A Love Unlocked

Chapter 5: A Cheap Earing

“Remember when I got hit by Ben? That bastard tried to seduce this girl,” Mike recalled, a hint of indignation in his voice.

“I do,” Dexter replied, suddenly connecting the dots. That must be why she seemed familiar to him; Mike had mentioned this incident before. At that time, Amy had accidentally crossed their path while they were hanging out in the campus courtyard. However, Dexter was unaware that his connection with Amy ran much deeper than that.

“Don’t call her ‘girl.’ Do you think she’s still in high school?” Elowen chimed in, her tone sharp.

Now it was Mike’s turn to roll his eyes. Despite their frequent hangouts, it seemed that Elowen and Mike didn’t have the best relationship. There was an underlying tension between them, as if they harbored some unresolved issues.

“Relax, Elowen. I was just teasing,” Mike said, trying to defuse the situation.

“Teasing? More like belittling,” Elowen retorted, crossing her arms defiantly.

Bella watched the exchange with mild amusement, trying to hide her laughter. “So, what brought you three here? Lunch break, I assume?” she asked, attempting to shift the focus away from the awkwardness.

“Yeah, we needed a break from all the chaos back at the office,” Mike replied. “How about you guys?”

“We were just trying to find a quiet spot to eat,” Amy said, looking around at the bustling café. “But it seemed we picked the wrong place.”

“Tell me about it,” Dexter said with a chuckle. “It’s like everyone suddenly had the same brilliant idea to take their break at once. Maybe we should consider staggering our lunch hours?”

The atmosphere instantly turned awkward, and a sudden silence enveloped their conversation.

"So, you’re part of Pixel Forge now?" Mike inquired, attempting to ease the tension that hung in the air.

“Yes, I’ve just joined; this is my first day,” she replied.

“Welcome! How’s everything going at Pixel Forge?”

“It had been an interesting and somewhat shocking first day,” Amy replied, subtly referencing the current situation at the company while trying to sound confident. “There was a lot to learn, but I was excited about the projects.”

Elowen nodded in agreement. “You would fit right in. Just remember, don’t let the chaos get to you. We were all in this together.”

As they continued their conversation, Amy felt a mix of emotions. On one hand, she was relieved to have friends and bosses who seemed easygoing, especially since that day had been filled with unexpected challenges. On the other hand, Dexter and Mike were her bosses, and their presence stirred something within her—a sense of nostalgia tinged with anxiety.

Drrrt… drrrrt…

Dexter glanced at his phone, and Emily flashed on the screen.

“Is she still trying to contact you?” Mike asked.

“I’ll take the call first, guys… enjoy your lunch!” Dexter said, avoiding Mike’s question as he stepped away.

Mike sighed, and Elowen’s face suddenly turned gloomy. As for Amy, she was left with a single question in her heart;

Are they still together?

______

6 Years Ago

The first thing Dexter noticed upon waking was the light streaming through the gap in his bedroom curtains. His head throbbed slightly from the effects of last night’s alcohol, and when he glanced at the clock on the wall, he realized it was nearly ten in the morning. He had definitely overslept.

As he attempted to rise from the bed, the chaotic state of his surroundings hit him like a freight train. The room was a disaster— his clothes strewn everywhere, his body exposed, and what was that? Bloodstains on the sheets?

Ah…

Although his memories were hazy, flashes of the previous night began to surface. A smile crept across his face, even though he found the space beside him empty.

Was I truly the first for Emily? he wondered.

Emily had felt different last night—calmer, sweeter, and somehow smaller in his embrace. It seemed that alcohol could create such illusions. What he liked most was the way she reacted to him, igniting a thrill within him. He found himself thinking, I like this version of Emily.

In a hurry, he grabbed his phone and dialed Emily’s number.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Still, there was no answer. A wave of disappointment washed over Dexter, but he forced himself to remain optimistic. Maybe Emily was just busy with something else.

He decided to take a shower and grab some breakfast, but first, he needed to tidy up his bedroom. He didn’t want his roommate discovering any evidence of the previous night’s escapades and teasing him with comments like; Look at you, all grown up! Does the world feel different now?. It would be really annoying.

In today’s world, it was rare for someone his age to still be a virgin, especially someone like Dexter, who was both handsome and affluent. However, for Dexter, s*x was not something to be given away casually; it was reserved for someone truly special, someone with whom he shared a genuine connection. And for him, Emily fit that criteria perfectly.

As he sorted through his clothes, something shiny caught his eye on the floor. Bending down to pick it up, he discovered it was.. a cheap earring?

I’ll get you something much better than this.

A smile spread across his face—it must belong to Emily. He carefully tucked it away, intending to keep it as a cherished memento.

Without him knowing, someone out there was frantically searching for her missing left earring

______

"Did you wait long for me?" Amy asked, pulling Rayder into a warm hug.

"It’s okay, Mom!" he said, hugging her back.

This wasn’t the first time Amy had left Rayder at daycare until late afternoon. When she had first chosen this preschool, the daycare program had been a big factor. It made things easier when she couldn’t pick him up on time. Now, with her new job, Rayder would be staying there even more frequently.

Amy felt a pang of guilt as she thought about how much time Rayder spent at daycare, but she reassured herself that it was the best option for both of them. The daycare staff was kind, and Rayder seemed to enjoy his time there. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling of missing out on precious moments with him, but she knew it was all for their future.

"Let’s go thank Miss Gwen before we leave."

Rayder nodded, turning toward Miss Gwen, who was standing nearby.

"Thank you, Miss Gwen, for taking care of Rayder today," Amy said with a smile.

"Thank you, Miss Gwen, for taking care of me today," Rayder repeated, following his mom's lead.

"You’re very welcome, Rayder. And thank you for being such a good boy today," Miss Gwen replied with a warm smile.

After their brief goodbyes, Amy and Rayder made their way to the car. The drive home was quiet, with Rayder humming softly to himself in the backseat. Amy glanced at him in the rearview mirror, feeling a mixture of love and concern. He seemed so adaptable to everything, but she wondered how much of the changes he truly understood.