Our game ends here.
13:42Before I could even lock my screen,
13:44my phone began vibrating wildly.
13:47Please.
13:47A good pup only belongs to one mistress for life.
13:52Don't leave me.
13:53I'll lose my mind.
13:54If you're bored,
13:56we 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
14:05when the screen suddenly switched
14:06to an incoming FaceTime call.
14:10At the same moment,
14:12Julian's voice came through the speaker,
14:14noticeably hoarse and breathless.
14:16Cece, I'm not dirty.
14:19Please don't leave me.
14:21My heart slammed against my ribs.
14:24Panicking,
14:25I mashed the volume button all the way down
14:27and practically dove beneath my comforter.
14:30Julian didn't stop.
14:32Mistress,
14:33I just learned a new way to 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, wounded sound
14:47immediately came from the other end of the call.
14:49Why?
14:50I'm really tired.
14:52We'll talk tomorrow.
14:54Silence.
14:54For two whole seconds.
14:56Then he relented with infuriating obedience.
15:00Then I'll record it and send it to you.
15:02When you wake up tomorrow and watch it,
15:04you'll forgive me, right?
15:06I didn't dare let him say another word,
15:09mumbling some vague response.
15:11I ended the call as fast as I could.
15:14The next morning,
15:16I finally experienced what real hell looked like.
15:19After 10 straight minutes of holding a plank
15:22under the blazing sun,
15:24I was ready to scream.
15:26Beside me,
15:27Chloe looked equally miserable.
15:28My arms are completely numb.
15:31Which asshole peed in Julian's protein powder this morning?
15:34What the hell is wrong with him today?
15:35Maybe some woman dumped him last night.
15:37Oh, please.
15:39Even if the world ended,
15:40that guy wouldn't let a single emotion show on his face.
15:44Thank God.
15:46Another instructor suddenly called Julian away
15:48to verify the freshman roster.
15:50The second he turned around,
15:52the entire formation collapsed onto the grass.
15:55I furtively slipped my phone out of the pocket of my training pants.
16:00At 2 in the morning,
16:01he'd sent me an encrypted video.
16:04This morning,
16:05I'd only watched the first three seconds
16:07before shutting it off.
16:08Yet those three seconds
16:10had replayed in my head all day.
16:13I lowered the volume to the absolute minimum,
16:16cupped one hand around the edge of the screen,
16:19and pressed play.
16:20Who would have guessed
16:21that the same control freak
16:23who spent his days barking orders at us from above
16:26could be so reckless and private?
16:29My pulse quickened as I watched.
16:31I was so distracted
16:33that I didn't notice the training field
16:35gradually falling silent around me.
16:37Not until a tall shadow fell across my body.
16:42I looked up.
16:43Julian was staring down at me.
16:45Instinctively,
16:45I tried to shove my phone up my training pants.
16:48Sterling,
16:49did I give the order for a break?
16:50I swallowed hard.
16:52No, sir.
16:54I can't hear how you address a superior officer.
16:57Louder!
16:58Sir!
16:59No, sir!
17:00Ten laps around the field.
17:02Move.
17:03Now.
17:04Sympathetic looks immediately came from every direction.
17:07My nose stung.
17:08I felt wronged beyond words.
17:10Everyone else was resting.
17:12Why was he always singling me out?
17:14Right before sprinting off,
17:15my knees buckled,
17:17sending me stumbling.
17:18My phone slipped free from my training pants.
17:20Oh, no.
17:22The video is still open.
17:23A low muffled sound from the video suddenly came through the phone's speaker.
17:27I lunged forward to grab my phone,
17:29but my fingers closed on empty air.
17:32Julian had already picked it up,
17:33and now his eyes were fixed on the screen.
17:37Fuck!
17:38What's he going to do?
17:39Confiscate my phone in front of everyone?
17:41Kick me out of the training program on the spot?
17:43But the disaster I expected never came.
17:46Julian stared at the screen for a long moment.
17:49Then he tossed the phone back into my arms.
17:51Thank God.
17:52The impact from hitting the ground had triggered the screen lock.
17:55I was just about to slip back into formation
17:57when Julian suddenly stepped closer.
17:59Where did you get that lock screen wallpaper?
18:02Wait.
18:03What?
18:04My lock screen wallpaper.
18:06It was one of the ab photos Julian had sent me.
18:09In the picture,
18:10he was wearing nothing but a pair of gray sweatpants.
18:13Sure,
18:14I'd added a cute pink filter and rotated the image.
18:17But what man wouldn't recognize his own abs?
18:22Uh,
18:22it's just some random male model photo I found online.
18:27His eyes narrowed dangerously.
18:29Clearly,
18:30he didn't believe a single word.
18:32Every alarm bell in my head started screaming.
18:34So I switched tactics.
18:36Putting on an expression of shock disbelief
18:39mixed with faint disgust,
18:40I looked him up and down.
18:42Why would you even ask that, sir?
18:45I paused deliberately.
18:48Unless
18:49you've taken photos like that yourself?
18:54Fuck!
18:55What's he going to do?
18:56Confiscate my phone in front of everyone?
18:58Kick me out of the training program on the spot?
19:01But the disaster I expected
19:02never came.
19:04Julian stared at the screen for a long moment.
19:06Then he tossed the phone back into my arms.
19:08Thank God.
19:09The impact from hitting the ground
19:10had triggered the screen lock.
19:12I was just about to slip back into formation
19:14when Julian suddenly stepped closer.
19:16Where did you get that lock screen wallpaper?
19:20Wait.
19:20What?
19:21My lock screen wallpaper.
19:23It was one of the ab photos Julian had sent me.
19:26In the picture,
19:27he was wearing nothing but a pair of gray sweatpants.
19:30Sure, I'd added a cute pink filter
19:33and rotated the image.
19:34But what man wouldn't recognize his own abs?
19:39Uh, it's just some random male model photo I found online.
19:44His eyes narrowed dangerously.
19:46Clearly, he didn't believe a single word.
19:49Every alarm bell in my head started screaming.
19:51So I switched tactics.
19:53Putting on an expression of shock disbelief
19:56mixed with faint disgust,
19:58I looked him up and down.
19:59Why would you even ask that, sir?
20:02I paused deliberately.
20:06Unless you've taken photos like that yourself.
20:11Julian flushed deeply to his eartips.
20:13Watch your mouth, Sterling.
20:15Formation!
20:16Fall in!
20:18Sterling,
20:18Ten laps!
20:20Now!
20:21You don't eat lunch until you finish every single one.
20:25I clenched my jaw and turned toward the track.
20:28Fine, I'll run.
20:29By the time I finished,
20:31the cafeteria had already been picked clean.
20:33I ended up curled on a bench
20:35with nothing but a stale bread roll for lunch.
20:38Mistress,
20:39why haven't you spoken to me all morning?
20:41I snapped a photo of the empty wrapper beside me
20:43and sent it over.
20:44Eating lunch.
20:45Busy.
20:46How can that count as lunch?
20:47That's barely food.
20:48A second later,
20:50a Venmo notification appeared.
20:52$1,000 received.
20:54Some psychotic asshole
20:56has been making my life miserable all day.
20:58Because of him,
21:00I missed lunch.
21:01Then he's a complete bastard.
21:03I hope he goes straight to hell.
21:05Seeing how obedient he was
21:06now made his earlier arrogance on the training field
21:09even more satisfying to remember.
21:11My desire for revenge
21:13hit an all-time high.
21:14That punishment video you sent last night
21:16was pathetic.
21:18Honestly,
21:18it was embarrassing to watch.
21:20What makes a man who'd throw away his pride
21:22just to please a woman
21:23think he deserves to be my only pup?
21:26Only a few seconds passed
21:27before a voice message appeared.
21:30If you don't like me being this
21:32needy,
21:33I can change.
21:34I can be a well-behavored good boy.
21:36Whatever you tell me to do,
21:37I'll do it.
21:39Please don't leave me.
21:41Listening to this man,
21:42the same man who acted untouchable all day,
21:45begging me in such a broken voice,
21:47felt absurdly satisfying.
21:48I locked my screen without replying.
21:51Between the lack of sleep
21:52and those miserable punishment laps,
21:54I spent the entire afternoon
21:56feeling like a zombie.
21:57The first activity after formation was,
22:00of course,
22:01the dreaded uniform
22:02and appearance inspection.
22:04Julian strode down the line
22:06in long, deliberate steps.
22:08When he stopped in front of me,
22:09I automatically lowered my eyes to the ground,
22:12already prepared for the daily humiliation
22:14that inevitably accompanied his inspections.
22:16What's that on the corner of your mouth?
22:20Breadcrumbs.
22:21What's wrong, sir?
22:23Julian froze.
22:24The icy look in his eyes fell apart,
22:26overtaken by a tangled mess of emotions.
22:29Is he about to make me run
22:30another five laps over a few crumbs?
22:33Just as I braced myself
22:34for another round of targeted harassment,
22:36something completely unexpected happened.
22:39Julian smiled.
22:41Sienna.
22:42Every hair on my body stood on end.
22:44My heart nearly stopped.
22:46How can I help you, sir?
22:49Then I witnessed the most ridiculous thing
22:52I had ever seen in my life.
22:54The devil commander,
22:55who could probably throw a grown man
22:57across a room with one hand,
22:59had red-rimmed eyes.
23:00He looked at me with a damp,
23:02wounded gaze,
23:03like a puppy that had just been scolded.
23:05I swallowed hard.
23:06My heartbeat thundered in my ears.
23:09After several seconds
23:10of deeply uncomfortable silence,
23:12his Adam's apple bobbed.
23:13With obvious effort,
23:15he looked away.
23:17It's nothing.
23:18Maintain your posture.
23:19He threw out the order
23:20and immediately turned
23:21toward the next unfortunate cadet.
23:23But there was something strangely hurried
23:25about his retreating steps.
23:27The rest of training
23:28was every bit as brutal as before.
23:29Sienna, I'm begging you.
23:31Just pretend to faint.
23:33The second you go down,
23:34I'll rush you to the infirmary
23:35and we'll both escape this hell.
23:38Use your brain.
23:39We're standing on boiling hot asphalt.
23:41If I fall face first,
23:42I'll leave here with a traumatic brain injury.
23:45Trust me.
23:46I swear I'll catch you.
23:48My blood sugar crashed at the worst time.
23:51Black spots blurred my vision
23:52and I collapsed backward
23:54as Chloe screamed in terror.
23:56Chloe, this is a point of time
23:57for doing it too soon.
23:59I wasn't ready.
24:01I squeezed my eyes shut in despair.
24:04Then a powerful arm wrapped around my waist.
24:07In one swift motion,
24:08I was pulled against a solid,
24:10burning hot chest.
24:12I opened my eyes, still shaken.
24:16Julian's flawless face
24:17was suddenly inches away from mine.
24:19The usual cold superiority was gone.
24:22In its place was naked panic and concern.
24:25I jerked away from him as if I'd been burned.
24:28Grabbing the hand Chloe thrust toward me,
24:30I scrambled back to my feet.
24:32Only one thought was running through my head.
24:34He couldn't think I'm faking this
24:36to get out of training.
24:38Sir, I have low blood sugar.
24:40That's right, sir.
24:41Sienna missed lunchtime today.
24:43That's why she fainted.
24:44Please, let her take a break.
24:46I closed my mouth and waited for the punishment.
24:48Maybe push-ups, or extra laps, or both.
24:52Instead, something completely unexpected
24:55flashed across Julian's face.
24:57Guilt.
24:58He suddenly spun toward the formation
25:00and barked at the top of his lungs.
25:02Everyone, take a one-hour break.
25:05Then he turned back to me,
25:07and somehow, impossibly,
25:09his voice became gentle.
25:11Sienna,
25:13I can take you to the infirmary.
25:16A brief pause.
25:17Or would you rather I get you some coffee?
25:20My brain completely stopped functioning.
25:23What the hell is happening?
25:25I opened my eyes, still shaken.
25:29Julian's flawless face was suddenly inches away from mine.
25:32The usual cold superiority was gone.
25:35In its place was naked panic and concern.
25:38I jerked away from him as if I'd been burned.
25:41Grabbing the hand Chloe thrust toward me,
25:43I scrambled back to my feet.
25:45Only one thought was running through my head.
25:48He couldn't think I'm faking this to get out of training.
25:51Sir, I have low blood sugar.
25:53That's right, sir.
25:54Sienna missed lunchtime today.
25:56That's why she fainted.
25:57Please, let her take a break.
25:59I closed my mouth and waited for the punishment.
26:02Maybe push-ups.
26:03Or extra laps.
26:04Or both.
26:05Instead, something completely unexpected
26:08flashed across Julian's face.
26:10Guilt.
26:11He suddenly spun toward the formation
26:13and barked at the top of his lungs.
26:15Everyone, take a one-hour break.
26:18Then he turned back to me.
26:20And somehow, impossibly,
26:22his voice became gentle.
26:24Sienna.
26:27I can take you to the infirmary.
26:29A brief pause.
26:30Or would you rather I get you some coffee?
26:33My brain completely stopped functioning.
26:36What the hell is happening?
26:39I'll be fine if I just sit with everyone else for a while.
26:42Are you kidding me?
26:43There is absolutely no way I'm being alone with this man
26:46while he's acting this strange.
26:49All right.
26:50Whatever you want.
26:52Oh, God.
26:53This is horrifying.
26:54After the formation was dismissed,
26:57Julian disappeared.
26:58Ten minutes later,
27:00several employees from a local drink shop showed up,
27:02carrying massive cardboard drink trays.
27:05Holy shit!
27:07Vance is a freaking legend!
27:09Julian had apparently put the entire order
27:11on his credit card.
27:12Someone shoved an ice-cold fruit juice into my hands.
27:16But I just stared at it.
27:17For some reason,
27:18I couldn't bring myself to take a sip.
27:22Sitting beside me,
27:23took a huge sip of her drink
27:25and let out a blissful sigh.
27:29Cici,
27:30that collapse of yours was a legendary sacrifice.
27:34He was totally freaked out.
27:36Pizza lens.
27:37What's it like being held by a guy like Julian?
27:40Are his pecs really as hard as marble?
27:42Did he smell ridiculously good?
27:44I immediately shot her a glare,
27:46my tone guarded and disapproving.
27:47Would you shut up?
27:48There was absolutely nothing inappropriate about it.
27:52He's an emotionless control freak.
27:54I'd rather date one of the concrete pillars on the field
27:57than have a single romantic thought about him.
28:00Her eyes widened in horror
28:02as she stared at something behind me.
28:05I turned my head stiffly.
28:07A few steps away,
28:09Julian was standing there in silence.
28:11He was holding a pink pastry bag,
28:13his face pale,
28:14staring straight at me.
28:15The man who had been so domineering just seconds ago
28:18now looked like a dog
28:20that had just been kicked away by its owner.
28:23Fuck.
28:23He must have heard everything.
28:25A strong wave of guilt cleared my throat.
28:27I forced out a stiff, fake smile.
28:30Sir, thank you for the drink.
28:33Julian's eyes flickered,
28:35as if he had just been slapped awake.
28:38Take this.
28:39I opened the bag.
28:40Inside was an exquisitely prepared
28:43a third slice of strawberry cheesecake.
28:44Oh my God, sir,
28:46you even prepared dessert specifically for Sienna?
28:49That's way too considerate.
28:50At that, my stomach sank.
28:52Strawberry cheesecake was the dessert
28:54I had told my little puppy online
28:56that I liked the most.
28:58Was this just a hell of a coincidence?
29:00Or did he already know who I was
29:02and was deliberately testing me?
29:05A strong sense of defensiveness
29:06made me take a half-step back.
29:09Julian's jaw muscle twitched violently.
29:11His expression shifted into something cold and unreadable.
29:14The bar just threw that in as a complimentary item.
29:17It's to keep your blood sugar up
29:18so you don't cause me trouble again this afternoon.
29:20With that,
29:21he strode away and sat down under a tree
29:24as far from the crowd as possible.
29:26His posture looked firm and decisive,
29:28but I could still see a thick layer of grievance underneath it.
29:31I scooped up a small bite of cake with my fork
29:34and put it in my mouth
29:35when my phone suddenly buzzed in my pocket.
29:38Even if you really find me disgusting,
29:40as long as I can stay by your side,
29:42you can order me around however you like.
29:44I looked up.
29:45The tall Julian was sitting alone
29:47beneath the shade of the tree.
29:48Hunched over slightly,
29:50his hands resting on his knees,
29:52head lowered in silence.
29:53An indescribable wave of bitterness
29:55broke through my rationality.
29:58Forget it.
29:59Why bother with a little dog?
30:02Good boy.
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