The Succubus's Plaything

Chapter 29: I'm Sorry

Hal POV

I can feel my mind start to get fuzzy as I once again empty my plastic cup of liquid. Tonight has been less than enjoyable, and while I've done my best to put on a cheerful face, I really need to get out of here.

I avoid conversation for the most part but do engage when someone directly addresses me. It wouldn't do to for me to be rude, after all. But I shouldn't have, because that's how my cup somehow ends up getting refilled.

A few minutes after Inesa sneaks off, I too decide to make my escape.

With the exception of Hina, the others are too busy talking to even notice me getting up to leave the room. But she, for some reason, also gets up and follows just a few steps behind me.

When we're in the hallway, I take a deep breath from relief. Now clear from the stuffy room, my mind can clear up just a bit.

"You okay? I can tell you aren't quite enjoying yourself." Hina strides up beside me while stretching out her arms behind her.

I turn towards her to reply, and mentally regret my sharp movement.

"I'm just not that great with these types of events." I lie; in reality, my jealousy and rejection are getting the best of me right now. But it's not like I'm going to say that out loud.

"That's funny, just looking at you, I would assume this is exactly where you would thrive."

I tilt my head at her observation. "How so?"

"I notice more than most people. You could say I'm a natural empath. When you first came here, I could tell you were excited."

I take a step back, surprised that she paid attention that immediately after seeing me.

"If I had to guess, something happened with Inesa within the first five minutes of you being here."

She hit the nail on the head.

"By your silence, I'm just going to assume I'm right. Are your feelings one-sided?"

While I first opted to stay silent, now I nearly choke on nothing. "W-what!? I think you have the wrong idea-" I was about to continue when my stomach starts to feel uneasy. "I need to get to the bathroom."

She erupts into giggles, knowing exactly how right she is. "Gotcha. I'll be waiting for you in the lobby when you're finished."

I take off towards the bathroom to turn my guts inside out, and she walks down the hallway in the opposite way.

---

Having puked out everything in my stomach and having drunk a massive amount of water, I leave the toilets to meet up with Hina. But immediately after striding out into the corridor, I find myself face-to-face with a very surprised Inesa.

"W-what are you doing here?" Before I have a chance to answer though, she appears to take a little sniff and wrinkles her nose. "Ok, never mind. Gross."

I don't think my breath is all that strong considering how much I rinsed out my mouth and how much water I drank, but I do suppose succubi have heightened senses.

Since it was her that drove me to drink too much in the first place, I can't help but feel a little offended.

"You don't even get to comment with how you've been treating me."

Oh shit. It actually slipped out.

"Hmm?" She tilts her head, confused.

Ok, no. Screw it. She doesn't get to "hmm" me right now. "First, you turn me into your literal food. Then, you keep showing up everywhere, trying to play with my feelings, and then you tell me to stay away from you, even though I'm being forced to be with you on the pain of death! What do you even expect from me?!"

Shocked at my sudden outburst, my jaw falls slightly, and I feel a pang of guilt at her downcast reaction.

Inesa immediately takes my words to heart, drooping her shoulders and looking at the floor. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean... I meant..."

And then, my stupid and alcohol-compromised self decides to fully send it. "Oh, and on top of that, you somehow have the gall to act like you're the victim?! I'm the one who got kidnapped and is still being held hostage, and all you're worried about is keeping me quiet so that you can act all innocent in front of your crush!"

At that moment, as I finish speaking, a cold gust of wind flows through the hallway as if someone just opened a window, and my mind clears enough for me to realize what a massive mistake I just made.

I'm dead.

She is definitely going to kill me now.

Any moment.

In anticipation and fear of what she'll do next, I flinch when Inesa turns her face back up at me, to reveal... tears.

Her eyes don't contain the angry or murderous glare I expected. Instead, she just looks broken.

Tear after tear rolls down her cheeks and drips down off her chin, leaving tiny wet spots on the carpet, while she tries to string together a single sentence.

"I'm sorry, Hal... I'm sorry, Hal, I-I'm sorry that I dragged you into all this... I didn't mean to... Honest."