I went into the bathroom, the door clicking shut behind me, and flicked on the light. I turned on the tap, letting cold water run over my hands and feet, the chill biting my skin. I cupped my hands and splashed my face, water dripping off my chin as I stood there, staring at my reflection in the mirror—wet hair sticking to my forehead, eyes shadowed, looking like hell. Everything from today crashed back in: Sara’s smirk, her phone, the cheque in my pocket, the mess I’d walked into.
I exhaled deep, my breath shaky, and grabbed a towel off the rack, pressing it to my face, wiping slow as if I could scrub the memory away too.
When I stepped out, the hall opened up to the dining table, already set with plates steaming—rice, some chicken curry Aeri must’ve whipped up, a bowl of sliced cucumbers on the side.
The smell hit me, fresh and warm, spices mixing with the faint sweetness of her cooking, but it barely registered. My senses were dulled, like someone had turned the volume down on everything. Aeri was sitting there, her phone in hand, scrolling with one thumb, her dark hair loose now, spilling over her shoulders. She glanced up as I walked in, but I didn’t meet her eyes—just dropped into the chair across from her.
We ate in silence, the only sounds the soft *clink* of spoons against plates and the occasional tap of her glass as she sipped water.
Usually, I’d kick things off—ask about her day, tease her about the food, maybe crack some dumb joke to make her laugh. Not tonight. I wasn’t in the mood, my head too full of shit to even try. And Aeri was quiet too in the morning, her usual chatter gone, so it felt... fine, I guess.
Better this way. I kept my face down, scooping rice and curry into my mouth, chewing slow, the taste good but distant, like it was happening to someone else.
Aeri’s eyes flicked up from her plate, quick and subtle, catching me. She’d noticed—I wasn’t talking, wasn’t even looking up, just hunched over my food like a robot.
She set her spoon down, leaning forward a bit, her voice soft but warm.
"How’s the food, Ezra? Did you like it?" she asked, a small smile tugging at her lips, trying to pull me out.
"Hmm..." I mumbled, barely a sound, my eyes still on my plate as I shoveled in another bite, my hand moving on autopilot.
She tilted her head, her smile fading a little, her fingers tapping the table once, twice.
"Did something happen at work?" she asked, her tone gentle but curious, her dark eyes searching my face now, like she could see the cracks if she looked hard enough.
"Nope, it was good," I said slow, my voice flat as I grabbed my glass and took a long sip of water, the cold hitting my throat but not clearing my head.
I pushed my chair back then, the legs scraping soft against the floor, and stood up with my empty plate in hand.
"Thank you for the food," I said, quiet and automatic, turning toward the kitchen without looking back.
Aeri watched me go, her spoon hovering over her plate, her brow creasing faintly.
"Ezra..." she started, her voice trailing off as I disappeared around the corner, the *clink* of my plate hitting the sink echoing back to her.
She leaned back in her chair, her phone forgotten beside her, her lips pressing into a thin line as she stared at the empty spot where I’d been. "What’s up with him tonight?" she muttered under her breath, barely loud enough to hear, her fingers drumming on the table as the kitchen light spilled out, leaving her alone with the cooling food and a nagging little worry she couldn’t shake.
Later on, I was halfway down the hall, my feet soft on the hardwood, headed for my room when Aeri’s voice stopped me.
"Hey, Ezra," she called standing in front of me, leaning forward a bit, her tone light but hopeful.
"Would you like to watch something together before sleeping?" She held up a DVD case—some old rom-com she loved, the cover worn at the edges from how many times she’d watched it—waving it a little, her smile small but warm, her dark hair slipping over one shoulder.
I paused, my hand on the doorknob, my back still to her.
"No, I’m tired," I said, my voice low, flat, barely turning my head. "I’ll just sleep." I pushed the door open and stepped inside, letting it click shut behind me, not even glancing back to see her face.
Aeri stood there, her hand with the DVD dropping slow to her side, her fingers loosening around it. Her smile faded, her eyes dimming a little, the usual spark in them flickering out as she stared at the closed door.
She bit her lip, her shoulders slumping just a touch. "Oh... okay," she mumbled to herself, her voice barely a whisper.
Inside my room, I didn’t even bother with the light—just flopped onto the bed with a loud *thup*.
The mattress bounced under me, the sheets cool against my back as I lay there, staring up at the dark ceiling. My hands slid behind my head, my fingers digging into my hair as my mind started spinning again—Sara, that damn video, her smirk flashing in my head like a neon sign. She had me on a leash now, no question—could threaten me, demand anything, anytime, and I’d have to jump.
And Aeri... shit, even she wasn’t talking to me right tonight—not like usual, anyway. Last night she’d pushed me away, and now I was the one shutting her out, barely giving her a word.
"Sighhh..." I let out a long, heavy breath, the sound filling the quiet room. "What a situation I’ve caught myself in," I muttered, my voice rough, barely audible as I turned my face into the pillow, the fabric soft against my cheek.
My eyes drifted shut, the weight of it all pulling me under—Sara’s laugh, Aeri’s faltering smile, the mess I couldn’t escape—swirling in my head as I dozed off, the darkness swallowing me slow.
Outside, Aeri lingered by the table a minute longer, her fingers brushing the DVD case, her eyes flicking back to my door. "Maybe tomorrow he’ll feel better," she said softly, half-hopeful, half-worried, before turning off the hall light with a *click* and going inside her room in silence.