The narrow staircase felt like it stretched on forever, each step heavy with anxiety. My palms were clammy, and a knot tightened in my stomach, twisting with every thought that rushed through my mind. Why am I so weak for him? This is exactly how the cycle starts all over again, I have to be the bigger person and break the wheel of this torturous affair.

Finally, I reached the door to my room, but my fingers trembled as I fumbled with the key. The cold metal felt foreign in my hand, slipping just slightly as I struggled to find the keyhole. In that moment, I felt a warmth at my back, a familiar presence that never failed to comfort me. I felt his hand brush against mine, steadying it as he reached around me. His touch was warm, reassuring, and for a moment, all my doubts faded into the background. He guided the key into the lock, and with a satisfying click of the door opening that felt like a small victory, yet at the same time, it also stirred a whirlwind of emotions within me—a dread disguised as an excitement. When the door swung open, I stepped inside. The room was dimly lit from the hallway. I turned to look at him.

"Goodbye..." I whispered, my voice barely escaping my throat.

Even as my words told him to leave, my body betrayed me. I walked straight to my bedroom, leaving the door wide open behind me. Moments later, I heard it click shut, plunging the room into darkness. As my eyes adjusted to the moonlight spilling through the window, I heard the soft tussle of shoes being removed. He too was inside, together with me, in the shadows.

"Goodbye..." I said again, my voice even softer than last time.

I closed my bedroom door behind me, creating a false barrier between us. As I peeled off my jacket and shoes, a shiver ran down my spine. I felt the weight of the moment as if time itself was holding its breath, waiting for that door to swing open again. In spite of my anticipation, it didn't fail to startle me when it finally happened.

A quite terrifying figure stood in the doorway, cloaked in shadow, only its eyes glimmering in the pale moonlight that spilt into the room. They shone with an intensity of passion and lust. All thoughts of fear melted away when my consciousness reminded me that it was Gunner. I turned my back to him, not wanting to meet his eyes. My heart raced as my chest filled with fear and anger.

I was hoping that all of this was nothing but a bad dream and that he would dissolve away into thin air. But deep down, a part of me was ready to give in to this persistent jerk and let him do whatever he wanted. Without warning, he grabbed me by the back of my collar and vigorously yanked me onto my bed. I fell down on the cold mattress like a ragdoll.

"Ow..." I coughed softly, the sharp pull catching me off guard.

But he either didn't hear me or chose to ignore it. Lost in his own world, he ripped my clothes away, tearing some of the thread that had held it together. He began kissing me, his lips tracing a path from my chest down to my hips.

"Wait..! I'm sweaty..." I protested, my voice trembling.

"I don't care..." he growled, his eyes fierce.

"But... It's dirty..."

"Shut up!" he snapped back, his tone leaving no room for argument.

His breath was warm against my skin, and I felt a shiver of anticipation ripple through me as I surrendered to the intensity of his touch. When he took me inside his mouth, I could feel the weight of my inhibitions lifting. This was our moment, stolen from the world, and I was determined to savour every second. My fingers threaded through his hair, gently guiding him, feeling every movement he made.

As the last remnants of his touch lingered on my skin, he slowly peeled away his uniform, layer by layer, revealing his bare skin, smooth and taut, mirroring my own, yet defined by far more muscles. The air thickened with anticipation as he leaned in, his breath warm against my ear.

"Fuck, Syl..." he murmured, his voice a sultry promise, "You're gonna be mine tonight huh...?"

As he slowly entered me, tears welled up in my eyes and started to pour down my cheeks, overwhelmed by the rush of intense sensations and memories. This wave of déjà vu wrapped around me like a warm embrace, reminding me of a place where my heart truly belongs. Our bodies moved in a perfect rhythm.

With each thrust, I whimpered in bliss, "I hate you, Gunner, I hate you, I hate you...."

I could taste the sweetness of what we had been missing for all those months apart; each movement, each sigh, deepened the bond we shared, and I felt myself teetering on the edge of ecstasy. In that space, it was just us, two souls entwined in a moment of pure passion. The weight of the world, the expectations, the obligations, the distractions melted away. Nothing else mattered.

Just us...