Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

Bobby was mad at Jeremy. Charlie called him just some time ago to ask him what he should do about the squirrel. He said that she was too quiet and it didn't seem like she ate lunch even.

Charlie asked Bobby to send Scarlett to check on Jerlina since he felt it would be inappropriate for him to enter her bedroom. All Bobby could do was roll his eyes and run to Jeremy's house.

Inappropriate? What if she is in danger? What if she choked or fainted?

Bobby was worried if she had locked that chain lock in her door if she is inside the bedroom. He imagined all kind of worse scenarios involving that little squirrel.

He called Jeremy to inform him, but that guy didn't answer his call. Deciding to break the door in case it is locked, he walked inside the house.

There was no sight of her in the kitchen and other areas, so he walked to her bedroom. Thankfully, it was not locked.

The room was dark and he switched on the light. He wondered if she might be in the bathroom, but it was unlocked. He walked into the bed area and there was a little bump under the duvets.

Why are there two duvets?

"Hey, Chippy..." he called her as he noticed her curling up on the bed. Twisted in between the duvets, only her face was out. She looked so small.

He came up with that name just then. Rather than a squirrel, she looked more pitiful, like a chipmunk. So she'll be known as 'Chippy' from now on!

"Hmm..." she grunted and she couldn't even open her eyes like a newborn chipmunk.

"Are you running a fever?" he mumbled and placed his palm on her forehead but her temperature seemed normal.

"It's pain..." she mumbled and she didn't even have the energy to speak.

Pain?

All he could imagine was the beastly Jeremy trampling on this poor little chipmunk.

How could he be cruel to this little girl? He might be in love with her for a decade, but how could he act this rough with her, throw her away and leave her alone the next day?

Assh*le!

Bobby dialed Jeremy once more. He decided to punch him in the face when he returns.

Jeremy answered the call this time and he was so angry, he couldn't speak properly.

Jerlina felt that gentle hand on her forehead. She was lightheaded and she couldn't even open her eyes. That big hand on her forehead gave her a nostalgic feeling.

Dad..!

He came for me!

Ah... daddy... finally you came for me...

But then she heard all the curse words coming out of her "dad's" mouth. Her dad doesn't use those words.

Wait... My dad is dead! He won't be here! Did I take too many painkillers and ended up getting high? But there is someone beside me...

She opened her eyes with difficulty as the warm hand on her forehead was very soothing.

It's Bobby... and who is he talking to?

She could understand Bobby is misunderstanding something and was blasting Jeremy through the phone asking him to return immediately.

Wait... why is he thinking that Jeremy... Ugh!

"Bobby... Bobby..." she pulled his shirt.

"What... wait chippy...I'll bring you to the hospital," he patted her head.

"No...no... pass me the phone..." she held out her hand. She didn't want to disturb Jeremy's work for her toothache.

Bobby with a grumble passed her the phone.

"Joel-"

Before she could finish her sentence, Jeremy was panicking and spoke without a pause, "Jerlina, what happened? Why didn't you call me? You were fine in the morning..."

Bobby was still mumbling in her other ear while Jeremy was panicking in her one ear. Her headache doubled.

"Shut up, you two!!"

She shouted as loud as possible. Her throat hurt, but there was silence. Bobby was looking at her with raised eyebrows since he has never heard her being this loud before and Jeremy's end was silent except for the mild sound of traffic.

Is he returning for me? He doesn't have to.

"It's just a toothache... It will go away on its own. So just-"

She thought they'd leave her alone, but both of them started to panic once more. Jerlina didn't want to deal with them anymore and curled up inside the duvet.

Bobby was sitting by her bed and she heard them discussing which dentist would be the best.

"I am not going to the dentist," she said and Bobby stared at her for two seconds.

"Isn't Drew the best? He won't be in his office now... I'll go bring him there and you bring Chippy..."

Did he not hear me?

Jerlina felt anxious thinking of the dentist. "I said I am not going to-"

"Shut up, Chippy! Drew's the best. He'll give you a teddy bear to hug and a lollipop to suck on... So, Jerry...as I was saying..." Bobby went on talking to Jeremy and left the room.

"Who's Chippy? And I am not going to the dentist!" Jerlina shouted waving her hand. "Just leave me alone!"

Her shouts were ignored as Bobby got out without even looking back and Jerlina walked down from the bed to lock her door.

I will not be dragged to the dentist ever!

As she was about to lock the door, she heard a sneering laugh from the side. She peeked out to see Charlie laughing. He was holding his stomach with one hand and his mouth with the other as if he was controlling his laughter.

"Scared of dentists, huh, squirrel?" he asked noticing her.

"Why does that concern you, huh?" she asked back and he snort-laughed seeing her face.

"You... you look like Mrs. Potato Head with your swelled face..." he laughed out loud.

Before she could find a retort, she heard someone getting up the stairs at a high speed.

"Charlie!"

She heard Jeremy's voice and her first response was to shut the door.

"Stop her!"

Jeremy shouted and Charlie grabbed the door. Rather than struggling at the door, Jerlina knew of the safest place against Jeremy – under her bed.

With all her strength she started to run towards her bed. But halfway through, she felt a strong arm wrapping around her waist and her back ended up crashing on a familiar block of solid wood.

"Going somewhere, Honeybuns?"

The familiar voice with a pinch of mockery made her sigh. She was just a couple of meters away from the bed and she decided to get under the bed no matter what.

"Ah...I dropped my earring... Let me...Joel, it's an expensive one..." she tried to get out of his hold. She flailed her arms and legs as hard as she could but lifting her he walked out of the room.

Jerlina saw the distance between her and the bed increasing and her heart started to pound. On their way out, she grabbed the threshold of the door to gain some leverage to get out of his hold.

"Come on, Jerlina... Let go..." Jeremy spoke calmly.

"No..." she shook her head.

"No?"

"No..."

"Then don't blame me..."