Initiation (studxstud) (discontinued)

Chapter 30 - ॐ

CHAPTER 30

At a Crossroads

(recap) -

We walked further inside Taye's apartment and I freed myself of my sweatshirt. I noticed a new scent.

"You change the essential oil in your humidifier again?" I questioned as I turned towards her, but stopped in my tracks.

The expression on Taye's face was unreadable, and her gaze was fixated on the side of my neck.

"That's not from me..." Her voice ushered monotonously, drastically changing in tone.

My heart dropped into my ass.

Anxiety filled every bone in my body as Taye stood still, her frigid gaze was fixated on me as she anticipated my response.

...Holy shit. Did Braille leave a hickey!?

I inwardly panicked as I raked my brain for an explanation without telling on myself.

While keeping eye contact, I fixed my mouth to respond but Taye's expression changed just then. She said, "You know what..."

A smile occupied the lower half of her face as she moved towards me, but my anxiety worsened.

"...It doesn't matter, I don't know why I asked." Taye stated with a carefree tone.

"But–" I tried to explain myself but she held her finger to her lips, signaling me to stop.

"It's alright."

An unsettling feeling still lingered at the pit of my stomach but I decided to take her word for it.

I feel like a kid who's just been caught with their hand down in the cookie jar.

Taye pulled me into her arms and held me there as she ushered softly into my ear, "...I'm just relieved to have you in my grasp right now."

I exhaled discreetly through my nose to relax myself and my nerves while within her hold.

We pulled away, and I caught a glance of her face before she kissed me. I was shocked to find that she seemed to be on the verge of tears.

...I must not be seeing right... right?

I get a message just then, it was a DM to my Instagram business account. I instantly recognized the username as my ex-girlfriend, Andrea, considering the fact that she was blocked on every other platform.

Drei Thee Beast: I know I'm the last person you want to hear from, I just want you to know that someone paid me to pop up at your crib that night. I don't who or why but they was paying me a stack and you know I wasn't passing that up. I thought you deserved to know. Be safe.

I felt a chill run down my spine, and the feeling that was left in my stomach intensified enough for me to throw up. I just stood there momentarily, processing what I just read.

In that moment, I had a epiphany. I wonder, does she still have someone following me? How was I even fine with that in the first place?

The night replayed itself in my mind. The way Taye called right as it was happening, the fact that she knew that someone was in my home, and to be outside right when I 'needed' her...

I saw red.

"I don't think you understand how happy I was when you initiated a that earlier, Amina... knowing how you feel about them." I heard Taye say faintly, I wasn't listening. "The feeling is inexplicable, knowing that you wanted me to hold you, knowing that I'm wanted by you. It's as if you feel secure in my arms, and that's all I want you to feel... security."