Ravished by Desire

Chapter 8 I’m Not a Prostitute

“Ugh, ugh,” Nam Khing choked on the cigarette smoke that Faren blew in her face. Faren continued to smoke, indifferent. “You should actually be happy,” Faren said, placing all the money he took from his wallet on the small table next to the bed. “Because if I like someone, I pay generously.”

Nam Khing looked at the money with pain. This money didn’t make her feel better; on the contrary, it deepened the pain of the assault she had suffered. “I’m not a prostitute, you raped me!” Nam Khing said, her voice trembling. “I didn’t want it, you’re inhuman!” Tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked at Faren with eyes full of hatred.

She felt disgusted with her own body; the marks Faren left were covered with dried semen. “Take your money back, you bastard,” Nam Khing said, reaching for the money. Faren grabbed Nam Khing’s wrist harshly. “Ah, it hurts!” Nam Khing screamed, the pressure on the belt marks on her wrists causing intense pain.

“Stop pretending,” Faren shouted angrily. He held her wrist tighter but paused for a moment when he saw the injured wrist and then let go. “The money I gave you is more than your monthly salary at the bar where you worked last night!” Faren said, hitting the money and giving a disdainful look.

“Take this money to your grave,” Nam Khing said, clenching her fist. Faren was silent for a moment. “I like your stubborn and defiant attitude,” Faren said, touching Nam Khing’s face with lustful eyes. “Would you like to scream your husband’s name one more time?” he said, touching her breasts under the wet shirt.

“Bastard,” Nam Khing said angrily. “Speak properly when talking to your husband!” Faren shouted, squeezing Nam Khing’s breast. “Remember, I still have the video,” Faren said, showing his phone. Nam Khing gritted her teeth and looked at him with anger but was helpless.

“What you did to me is too much, Faren,” Nam Khing said, her eyes filled with tears. “No, it’s not!” Faren said, approaching her face with a mocking smile. “This is just for fun, why are you taking it so seriously?” he said, shrugging. “But this was my… (first time),” Nam Khing whispered.

“I never thought someone as flashy as you would be a virgin,” Faren said, smiling with satisfaction. “But it wasn’t bad at all,” he said, licking his lips. Faren extinguished his cigarette without any expression of pain on his face. “If you don’t want the money I gave you, throw it away,” Faren said.

“I never take back anything I’ve given,” he said, throwing the cigarette out the window. “My whole body is covered in semen, you should clean it,” he said, looking at the semen stains on Nam Khing’s body. Nam Khing could only watch what was happening. After checking the time, Faren quickly got up from the bed.

“A memento from your first husband,” he said, leaving the used condom on Nam Khing’s leg. “Bastard,” Nam Khing whispered, tears streaming down her face. As Faren opened the door, “If the money I gave you isn’t enough, strip and call me,” he said with a mocking smile. “One day you’ll come to me naked and beg for help,” Faren said, slamming the door shut.

When the door closed, Nam Khing couldn’t hold back her tears and started crying. “No matter how much money you give, I won’t sell my body,” she said, crying. The more she thought about what had happened, the deeper her pain grew. She fell asleep exhausted from the fatigue. This terrible night made her understand better the suffering her sister had endured.

“P’Wan,” she whispered in her dream, tears streaming down her face.

**NAM KHING’S PART**



• The Next Morning -

The alarm clock started ringing as usual. “Ah,” Nam Khing said, opening her eyes in pain. She had to get out of bed because she needed to go to her morning classes. She had taken a break from school to solve her problems, and if she missed classes one more time, she wouldn’t be able to take the exams.

She swallowed painkillers, hoping to ease her pain. When she looked in the mirror, she started crying; Faren’s face came to mind, and she thought about what he had done to her. Kiss marks, dried semen stains, and the blood stains of her lost innocence.

She washed her face and tried to pull herself together. “Just feed it to the dogs,” she told herself. She took a shower, trying to cleanse herself of Faren’s filth.

At the Police Station

Nam Khing stood in front of the station, hesitating to go in and report Faren. She had put the condom with evidence of the rape in a plastic bag. “If I report it, he’ll spread the video for revenge and never leave me alone,” she thought.

She stood in front of the station for a while but eventually stepped back. “I can’t catch this bastard,” she said, wiping her tears. “I don’t have a rich or powerful family to deal with him,” she told herself.

“There’s no justice for the poor,” she said. She wiped her tears and headed to the university. “Everyone at home is counting on me,” she told herself, trying not to cry. “If I die, my family will be in an even worse situation,” she said.

“I have to finish my education and find a job,” she said, to pay off her father’s debts. “I must be strong,” she said, trying to face the hardships.

At the University

“Nam Khing, are you okay? Why do you look so pale?” Irene asked as Nam Khing entered the classroom. Nam Khing was walking lightly and wore a jacket. She didn’t want Irene to see the marks on her wrists.

“I’m a bit sick, but I’m fine,” Nam Khing said, avoiding Irene’s worried gaze. “It’s nothing serious,” she added.

“You look worse than I do,” Irene said, touching Nam Khing’s shoulder. “Can you keep attending classes?” Irene asked. “Yes, it’s nothing serious,” Nam Khing replied.

“Nam Khing, that night at the racetrack,” Irene said, “I was fighting with Windsor and forgot about you. I’m really sorry,” Irene said. “I was in a terrible state that night, I wasn’t in my right mind,” Irene said, hugging Nam Khing’s arm.

“Did Faren do anything to you?” Irene asked. Nam Khing hesitated for a moment. “He didn’t do anything to me!” Nam Khing said quickly.

“If he did anything, tell me,” Irene said. “I can’t deal with Faren, but there’s Lucas,” Irene said, trying to reassure Nam Khing. “You seem to be acting strange,” Irene said.

“There’s nothing between me and Faren,” Nam Khing said, not letting Irene finish her sentence.