We Dem Girlz 💅🏻💁🏻♀️
So Mark and I almost hooked up at the Party 🙃
katarinabluu:
WHAT.
imwinter:
💀💀💀
imnotningning:
Voice note: [clears throat] I FUCKING. CALLED IT.
imwinter:
Wait, wait, WAIT
What do you mean “almost hooked up”???
I mean, almost having sex with him in one of the empty offices 😀
And here's the kicker
The fucker never broke up with his girlfriend. 😀
katarinabluu:
EXCUSE ME???
imwinter:
Oh hell no.
imnotningning:
THAT DOWNRIGHT DIRTY MUTHA FUCKA.
HE'S A DEAD MAN NEXT TIME I SEE HIM.
katarinabluu:
Wait a minute.
Didn't you say he broke up with his girlfriend?🤨🤨🤨
That is what he said.
But the ❤️ next to said girlfriend's name when she was calling his phone in the middle of the disgusting deed said otherwise 🙃
imwinter:
Yikes 😬😬😬
imnotningning:
That lying-ass snake 🤬
katarinabluu:
That's foul.
Fuck my life 🥲🥲🥲
imwinter:
So wait...
Does this mean the breakup never actually happened?
Dunno. Don't care.
Currently in an Uber on my way back to my apartment and probably cry about it.
katarinabluu:
Aww, nooo 😢
imwinter:
Want us to come over, unnie? Bring snacks and wine?
imnotningning:
Say the word. We’ll be there in 10.
It's fine guys. I just need some time alone
katarinabluu:
Okay... but we're here if you change your mind.
imnotningning:
Don't let him ruin your night, girl. You're too good for that.
Just say the word, and I’m beating his ass and asking questions never 😇😇😇
That’s assault 💀💀💀
imnotningning:
Your point 🤨🤨??
imwinter:
Text us when you get home safe.
Aeri exited the elevator, her thoughts were a whirlwind of emotions as she approached her door. Sadness, anger, confusion, and disappointment all swirled up together in her chest like a toxic cocktail she was getting far too used to drinking.
The hallway was quiet, her heels echoing softly against the walls. The party felt like a lifetime ago already. Mark's hands on her waist. His lips on her neck. The way her body had betrayed her, melting into him like the past year hadn't happened.
She shook off the memory and stopped in front of her door.
Just get inside. Shower. Sleep. Forget.
She entered her code into the keypad.
Red flash. Nothing.
Aeri frowned and tried again, slower this time, making sure each digit was correct.
Red. Still locked.
You have got to be kidding me.
"Why isn't this working?" she muttered under her breath, her frustration spiking.
She tried a third time — nothing.
Fourth time — the keypad flashed red again, this time with an angry little beep.
Locked out. In the hallway. At almost eleven pm. After the worst night of the year.
She groaned, leaning her forehead against the door and closed her eyes, trying to steady her breathing.
Okay, Aeri. Think. Calmly. Rationally. You can figure this out.
"I see you're in a pickle."
She turned.
Hide stood a few feet away, his hands shoved into the pockets of his hoodie, which was zipped up slightly but revealed three-quarters of his chest.
His expression was casual, but with a hint of amusement dancing in his dark eyes, taking in her frustrated state — the flushed cheeks, the clenched jaw, the defeated slump of her shoulders against the door.
"What do you think?" she answered dryly.
He let out a small chuckle and walked close enough that she could smell his cologne — something warm, subtle, infuriatingly pleasant.
"I'll take that as a 'yes,'" he said, a slight smirk tugging at his lips.
"Good to know you find my predicament amusing."
"Hey, I'm just glad I came along to witness this entertaining scene." His voice dripped with mock innocence. "Timing has never been my strong suit, but tonight? Perfect."
Aeri rolled her eyes and turned back to the keypad, punching in the code one more time out of sheer stubbornness.
Red.
Oh come on!
"What's up with this thing? It was working this morning."
Hide shrugged, utterly unbothered. "Ah, technology. Always so reliable." His smirk widened. "Maybe the door got tired of letting you in. Decided to change the passcode on its own. Spontaneous renovation."
She shot him a glare.
He grinned wider. "What? I'm just offering possible explanations."
"Real helpful."
"I try."
Aeri let out a frustrated groan and pressed her forehead against the door again. The cold wood was the only thing keeping her from screaming.
Hide watched her for a moment, his teasing expression softening just slightly.
"For what it's worth," he said, his voice losing some of its playful edge, "I heard some people on this floor were having problems with their keypads. Might be a building-wide thing."
"Great," she muttered into the door. "Just great."
"Hey." He stood next to her, pressing his temple against her door. "Look on the bright side."
"There's a bright side?"
"Yes," His smirk returned, but softer this time. "At least you're not stuck out here alone."
Aeri turned her head and looked at him.
He was standing closer than before — close enough that she had to tilt her chin up to meet his eyes. There was something different in his expression now. Not just teasing. Not just amused.
Something warmer.
"I mean," he continued, shoving his hands back into his pockets, "you could stand out here and stew. Pace around. Get really familiar with this hallway. Or..." He tilted his head toward his door. "You could come to my place. Pass the time with me instead."
Aeri's breath caught.
"I don't want to impose—"
"Nah." He cut her off with a wave of his hand. "No imposition here. My place is way more comfortable than this hallway, trust me. Got snacks. Movies. A working keypad."
She laughed and rolled her eyes despite herself.
"And better company too, if I do say so myself."
Hide watched her hesitate, his eyes searching her face. He didn't push. Didn't tease. Just waited.
Aeri thought about the work party. About Mark. About how close she'd come to making the same mistake again.
She thought about being alone in her dark apartment, replaying every moment, every lie, every almost.
She thought about the way Hide was looking at her — like he already knew she was going to say yes.
"Okay," she relented.
His whole face lit up.
"Atta girl." He reached out and clapped a hand on her shoulder, the touch warm and brief. "You won't regret this."
"I better not," she muttered.
He laughed — a real laugh, low and warm — and guided her down the hallway with a hand hovering just behind her back. Not quite touching. But close enough to feel.
Aeri didn't look back at her locked door.
Aeri followed him into his apartment and was immediately greeted by a sense of cosy warmth. The space was relatively neat, if a bit cluttered — stacks of books and manga lined the shelves, various knick-knacks scattered across surfaces like souvenirs from a life lived fully. The scent of freshly brewed coffee hung in the air, mingling with something softer underneath. Incense, maybe. Sandalwood.
It smelled like him.
Hide shut the door behind her and gestured to the room with a flourish. "Welcome to my humble abode... again," he said. "Make yourself comfortable."
Aeri settled onto the couch and took off her fur shawl, then her heels.
Her eyes wandered around the space until they landed on the camera on a tripod.
Her mind drifted immediately — to the woman pressed against the glass door, to the way his hands had roamed, to the dark smile he'd given her across the balcony.
Her face burned.
"Were you filming something?" she asked, her voice coming out a little too high.
Hide followed her line of sight. His smirk grew as he leaned against the wall, hands still in his pockets.
"Oh, that." A pause. "Yeah. I was doing a little recording session earlier."
He let the words hang, watching her.
"Curious?"
"No." Too fast. She cleared her throat. "I just saw the camera, that's all."
Hide's eyes narrowed, amused. He didn't believe her for a second.
"Just saw the camera?" he repeated, his tone laced with playful innuendo. "No curiosity at all about what I might have been shooting?"
"Well... I don't think it's my business."
Yeah, right, she thought. I literally watched your business in 3D from my balcony.
"Fair enough," he said, pushing off the wall. He sauntered over to the couch and sat beside her — closer than necessary. The scent of coffee and sandalwood wrapped around her. "So." He turned to face her. "What got you worked up earlier?"
Aeri arched an eyebrow.
"You seemed a bit on edge," he observed, his voice dipping lower. "Tense. Frustrated. Couldn't help but wonder why."
His gaze roamed over her face, cataloguing every flicker of expression, every micro-shift in her body language.
Aeri forced a smile and looked away. "It's nothing."
Hide didn't look convinced.
"Come on," he murmured, teasing but soft. "I can tell there's something on your mind."
"How so?"
He leaned in slightly, his eyes locked on hers.
"Well, for starters, you're sitting there all tense and stiff, trying so damn hard to pretend everything's fine." He gestured vaguely at her shoulders. "But I can see the strain in your face. The way you're holding yourself… Something's eating at you."
She winced. He was too observant for his own good.
She sighed, slumping into the couch. "It's... complicated."
Hide scooted closer — close enough that their knees almost touched.
"Want to talk about it?" His voice was softer now. Gentler. "Might help to get it off your chest."
Aeri stared at her hands in her lap. The silence stretched.
She thought about Mark. About the office. About how close she'd come to making the same mistake again.
"I was in an on-and-off situationship with a coworker," she began slowly. "He ended things when he started dating someone seriously. I was bitter, but... there wasn't anything I could do."
Hide nodded, listening.
"Tonight at the party, we talked. He said he wanted us to stay friends." Her voice dropped. "We kissed. Almost had sex. And then his girlfriend called."
She let out a frustrated breath.
"It's a whole mess."
Hide's jaw tightened. She could see him processing — the hurt in her voice, the lingering confusion, the shame she was trying so hard to hide.
"That's rough," he said quietly. "Sounds like you were really into him."
"I was." She picked at a thread on her sleeve. "I just feel dirty for letting it happen. Even if it was a moment of weakness."
"Hey." His voice was firm but gentle. "Don't be too hard on yourself. We all have moments of weakness, especially when emotions are involved. You got caught up in the moment. It happens."
"Yeah, but I allowed it. I almost let him cheat—"
Hide reached out and gripped her knee — light, comforting, grounding.
"Stop," he said. "It takes two to cheat. He was just as much a part of that as you were. Maybe even more, since he's the one actually in a relationship."
She opened her mouth to argue.
"No buts." His grip tightened slightly. "You can't shoulder all the blame. He came onto you knowing full well he was taken. That's on him. You said so yourself. Things got complicated. It's not like you were trying to steal someone's boyfriend."
"I guess not," she whispered.
Hide's expression softened. He gave her knee a final squeeze before letting go.
"Exactly. So stop blaming yourself. You made a mistake. So did he — a bigger one. Don't let him make you feel dirty or guilty over something that was at least fifty percent his damn fault." A small smirk tugged at his lips. "But if you still want to martyr yourself over it, I won't stop you. I'll support you regardless."
A surprised laugh escaped her. "Wow. That's reassuring."
"You know what I mean, smartass." He nudged her shoulder. "You can't sit here beating yourself up forever. It's not healthy. It's not fair to you. So cut it out. You're better than that."
"Am I, though?" Doubt crept into her voice.
Hide moved his hand to her chin, tilting her face toward him. His eyes held hers — steady, certain.
"Yes," he said firmly. "You are. Stop selling yourself short. You're stronger than you think. Smarter than you give yourself credit for. And way more capable than whatever that asshole made you believe."
Aeri's cheeks flushed. She looked away, clearing her throat.
"So..." She nodded toward the camera. "Are you going to put that away? Wouldn't want anything to happen to it."
Hide glanced at the tripod, then back at her. His smirk returned.
"Nah, don't worry about it. It's safe and sound right where it is."
"Are you sure?"
He smirked at her concern, eyes glinting. "Worried I'll break it?"
She scoffed. "I just don't want you crying about it later."
He placed a hand over his heart in mock offence. "Hey, that camera is my precious baby. I take very good care of it. I've been using it for years, and never have I 'cried' once, thank you very much."
Aeri cackled.
Hide grinned at the sound — bright, genuine, like he'd won something.
"And what exactly is so funny, Miss Comedy Central?"
"Nothing. I just cackled."
He rolled his eyes but couldn't hide his own smile.
"For what it's worth," he said, his voice softening again, "you're better off without him. Someone who cycles through girls like ice cream flavours doesn't deserve someone like you."
Aeri snorted. "Flavours of the month?"
Hide shrugged, smirking. "Well, what else do you call it? One month, it's you. Next month it's someone else. Sounds like a damn flavour of the month to me."
He grinned as she laughed — a real laugh this time, shoulders shaking, tension finally breaking.
"There we go. Much better than brooding."
"I am NOT a brooder."
He quirked an eyebrow. "Oh, really? Then explain the moping and sighing earlier. Because it sure looked like brooding to me."
"Fuck you." She shoved his shoulder.
Hide laughed, clutching his arm like she'd wounded him. "Ow! Brutal! You wound me, you savage creature!"
"You're so dramatic."
"Oh, you bet your ass I am. I majored in Dramatic Arts, sweetheart. I am the epitome of drama. The king. The pinnacle. The supreme ruler of theatrics."
Aeri rolled her eyes. "What about you? Have you ever been in a relationship?"
Hide leaned back into the couch, amused by the question.
"Well," he said, "I've had my fair share of flings and hookups. Nothing serious, though." He paused, meeting her gaze. "Why? Trying to figure out if I've got commitment issues like Mr Flavour of the Month? Or just curious about my love life in general?"
"Just curious."
He smiled, appreciating her honesty.
"Well… to answer your question — no. I've never been in a serious, committed relationship. Like I said, just flings and casual hookups. Nothing serious enough to slap the 'boyfriend' label on." He shrugged. "Guess you could say I've been playing the field. Enjoying my freedom. All that jazz."
"Is there anyone you've taken an interest in?" Her voice was quieter now. Attentive.
Hide's expression softened.
He hesitated. Grappled with whether to answer honestly.
"There is someone who's caught my eye," he said finally, his voice huskier than before. "Someone I find... intriguing."
Aeri arched an eyebrow. "Oh? What's this person like?"
Hide held her gaze, vulnerability flickering beneath the surface.
"She's different," he said quietly. "Different from anyone I've ever met. There's just something about her — her laugh, her smile, her whole damn presence — that's just..." He searched for the word. "Entrancing. Captivating."
"She sounds like a treat."
"Oh, she is," He nodded, turning to her with a small smile tugging at his lips. "And a peeping tom."
Aeri's heart stopped.
"A... peeping tom?"
Hide smirked at the hitch in her voice, the way her eyes widened.
"Yep," he said, cocky satisfaction dripping from the word. "I caught her watching me the other day while I was making a little... video."
Shit.
"What kind of video?" Aeri asked.
His smirk widened. "Oh, just a little 'intimate' video." He watched her cheeks flush, delighted. "I even interacted with her on my livestream."
Shit. Does he know?
"Oh." Her voice came out high-pitched.
Hide's smirk grew. "Don't get shy on me now, sweetheart? You asked. I'm just telling the truth."
Okay, calm down. It could be someone else. You're not the only person on this floor.
"And who's the lady?"
Hide chuckled, enjoying the anticipation in her voice.
"Why do you want to know so bad?" His eyes danced with mischief. "Getting jealous?"
"Psh. No. Just curious." She scoffed.
He arched an eyebrow, clearly not buying it.
"Oh, really? Just curious?" He moved closer, his voice dropping. "No hint of jealousy? Possessiveness?" His eyes raked over her. "You sure you're not feeling a little envious, sweetheart?"
"Nope."
He let out a soft laugh. "Really? Because you're not convincing me. I can practically see the green-eyed monster peeking out of those pretty little eyes of yours."
"Just tell me."
Hide took a deep breath. His heart thumped against his ribs. He'd been playing casual this whole time, deflecting with charm and innuendo. But now — now he was about to say it out loud.
He locked eyes with her. The air thickened.
Then, with a small shrug, he finally answered.
"It's you, Aeri."
5 likes from Zol, Chiyu, Spapop, YujinnieWinter, and juren.