Sunday, again.
Devin never liked Sundays. But, today is an exception; he has plans with Cerise. Speaking of plans, he never fixed the specifics of their meet-up scheduled today. Sticking his toothbrush in his mouth, he leaves his bathroom for his bedroom, reaching for his phone that lies charging on the mantel.
He types in a message for her:
| When & where |
| ?? |
Within seconds of his sending the text, Devin's phone buzzes with Cerise's answer:
| Oh right |
| How about Thomas Beach again? |
Devin replies:
| Done |
| 5pm? |
Devin is downstairs in the kitchen, preparing his breakfast of pancakes when his phone starts ringing in his pocket. Wiping his hand on the dishtowel, he pulls out the device to see an incoming call from Cerise.
"Hey," he says, upon receiving the call.
"Hi," comes her sweet, shy voice.
"What's up?"
"I was wondering if you're busy today? Like, right now?"
"No." Devin feels his heart swell slightly, anticipating what is to come. "Why?"
"I thought maybe we could hang out now?" she asks tentatively, quickly adding, "only if you're willing to. I mean five is fine, too. Just... just that since nobody's home and I have nothing to do..."
A smile marks itself over Devin's lips. "Are you," he says, tone laced with playful suggestiveness, "inviting me to your house, Cherry?"
"Huh?"
"I usually prefer getting to know the girl well," he elaborates, "you know, to understand her, take her out, establish some trust with her before... before sneaking into her home when her guardians are gone, and..." his pause is strategic, filled with an unsaid innuendo.
"Oh?" says Cerise, like a question. "Oh!" Now there's realization, followed by apologetic denial, "I didn't--I really didn't mean it like that. I was only--"
Devin chuckles, cutting her flustered rant short. Tucking his phone between his head and his shoulder, he uses his free hand to flip the last pancake over. "I know, I was just pulling your leg," he tells her.
"Right, um... I knew that."
Unable to keep from chuckling again, Devin says, "you're so innocent, Cherry. It's refreshing." There's no response from the other end, just silence. He's certain she is biting her lower lip timidly. After a while, he fills the silence, "do you have a laptop?"
"Uh, yes. Why?"
"Mine crashed. Do you have Netflix?"
"I do... but, I haven't used it. It's not an active account so I've gotta check."
"Don't worry about that," says Devin. "We'll use my ID. Just bring your laptop along, okay?"
"Alright."
"So, see you in Thomas Beach in..." Devin checks his watch, "half an hour?"
"Yeah, okay," Cerise agrees.
"Cool."
With a softly said 'bye', Cerise hangs up, leaving Devin staring at her contact details saved on his phone, smiling to himself while the pancake lies forgotten on the skillet, burning.
YOU ARE READING
🗸 the quintessences of cherry & cigarette
Short Story|| in which a broken boy takes interest in a broken girl and they realize that neither of them require fixing when they fall in love with each other's pieces, flaws, frayed ends, and quintessences || [ love unconditionally ] [ adore irrevocably ] 𝓬...
