Forbidden Cravings

The small apartment was quiet, save for the faint hum of the city filtering through the half-drawn curtains. The afternoon light fell across the cluttered living room, illuminating a mess of empty coffee mugs, a stack of unpaid bills, and a couch where Aeri sat alone.

She wore her favorite blue mini dress, the one she always slipped into at home, its front knot pulling the fabric tight across her chest, her cleavage open visible as she slumped forward. Her phone lay on the coffee table in front of her, the screen glowing with a photo of her and Ezra—smiling wide, sharing a stick of pink cotton candy under a bright summer sky, their laughter frozen in time. The sight of it twisted her heart, tears pricking at her eyes as she stared.

"Should I call him?" she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible, her fingers hovering over the phone. She leaned back, her arms wrapping around her knees as she pulled them close. "But after everything I said to him… would he even want to talk to me now?" Her words hung in the air, heavy with doubt. She could still hear her own voice from today morning, sharp and cold, pushing Ezra away, telling him they were done.

The memory stung, and she winced, her hand rising to her forehead as she flopped back onto the couch, sprawling across its cushions.

"Sigh…" she exhaled, long and heavy, her eyes fixed on the smooth white ceiling above. "He must be so hurt," she murmured, her fingers lacing together tightly over her stomach. "He's been trying so hard to get to me, doing everything to impress me…" Her voice trailed off, guilt settling like a weight in her chest. Ezra's efforts flashed through her mind—his goofy smiles, the way he'd plan little surprises, the warmth of his hand in hers. He'd poured so much into her, and she'd thrown it back in his face.

Her thoughts drifted to yesterday, to the amusement park where they'd spent the day. The memory came in vivid bursts: the salty crunch of fries they'd shared at a food stall, their laughter echoing as they raced to the next ride, the way he'd pulled her close in the restaurant bathroom, their stolen kisses hot and urgent and how he held her fucked her. Later, on the giant Ferris wheel, the city lights sparkling below, his hands held head as it bobbed up and down on his dick showing how much he accepted her. And the night, in front of her apartment window, the way they'd pressed against each other fully naked, lost in the moment, his breath warm against her neck. Her cheeks flushed pink, a shy smile tugging at her lips as she remembered how alive she'd felt.

"Oh god…" she muttered, embarrassment flooding her as she rolled onto her side, grabbing a pillow and pressing it to her face. The fabric muffled her voice as she spoke into it, her words soft and hesitant. "I really enjoyed being with him…" Her heart raced, her blush deepening as she curled tighter into herself, the pillow hugged against her chest like a shield.

She peeked out from behind the pillow, her eyes darting to the phone again. "Should I just… accept him?" she asked herself, her voice trembling with uncertainty.

She rolled onto her back, then to her side again, the couch creaking as she clutched the pillow tighter, her knees pulling up to her chest like a kid seeking comfort.

"Arghhh… what should I do?" she groaned, her voice rising in frustration as she thrashed from side to side, the pillow flopping with her. "Is there a way out of this mess? Somebody, please, tell me what to do!"

Her phone sat silently on the table, the photo of her and Ezra glowing like a beacon, a reminder of what she'd pushed away. Tears welled up again, and she buried her face in the pillow, her heart torn between regret and the faint, stubborn hope that maybe—just maybe—she could fix this.

She'd been rolling back and forth, wrestling with her thoughts, her mind a tangle of guilt and longing as she replayed their last words and the way she'd pushed him away.

Ring… Ring…

The sharp chime of her phone cut through the quiet, jolting her from her spiraling thoughts.

"Hmm?" Aeri popped up, her head snapping toward the table, her heart skipping a beat. "Is it Ezra?" she thought, hope and nerves flaring in her chest as she reached for the phone, her fingers trembling slightly.

She grabbed it, her eyes scanning the screen, and her shoulders slumped a little when she saw the name: Sara. Not Ezra, but her childhood best friend, the one person who could always pull her out of a funk—or make it worse with her endless energy.

"Oh, it's Sara," she muttered to herself, a faint smile tugging at her lips despite the heaviness in her chest. She tapped the screen to answer, still lying back on the couch, her pillow hugged close as she brought the phone to her ear.

"Hello—" she started, her voice soft and a little shaky, still raw from her tears.

"HELLOOOO!!!!" Sara's voice exploded through the phone, so loud Aeri winced, pulling the phone away from her ear and squinting as if the sound could physically hit her.

"MY KUCHU PUCHU AERI! How are you? Where are you? What's going on?" Sara's questions came rapid-fire, her enthusiasm bursting through the line like a firecracker.

Aeri groaned, closing her eyes and rubbing her temple with her free hand.

"God, Sara, did married life make you more energetic or what?" she asked, her voice teasing but tired, a small smile creeping onto her face despite herself.

"Ehh, what are you saying?" Sara shot back, her tone mock-offended but brimming with her usual chaotic energy.

"I've been LIKE THIS, MY LOVE. You know me—born loud, staying loud!" She laughed, the sound bright and infectious, cutting through the gloom hanging over Aeri.

Aeri chuckled softly, her grip on the pillow loosening as she shifted. "Heh, true," she said, her voice warming a little. "You've always been a human megaphone."