Our world

5

This chapter contains: mentions of drug use, alcohol usage, and emotional conflict.

Chapter 5

"Are you feeling a bit more composed now? What can I do to light you up?" Luna inquired.

Richard sat on the couch, taking generous gulps of whiskey, which was now halfway gone from the glass in his hand.

"I'm cool. Don't worry." He paused momentarily before continuing, "But I wanted to apologize for not attending your birthday dinner, I know how important it was, so I'm offering you this." He reached over to the drawers beside the television.

Before she knew it, he was extracting a bouquet of roses and a stack of cash, presenting them to her. "Happy belated birthday, gorgeous."

Luna's mouth fell open, her eyes widened in astonishment, her hands instinctively covering her face in disbelief. She shook her head, rejecting everything except the roses.

"N-no, you—this must be money you were saving—no, I can't accept it, keep it, Richard. I can't take that."

Richard firmly pressed the money into her hands.

"I want you to keep it. My pockets are good, so take it and don't utter another word about it."

She bit her lip, leaning in to press her lips against his.

"Thank you. This is just too much. No one has ever done something like this for me."

He nodded and smirked. Luna then stood up and searched for a vase. Upon finding one, she filled it with water and placed the roses inside.

"Can you take me back to my house?" Luna implored, her excitement evident, a radiant smile never leaving her face.

"Yeah of course."

They gathered their belongings and made their way out of the front door. Music blared from the neighbors apartment, which didn't seem to disturb Richard in the slightest. It appeared this was a regular occurrence.

"They lack good taste for music," Richard chuckled.

Luna laughed in agreement. They descended the cracked steps until they reached the concrete floor. The building's walls appeared caved in, each adorned with removable vinyl decals splattered with dirt, liquid, and possibly a touch of mold. This clearly indicated that the building was inexpensive and looked as though it could collapse at any moment. Naturally, Luna felt a bit neurotic to even comment on the building's condition; perhaps Richard had resided here for several years, and finding a new apartment was the last thing on his mind.

Upon stepping outside and beginning their journey to Richard's Toyota Corolla, which sported a blend of dark and bright orange hues, the evening air greeted their faces. Their curly, dark hair danced in the breeze, brushing against their shoulders and causing Luna to smile like a child. It was late at night, the sky exuded a captivating ambiance.

The car ride was exuberant, with music blasting through the radio at full volume, heavy metal rock reverberating in the air. With the windows rolled all the way down, Luna giggled, sang along to the lyrics, and then fell silent as she realized they were speeding down the highway. Her house was never this far away.

What was it about this guy and his sudden inclination to take an alternate route?

She turned the music down, seeking an explanation. "Hey, where are you taking me? My house was never this far."

"I have to pick something up from my cousin. It'll be quick, he doesn't waste time," Richard replied, accelerating to expedite the journey, which Luna begrudgingly accepted.