HIM

10.

Jesci stood at the entrance of his house, his hand gripping the car keys a little tighter than usual as he stared at Macy. The soft glow of the evening light filtered through the windows, casting long shadows across the room. His mind was a storm of emotions, torn between frustration and temptation as Macy stood before him in nothing but lace, her intentions clear from the sultry look in her eyes.

He sighed heavily, tossing his keys into the wooden bowl by the door and kicking off his boots. "Macy, what are you doing here?" His voice was sharp, laced with irritation, though underneath it all, there was a tension building within him—a tension he wasn't sure he could fight off.

Macy sauntered forward, her hips swaying with every step as she ignored his question. "I thought we could have a little fun," she purred, her fingers trailing along the hem of her lingerie. "I didn't see you today... It felt like you were avoiding me."

Jesci ran a hand through his already-messy hair, his thoughts swirling as he took in her words. I was avoiding you, he thought to himself, though he didn't say it out loud. Instead, he groaned inwardly, trying to suppress the pull she had over him. He knew exactly why he avoided her today—he didn't want to fall into this trap again. Macy was always around, always ready to indulge in whatever it was that they had going on. But that's all it was—indulgence, a distraction. Nothing more.

His frustration only grew when he noticed her dress draped carelessly over the couch. He grabbed it and threw it toward her. "Put your clothes back on," he muttered. "My parents will be home soon."

Macy caught the dress midair, but she didn't make any move to cover herself. Instead, she stepped closer, her blue eyes gleaming with that familiar seductive look that always made his walls crumble. "Jesci," she cooed, running her fingers through his hair, letting them linger at the nape of his neck. "Let me make you feel better."

Jesci stiffened at her touch, his body betraying him even as his mind screamed at him to push her away. He clenched his jaw, a battle waging inside of him. He didn't want this—he didn't want Macy. Not really. She was a means of escape, a way to drown out the parts of his life that felt too heavy. But right now, staring into her eyes, feeling the warmth of her body pressing against his, it was hard to remember why he had wanted to avoid her in the first place.

"Why do you do this?" he asked, his voice softer now, tinged with the exhaustion of constantly battling himself. Macy's hand slid down to his chest, her nails lightly grazing his skin through the thin fabric of his shirt, sending a shiver down his spine.

"Because I know you need it," she whispered, leaning in so her lips were just inches from his ear. "I know you want it."

Jesci's heart raced, the inner conflict pulling him in two directions. Part of him wanted to push her away, tell her to leave, to stop coming around when he was trying so hard to distance himself from this meaningless routine. But the other part—the part that craved the temporary release from everything weighing him down—was weakening.

Macy's fingers trailed down to his waistband, her lips brushing against his jawline as she whispered again, "Let me take care of you."

That was it—the final crack in his resolve. With a low groan, Jesci gave in, his hands gripping Macy's waist as he pulled her closer. She let out a soft, triumphant giggle as she pressed herself against him, her lips finding his in a heated kiss. His frustration melted away, replaced by the intoxicating feeling of losing control, of letting himself fall back into this familiar chaos.

Before he could think any more about it, Jesci scooped her up in his arms and carried her up the stairs and down the hallway, her legs wrapped around his waist as they stumbled into his bedroom. Macy's laughter filled the air as they collapsed onto the bed, the tension between them igniting into something raw and primal.

Jesci knew this wasn't what he wanted—at least, not in the long run. But in that moment, with Macy pulling him deeper into her web, it was hard to care about anything else.

——
Leila placed her laptop bag onto the desk, exhaling deeply as she glanced at the pile of books and notes waiting for her. She decided to take a small break before diving into her studies and made her way toward the closet to change into something more comfortable. As she slipped into an oversized hoodie and sweatpants, her eyes fell on Jesci's hoodie, still folded neatly on the edge of her desk. It had been sitting there for days now, almost like a reminder—no, a haunting presence, a memory she couldn't quite shake.

She stood there, torn, debating with herself whether or not to put it on. Her fingers brushed the fabric, the familiar scent of his cologne faintly lingering on it. Her mind raced with thoughts, battling back and forth between the idea of wearing it or letting it be. Was it weird? Was she reading too much into it? Before she could settle on a decision, a loud meow broke her internal conflict.

"Suga," she whispered with a smile, looking down at her black cat, who had been circling her legs, purring loudly and rubbing against her calves. "You're hungry, huh?"

Leila bent down and scooped Suga up, the cat's purring growing louder as he nuzzled into her neck. His soft fur brushed against her cheek, and she chuckled as she patted his head. "Alright, alright, let's get you some food."

With Suga in her arms, she made her way into the kitchen, setting him down gently before reaching into the top cupboard to grab his food. The moment she pulled out the bag of biscuits, Suga's tail started twitching in excitement, his eyes wide with anticipation as he pawed at her legs, meowing impatiently.

Leila laughed, pouring the biscuits into his bowl. "You're so demanding," she teased, watching as Suga happily devoured his meal. After putting the cat food away, she flicked on the kettle and grabbed a mug from the drying rack. She placed a teabag in the cup, watching as the steam rose into the air. The calming, quiet moment was soon interrupted by the familiar sound of her phone vibrating on the counter.

Leila unlocked her phone, her eyes scanning the message that popped up.

It was Grace. *Of course,* she thought with a small smile.

**Grace:** "Guess what? We've been invited to another party this weekend! And it's NEON! 🎉"

Leila's eyes widened as she read the message. Another party? It seemed like that was all anyone did at university. Just as she was about to respond, another message from Grace appeared.

**Grace:** "And before you ask—yes, we're going. No excuses this time."

Leila bit her lip, unsure. After the last party, she wasn't exactly eager to jump into another one so soon. The thought of falling into a pool in front of everyone still made her cringe internally. She quickly typed back:

**Leila:** "Another party? Do we have to?"

She hit send, hoping that Grace would back down. But of course, in true Grace fashion, she wasn't one to let a good party slip through her fingers.

**Grace:** "Absolutely. And this time, I promise no pool incidents. I'll come over early and get you ready. No backing out, Leila!"

Leila sighed, already feeling a wave of uncertainty wash over her. She was more comfortable buried in her books, far away from the loud music, flashing lights, and inevitable embarrassment. But Grace was her best friend, and she couldn't let her down.

**Leila:** "Fine. But I'm trusting you not to let anything crazy happen this time."

**Grace:** "Deal! I'll see you at yours on Saturday."

Leila pocketed her phone, shaking her head as she poured hot water into her mug. The last party still lingered in her mind, but she knew Grace wouldn't take no for an answer. She was in for another night of socializing, whether she liked it or not.

Suga rubbed against her leg again, purring contently, and Leila sighed, kneeling down to give him a scratch behind the ears. "Looks like it's another party for us, buddy. Hopefully, this one goes better than the last."