Found Obsession

Chapter 77: Mark and Arina

November 2, 2005.

Rose lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind unable to rest after the night's events. Raven's words lingered in her thoughts, heavy and unsettling. Jonathan had stayed back, offering a quiet sense of security, but it did little to calm her.

Her eyes drifted toward Raven, who was fast asleep on the couch. The new clock on her nightstand glowed 3:43 AM.

Unable to bear the stillness any longer, Rose slid out of bed quietly and tiptoed to the kitchen. There, she saw Jonathan sleeping on the other couch, wearing the borrowed pants and T-shirt Raven had lent him. To avoid the harsh glare of the overhead light, she lit a candle and placed it on the table.

The soft flicker of the flame made Jonathan stir. He opened his eyes, meeting hers.

"Sorry, did I wake you?" Rose whispered.

"Can't sleep either," he said with a sigh, rising to join her at the table.

Jonathan glanced at the new chess set sitting nearby. "So, you bought a chess set?" he asked, his voice low.

"It seemed interesting," Rose murmured.

Jonathan reached over and began unpacking the pieces. The two of them sat together, setting up the board.

In hushed tones, Jonathan explained the rules, how the pieces moved, and their roles in the game. Rose listened, her focus divided between the game and the turmoil in her chest. She reached for a bottle of whisky, poured herself a small drink, and took a sip.

Jonathan followed her lead, pouring his own drink as he continued explaining. "Stupid project and stupid people," he muttered under his breath as he captured her knight.

Rose sighed deeply, taking a shot of her whisky. "Checkmate," Jonathan announced after a while. She frowned at the board, glaring playfully at him.

The sound of the bedroom door opening drew their attention. They turned to see Raven standing there, looking restless.

Raven sighed as he eyed them.

"How do you play?" he asked, shuffling over to join them at the table.

Jonathan reset the board and began explaining the game to Raven, who poured himself a drink as he listened. Rose refilled her own glass, and Jonathan did the same once he finished explaining.

The rest of the night passed in a quiet rhythm. Jonathan won the games, and the three of them drank slowly, finding a fragile sense of comfort in each other's presence amidst the weight of their thoughts.

After some light entertainment, a knock came at the door.

Raven got up to answer it, and there stood Lucas. His eyes scanned the table, landing briefly on the whisky bottle before quickly flicking to Jonathan. The moment his gaze landed on Jonathan, he looked away.

Jonathan grabbed his new phone. "We should get going," he said. "Rose, can I shower here?"

Rose nodded, and Jonathan hurried off to the bathroom. Rose turned to prepare a quick breakfast.

"So, your mom saying he might be staying here was literal," Lucas remarked.

"Yeah," Rose replied casually.

Lucas's eyes shifted to Raven. "You have your apartment next door. What's with you staying here?"

"Have a problem with it?" Rose asked, her tone sharp.

Lucas immediately turned to her, his posture tense. "If he stays or not, it's my problem. If you need anything from Raven, you let me know. You are no one to push or order him around. Do you understand?"