JUNE 22:15
Crystal's eyes locked onto Daniel's, a hint of insistence in his voice as he asked, "You still won't tell me why." Daniel's expression shifted to one of playful confusion, his brow furrowing slightly as he replied, "Why what?" The tension in Crystal's posture was palpable as he pressed on, "Why you were peeping through the door last night."
Daniel's face broke into a sly, cheeky grin, his eyes sparkling with amusement as he asked, "Oh, you mean when you came in with Aurora in arms?" His tone dripped with sarcasm, like honey off a spoon, sweet but with an edge. Crystal's cheeks flushed softly, a mix of embarrassment and annoyance flickering across his features. "Yes, but that's not important," he said, his voice a touch too quick, too dismissive to Daniel's counter.
Daniel's grin broadened, his teeth showing in a mischievous smile as he countered, "Of course it is." He leaned in slightly, his voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "That's our future boss's daughter." The grin lingered on his face, an unspoken challenge dancing in his eyes, as if daring Crystal to make more of it.
Daniel's stomach growled audibly as he declared, "I'm starving," his voice laced with urgency. He strode purposefully toward the kitchen, his movements fluid as he navigated the short distance from the living room. The kitchen, partially open to the living room, was divided only by a rustic wooden shelf lined with pots, spices, and a few decorative plates. Crystal's gaze followed him, his eyes tracking Daniel's efficient motions as he began loading up his plate with steaming mounds of fluffy rice. The aroma of cooked grains wafted through the air, mingling with the faint scent of spices lingering on the countertops.
Just as Daniel was piling on a generous helping, his phone jolted to life on the counter, its ringtone cutting through the domestic quiet. Daniel glanced at the screen, his fingers not pausing in their task of heaping food onto his plate. "Hurry up Daniel, we should be leaving soon," Crystal called out, a hint of impatience threading his words. Daniel replied without looking up, his mouth quirking in a brief smile, "On it."
Just across the threshold of the door, on the other side of the apartment, a soft, hauntingly beautiful melody drifted from the home theater, the song's gentle notes like a tender caress of sound through the air. Outside the apartment walls, the music was a muffled whisper, barely audible beyond the confines of the space, but inside the living room, the symphony came alive like a velvet-wrapped concert—rich, enveloping, and breathtakingly intimate. At the heart of this lavish living room stood a gleaming Marble Center table, its polished surface mirroring the soft glow of recessed lighting above, casting subtle shadows that danced across the plush carpet. Surrounding the table were stately Italian royal chairs, their intricately carved wooden frames adorned with velvet upholstery in a deep, regal hue, exuding an air of refined grandeur and timeless elegance. The living room's ambiance was a paean to luxury—every muted tone, every tasteful decor choice, every sophisticated line blending into an atmosphere that was a testament to the princess lifestyle of Aurora. Every detail seemed to whisper of elegance, of privilege, of a world wrapped in the soft folds of refinement.
Aurora woke up with a migraine so sharp it felt like a dagger twisting in her temples. She clenched her fist, her body wincing in pain as she let out a sharp "Ouch," both hands flying to cradle her throbbing head. "Are you okay?" Brownie asked, her voice cutting through the haze of pain, making Aurora jolt in sudden fear. "Damn, Brown, you scared me," Aurora exclaimed, one hand now pressed to her chest as if trying to calm her racing heart. "How long have you been standing there?" Aurora asked, still oblivious to the events of the night before, a fact that made Brownie's lips curl into an amused smile.
Brownie repeated the question playfully, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she walked slowly toward Aurora. In her hand, she picked up a nearby book, and with a quick, teasing motion, she tapped Aurora lightly on the head with it. "I've been here since last night," Brownie said, her tone a blend of playfulness and matter-of-factness. Aurora winced again in pain, this time crouching slightly behind her hands as if trying to shield herself from a second, anticipated blow of the book. "Matter of fact, we brought you home," Brownie added, her amusement at the situation still evident in her voice.
"It hurts," Aurora said, her voice muffled slightly by her hands still clpressed tightly over her throbbing head. "Of course it's going to hurt," Brownie said matter-of-factly, a hint of scolding in her tone. "Soon enough your head is going to fall off from your drinking," she added with a wry smile as she handed Aurora a mug of steaming hot tea. The fragrant steam curled upward, carrying the fresh, soothing aroma of the tea, and Aurora's face lit up instantly as if the wafting steam itself was the remedy she needed. She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply of the scent, letting the warmth seem to seep into her pain-filled temples. She took in another sniff before gulping down the contents of the mug hastily.
"Slow down," Brownie said, a note of caution in her voice, but Aurora was already done, the mug empty in her hands. In the next moment, Aurora let out a loud, explosive belch, the sound breaking the quiet of the room as she wiped away the tears that had gathered at the corners of her eyes from the scalding tea. The belch seemed to release some of the tension in her body, leaving her slumping back slightly, her hands finally dropping away from her head.
Aurora looked around her room, her gaze roaming over the familiar spaces until it landed on her bag and the gown she'd worn the night before, carelessly draped over the sofa at the side of her bed. She glanced down at herself and saw she was wearing a soft, flowing blue nightgown, and around her wrist was a handkerchief tied in a neat, whimsical knot. A sudden flashback of the night before hit her like a wave—memories of Crystal giving her the handkerchief, and of passing out in someone's arms, but she didn't remember tying the handkerchief herself. Brownie saw the look on Aurora's face, a mixture of confusion and dawning recollection, and immediately discerned her friend was trying to piece together the events from the night before. "He tied it himself," Brownie said, her eyes on her friend beaming with a knowing smile.
"He did?" Aurora asked, a little giggle slipping out unwillingly from her lips, a flush rising subtly to her cheeks.
"Slow your horses, he's your neighbor," Brownie added, catching the growing excitement on her best friend's face, her tone a mix of teasing and caution.
"It's obvious you like him," Brownie added, her words spoken with a knowing certainty.
"Is it that obvious?" Aurora asked, genuine concern etching her face, her brow furrowing slightly as she processed the implication. It had been awhile since Aurora had been in a romantically involved relationship with anyone, and the fact that this stranger was stirring feelings inside her was both exciting and worrying—an alien sensation that left her a little off-balance.
"Of course it is," Brownie said with a grin. "Your cheeks are red just from thinking about him." Aurora stood up from the bed, her movements a bit hesitant, and walked to stand in front of the mirror in her room to confirm her friend's observation. In the mirror, she saw her own flushed cheeks, the color rising like a soft bloom of pink in her skin, and a flutter of awareness passed through her.
Aurora found her hands trembling slightly when Brownie mentioned his name—Crystal.
"Girl, you're far gone," Brownie added, laughter bubbling in her voice as she saw Aurora's telltale hands, and the two friends laughed together, the sound mingling in the air like a shared secret.
"I do have to go soon though,"
Brownie said as she stood up, her words bringing a hint of reluctance to the air. "Already?" Aurora asked, not wanting her friend to leave, a note of disappointment creeping into her voice.
"I have to get back to work," Brownie said as she slipped into the living room, her footsteps fading into the distance. Aurora fell back onto her bed, her mind now a tangled web of emotions. The memories of the night before swirled in her subconscious like whispers in the dark. She couldn't remember the actual details, but she remembered how she'd felt in that moment—a feeling of being safe, and she craved for it again. She turned on her bed restlessly, as if trying to find the perfect position to sleep, but in her case, it was to think—to think about him. For every restless turn she made, it was accompanied by a smile playing on both her lips and in her eyes. She found herself blushing and giggling just thinking about Crystal, a warm, giddy sensation spreading through her like morning sunlight.
"Aurora!!" Brownie's voice came from the living room, interrupting Aurora's blissful moment.
"What!!" She answered, hoping the response wouldn't require much of her time.
"You have a visitor," Brownie's voice came back from the living room.
"Who?" She asked, a flutter of curiosity in her chest.
"Crystal!" Brownie replied, the name sending a sudden jolt of awareness through Aurora.