Rule No. 1: Don’t be too emotional : Chapter 21

“I want all of you. Your body, your heart, your soul.”

“Go on, get inside.”

“Both of you-Jet and Jane.” P’Jane spoke to us in a soft, smooth voice from inside his car. Jet, sitting in the back, was the first to move. He opened the door and walked out silently. I followed a moment later, nodding as l unbuckled my seatbelt and stepped toward the house. My brother and I remained deathly quiet. Everything that had just happened felt like a dream-it was too fast, too smooth, too easy. Far too easy. I looked down at my feet, now clad in soft slippers-shoes P’Jane had bought for me. It was already 2: 00 AM, but I could see the lights on ihside; mom was likely waiting up, worried sick because both her sons had been unreachable at the same time. As Jet reached out to unlock the gate, I thought of the padlock pendant P’Jane wore-the one with the hidden needle. I thought of the blood pact I had just made. Did that really happen? Or was it just a nightmare?

“Jane.” Both Jet and I jumped. The tall man hadn’t driven off yet. Our nerves were frayed, making every sound feel like a jolt.

“Don’t worry about your things at the shop,” he said softly.

“I’lI go pick them up for you.” I simply nodded.

“Get some rest. Goodnight, Jane. Goodnight, Jet.” Then he drove away. I swallowed hard, staring at the padlock Jet was turning. Blood… the contract… the money… My mind couldn’t focus on anything else. Once inside, we were met with a harsh scolding from mom for disappearing without a word. Butseeing we were safe, her anger melted into relief. She sent us to bed with a warning. As I lay in the dark, my mind replayed the events: P’Jane taking me to his condo, opening a drawer under his bed filled with more cash than I had ever seen-stacks so thick they looked ready to burst. I had slept on that bed many times, never realizing I was literally resting on a fortune. He counted it out, packed it, and we went to find Jet at the tutoring center. P’Jane handled the thugs, and just like that… it was over. It was as simple as a snap of his fingers. It made all the soul-crushing stress I’d endured feel absurd. But in the darkness, my heart hammered against my ribs. I knew there was no such thing as a free lunch. Today’s “easy fix” was just the first gust of a massive storm heading my way. He would come to collect. But what would he ask for? And when? Thinking about it made my stomach churn with nausea. His smile, his eyes-he looked like a man who held the entire world in the palm of his hand. ‘Go ahead, bet on it. One day, you’ll come to me for something.” And when that day comes, I’ll give you everything you desire.’ ‘But you will pay me back in full.’ ‘You can’t run from me for long, Jane.’ The image of the inverted red cross burned behind my eyelids. I felt a cold shiver run through me, followed by a sudden feverish heat. The next day at university was a blur.

“What’s wrong with you, Jane?” Gap asked , snapping me out of a daze.

I had already been scolded by a professor for spacing out. I told Gap I had been fired from the coffee shop and that I couldn’t go to Japan anymore because I gave all my money to Jet for his “football debts.” It was a half-truth, but it was all I could offer. Before the next class, Gap dragged me to the smoking area.

I didn’t want to go, but I didn’t want to be alone with my thoughts either. Of course, that’s where we found him. P’Jane was sitting there, one leg crossed over the other, surrounded by his usual group.

“P’Jane, hello,” Gap greeted him. P’Jane gave a small nod, then his eyes locked onto mine. He walked over with a smile that made my skin crawl.

“How are you? Have you eaten?”

“Y-yes… P,” I stammered, feeling completely unlike myself. Before I could react, he reached out with his free hand and took mine. Gap nearly choked on his cigarette smoke, his eyes wide with silent questions. P’Jane answered for me, his voice smooth and gentle.

“We’re back together.”

“Wait, what!?” Gap shouted .

“We got back together last night,” P’Jane repeated.

“Tell everyone that Big Jane and Little Jane are a couple again.” He then confiscated my heavy textbooks.

“Let’s go to Abnormal Psych, Jane. I’ll carry these for you.” He draped an arm over my shoulder and led me away. I was sweating through my shirt, terrified of what he would do next. In the classroom, he sat me right at the front. When people started whispering, he announced our “reunion” to the whole room. The seniors cheered, calling us a perfect match. I could only stare at my lap, unable to breathe. Then came the moment of truth: Professor Samantha asked for the hard copies of our projects. My heart sank-I hadn’t done anything. But P’Jane pulled out a perfectly bound report with both our names on it. He winked at me and handed it in.

“Don’t worry,” he whispered so only I could hear.

“This one isn’t a ‘favor.’ Consider it a complimentary service. Let’s get that A, sweetheart.” After class, I asked to speak with him privately. He convinced Professor Samantha to let us stay in the room to “practice our presentation.” Once she left, the silence was deafening.

“P’Jane… I want to thank you for helping Jet,” I started, unable to look up.

“Don’t worry, darling. I’m on top of it.”

“What do you want from me?” I blurted out. I knew I couldn’t leave this hanging.

“It’s not just about telling everyone we’re back together, is it?”

“Of course not.” His voice dropped an octave. He pulled a chair over and sat facing me, tilting my chin up so I had to look at him.

“I want you to be mine-indefinitely. Body and soul.” I froze. He didn’t stop there.

“I want to be your first.” I recoiled, nearly falling off the lecture desk, but he caught me just in time. His eyes were like cold, flickering flames.

“B-but… you said you never force anyone,” I whispered. He laughed, a genuine, amused sound.

“And am I forcing you now?” No. He wasn’t forcing me. He had simply stripped away all my other choices. Suddenly, my phone rang. It was P’Win. P’Jane saw the name. His smile didn’t fade; it grew wider, sharper.” Be mine. I’m the only one you’re allowed to have. You know what you have to do.” I answered the phone. P’Win’s voice was full of concern, asking where I’d been.

“P’Win… we should stop talking,” I said, my voice trembling.

“I’m sorry… I can’t be with you anymore.” P’Win was devastated. He begged for a reason, saying he was almost at my house. I felt a sob building in my chest. I liked him-I really did-but I couldn’t drag him into this darkness.

“Tell him it’s because we’re back in love,” P’Jane whispered maliciously in my ear.

“P’Win, just remember that the good times were real,” I said into the phone.

“I’m not breaking up with you because I stopped liking you. Just remember that… ” P’Jane tried to snatch the phone to tell P’Win the “truth” himself. We struggled, knocking over chairs, until I finally threw my phone against the whiteboard. It shattered into pieces. I’d rather have a broken phone than a broken heart for P’Win. P’Jane stopped, looking at the wreckage.

“Don’t make me hurt people the way you do,” I breathed, lying on the floor with my eyes closed. I might have sold my soul, but l hadn’t sold my conscience.

“Fine,” I said, my whole body shaking as I finished the conversation we started.

“I will be yours, P’Jane… yours alone.”