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                           1. Busted

"Yes, my love, anything for my princess," Donald whispered, kissing Evelyn slowly. "Can we go deeper?" Evelyn asked, as the sea whispered its gentle purse against the shore and a soft breeze braided through their hair. The warmth of the sun on their skin and the salt on their lips made the moment feel almost electric.

"Sure, my love—we can," Donald replied, lifting her into his arms and carrying her toward the water. They pressed close, the waves kissing their ankles as they stepped deeper, holding each other tight and drawing in the clean, beachy air.

When the sea gave way to the shade of the forest, Evelyn grinned. "Okay, I'm ready," she said, tugging down his shorts, her fingers finding his hardness. "Slowly, love," Donald breathed, guiding her with patient tenderness.

Evelyn lowered her head, her mouth finding him and moving with practiced ease, strokes even and sure as the sea breeze cooled their skin. She paused to catch her breath, the sound of the waves a distant soundtrack to their warm, shared rhythm, the forest around them soft and protective.

"Wait, are you videoing me?" she asked, glancing up at the phone his hand held, the camera capturing the moment between them. "Yes, my sweetheart," Donald smiled, voice low and fond. "Why?" she teased. "For memories, my love—just want to capture the moment," he replied. "Okay," she said, and returned to her task, the sea-side warmth, the forest hush, and their entwined breaths making the scene feel alive and enticing.

           ★★★★★★

Two days after,
A wave of laughter and jeers crashed over Evelyn as she stepped onto the bus. "Isn't she the girl from that video? Guess she's the 'bad bitch' now," a guy sneered, his voice cutting through the air as his friends erupted in laughter, their eyes filled with a cruel, mocking disgust. "Slut," two girls hissed from the left, their words dripping with venom. "Why would she even let her man record her? Ew."

As Evelyn moved further into the bus, every pair of eyes seemed to bore into her, each whisper a fresh wound. The bus lurched to a halt at the high school, but there was no escape. Stepping off, she was met with a sea of faces, all glued to their phones, their laughter echoing her torment. Confusion warred with growing dread until she found Jane, who thrust a phone into her hands. There it was: the video, her private moments laid bare for the world to consume.

"How could you, Evelyn? And Donald, of all people! I warned you, didn't I? But you never listen. Now you're the talk of the whole school." Jane's words were a final blow. As students passed, their taunts hit like physical blows: "And the community too, they've all seen your tape. You're cooked."

Evelyn stood paralyzed, a storm of rage, tears, and humiliation brewing inside her. She turned and fled, the laughter and jeers chasing her. Then she saw him: Donald, surrounded by his cronies, laughing, pointing. As their eyes met, his laughter only intensified. "You bastard!" she screamed, the words ripped from her throat as she slapped him with every ounce of her fury, then ran blindly from the school.

★★★★★★

The town was vibrant, the students vindicated as she inadvertently became the epicenter of attention. Young and old alike found a strange allure in her story, a topic of both amusement and fascination. "Isn't she pretty?" some young men mused, their eyes glued to the screen, captivated. "She's undeniably hot; her boyfriend's a fortunate man, wouldn't you say?" one remarked to his companion. "Indeed, she'd be very talented in bed. These are the kind of girls our society needs—young, beautiful, and clearly talented."

Laughter erupted, drawing the attention of a nearby colleague, John, who joined in the mirth. "John, you find it amusing too?" one of the men asked. "Why wouldn't I? Let me see this girl you're all admiring." As the phone was passed to him, a sudden silence descended upon John as he watched. "Wait, what! How dare you! Delete that video now!" he roared, his fury palpable. When his colleagues refused, John lunged at them, desperate to erase the evidence, his actions baffling his onlookers. "Rubbish," he spat, storming off, leaving a wake of confusion and unspoken tension.

                          ★★★★★★

Pascal's home.

After Pascal had left for work, his mother, Theresa, attempted to intervene in the tense conversation that lingered between him and her husband, Dan. "I know you're not happy with Pascal's sexuality, but I think he's old enough to decide what he wants," Theresa said, trying to calm the situation. Dan frowned, his face twisted in discomfort. "He's old enough, but I'm not comfortable with him kissing a guy!" Theresa's eyes locked onto her husband's, and she swiftly executed a subtle yet firm signal, urging him to tread carefully. "Just let the poor boy be, and please, when he comes back home, don't scold him. Let him be," she said, her voice gentle yet authoritative, as she kissed her husband's cheek.

Just then, Pascal walked in, his voice booming, "Guess who's back home?" He moved to hug his mother, but his father's expression turned stern. "You be kissing guys now?" Dan's words hung in the air, heavy with disapproval, as he ignored Theresa's discreet signals.

Pascal's eyes flashed with anger. "Dad, please just stop!" he shouted. Dan's face darkened, his anger simmering. "You wanna fight me now?" he growled.

In a lightning-fast move, Theresa intervened, executing a perfectly timed and precise backflip, using her leg to deliver a swift kick that sent Dan crashing to the floor. The impact was controlled, yet firm, a testament to her military-honed reflexes and combat training.

As Dan struggled to his feet, rubbing his face, he shot Theresa a furious glance. "Did you have to embarrass me in front of our son? Now he thinks I'm weak!" Theresa's expression remained calm, her eyes sparkling with a mix of amusement and cunning. "I'm sorry, my love. I just wanted to remind you not to mess with our son's choices."

Pascal couldn't help but laugh out loud at the exchange, the tension in the room momentarily broken. Theresa seized the opportunity to hug her husband tightly, her voice soothing. "Okay, son, I'm sorry. I admit I was a little too judgmental."

Dan's expression softened, and he turned to Pascal. "Are you free tomorrow? Maybe I could teach you how to use a gun. We could spend time in the forest, learning how to aim accurately." Theresa's eyes narrowed, her brow furrowed in concern. "No, Dan, you're not teaching our son how to use a gun. It's not safe."

But Pascal's interest was piqued. "Dad, I want to learn. I'll be free tomorrow at 5 pm." Dan's face lit up with a mixture of excitement and determination. "Sure thing, boy."

As Pascal left the living room, Dan turned to Theresa, his voice low and serious. "I know you're worried, but there's been a lot of violence recently. The tobacco gang is back, and their senseless shootings and thefts are a real concern. They operate near the sea side, close to Pascal's workplace. For security reasons, he needs to learn how to defend himself."

★★★★★★

"How dare you embarrass this family like this?". John said as he slapped Evelyn. "Disgrace!!"

Authors note!
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