Chapter 27: Chapter 27

Of course, I would decline his invitation. I didn't want the previous incident to repeat itself between us.

"You can call your friends like I suggested earlier, and you've seen, I've been in the water for too long. So, I need to rest and head home," I said, about to turn back. However, Gray suddenly pulled me quite strongly, and due to my reflexes, I unintentionally pushed him. I was sure he wouldn't be pushed easily, but for some reason, his body was actually pulled backward, and unfortunately, at that moment, Gray had already grabbed my arm, causing both of us to fall into the pool. I immediately tried to balance myself and resurface, and Gray did the same, but he seemed to find it amusing, laughing heartily, while I was roughly wiping my face.

"What are you doing? I told you I needed to rest," I said, slightly irritated by his forceful actions. However, just as Gray was about to respond, Maudy and the others had finished changing.

"What are you doing? You didn't intend to swim in your clothes, did you? You're making the pool dirty," Maudy said, looking at Gray disapprovingly.

"Come on, I can replace this water with clean water if I want to. So, you better go. I just asked Aurel for help to teach me how to swim," he said, sounding somewhat mocking in my ears. I shook my head at Maudy, hoping she would take me away with them.

"I don't want to get involved with you guys. Sort out your issues with Gray. I don't know what happened to him, following you like this," Maudy said, while Kylie, Khloe, and Jace just smiled. They seemed to be mocking me for becoming one of the women marked by Gray. They left without paying any attention to my plea for help.

"Hey, where are you going?" Gray asked when I was about to approach the pool's edge.

"What else? I need to change clothes. You swim by yourself. Besides, you're wearing the wrong attire to get in this pool," I said, seeing Gray fully clothed entering the water, albeit accidentally. But Gray quickly grabbed my hand.

"Come on, we're already wet. Let's just have some fun swimming. Come with me," he said again, making me release his grip.

"Stop fooling around with me. If you're looking for another target to pass the time with during your boredom, find another woman. I don't want to respond to your silliness," I said, turning around. However, Gray immediately pulled my shoulder and embraced me from behind, leaving me in disbelief. I was about to break free from his hug, but Gray only tightened it.

"I never had any intention of playing around with you. I followed you because I wanted to," he said, making me sigh in annoyance.

"Leaving me when you want to is just the same as playing a game and then abandoning it when you're bored. Don't compare me to the other women you've been with. I'm not like them," I said again, making Gray finally pull my shoulder to meet his gaze. Our eyes locked, and he looked at me seriously while gripping my shoulder.

"I never once approached you just to play around. I just wanted to be close to you and get to know you well," he said.

"What's the reason for getting close to me? I'm not attractive, not pretty, and not popular. Why?" My question left Gray speechless. I didn't know the clear reason behind why he had been following me recently. Was it because of the incident a few days ago, I wondered.

"There won't be any more danger around me, and Rex has assured that. So, you don't need to keep following me like this," I said, causing Gray to fall silent once again.

"I like you." And those words came out of his mouth, for some reason making my heart stop for a moment. But afterward, I burst into laughter at the statement that had just left his lips.

"I won't tremble just hearing that you like me. Our relationship hasn't been great from the start for you to declare that you like me."

"Then how can I make you believe that I really like you?" he said, as if he truly wanted me to believe that his words weren't just lies.

"Forget it. I also don't want you to be too serious just to lie," I said, about to turn back, but Gray immediately pulled me, and this time it truly angered me. He gripped my neck tightly and then pressed his lips against mine, kissing me forcefully. I struggled to push him away, but I couldn't even move properly in the water when he exerted so much strength. Finally, the only way I could react was by biting his lower lip hard. Gray winced and released my lips, blood visible at the corner of his mouth. I fell silent, my breath heavy, and my anger contained. I stared at Gray, my emotions tumultuous.

I hadn't expected Gray to do this and force me like this. I was genuinely furious.

"You bastard! I never thought you would do something like this," I said, finally walking to the edge of the pool. This was the second time Gray had forced me like this. I thought our relationship would slowly improve, that we could at least become good friends. But due to his pushy and arrogant behavior, all those hopes vanished.

I did want to get to know Gray slowly, to get close to him, understand his personality, and become someone around him. But not like this. For some reason, I was extremely angry when Gray forced his will on me.

My steps halted when I heard a grunt from behind, causing me to turn around. I saw Gray pressing his chest at the edge of the pool. He had gotten out of the water, but something was clearly wrong. I wondered what had happened to him.

"What's wrong with you?" I asked. It couldn't be that he was in pain just because of the small bite I gave on his lip, I thought. His groans were getting clearer, he was hunched over, his hands clenched. He seemed to be in pain.

"Gray, don't toy with me. I'm angry enough because you forced your will on me, so stop," I said again, but Gray still didn't respond. This time, he looked up and gazed in my direction, and to my surprise, I could see a faint gray light emanating from his eyes. I felt fear, but at the same time, I couldn't just leave Gray in pain. I approached him, but as soon as I touched his arm, Gray pushed me away with force. It was as if there was an immense strength in his touch, sending me far from him.

"Don't come closer," he said with heavy breaths, as if he was truly restraining himself.

"Gray, what's wrong? If you're hurt, I'm sorry if I hurt you. I just want to help you. We should go to the infirmary, shouldn't we? Can you hear me?" I tried to communicate with Gray, but he covered his ears with his hands.

"Leave me alone, Aurel," he said again, but I shook my head.

"I'll help you. I can't just leave you like this. Let me help. Come closer," I said, but as I took a step, Gray immediately looked up, anger visible on his face, making me tremble.

"I'll say it one more time. Don't come near me unless you want me to hurt you," Gray said, his tone serious. I was left speechless, and in the next moment, I didn't know what happened, but Gray disappeared from in front of me. I didn't even know if it was a dream or reality. He vanished like a wisp of smoke, leaving me in confusion. I didn't know what to do. The only thought on my mind was Miss Brenda. I quickly grabbed my bag, my body trembling as I imagined Gray in pain and suddenly disappearing.

I changed my clothes as quickly as I could, not bothering to dry my body or hair, and rushed out of the school. I didn't know whom to tell about this. I couldn't possibly tell Maudy and the others. I rushed to find Miss Brenda's office, but when I arrived, it was locked. Was she at home? Without second thoughts, I ran to the parking area, grabbed my bike, and pedaled as fast as I could. Along the way, I hoped nothing bad had happened to Gray. I felt a pang of regret for my rough treatment that might have hurt him, but for now, I had to find Miss Brenda.

I didn't know how fast I was pedaling. I fell a couple of times, my knees getting scraped, but I didn't stop. I even left my bike on the ground and continued running. I tried pressing the doorbell at their house multiple times, but there was no response. I knocked loudly.

"Miss Brenda, are you home?" I called out impatiently. A few times, I circled around the house, hoping to find an open window, but all my efforts were in vain. I returned to the front door, and as I was about to knock again, Miss Brenda opened the door with a worried expression.

"I saw Gray vanish in front of me. He looked like he was in pain," I blurted out. Miss Brenda's eyes widened, and then she closed the door abruptly, not even inviting me inside or offering any explanation. It was as if she knew what had happened to her brother.