Cyber Chronicles 1: Crimson's Effect

Chapter 13 : Lincoln (Past)

The echoes of laughter and the buzz of conversation had faded away, leaving behind a house in disarray. 

With the departure of the last guest, the club members faced the aftermath of the lively celebration. Lincoln and Destry took charge of the top floor, and the second floor became Dexter and Naomi's domain, while Ash and Sally navigated the ground floor, where the heartbeat of the party had pulsed strongest.

The mess sprawled across the rooms. Empty glasses stood as silent witnesses to toasts and laughter, and confetti clung to surfaces, refusing to let go of the festivity.

Amid this chaos, Lincoln couldn't help but reflect on the experience of hosting a party. A sigh escaped him as he surveyed the scene, the mixed emotions of fatigue and satisfaction settling in. "Well, at least it was fun," he murmured to himself, finding solace in the vibrant memories that now lay scattered around him.

Lincoln found himself thinking about Naomi and what she might be up to. He pictured Dexter, imagining him doing most of the talking, while Naomi either ignored him or just nodded along. Lincoln couldn't help but chuckle at the idea that things might go more smoothly if Dexter was paired up with Sally. However, he remembered Ash's comment, saying that they wouldn't get much work done if those two were together.

As Destry ran the vacuum, he couldn't resist poking at Lincoln about Naomi. "So, spill it. You said you were going to get Naomi and never came back. But once everyone's leaving, I see you guys together," he remarked, effortlessly cleaning up the party remnants.

Lincoln, a bit unsure and not wanting to complicate things, shrugged off the question. He mulled over the balcony moment with Naomi, wondering if it meant more than just a kiss. Trying not to overthink, he decided to let things unfold naturally.

Destry, persistent as ever, pressed for more. "So? What is it?" he asked again. Lincoln shook his head, still uncertain. "I'm not sure. She was standing alone on the balcony, so I just gave her some company," he explained. Destry, always finding humor, snorted, "That rhymed, by the way." Lincoln facepalmed at the unintentional rhyme.

"She was standing alone on the balcony, so I just gave her some company," Destry sang playfully, making Lincoln hide his face in his arms. The room filled with the hum of the vacuum as Destry continued silently. Lincoln sighed, feeling the tension, but he chose not to break the silence, letting Destry draw his own conclusions.

After finishing the vacuuming, Lincoln moved on to mopping and then washing the windows. The routine sounds created a backdrop for his thoughts. Unsure about Naomi's feelings, he grappled with the aftermath of their balcony encounter. The quiet between him and Destry lingered, allowing Lincoln to sort through his emotions without complicating them further.

Finally finishing one room on the top floor, Lincoln and Destry faced four more awaiting their attention. The work progressed swiftly, facilitated by the uncomfortable quiet lingering between them. Lincoln couldn't shake the fear of what Destry might be pondering. But why was he so anxious? Why did he suddenly assume Naomi liked him? And why did that notion make him feel uneasy? The questions swirled in his mind, inducing a nervous energy.

Despite the internal turmoil, Lincoln decided to cut through the tension by simply announcing, "I'm done." Without waiting for a response, they moved on to the next room, the weight of unspoken thoughts hanging in the air.

"Alright then, keep your secrets, sir," Destry chuckled, restarting the vacuum. "What secret?" Lincoln asked innocently as he mopped the corridor outside the room. Destry, not buying the act, teased, "You know, what happened with Naomi." The mention of Naomi immediately conjured the vivid image of their balcony encounter once again.