Leaning back in your bed, you close your eyes, knowing you'll need plenty of sleep for the kind of day you're going to have tomorrow.
If only you knew just how exhausting it would be.
...
You jolt awake to the sound of a knock at your door.
You quickly sit up in bed, noting the reduction of head pain. Thoughts overwhelmed with emotions and worries, your heart beats faster and faster, making you start to sweat under the sheets.
"This ends. One way or another."
Thinking back to your final thoughts the previous night, you see the harsh truth in them.
Things might end today. A lot of things might end today. But it's a risk I have to take. I can't let all of them live like this any longer, and I can't take much more of it either.
"Come in..."
As you expected, Poki is the first one to stick her head in. But her face bears no smile, and she walks toward you with a slow, measured, and nervous gait.
You immediately want to comfort her, but you know you can't yet.
I need to wait for everyone else to come. To talk to all of them at once.
Knock knock.
"Come in!"
Janet opens the door, the faint smile of greeting on her face dropping as soon as she saw Poki sitting beside you.
Poki looks confused, as she clearly notices, but she doesn't understand her best friend's subtle reaction.
Janet quietly moves across the room, awkwardly placing herself on the corner of your bed upon not seeing any other chairs. She doesn't say a word, her eyes darting between the two other figures in the room.
Over the next few minutes, the rest of them slowly filter in, their expressions all taking on a tone of somber anticipation.
Miyoung... Rae... Jodi...
The five girls sit in silence, settling into the folding chairs they asked to be brought it.
"Hey..." You finally mutter. The girls' eyes snap up to attention as they smile weakly in response.
You take a deep breath as you prepare to release the volley of thoughts that had been circling in your mind out into the air.
"For starters... you're not in trouble," you say, hoping to relieve some of the tension that had been evidently building in the room. You grin a little as you see a few of the girls respond with small smiles of their own.
"The reason I called you all here... with those somewhat cryptic texts..."
You bite your bottom lip, almost wanting to back out at the crucial moment, but you don't let yourself.
"...is because I like you."
You barely have time to facepalm yourself for your terrible choice of first words as you take in the wide range of reactions that occurs before you.
From Rae smiling a sweet, wide smile right at you...
To Poki almost doing the same, until realizing who else was in the room and turning to Janet with disgust written across her face...
To Jodi blushing and looking down at her feet as she fails to hold back a grin...
To Janet immediately turning away from Poki and crossing her legs, as if trying to pretend she wasn't there...
To Miyoung's expression becoming unreadable as a tornado of thoughts flies through her head...
The tension in the room snaps back to a high level.
But your nerves are calmed a little by Rae's warm hand on your shoulder, scooting her chair next to you as she comforts you.
She leans in close, and whispers, "Not gonna lie, I kinda knew this was gonna happen. I see the way you look at us."
You stare at her in surprise, and she giggles at your expression.
"I'm ok with it - we talked about it before, remember? But they, on the other hand..."
She gestures silently to the other girls in the room, and you instinctively gulp as you notice them struggling to maintain their cool, for a variety of reasons.
"Do you wanna explain... what you just said?" Rae says, louder so all the girls could hear, nudging you to speak before the girls exploded with emotion.
"Oh, yeah... um..."
The girls look back up at you, hoping for some kind of explanation.
"I... called you all here because I need to clear the air. There's been a lot going on, and it's gotten too much for me." You sigh and look down at your body still laying under the covers in a hospital bed.
The girls look at you with sympathy, pitying you and listening closer.
"Imane... I like you. I want to get to know you better."
Clearly not expecting the personal callout, she nearly jumps in her chair, managing a small smile as she looks around the room with apprehension.
"And I also feel similarly toward Janet. I can't explain it, but even after the short time we spent together, I do."
Her face darkens. Janet's expression, on the other hand, lights up, seemingly oblivious to her best friend's reaction.
"Jodi... You know how I feel about you. I want to continue what we have." She nods in appreciation.
"Miyoung... I know this is moving really quickly, but... I really feel something for you." You see her cheeks flush red, and she hides once more behind her fallen hair."
"I couldn't let this all of this go on behind your backs, so... here it is. Out in the open. No more lies. No more secrets."
You subconsciously hold your breath, fearing the worst. Instead, the girls stare off into space, contemplating. To your dismay, you can't read their emotions, but you calm down upon feeling Rae's hand on your shoulder.
"So... what?" Janet tentatively asks.
"Hmm?"
"You like all of us. What do you want to do about it?"
"I..." You knew your answer to her question, but saying it out loud would make it absolute.
"Wait! You're gonna... choose one of us?" Jodi nervously pipes up, forehead wrinkling in distress.
Shaking your head, you respond, "No, I-"
"No, he's not gonna choose any of us. He probably just wants to-" Janet starts.
"What? No, he's definitely choosing someone, there's no way he would- " Poki cuts her off.
"Hey, let me finish, I- " You try to interject.
"Not like he would pick you, anyway," you barely hear Poki mutter out.
"EXCUSE ME! I think you are the one he's definitely not- "
"Me? I've known him for- "
"Yeah, and what? You suck his dick once, and you think that makes you- "
"How dare you!?! As if you acted any differently!"
Poki and Janet are now standing up, yelling and stomping at each other on opposite sides of you, cheeks flushed red with rage. Jodi, Miyoung, and Rae look on with fear, unwilling to step in.
"HEY!" Your voice reverberates through the room, making the girls wince.
"..."
"...sit down... please..." Somehow, that one yell seemed to sap you of your energy.
Poki and Janet, realizing what they were doing right in front of you, quietly sit down, still brooding over their words.
This might drive them away. But... maybe this is just how it'll have to be.
"I... don't want to choose one of you. I want to be with all of you. Date... all of you."
"..."
The room goes pin-drop quiet.
You squeeze your fist under the blanket subconsciously.
Even Rae's hand tenses, making her grip on you tighten.
After an excruciating minute of racing thoughts, Jodi is the first to speak.
"You mean... you want to actually be with... all of us..." She slowly lets out, as if out of breath.
"...Yeah," you reply, making your wish final.
"..."
"Well... I'm... ok with that. I mean, I was fine with you knowing you were dating Rae, so... I guess a few more won't matter much. ... As long as I still get to spend time with you."
You sigh in relief and smile warmly at Jodi's thoughtful, calm, yet easygoing response, typical of her nature, and look to the rest of the girls for theirs.
"I... you only..."
You lean forward, struggling to hear Poki's muffled whispers.
"What was that, Imane?"
"...You only spent a day with her. But we... had months..."
Your face drops as you realize who she was still talking about.
She's still stuck on the fact that Janet is here. And... maybe she's right. I've known her for months, and I called her in next to Janet, who I've barely met a few times...
"Imane, I'm sorry, I didn't mean for- "
"No. Don't be. You like me and you like her. It only makes sense."
You almost shiver at the cold, calculating nature of her words.
The sound of you swallowing nervously is the only noise present in the room beside the gentle hum of machinery.
"I like it." Janet swiftly cuts into the ensuing silence.
"Oh! Well- "
"Under one condition." She slowly puts a finger up in front of her face.
"...and what would that be?"
"...that you don't date Poki."
Your head snaps in Imane's direction, but to your surprise, she has no strong reaction. She slowly brings her hands up to her face and covers her eyes, taking a deep breath as she sinks into her chair.
The tension in the room returns, and you're afraid to meddle with it.
"Ok. Fine." The cold tone of Poki's voice returns, and you pay close attention.
"I have the same condition. I'll agree only if you don't date Janet."
Janet scoffs, rolling her eyes.
...How did two best friends end up like this? This... isn't right.
"Miyoung?" Rae speaks up for the first time, and you exhale a small sigh as you get more time to think about what to do about Poki and Janet.
"Miyoung? Earth to Miyoung?" She continues.
Clearly lost in thought, she blinks a few times as she snaps back to reality.
"Oh! Sorry..."
Then she makes eye contact with you, and you notice her swallow nervously.
"Can we talk alone? Afterward?"
"...yeah, sure..."
Shit, dhe's gonna reject me in private, isn't she?
You now turn back to the two women at hand, each with identical ultimatums.
"I need to speak to Poki and Janet alone", you voice to the rest of the room.
"But don't we need to talk about how this is all gonna work? I mean, dating all of us and stuff?" Jodi quietly asks.
"We'll get to that later... I'm sure we'll find a way. But this comes first."
Taking that as their cue, the rest of the girls file out of the room, leaving you alone with two figures who couldn't even stand to look at each other.
"Pick me, please," Janet pleads, as soon as the others are out of earshot. "I really, really, like you. I wanna get to know you better, and besides, you already know the things I can do for you..." She slyly smirks as she moves closer to you.
"No, pick me! I already know you so well! I know what kind of breakfast you like, remember? I made it for you! I care about you!" Poki yelps, now animated and letting her emotions run free.
"..."
The girls stare at you expectantly.
"I don't want either of you."
Two sharp gasps, quickly muted, fly in your direction. Their eyes widen as they process your words. Unable to speak, they look at you in confusion, having to face the last words they ever thought they would hear at this moment.
"I like both of you... it's what caused all of this. You used to be best friends. And now... you're enemies. Fighting over me. I hate it."
They glance at each other for a moment before turning back to you.
"So as long as you two are like this... I can't choose either of you. I won't choose until you make up."
"..."
"You'll only be with me... if we make up?" Poki tentatively asks.
"Yes."
Poki stares once more at Janet, contemplating her emotions and deciding what she really wanted. Janet stares back, her hard expression slowly fading.
Their resentment slowly drops as they look at each other more closely. Taking a step back from the emotion and the tension quickly makes them realize how harmful it had all been for them.
The silence grows as the thoughts of the two girls become deeper and deeper.
As they stare into each other's eyes, they recollect their years of friendship, experiences, and fun times like emotional waves crashing on the shores of their consciousness.
And then how it all fell apart... because of their obsession with you.
Their expressions become nervous, and then melancholic, and then regretful. You quietly look back and forth between the two.
"Janjan..."
Janet jumps at her nickname being used, and you notice her subtly blinking away a few tears.
"Poki..."
"I'm sorry," both girls choke out simultaneously, tears brimming in their eyes.
"I had no right to say that about you..."
"No, I was wrong... I said such hurtful things... I knew how you felt..."
"But I should have respected your feelings, too..."
They let out a few more apologies to each other, sniffling and wiping their eyes.
Poki reaches across your bed and reaches her arms out for Janet, who quickly reciprocates and hugs her back, their bodies awkwardly leaning against each other.
The girls fall silent once more as their attention back to you. You almost feel like you're invading their private conversation, until you remember it's about you.
"So?" You ask.
"I'm ok with you being with both of us. In fact... I want it. Janet deserves someone like you too." She smiles as she wipes a few fallen tears.
Janet smiles gratefully, nodding in response as she places her hand on your shoulder. "Yeah... I would like for you to be with both me and Poki."
The way the two girls smile at each other as if their unbridled emotions mere minutes ago had never existed, almost makes you tear up.
Wow, that really didn't take long. I guess best friends can never really hate each other.
You naturally reach for Janet's hand on your shoulder, squeezing it. She takes it as an invitation and hums in appreciation as she leans in for a kiss. You slowly take in her presence on your lips, feeling her warm, familiar sensation along with slight anxiety at knowing Poki was watching.
But when she pulls away, Poki isn't mad. She's grinning, and she leans in as soon as she can. Before you even have time to breathe, she takes over your lips, pushing her tongue into your mouth as her sweet scent fills your nostrils.
When she pulls away, you stare at the two girls standing beside you, all three of you smiling warmly.
You sigh contentedly, now feeling your eyes drooping as the stress of the day takes its toll on you. You know you have to deal with the girls outside, but you already feel your mind drifting.
"Hey. Let's talk about everything tomorrow, ok?" Poki leans down and whispers. You nod, grateful that she could read you so well.
The girls make their goodbyes, making sure to give you one last peck on the cheek before they left.
You hear the sound of vehicles driving away, leaving you in peaceful silence.
But just as your eyelids begin to close...
They snap open again as the door swings open.
"Oh, shit."
"Oh, sorry. You look really tired. I can come back later if- "
"No, Miyoung, we should talk."
She creeps in and walks up to your bed to sit next to you, visibly nervous.
"Can you tell me why you did what you did yesterday?" You ask, cutting right to the chase.
"...I wanted to know."
She wanted to know... ah. I see.
"And? How do you feel?"
"..."
You wait patiently.
"..."
"Miyoung, if you don't feel the same, it's alright. You don't owe me anything. You can- "
"I like you." She squeaks out, sqeezing her eyes shut. "I do. I really do. A lot. Actually."
Once she started talking, she didn't stop, choppy sentences finding their way out between shallow breaths.
"For a long time. You have no idea. I couldn't stop thinking about you. Oh god, that's weird to say. I'm sorry, I meant like... ugh, you know what, you probably don't even like me anymore. I just- HMPH!"
You lean forward and plant your lips on hers, a smile growing on your face. You pulse back and forth with her, her lips pushing into yours as her hands tangle themselves in your hair.
You pull away.
"...did you do that to get me to shut up?"
"Maybe a little..."
She chuckles as she leans in once more, getting both of you trapped in each other's heat for a few more seconds.
"Oh wait," she says, pulling away, "you're tired. You should rest, we'll talk tomorrow." She pats you lovingly on the head before getting up, and walking out with a noticeable pep in her step.
Now completely alone, you sink down into your mattress. Within a few minutes, your drowsiness takes over once more...
The door swings open sharply.
Oh, come on, not again.
"...hello?" You groan out, shielding your eyes from the light.
The figure, standing in all-black clothing in the doorway, had a strangely intimidating appearance, despite their short height.
Do I know this person?
They walk toward you, and you realize they're wearing a polished black, faceted mask, with a mesh of small holes for their eyes and nose.
What is this, some Squid Game cosplay?
"Hello."
The voice comes out artificially distorted, but you can tell it's a female voice.
Oh, it's a girl. It almost sounds familiar... but the voice is too distorted for me to recognize it.
"Do I know you?"
"No. But I know you. I know exactly who you are. And I know your position."
Wait. Is she trying to get something from me? How did she get in here? Who let her in?
"What do you want from me?"
"Not a lot. Just your compliance."
"Compliance with what?" Despite what your body tells you, you strain to sit up in bed and face her. "Take off your mask."
"I've been watching you."
You scoff, practically laughing off her words.
"I saw you visit a certain someone's house yesterday..."
Your blood turns cold.
"I saw you do... special things with her. And her best friend." Her voice quivers a little as she recalls the sight she witnessed through the window that day, but she pushes the thought out of her head.
You almost start shaking, wishing you could escape everything.
"And I know you don't want all of your new girlfriends to know just how much of a licentious, sex-driven pig you are... Why would they ever want someone who sleeps around as much as you do?"
You know she's trying to scare you, but it works nonetheless.
"What... do you... want... from me..." You can barely choke out, your voice on the verge of breaking.
She places a hand on your shoulder, and you close your eyes, expecting the worst.
Instead, she swiftly jumps up, placing her weight on top of you.
"Eh?"
You open your eyes, seeing her straddle you, one leg on either side of you, her masked face leaning towards yours.
Her gloved hands slide smoothly across your collarbone to your neck.
"I already told you. I want your compliance. Do what I say. No questions. And don't even think of touching me unless I say so."
With that, you gasp as she detaches the bottom half of her mask, and tosses it aside, and proceeds to latch her newly exposed lips onto your neck, her hands wrapping around your head and neck as her mouth envelops your skin.
Oh lord. What is happening? Is she gonna... oh, wow, this feels... holy...but wait, who is she... why is she...
You can barely hold back a moan as her lips start moving from your neck, leaving a trail of kisses along your jawline as she moves up to your lips.
But just as she is about to plant them onto yours, you get a glimpse of her lips and fallen hair.
Wait... She looks kinda famili- HMPH!
Her face moves closer to yours, and finally, her lips collide into yours hard, making her scent more noticeable.
I know this smell. This faint scent on her... where is it from?
And in one sweeping motion, you pull away from her and swipe your hand across her face.
But she ducks just in time, and her mask stays on.
"HEY! What did I say?!?"
She slaps you across the face, and you feel a sharp sting. But the humiliation of the circumstance stings more.
"...Who are you?"
"You don't ask questions. I give you orders, and you follow them. You stupid pet."
What the-?
"Oh, you don't like being called that? Well, stop acting like one."
She nimbly gets off of you, sighing disappointedly.
"I guess I still have to train you. But you'll be a good pet one day."
"I'm not your pet! You're crazy!" You shout, bewildered at her language.
"As long as I know what you did, you are my pet."
"..."
"Here's my number. Call me when you're back on your feet."
She places a small slip of paper on your bedside table.
She makes her way towards the exit and slams the door shut behind her, but not before her final words ring into your ears:
"Looks like you have a lot on your hands... pet."