Protagonist! Please Stay Away from Me 2!-Chapter 37: I Am Having a Candlelight Dinner with Tina

Tina still hadn’t gone back to her own home even after our exhaustive shopping spree, insisting stubbornly that she needed to repent fully for her past sins and take proper care of me in every conceivable way to help me recover completely.

What type of care was she planning to provide exactly? She looked kind of delighted to stay with me constantly, her eyes sparkling with a confusing mix of lingering guilt and eager anticipation whenever she glanced at my beautiful legs or pearl toes, which made her behaviour too confusing to decipher completely, especially since she had confessed her passionate love for Alex just nights earlier. She raped me because she loved Alex, right? So, this behaviour was very confusing and weird in itself.

When we finally reached my apartment burdened with heavy shopping bags, she forced me to change into one of the new outfits immediately—a flowing emerald green velvet dress that hugged my curves perfectly with its deep V-neck and long sleeves draping gracefully over my arms—then fastened a lustrous pearl strand necklace around my throat while deliberately sliding an assortment of delicate rose gold bracelets over my bruised wrists to conceal the purple marks she had left there, her fingers lingering tenderly on my skin as she adjusted each bangle with reverent care.

She herself wore a silk shirt that shimmered softly under the apartment lights, unbuttoned just enough to reveal a hint of cleavage, her transformed form hidden but her posture radiating submission just like before.

"Sharon, it is because of you that I can no longer wear these beautiful dresses comfortably," Tina complained lightly as she unpacked a few more items from the bags, her voice carrying a playful edge masked by underlying guilt while she gestured vaguely toward her own closet back home.

I acted to flinch visibly as I immediately lowered my head in feigned shame, my flawless hair falling forward to curtain my face. "I am so sorry, Tina," I whispered softly, voice trembling just enough to sell the vulnerability convincingly.

"No, no, no!" she exclaimed quickly, waving her hands in a panic as another guilty look flashed across her features. "Do not be worried about this at all! It is entirely my fault for losing control like that."

I nodded obediently, peeking up through my lashes to gauge her delight, the power dynamic humming steadily beneath our exchange.

"Why have you changed all of my furniture so completely and thoroughly?" I asked curiously as we sat together at a gleaming new dining table made of polished walnut, its surface smooth and elegant under the soft glow of candles which she had arranged insistently for a romantic candlelight dinner that cast intimate shadows across the room, making the room paint with our essence.

The apartment transformation stunned me completely—vibrant abstract paintings of different types now adorned the freshly painted walls in bold strokes of crimson and gold that seemed to pulse with energy, a luxurious king-sized bed with silk sheets dominated the bedroom visible through the open door like a throne of indulgence—only for me.

Even my guest room had been renovated entirely while we shopped, now featuring a plush daybed with velvet cushions, a mirrored vanity illuminated by soft bulbs, and sheer curtains billowing gently in the breeze from an open window.

Candle flames danced between us playfully, casting flickering shadows that played across her silk shirt and my pearl necklace, the air scented richly with melting wax and fresh pasta sauce.

Tina blushed deeply with embarrassment, serving steaming pasta from a pot she had prepared herself with meticulous care. "I wanted everything perfect for you—to repent properly and make meaningful amends for what I did. The old stuff reminded me too much of my horrible mistakes every time I looked at it. This is your sanctuary now, Sharon, a place where you can feel safe and adored. And don’t worry, I will never do anything without your permission."

Her eyes lingered hungrily on my bracelet-adorned wrists, confusion swirling visibly as she leaned closer across the table, her fork paused mid-air in anticipation.

"Thank you," I smiled softly at her.

Tina shook her head. "No need to thank me, Sharon. Oh, I almost forgot something special," she said suddenly with a bright smile, standing up gracefully and retrieving a small, plush teddy bear from a nearby chair where she had placed it earlier. "This adorable teddy is for you as a little token of my apology. Let us enjoy this candlelight dinner together now, okay? I have cooked all your favourite dishes just for you with so much love." She placed the teddy in my lap gently, her fingers brushing my knee lingeringly before sitting back down, her expression a mix of hopeful delight and persistent guilt.

"It’s adorable, Tina," I said with a wide, radiant smile lighting up my face as I rubbed the teddy’s soft, fuzzy head gently with my left hand, feeling the plush fabric yield under my fingers while the rose gold bracelets on my wrist chimed softly against each other. The teddy’s eyes looked at me innocently as if it wanted to ignore whatever twisted thing that was going in between Tina and me.

Tina took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling visibly under the shimmering silk shirt, then lifted her wine glass with a slightly trembling hand and drank deeply, the rich red liquid staining her lips a deeper crimson as she savoured the moment.

"What do you do for the living, Tina?" I asked her. My left hand was still over the teddy’s head. "You are too rich." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Tina laughed, nodding her head. "I am too rich, Sharon—I am an interior designer. The amount of money that I spent today is too insignificant for me."

"You don’t have to spoil me, Tina. I have already forgiven you," I said softly, voice laced with feigned gratitude.

She put the fork down, while putting her hand over mine. "I am not spoiling you. It’s what you deserve, especially after what I had done with you. Being a woman, I know what type of sin—I had committed. I hurt you, Sharon."

I tucked my hair behind my ear, nodding my head at her words. "Tina, are you really feeling guilty?" I asked in a small voice as if I was afraid of her answer.

"Of course, Sharon!" Tina nodded readily. She rubbed the back of my hand in circles. "I will do anything to overwrite my mistakes—purify my sins. Repentance is the only goal that’s in my mind. Sharon, I will never hurt you again... and I will never let anyone hurt you." Her eyes and words held a promise in them.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes, I am."

"Then, I will be in your care." I lowered my head, hiding the smirk behind the hair that covered my face. Thank you, Tina—for being so gullible.