ᴇQᴜᴀʟʟʏ ᴅᴇʀᴀɴɢᴇᴅ

𝟯

Hm?" I muttered, reaching out, my fingers curling around the back of his neck as I pulled him down onto the bed with me. His body was warm, solid, familiar.

"I'm sorry about that... he's my father," Kaito murmured, his voice muffled as he pressed his face against my chest, arms wrapping tightly around me, as if he was afraid to let go.

I ran my fingers through his tousled hair absentmindedly, my eyes tracing patterns in the ceiling. "Does your dad always drop in unannounced?"

"Nwoo," he mumbled against me, his lips grazing my skin through my thin T-shirt. Then, without warning, he latched onto my nipple through the fabric, sucking gently at first, then more insistently.

A sharp pleasure-pain shot through me. "Kai...to," I moaned, biting my lip just as my phone started ringing, the shrill sound breaking the moment.

"Don't answer it," he whispered against my skin. He tugged my shirt up, exposing me completely, his mouth finding my sensitive flesh again. His fingers rolled my other nipple between them, tugging and pinching with a mix of tenderness and hunger.

I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing myself to ignore the ringing phone, the way my body ached for more. But it wouldn't stop. The sound drilled into my head, persistent and annoying.

Frustrated, I groaned and snatched the phone off the nightstand. "BITCH!" a voice screeched through the speaker.

I sighed. "Who's this?" I asked, my voice thick with annoyance. Cockblock, I thought.

"Hoe, you don't know your own best friend's voice? Wow, so you gon' flex on me like that?" Tiana's voice was laced with mock offense.

I rolled my eyes, my fingers still lazily playing in Kaito's hair. "No, sis, you just interrupted. What's up? You good?"

"Are you still coming to the spot later?"

I glanced at my phone screen, checking the time. "Yeah, sure."

"By the way, you with James?" she asked slyly.

"Who?" I teased, then chuckled. "Just kidding. No, but you'll find out soon. Bye, Tia."

I hung up before she could interrogate me further.

Kaito sat up slightly, dragging my legs over his lap. "Who was that?"

"My best friend," I replied, stretching. "Kaito, I gotta go."

His expression darkened. "Where?"

I avoided his gaze, suddenly feeling guilty. "Tia needs me for something. I'll see you tomorrow."

He watched me carefully, his grip tightening just slightly before he let go. "Will you be back?" His voice was low, unreadable. "The key's under the mat."

I nodded, even though he couldn't see me, then slipped off the bed. As I made my way downstairs, I pulled on my pants but decided to keep his shirt. It smelled like him—clean, musky, intoxicating.

Kaito followed me down, leaning against the wall as he watched me put on my shoes. "Take care," he said softly.

I nodded, smiling slightly before stepping out into the cool evening air.

At the bus stop, I shoved my hands into my jacket pockets and felt something—paper. I pulled it out, staring at the stack of bills. Three hundred dollars.

Where the fuck—Oh. Kaito.

A weird feeling settled in my chest. If it were any other guy, I'd be thrilled. But this? This made me uneasy. Should I give it back?

I sighed and shoved the money back in my pocket before stepping onto the bus.

⸻

Kaito's POV

Why didn't I stop her?

I pinched the bridge of my nose, frustration creeping into my bones. She always does this—disappears. Slips through my fingers like sand, making it harder to find her again.

Anxiety gnawed at my insides. What if this time, she didn't come back?

I threw on a black t-shirt, jeans, and my leather jacket before grabbing my phone. "Seung, bring my car to my apartment," I muttered into the receiver. Then I took my pills and stepped out.

I miss her.

Her beautiful round face. Her smooth chocolate skin. Those curls that framed her face like a halo. The fullness of her lips, the way she chewed them when she was nervous.

I closed my eyes, feeling the familiar ache settle in my gut.

_________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐

"We're gonna be best friends forever, right, Kaito? And when I get older, we're gonna get married, right?"

"Kai, why do you have to leave? It's not fair! I hate you! You're just like everyone else—you're gonna leave me, too! I'm not your friend anymore!"

_________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐

The memories hit me like a fist to the chest. My hands clenched. I texted Seung again, cursing under my breath. He was taking too long.

I pulled up the tracking app on my phone. A tiny blue dot blinked on the screen. Desiree. I placed a tracker on her phone—just in case.

Her location hadn't changed in hours.

My heart pounded.

I swallowed hard. I was overreacting... right? She said she was with Tia. But it had been five hours.

Fuck this.

I called an Uber and gave them her address. When I reached her apartment, I knocked. No answer.

I pulled out the copy of her key I made and let myself in.

The place was neat. Almost... too neat. Like she hadn't lived in it for a while. I walked up to her bedroom and flicked on the light. Everything was in place. Nothing disturbed.

I opened her dresser. Panties, neatly folded.

I picked up a lacy one, balling it up in my palm before slipping it into my pocket.

Then, I sat on her bed. In the dark.

Waiting.

⸻

Desiree's POV

"Tia, pass the blunt." I licked my dry lips, leaning back against the old couch.

Tia and I were at our usual spot—a rundown warehouse we used to escape reality. It was where we came to smoke, to breathe, to forget.

"So, who's the guy?" Tia asked, stuffing a weed brownie into her mouth.

"Met him about three months ago. He says he likes me... says he's been following me for a while."

She gave me a pointed look. "Girl, that sounds like some stalker shit."

"I don't know... It doesn't feel that way. It's weird. He says he knew me when we were kids, but I don't remember. Not after what happened."

Tia's expression softened. "You still think about him, don't you?"

My throat tightened. I didn't want to talk about this.

"Every day," I whispered.

A long silence.

"You know it wasn't your fault, right?" she said gently.

My vision blurred. "But it is, Tia. If it weren't for me, Tyson would still be alive."

Tia pulled me into a hug. "We'll heal together, Desi."

A knock on the door broke the moment.

I got up, hesitated, then opened it.

I gasped. "What are you doing here?"