= CHRIS POV =
The game ended close to ten, and everyone started to pack up and head home. The food was gone, the drinks were drained, and Sarah's 25th birthday party was officially a success.
It was kind of childish to still be playing this sort of game at our age, but it had been three years since graduating from college, and as far as reunions went, this one was pretty tame. After years of juggling degree lectures and internships, we deserved to unwind; plus, it was held at Sarah's luxurious condo, and it was Sarah's favorite game.
As I got up and straightened out my close, my gaze lingered a little longer on the slender brunette.
God I was such a sucker for this woman.
She could literally ask anything of me, and I would do it in a heartbeat, not that she ever did. She always tried her best to handle her affairs herself, although I could never understand why she always chose the worst out of two evils, such as dating her bosses or shaking up with some deadbeat boyfriend who barely did more than pay her rent.
If it was me though…
I shook my head and checked my pockets. Car keys…wallet, damn was there any other excuse to linger? Fuck, I could forget my handphone in her balcony..
As we all started to say our goodbyes, I wandered over to the coat rack to grab my jacket. As I did, a notice slipped from the stack of letters piled on the small table by the door.
It was pink.
I flipped it over and froze.
"EVICTION NOTICE"
The words were stamped right across the top.
Footsteps sounded behind me, and I quickly pocketed the letter before stepping back into the living room.
"You better not try anything with Lily behind my back. I'm watching you," Lavender said, giving me the kind of look that could cut glass.
Lavender and Lily were high school sweethearts, which was the main reason that, aside from Sarah, I had never had a thing for Lily. Some things just weren't worth fighting for.
"You betcha. Not gonna touch a strand of hair on her head," I replied smoothly, adjusting my jacket and trying to look casual.
"Honey, I'm going to bring the car around," Lavender shouted and headed for the door, pulling on her combat boots.
"Coming, darling!" Lily chirped, and after exchanging quick goodbyes with Sarah, she followed Lavender out the door. The two of them left arm in arm, murmuring sweet nothings as they disappeared into the night.
I lingered while Sarah saw out the rest of the guests. I knew the notice was none of my business, but it gave me an excuse to talk to her for a little longer and…I was concerned. Was her current boyfriend of the month not forking out enough money? Did she…need money?
Once I heard the door close, I poked my head out to check if anyone else was still around.
No one.
Sarah stood out on the balcony, her silhouette framed by the city skyline, a glass of wine dangling loosely in her hand. She looked… tired. Sad, even, but drop dead gorgeous.
Her hair was a cascade of warm, chestnut locks, falling in soft, natural waves over her shoulders and down her back. Brushed and left to exist as it pleases, the casual style somehow made her look even more striking tonight.
Her fringe grazing her forehead framed her face in a way that felt intentional, drawing attention to her eyes without overwhelming her features. In the low light, her hair absorbed the shadows, but didn't quite allow her to become part of the night, a glowing star against the night skyline.
Her face has that rare, unmanufactured beauty; the kind that doesn't rely on exaggeration. Her skin was always so smooth and luminous, almost porcelain-like. I long to caress the gentle flush in her cheeks, that was due to her staying out on that cold balcony for too long…or perhaps the wine in her hand was getting to her.
Her eyes are large and expressive, carrying a depth that always felt thoughtful, almost distant, as if she's caught somewhere between imagination and reality. The kind of eyes that linger in my mind long after I've looked away.
Her lips were soft and naturally shaped, slightly parted as though she's on the verge of a sigh or a quiet thought. There was nothing harsh about her features; everything was a blend of softness and quiet serenity.
What made her almost addictive to look at wasn't just her appearance; it was the way she carried herself. There was a stillness to her, a gentle gravity that I couldn't get enough of. She simply existed, and that unawareness, that sweet naivete, that somehow survived countless heartbreaks, life's failures and frustrations, gave her an ethereal quality.
It was like life itself refused to sully her softness, preserving her optimism and charm, making her presence in my life subtle, hypnotic, and impossible to replicate.
I bit my lip as my eyes trailed down her body. The soft, cream colored vintage-style dress she was wearing looked lightweight, almost airy, with faint pastel stripes running vertically down the fabric. The material looked thin and breathable, the kind that moves easily with the slightest shift. It had short sleeves that sat gently on her shoulders and a delicate trim along the edges that added to its old-fashioned charm.
All I wanted though, was to put my hands up to it, and take it off her…maybe even throw it somewhere that it could never be found…so that I could see what was beneath it, and devour it….
I shook my head. My thoughts were getting dangerous again. When they did, I always twisted that naivete to my advantage, like I was doing…right now.
I had this document in my hand.
I did not need to approach her about it.
I knew I could walk out of this apartment right now, and if she really needed help, she would call me.
But all I could think of was…perhaps…if I confronted her…would she break down?
Obviously she would need a shoulder to cry on… Perhaps I could steal a hug, under the guise of comforting an old friend and just for a few moments… drink her up until the night ended.
Yes, just a hug, a simple hug, it would last me until the next time I saw her.
I hesitated for a second before stepping out onto the balcony to join her.
"Umm, sorry, Sarah, I need to ask you something," I said softly.
She jumped, spilling her wine onto the floor as she turned wide eyes onto me.
Then those soft lips parted into an even softer smile, as if she completely relaxed when she realised it was me.
She trusted me. Completely. It almost hurt. I wanted to corrupt her so badly, but I couldn't, I couldn't, she wasn't mine, not yet anyway.
The things I had made her do in the past, under the guise of friendship. The things I would make her do in the future, under the guise of friendship. The things I was going to do now…under the guise…
Fuck I should leave.
I felt like the shittiest person on the planet; the things I wanted to do to those lips…
God help her, I didn't know how much longer I could hold back these desires...