Illicit Attraction

8. PUNISHMENT

Era

"Hey, Era!"

I leaped from my chair and almost cussed when a familiar face showed up.

"C-Cora?" I drawled, surprised.

Her sudden arrival was followed by some peppy faces that I swear I didn't want to see at that time.

"F-Faye? T-Todd? J-Jayson?" I was like fucking role calling as they grabbed chairs from other tables and placed it around my area. "W-what are you doing here?" I shrugged my shoulders calmly, but deep inside I wanted to sweep each of them, including my best friend who was now kissing his boyfriend Todd in front of us.

Faye, on the other hand, was raking Jayson's hair using her fingers when she grinned at me. "It's your birthday, right? We've been to your house but no one's answering. So we decided to go there. Good thing Chris spotted you now."

"C-Chris? He's here?" I asked in disbelief.

"Hi, Era. I heard it's your birthday. That's why I hang along with them to see you." Chris suddenly broke in. He sat on an empty chair beside me and flashed his perfect smile.

"He's our gift to you, Era. Your longtime crush!" Cora said, grinning.

Oh, shit.

I turned my head to Cora and glared at her. "Shut your mouth," I warned her. If my stares towards her could only kill, she was already dead by now!

"Oh, come on Era!" Faye stood up and walked around the table until she's now behind Chris. "You know what, the hottest football player here likes you too!" she boasted, giving Chris light quick massages.

Chris smiled and shook his head. "You guys are really silly. I should be the one admitting that to her," he said, gazing at me.

I lowered my head to avoid Chris' stares. I agreed. All of you are freaking silly, stealing mine and Henry's moment!

"By the way, Era. Are you with someone?" asked Faye as she walked back to her place. Jayson instantly curled his arms around her waist as she perked on his lap.

They all looked at me, waiting for my answer. Do I have to tell them I'm with my dad? Girls my age do not sneak out with their fathers at night, but with peers.

I opened my mouth and before I could utter a word, a waiter came over with a huge flat box on his tray.

"Here's your order, Ma'am - Hawaiian and Pepperoni thick crust pizza."

"Holy shit!" exclaimed Todd. "I could kill for a pizza!"

My other friends exchanged dangerous looks and attacked my helpless take out. Within five minutes, only the box was left intact.

Shit... That's not for your monsters! I complained secretly, giving each of them my sweetest smile.

Where the heck is Henry? No one's staying in a restroom for almost half an hour! I thought, glimpsing at my wristwatch.

I needed him to get me out of here before Chris turned me into water vapors! His lustful glares and touches were burning the hell out of me!

"Hey guys, it's almost eleven. We gotta go now, it's starting already!" Jayson piped. He shook Faye and gave Cora and Todd a tap.

I furrowed my eyebrows. "What's going on?"

Chris held my hand, making me a bit shocked inwardly. "Era, come with us, please."

I gulped and smiled anxiously. "Wait, I can't go with you now." I looked at their faces one by one but none of them seemed to agree with me.

Suddenly, Cora stood up and grabbed my arms as she smirked.

Despite my almost begging excuses, Cora almost dragged me as they galloped through the mall's lobby.

Now it's 11:10 p.m. and I found myself making a bitter face in front of a romantic-comedy running film.

I have to get out of here. Henry must be so worried. I should be celebrating my birthday with him and not with my out-of-this-world friends.

"Guys, excuse me. I need to go to the comfort room." I stood up, without looking at them. I even didn't respond to their whats and whys.

I walked slowly down the stairs and through the dark corridors. There are no missed calls? No text? Is he not worrying about me? I grumbled, staring at my phone.

"You okay, Era?"

I gasped when I heard a deep voice. I turned to my back and saw Chris walking closer to me. "Oh. Y-yeah. Yeah, I'm good."

He glanced at my phone then back to my flushed face. "Did your boyfriend just call you?"

"N-no. I... I don't have a boyfriend." I responded as I stepped backward. Hell, is he following me? "Excuse me for a while... I need to-"

"How about we go to another place?" He walked closer to me.

"W-what?"

Before I knew it, he was already pressing me hard against the wall. My heart began to pump harder as he grabbed both of my arms. "You like me, right? And I like you too. So why don't we just get along with each other?" I felt his hot breath rolling against my cheek, triggering the coldness of my skin.

"Chris, l-let me go... I'm no longer into you. That's long gone!"

He released my arms. I thought he was leaving me for good. But fear crept into my nerves again as he clutched my jaws and forcefully crushed his lips into my lips.

"C-Chris... p-please... s-stop... let go of m-me!" I wept when I got the chance to breathe.

"Why are you rejecting me, Era? Don't you want a nice fuck? I know you want to be pleasured too like any other bitches out there. Come with me and you'll get wet all night!" He invaded my lip again and I screamed inside his mouth.

I was losing my breath as well as my weight! I wanted to scream for help but those laughs coming from inside the theater were all over, covering Chris's harassment!

Oh, God! Is this your punishment because I am shitting with my dad and making him my lover?

I closed my eyes and tears fell from the corners of my eyes as I let Chris's hands crawl under my shirt.

"Get your fucking hands off her!"

After hearing that booming voice, an abrupt power pulled Chris away from me, causing him to depart from my body.

Then there was a heavy thud.

I opened my eyes after and saw him unconsciously languishing on the floor.