Forbidden Cravings
Chapter 91: Call From Aeri & Sara

Chapter 91: Call From Aeri & Sara

The apartment was a quiet haven after the storm of the last day, the soft afternoon light filtering through the living room window, casting a warm glow across the hardwood floor. The faint scent of Aeri’s lavender candle lingered, mixing with the clean smell of fresh sheets I’d changed out after Raya and Kalina left.

My body was heavy, the weight of the night—the brothel, the subway fight, the heated chaos with the girls—still aching in my muscles as I trudged to my bedroom.

*Plop.* I dropped onto the bed, landing on my back, the mattress sinking under me, the new dark blue bedsheet cool against my skin.

"Phew, feels so relaxing," I said, my voice soft, my hands spreading out to feel the bed’s familiar comfort, my eyes closing as the tension in my shoulders eased.

The silence was a relief, the city’s distant hum muffled, the chirping of birds outside a gentle backdrop. "Umm... what should I do now?" I murmured, my thoughts drifting. "Jonathan hasn’t called, so no clients today, and Aeri’s with Sara." I sighed, long and heavy, the emptiness of the apartment settling in, Aeri’s absence a quiet ache in my chest. The bed felt too big without her, the room too still without her laugh.

Exhaustion won out, my eyelids growing heavy, and just like that, I drifted into sleep, the world fading into a soft, dreamless haze, the weight of everything finally loosening its grip.

*RING* *RING*

The sharp ring of my phone jolted me awake, the sound slicing through the quiet of late afternoon. "Ahmm..." I groaned, my eyes blinking open, the room bathed in the golden glow of 5 p.m. light, the shadows longer now.

I fumbled for my phone on the nightstand, my hand brushing a stray book as I grabbed it, the screen glowing with Aeri’s name. My heart lifted, a sleepy smile tugging at my lips as I answered, rubbing my eyes with my free hand.

"Hello, Ezra! Where are you?" Aeri’s voice rang out, bright and warm, like a burst of sunlight, instantly chasing away the grogginess.

"Aeri..." I said, my voice rough, still thick with sleep, sitting up slowly, the sheets sliding off my chest. "Hey, what’s up?"

"Yes, it’s me," she said, her tone playful, but she repeated, "Where are you?"

"Home," I said, swinging my legs over the bed, my legs hitting the floor. "Why? What happened? Everything okay?" My brow furrowed, a flicker of worry creeping in, my hand raking through my messy hair.

"Yes, yes, everything’s okay," she said quickly, her voice reassuring, a soft laugh bubbling through. "Can you come to the Grand Mall near Circle Town? You know the one, with the big fountain out front?"

"Umm? Mall?" I paused, leaning back on one hand, my eyes narrowing as I tried to piece it together. "Yeah, I can, but why? What’s going on?"

"Nothing much," Aeri said, her tone light, like she was smiling. "Me and Sara were shopping, and she said to call you because you must be feeling alone without me." Her voice softened, a hint of teasing affection in it, and I could picture her, standing in the mall, her eyes crinkling with that smile I loved.

"Huh!? Sara said?" I said, my voice spiking with disbelief, my eyes narrowing, a mix of disgust and confusion twisting my face.

Sara, with her loud mouth and mocking jabs, was the last person I’d expect to care about me feeling lonely.

"Yeah, I said that, any problem?" Sara’s voice boomed through the phone, sharp and taunting, cutting into Aeri’s words like a knife. "Baby must be feeling *very* lonely without his mommy, so I thought of calling you. Be grateful, you milk-sucking kid!" Her yell was so loud I pulled the phone from my ear, wincing, picturing her standing on some busy street, drawing stares from passersby with her outburst.

"Calm down, Sara," Aeri said, her voice firm but laughing, like she was used to Sara’s chaos. "I’m calling him, let me talk." I could hear the rustle of her moving the phone, probably stepping away, the faint murmur of street noise—car horns, chattering shoppers—in the background, suggesting they were outside the mall, maybe near the fountain.

I sighed, long and heavy, rubbing the back of my neck, my irritation at Sara tempered by Aeri’s voice, her warmth pulling me like a lifeline.

"I’ll be there in 30 minutes," I said, standing up, my legs scuffing the floor as I opened the cupboard looking at my dresses for what to wear? The clothes cool against my fingers. "Sigh."

"Alright, come safely," Aeri said, her voice soft again, a smile in it, the call cutting off with a soft click, leaving the room quiet once more.

I pocketed my phone, glancing around the bedroom—the books on the desk, the guitar in the corner, Aeri’s absence in every detail. The thought of seeing her, even with Sara’s loud presence, sparked a warmth in my chest, pushing back the exhaustion.

I removed my t-shirt, my reflection in the mirror showing a tired, half naked but determined face, ready to face the mall, Sara’s jabs, and whatever else the day threw at me, as long as Aeri was there, her smile waiting to ground me.

The apartment was quiet as I stood in front of the bedroom mirror, the late afternoon light fading into a soft golden glow, the faint chirping of birds outside mingling with the hum of the city.

Aeri’s call still echoed in my mind, her warm voice pulling me out of the haze of sleep, but Sara’s loud, mocking tone—calling me a "milk-sucking kid"—gnawed at me, stirring a mix of irritation and curiosity.

"I wonder what she wants, calling me in front of Aeri like that, two days before her wedding," I thought, my brow furrowing as I adjusted my hair. "Sigh, doesn’t matter. I’ll find out when I get there. Probably she’ll just irritate me." The thought of Sara’s taunts made my jaw tighten, but Aeri’s smile, waiting at the Grand Mall, was enough to push me forward.

I pulled on a long black shirt over a fitted black t-shirt, pairing it with black pants, the dark ensemble feeling like armor against Sara.

In front of the mirror, I set my long hair, combing it back with my fingers until it fell just right, then sprayed on some cologne, the sharp, clean scent filling the room. I tied the laces of my long white sneakers, the contrast sharp against the dark outfit, and grabbed my keys from the desk, the metal jangling softly. With a final glance at the apartment—Aeri’s potted plant by the window, the empty coffee mug on the table—I flicked off the lights by the door, the click loud in the silence, and stepped out, locking it behind me.

The city streets were alive with evening energy, the cool November air brushing my skin as I flagged down a taxi, the yellow car pulling up with a squeak of brakes.

I slid into the back seat, my phone in hand, scrolling through boring news headlines—politics, weather, nothing that held my attention. The driver hummed along to a faint radio tune, the city blurring past in streaks of neon and headlights.

After a while, the taxi slowed, pulling up to the Grand Mall near Circle Town, its massive glass facade glowing under the evening sky, the fountain out front sparkling with colored lights. I paid the driver, handing over a bill, and stepped out, the chatter of shoppers and the hum of activity hitting me all at once. I checked my phone—6 p.m., right on time.

"Now where are they...?" I muttered, my hands sliding into my pockets, my sneakers scuffing the polished floor as I walked inside, the mall’s bright lights and bustling energy, very different and opposite of my house came into view.

The ground floor was packed, families lugging shopping bags, teens laughing by a smoothie stand, the air thick with the smell of pretzels and perfume. I headed for the escalator, the metal steps humming as I rode to the upper floor, my eyes scanning the crowd for Aeri’s familiar figure.

As I reached the top, a group of girls nearby—college-aged, clutching iced coffees—glanced my way, their whispers catching my ear.

"Oh my god, he’s so hot," one said, giggling, her friend nodding. "And he smells so good, did you catch that cologne?"

I ignored them, my lips twitching into a faint smirk, my focus on finding Aeri, but the attention was hard to miss, my dark outfit and fresh scent drawing eyes.

Then, above the railing, a loud voice cut through the mall’s hum, unmistakable and grating.

"Oii, Ezra! Here! We’re here!" Sara shouted, waving her hand wildly, her bright dress a splash of color against the crowd. She stood beside Aeri, who looked radiant in a simple sweater and jeans, her hair loose, her smile soft but bright as she spotted me.

The sight of her eased the irritation Sara’s voice stirred, my heart lifting despite the chaos I knew was coming.

I exhaled, my hands still in my pockets, and walked toward them, the mall’s energy buzzing around me, ready to face whatever this evening—and Sara—had in store, as long as Aeri was there to anchor me.