I revisit the day it first started to accurately get the time. "It has been twenty-seven days now." He repeats it and pens it on a blank page in his journal. "That is long."

"So what you are saying is. . .?" I trail off. "There is a grudge motive." He says. "Yeah obviously. He didn’t like the fact that I tried standing up to him." I point out once again. But he shuts it down. "No. Not that kind of grudge motive."

"Then what else?"

"Did you guys have any interaction before that? Any at all?"

"Does one that don’t involve speaking to each other count?" I just want to be sure before I mention the eye contact moments. I’m not sure why it matters though.

"Like face to face? He saw you and you saw him?"

"Not really face to face. But yeah."

"Okay now we are getting somewhere." He opens his journal and pens something down again.

I roll my eyes. "Dad, tell me you are not making a public criminal investigation out of this?"

"No. Like I said earlier, we should figure out the reason. Find the pattern." Maybe I really should have gone to bed when he gave me an out before. What could there possibly be to dig out of this? "He is a bad news. A total douchebag and a monster."

I spit out when he asks me what I think of Calyx Lamont as a guy person. "A demon from hell who took the form of a human! A complete monster!" Dad seems like he wanted to tell me to stop cursing but he doesn’t. He lets me hurl curses and rant out to my heart’s content. After which he uttered the stupidest thing ever. "Have you ever thought that maybe he likes you?"

"WHAT?" I shriek. Wide-eyed, and petrified. That idea freaked me out more than that of wild, canine beasts and zombies and even the said apocalypse would have done.

"Some guys come off as tough. But they are weak in the most smallest aspects. Instead of asking a girl out, they would bully her to get and keep her attention. It’s a classic but a douchebag move. Being in the girl’s life as a tormentor because it feels more easier and safer to them." To tell you the truth, I sort of resulted to it one time with my first love whom I told you about. I did not expect her to fight back. She was so damn strong. I quickly aborted the idea.

"No offense, but this is the most silliest thing I have ever heard!" I try to stand up to leave, but he stops me. "Wait, sit down and think about it for a second. If it were just for fun, he would have crushed you once, or maybe twice and maybe also draw it out to three times. But this seems like he is keeping you close." I stare at him, not knowing what to say. This whole narrative would not be taking place at all if I had added how Calyx always tries to make me drown in a pool. He has crushed me. But my determination builds me up every time. Hearing my Dad say that he probably likes me fills me with an irritation that is warming me from within and making my throat tighten with bile and all the things that I can’t say. If that is what you connote as like. What would hate be then?"

I returned to my bed with an unexpressed, suffocating anger, a nervous pitting in my stomach because I would have to go to school when tomorrow morning comes.

There is now a change in how my mornings go. Before all the trouble at school, I would wake up early and swiftly prepare for school. But now I drag it out as long as possible. Wishing the mornings could stretch long. Dad offers to give me a ride. I reluctantly hop in and was wordless in the beginning of the ride. I preferred walking and stalling having to go to school. Being in my own space before I am dragged into a series of unwanted proximities and bullying where I am not even allowed my own thoughts sometimes because my pleading, desperate cries for mercy drowns out my inner voice. I would have remained silent until he spoke something. "Do you mind skipping school to go somewhere else today?" I look curiously at him. "Where?"

"Get her whatever would look good on her." Dad told the staffs who was more than happy to comply. "Of course sir. Right this way miss." She gestures her hand for me to follow her. I glance at Dad and the two mall staffs in bewilderment. "What are we doing here?"

Dad snaps his finger. "You need a wardrobe change. It has been long overdue."

"You also think my clothes are hideous?"

He hums. "I guess you were told already. Now go with them. They’ll know what to put you in. "But this is unnecessary. My clothes are still okay. You didn’t have to bring me here. We could have gone to the thrift shop—"

"No more thrifts, kiddo. Never heard of the saying dress the way you want to be addressed? You also mentioned that they make fun of your clothes. That is something we can get rid of." "But."

"No more buts Gweneth. Just go with them. And please try to speed it up. I have somewhere to be." He says with a quick glance at his wristwatch. "When it comes to teenage looks, trendy is the most perfect. You know, bad girls, goths, gangster outfits. In your case, we would be going for the good but a little—permit me to say bitchy. Bitchy aesthetics."

I was made to try a number of clothes; From sports shorts, plaid fringe skir, mid-thigh length skirts. Tank tops, cropped ones, spaghetti. Glittery hoodies. Trousers with stylish, rugged rips. Beanies, face caps. I was uncomfortable through it all. I wasn’t used to this.